The Triple Threat: Audi TTS vs Alfa Romeo 4C vs Porsche Cayman GTS

A quiet mountain road curling up from the Mediterranean and away from the madness of Marbella is the venue for this enticing bout, and the challenger, the lurid colour of a minion, is the new Audi TTS. Here to give it a hard time is Porsche’s latest Cayman, the GTS, and a delectable Italian that’s utterly focused on the purity of driving, the carbonfibre Alfa Romeo 4C.

A tough test for the TTS? You bet, but it’s a measure of the regard in which we hold this third-generation Audi icon that we’re not down on the seafront with some flabby coupe-cabrios like the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK, but rather up here in the peaks with a pair of proper sports cars. And this might oversimplify the synergies between members of the VW Group, but as the TTS and Golf R effectively share the same turbo engine, twin-clutch gearbox, four-wheel drive system and (acronym fans rejoice!) MQB platform, with the latter the greatest hot hatch on sale right now, just squeezing its oily bits into the tighter confines of a coupe’s corset-like body should de facto create a contender.

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GermanNut - 3/19/2015 5:26:56 PM

-3 Boost

This proves that a car's capabilities are more than its look alone. People have had similar criticisms of the upcoming Audi Q7's exterior design, but, like the new TT, the Q7 has a lavish and luxurious interior, is loaded with cutting-edge technology, sits on a new platform and has lost over 700 pounds. I think you can expect the Q7 to receive similar praise in comparison tests.

JRobUSC - 3/19/2015 6:26:28 PM

+3 Boost

Most of that "lavish and luxurious" Q7 interior is shared with the $20k Passat. Seriously.

Passat
http://image.motortrend.com/f/wot/1407_updated_volkswagen_passat_revealed_for_europe/76789701/2015-volkswagen-passat-euro-spec-interior-from-driver-seat.jpg

Q7
http://carepku.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015-Audi-Q7-Interior.jpg

those "vents that go all the way across the interior" that Motortrend was creaming themselves over like it was something special and new? Yep, there is, in the $20k Passat. The digital gauge cluster, which was Audi's new "thing" for these new models? Right again, also there.

So let's stop pretending, shall we? Those Audi interiors, long considered to be the standard bearer of the industry (whether they ever deserved that distinction is a discussion for a different day) have taken a step back. Both Benz and BMW are as nice or nicer as anything Ingolstadt is churning out these days.

Terry989 - 3/19/2015 6:36:16 PM

+4 Boost

The new TT lost all of that weight and it is still significantly heavier than the Cayman GTS? It must have been a real pig before. The TT is difficult to consider as a real sports car until it is offered with a manual transmission.

cidflekken - 3/19/2015 8:45:02 PM

+2 Boost

Just like with the TT, the Q7 will probably finally drive like it should have since day one.

GermanNut - 3/19/2015 9:56:22 PM

-2 Boost

JRob, just watch all the reviews that will drool over the Audi Q7 interior much like the TT-S interior. They might have used some parts from Volkswagen's interior parts bin, but it doesn't mean it's a bad interior.

quizz - 3/20/2015 5:10:51 PM

+1 Boost

Waiting for the Q7 TDI after all the bugs/recalls are worked out in the first model year (or 2).

JRobUSC - 3/21/2015 9:21:44 AM

+1 Boost

they didn't "might have used some parts from Volkswagen's interior parts bin", the interior of that $20k VW mirrors the $80k Audi. And don't worry, I have no doubt Audi will continue to pay U.S. reviewers to perpetuate the mythos of their amazing interiors.

cidflekken - 3/19/2015 8:37:41 PM

+2 Boost

So, basically, the TTS is the car that it should have been all along. Not as good as the Cayman (which it shouldn't be considering price differences), but a nice almost-true sports-car drive with a nice interior. All things the original and subsequent TTs promised on styling alone, but didn't deliver. I'll reserve my own opinions of the interior. I've heard the same descriptions about the A3 interior, but personally found it completely uninspired and spartan, with materials that weren't any better than any other brand. So, we'll see.

MDarringer - 3/19/2015 9:42:41 PM

+2 Boost

For me, it's Porsche hands down. The TT is parts-bin engineered largely from the Golf and would be too expensive at half the price. The 4C is a so/so $30K car. Too bad it's real transaction price is 3x that.

MDarringer - 3/19/2015 9:45:26 PM

+2 Boost

quizz - 3/20/2015 5:25:41 PM

+1 Boost

Most of that 4C expense comes from the amazing carbon fiber body. Put this engine inside the new 2016 Miata, call it a $30,000 Mazdaspeed, and you would have a legendary car that people will still talk about 30 years from now.

bw5011 - 3/19/2015 11:14:52 PM

+1 Boost

You can't out shift that trans.. you will lose every time...

carsnyc - 3/20/2015 9:32:34 AM

+1 Boost

The Alfa based on looks and the Porsche as the more roundup of this trio. Needless to say that I'd also be happy to have the TTS as my weekend car.

pcar4evr - 3/20/2015 11:06:51 AM

+2 Boost

My 2015 Porsche GTS with manual transmission, X73 sport suspension which lowers the car 20 mm and sharpens the handling, incredible sounding Porsche sport exhaust, torque vectoring etc is the most fun I've had in a long time in a sports car. I came out of a 991 Turbo S and R8 V10 Plus and can assure you that the Cayman is twice the fun at half the price of those 550+ hp monsters.

quizz - 3/20/2015 5:22:58 PM

+1 Boost

Seriously, where do you drive that you can stretch the legs of this amazing car? I imagine that you're constantly shifting under 3500 RPM to avoid being arrested. I'm seriously debating the merits of buying a base Boxster over the GTS version, simply because at least with the base engine, I can really work that engine driving around town and not commit a felony in the process. But then I'm going to feel like an idiot loading up a base Boxster with about $10,000 worth of options that would appear acceptable on the GTS.

pcar4evr - 3/21/2015 2:50:04 AM

+1 Boost

Shifting under 3500 in the GTS? No, Just the opposite. Almost always above 4000 RPM because that's where the car's torque kicks in. The GTS is one of those cars that is fun whether you are going slow or fast due to its exceptional handling and amazing engine/exhaust sounds. Contrast that to the Turbo S, which is a boring car for the streets because it is so fast and so competent but only becomes exciting at speeds that will get you arrested. The R8 on the other hand is an exciting car if you like attention. It currently does not have the handling finesse of the Turbo S and certainly not of the GTS. It has a wonderful engine/exhaust sound, but again to really get on it, it means you're at ridiculous speeds. The other lesson I learned from owning the Turbo S and the V10 Plus is how much I don't like an automated transmission in a sports car. the Cayman 6 speed manual is old school perfection (just like me).

pcar4evr - 3/21/2015 3:06:01 AM

+1 Boost

To your other point: The GTS version is really not all that much faster or quicker than a Boxster S or Cayman S. It's really a "parts bin" car, but it's one of the rare times when Porsche actually gives you some value by bundling the best options in the base price, and the overall package becomes really special. If I owned a well-equipped Cayman S or Boxster S, I wouldn't think of upgrading to the GTS version just for the small hp bump. If I were in the market for a new Boxster or Cayman, I would (did) only get the GTS version. BTW, it's the upcoming Cayman GT4 that has the power and suspension enhancements that will make it a great track car, but I personally would feel uncomfortable driving around town with that STi-like rear spoiler and even further lowered suspension.