Pick Of The Day: 2018 Audi Tt Rs

I’ve been fortunate to test a wide variety of cars over the course of my career, which is why I’m especially excited about our Pick of the Day. Not only is it a 44,305-mile 2018 Audi TT RS, but it also happens to be a car I reviewed in the past, so I can tell you how it drives. It’s listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Grass Valley, California.

In the late 1990s, Audi introduced the TT, a small car with rounded Bauhaus-inspired styling that looked shockingly similar to the TT Concept car from the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show that inspired it. Over three generations, the visually quirky little machine grew more focused. For 2018, Audi released the second high-performance RS version of the TT. Huffing 19.6 pounds of boost, the 2.5-liter turbo I-5 pumped out 400 horsepower at 5,850-7,000 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque at 1,700-5,850 rpm. A seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic and quattro all-wheel drive unloaded that turbo thrust on the pavement. According to Audi, the TT RS could rip to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds — nearly two full seconds ahead of the regular TT coupe. Top speed was 155 mph, but when equipped with the Dynamic plus package, the RS could max out at 174 and slow down with the help of carbon-ceramic front discs. Magnetic ride control handled the curves and straightaways ahead.

Audi said, “The exterior design of the TT RS features sporty elements harkening back to the vehicles
racing heritage including larger air intakes, a fixed rear wing spoiler and large oval tailpipes.” Inside, the RS came equipped with the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit gauge cluster, sport seats, and a flat-bottom sport steering wheel with shift paddles and engine Start/Stop and drive mode buttons.

This particular TT RS comes finished in Nardo Grey, which is guarded by paint protection film on the front bumper and part of the hood and front fenders. As a bonus, it coordinates well with the two-tone seven-spoke wheels and red brake calipers.

So what’s it like to drive the TT RS? Let’s just say its 400 horsepower isn’t the only thing it has going for it. Yes, the RS took off like a bottle rocket, but it was also well controlled. In fact, its composure made me think it was a smaller version of the R8 V10 plus, which made extralegal speeds seem casual. However fast I happened to be going, the transmission always seemed to be in the right gear. On curvy roads, the steering felt solid and nicely weighted. My test car back in the day had the standard 14.6-inch ventilated front and 12.2-inch ventilated rear discs, which were easy to modulate with the left pedal.

While out cruising around in the TT RS, I passed a guy who was driving an R8. I waved at him and he flashed me a peace sign. I’d like to believe he knew he was looking at a special Audi. I certainly knew I was behind the wheel of one. If you’d like to drive this 2018 Audi TT RS any time you want, you can do that for $47,900.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com