Spinelli & Farah debate Top Gear US Hosts, Used Lamborghinis, The Ring Benchmark, and Gas Prices - Garage419

First Matt, i know you eating your words about GM not being able to beat Nissan on Nurburgring and second, i think the TT-RS will use the new supercharged 6 thats going to be in the new S4. And as for how much power would it take to make a TT cool, I say 350

The Audi TT, yes it has a stigma, but I think that stigma is not warranted. It is a little underpowered comparing to cars of the last 3 years, but it is still fast and can get 27-30mpg hwy. I test drove a 2003 TT before I bought my MS3 and I was not thrown off one bit by its lack of uber horsepower. Let’s face it, when it was developed the hp-war was not underway and it was created to facilitate a real world performance. What I mean by that is something that a regular person will use all the time; not just a track-day car etc. Most cars these days come with so much acceleration and insane drag-car like quarter-miles, which for daily use and spirited driving they are impracticable. It was engineered using a small engine that was economical, but still sporty (which it was and still is). I personally like getting into a supercar every now and then just to feel that excitement…that crazy acceleration that makes you feel like your car is about to lift off to outer space. But let’s get back to earth here; not everyone is doing 1/4mile drag races, or light-to-light races 24/7. Yes there are the hardcores, but most of those people pick up cheap used cars and mod the crap out of them just to race around town and look cool. The original Audi TT was a car that facilitated the crowd of people who wanted good acceleration and good handling, but was usable all the time, in a city on a highway and all year around. It captured that audience perfectly. Now, in my opinion, they improved upon the looks enough to make it a little more aggressive looking and improved upon its performance all-around without loosing its audience. They did not make it insane; it is merely along the same guidelines of the previous generation of TT. Nowadays, as mentioned in your debate, that seems to mean nothing. People want to see a Ring record on YOUTUBE before any sort of practically in a sportscar. Everyone thinks all cars should have 3.5 second 0-60’s and ¼ mile times that we only used to see on a race track. Whatever happened to touring cars? Cars that you drove out to the side roads to merely open up and have some fun in your spare time? Why does every car have to be able to accelerate over 300kmph these days? Seriously, most people do not drive over 200kmph in their sportscars… So, somewhat getting to the original question...why would it not be cool if it gets more hp? Of course a higher horsepower TT will make it cooler and mix that with its slightly more aggressive lines and body… is that not what makes cars cool? With that being said, mere speed will not make me excited at all. How many sports cars out there can achieve those stats…lots and for less money in some cases! I personally would be more impressed by things like, 1g without rattling your teeth out, from factory and without making it cost 100k, or a little engine improvement with a huge increase in mpg. Because lets face it; the people who buy the TT are mountain /back road cruisers; not quarter mile kids racing from light to light. Most people are driving them to work and home on a daily basis. Give it performance, but let it have a driving range that will allow its target audience to enjoy it on longer trips. Really, most people will be cruising back roads and going around corners really fast in the TT…not trying to impress people online with a new top speed records after a new CPU modification…leave that to the tuners who pickup the car used 5 years from now…

452hp Would be gr8.. For the TT

it's awesome to see this country embracing another country's sport. i also like that we have put our big displacement engine twist on things. you know me, i have this weird soft spot for american muscle, even though i love seeing an AE86 tearing it up though. the japanese claim to be the originators of this sport but i say that anyone who has done some serious smoke show action in the k-mart parking lot behind the wheel of a nova knows that we started the whole deal.

OK !! wheres the deal. The Audi is a great looking car.My friends dad just got one. yeah yeah it looks cool and everything i ask the question how much hp does it have ?? HE goes 200 something hp the way i see it is when i see a TT on the road i see a really cool looking car that looks like a fast car. But the main thing is that its not really that fast. i wanna a see a 400 hp tt

id have to say that is the TT had say 340 or even 400 horses it would be a fairly Badass car but you do have to say that the R8 should get a v10 or v12 and then the R8 would a for sure Badass car cause right now it's to rounded

Matt, The TT will never be a cool guy car. It will forever be a chick car, this car needs at least 350 hp to be respectable but still it wont be bought by guys. Think of this, the mustang GT gets 300 hp and if a TT had 50 more hp most guys would get a mustangover a TT. Audi needs to make a R4 or an R6 mid engine coupe, maybe the engine from the S5, mid engine, Porsche Cayman competition??????? Leave the TT alone and make a mid engine coupe about 40-50 grand and it will sell.

