AUDI TT 3.2 V6 Quattro 2dr DSG (2003)

Best car I've ever owned no contest

I owned this car up until very recently, it was sort of my mid-life crisis car and now I've settled down a bit and bought a nice 3-Series. But I feel compelled to leave a review of this car because it was absolutely fantastic, I've owned a number of cars in my time but this comes out on top.

First, this is a review for the 3.2 V6 DSG, not the 1.8 because there is a massive difference, I promise. I drove both before I committed and the 3.2 is the one to have, no questions asked. I suppose its best to kick off with performance. Amazing is one word I'd use. The handling is incredible, it has unbelievable amounts of grip. On test, the salesman made me go round a small roundabout asking me to turn the car in as tight as I could, I was apprehensive to do this because I was convinced it would let the back out but the all-wheel drive system keeps it under control and it just grips continuously. It could go pretty quick as well if you wanted it to. The fancy DSG gearbox meant you could put it in Sport mode and beat most people away from the lights. The DSG box is worth mentioning because its one of the car's highlights. You can have it in auto, semi-auto or fully manual, and the flappy paddles made it a little more 'racey'.

I will admit, getting in the thing, especially with my six foot frame is not the most elegant manoeuvre in the world but once you're in, it is incredibly comfortable and suited to cruising, the seats feel good, the ride is fantastic and you can always hear the engine purring away, even louder if you're in Sport mode. The back seats are strictly for contortionists but you don't really buy a car like this for practicality. The best way to get practicality out of this car is to drop the seats down and make use of the boot space.

I had it for just over three years and never had a problem with it which is why I've put reliability up at five stars.

Running costs is the ultimate fall down of any car like this, it was expensive to service, insure, tax and petrol wasn't exactly cheap but this depends how much you have it in Sport mode. For me, this was quite a lot and so I'd struggle to get 30mpg out of it at the best of times.

I think this was a brilliant little car. Yes, it is quite heavy on your wallet but the return is a truly brilliant drive and a fantastic car to own.