Gas price side effects.. I think I read this on Autoblog, but apperntly the CHP or just police in general.. if they pull you over (maybe only for speeding) they will give you a gas charge ON TOP of your ticket fee.. for having to pull you over! WTF haha The article I read said that since the cops dont have enough money in their budget for fuel all their cars.. so this charge will give them an extra ,000-,000 anualy.. I think its dumb..

...oh and about the TT, I think it's done for with the debut of the A5 (which is priced VERY similar) and 354hp, V8 S5. With everyone is gunning for that "M3 Benchmark" (recent 0-60), there is really no reason to consider a TT for a carguy. I agree with the above poster's in saying that it is certainly a "car-girls" car.

It's unfortunate that you didn't get picked, Matt. If it means anything, you know that you had my support. Is it weird that I think Tanner Foust was selected? Am I wrong to think that what make the UK Top Gear hosts so special is that they aren't trained and competing drivers? They have always been "car guys". Clarkson is a comedian and writer, James May is a trained classical pianist who has hosted a slew of shows for the BBC, and Hammonds was a BBC radio host. The first selection of Adam Corolla was a good one IMO, as his personality and car history were very similar to those of the UK hosts. The producers went downhill from there, who is the ONLY professional driver on UK Top Gear? The Stig. How are you going to watch and anticipate Richard Hammond-esque antics or F'ups with boy scout, golden-boy Tanner Foust behind the wheel? The hosts driving at such a high level is not what UK Top Gear is about. What makes it so good is James May shaving seconds off his lap time with Jackie Stewart, or Hammonds racing RV's. I cannont picture Tanner Foust trudging along the countryside of Botswana, and falling in-love with his car. I think they are approaching this all wrong and we are in for a serious let down, if anyone's expectations are even that high....

You forgot to mention the side effect of record profits for the oil companies! There was a report that someone was drilling hole into fuel tanks on automobiles to steal the gas. Matt I have started on script/synopsis for a car movie that will be the greatest since The Gumball Rally. It involve both muscle cars and sports cars!!! Maybe you know someone who could produce it? I've always liked the TT. It won quite a few races. More horsepower is always good but I rather go for racetrack performance. Such as handling, breaking and track times.

the TT is a chick car or a gay hair dresser car i think the rs would have a 2.8 turbo inline 6 ohh and for it to be cool i think it would need to be in the scary side of the 400s

I'm a Gardener! I'm not a construction worker! I take what you said at great offense. I would like you to work 7 days a week. Rain, hail, cold, 42C heat and using petrol powered chain saws, hedging machines,etc.... Oh, is the air conditioning a little too warm??? Get a grip on life BUDDY! I own a Mitsubishi TT GTO. I probably can out drive you with my eyes shut. Oh, I love watching this show!?

alright where do we start??? top Gear, lets start there. its really 2 bad u didnt make it, but i think like u guys were saying, it could work. i mean i know without a doubt we're always gonna compare Gear to Top gear and Gear is always gonna loose out but i'm pretty sure i'm still gonna be watching, shit, its a car show thats pretty much all they needed for me to watch, lol. and they have foust AKA Mr. constant, on there so thats one real car guy. he dirfts, he does rally and he's the host of super cars exposed on speed. so i think he got this and u have Adam, all around funny guy and car guy apparently. i've c'n him on test drive and to me he didnt sound like a guy that knew 2 much about cars but i guess thats ok, cuz he's funny. as far as that other guy goes, well they needed a caption slow on the team so i guess he fills that role, should be interesting to say the least. If i had my way it'd be Leno, Matt and foust but i dont so we'll c. CPO lambo, well c'n as i dont yet make six figures i'm all for it, i mean this way i stand a chance of being in a six speed 560-4 sometime next year. lol. Nurburgring benchmark, i'm glad matt touched on the fact that it covers everything cuz thats pretty much what i was gonna say about that, i mean y do i need to know what the 0-60 or the 60-0 of a car when the number it makes on the ring tells me sooo much more. overall handling, top speed, breaking and so on, its a great benchmark. Gas prices, well i've got a good one, my mom bought a prius a few years back as a second car and at the time they were going for 25 or something like that this week the dearlship sent her a thing in the mail saying if she wanted to sell the car back to them they'd pay the rest of her payments, give her a car of equal value {,000} and give her a balance of 8,000 cuz they have 50 ppl in line for it. lol. TTRS needs to have 400hp then i'll get one. great show.

The Audi TT is a nice looking car, atleast in my opinion but if I were to buy one atleast 320hp

The TT-RS needs enough power to rip the ugly bulbous top off of it. As my mother is considering it as a replacement for her SLK I can only imagine it needs 700 horsepower to enter the 'cool' range.

I belive the engine in the tt is a I5 20V turbo i dont know if its from the jetta or audi's own contraption. dont forget audi made great power with theyre I5 of old in the rs2 old s4's/s6's and personaly they make a fantastic sound youtube it for your self i think the I5 is way to go and the new tt is beefier then the old but still a bit tame and lame.

Top Gear: Sorry you didnt get picked, Matt. But good for us and NNN that youre still here. Happy to hear that BBC is involved in production. Lambo CPO: Maybe thats what was being driven throgh the grass in the final clip on todays FLD. Nurburgring Benchmark: I love it and am all for it. I want to see any new performance car, in any price range...be obligated to post their Ring time. Stealing Gas: I only wish you spliced in a Mad Max/RoadWarrior clip dring that segment Audi TT: I LOVE Audis but have never been turned on by the TT. You and Mercator said it: its a chick car. I dont care what kinda power you put in it, its not that exciting to me. As far as the 2 engine concept (front and rear) goes...anyone remember the 'Hairy Olds'?

Remember that the first year of the reborn Top Gear UK had that used car guy with no personality, then James May came along. Nothing says the gardener makes it through the pilot! Nurburgring benchmarks are more interesting to watch than a 3-5 second 0-60 clip. It also says the car has the whole package like Matt said. Gas prices are a result of crazy speculation by commodities traders. It is the same crap that happened in the late 90's with the .com boom and bust except being a commodity, it affects everyone. There is legislation to regulate the speculation... it works, who knows. QOD: TT is a chicks car.

The old TT was about as cool as a pink Boxster, but the new one is ok. If Audi drops the current R8 engine in the TT-RS, it would probability sell like hotcakes.

As for the question of the day. There is not enough horsepower to make it cool. It is the type of car that you drive for no more reason than a mid life crisis if you have no balls. I know this is kinda harsh but, in order for that car to work you need boobs and not man boobs. I hate to say this because I have a great deal of respect for Audi but I would rather walk than drive a TT.

The Audi TT is great and with the 265 hp in the TTS it has a great engine in it!!! The problem of the TT is the place where the engine is installed and it is the same problem almost every Audi ha. The car has a too heavy nose to do it faster round the track it understeers too much that's why Audi changed the position of the dif in the current A4s to place the engine behind the front axle instead of on or in front of the front axle like in the old A,S and RS models. Since decades the Nürburgring is the benchmark for automotive journalists in Germany. There is a magazine called Sport Auto which pushes every sportscar round the track to decide about the sportscar qualities. btw. It's sad that they took a gay gardener over a real car enthousiast for hosting America's Top Gear!!! Someone should say him that a BMW M3 has a better fuel consumption than a Prius (Evidence: the newest TG episode ;-) )

In answer to your QOD: Was just at New Country Audi....and there was a new 08 TT in the showroom..and quite frankly from an aesthetic point of view the car looked sig. better than the older version. It would seem that Audi now has a push on their S-Line...where all cars are offered the body work of the S Cars giving them a more aggressive look. Now all it needs is a motor!!...the 3.0 has got to go...maybe to start the S4 drivetrain to see if there is a demand???.....BTW an R8 was being delivered as I was there....seems the Hedge Fund boys are still making big $$$$...LOL S