More hatchback goodness...

... that we're not going to get, dammit.

I drove this last week in Quebec, wonderful car, great handling - incredible sounding. Audi reps say we N. Americans aren't ready to shell out big bucks for premium hatches. Well, okay... if I had big bucks I would.

(this isn't me but this is the same car I drove) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SkUMtrK85g

It only counts if you drove it like that

~Alex

I drove the car used in the vid, but on a winding logging road and then about half an hour of highway. Hooned it a bit on the logging road, which was fun and winding and icy...and did I mention fun? Took the A1 on the same track in the vid. Lots of counter-steering goodness ensued... Neat little car, and it had a stick.

Lesley wrote: Audi reps say we N. Americans aren't ready to shell out big bucks for premium hatches.

Obviously an Audi USA rep, because clearly he does not have the Canadian demographic figured out correctly. We love small, premium cars, Canadian's always have. Especially hatches/wagons, they are really gaining steam. I mean, if we can get friekin S4 Avant's here, we should be able to get that thing!

Sounds awesome. What engine does it have? Hard to tell from the vid, almost sounds like a looped sound.

Of course were not getting it we don't anything cool.

~Alex

At the 1:19 mark I felt Swell

They need to sync the sound even when shot from a 'copter (gotta sell the Audi song !!)

340 hp, 2.5L, turbo-charged inline-five cylinder mated to the S tronic dual-clutch, seven-speed transmission. Same drivetrain as the TT RS, which we also drove... and which we will be getting. Sounded wonderful, pushing the "Sport" button opens up a flap on the exhaust, for a really good, raunchy blatt.

Lesley, where is that facility located?

A small awd hatchback with turbo goodness?

So it's like an STi with leather but without the reliability.

It's in Quebec, near Mont Tremblant. They had Frank Sprongl and Harald Demuth there in 80s Rally Quattros giving us hot laps on a rally stage type track.

I dunno about the reliability bit. Are the modern cars as buggy as they used to be? Anyone I know with an older quattro rolls their eyes with a kind of masochistic pleasure not unlike any lucas-electric owning gearhead when talking about working on them... but you never really hear much about the current ones. At least – I never do anyway... the ones I drive usually have only 1-3,000 kms on them.

DaveEstey wrote: A small awd hatchback with turbo goodness? So it's like an STi with leather but without the reliability.

Quoted for truth, and hilarity.

Twin_Cam wrote: Quoted for truth, and hilarity.

Audi's aren't known for destroying piston rings... ZING!

Its one thing to have your dash light up like a christmas tree, another thing to need a brand new motor in a car with less than 100,000kms on it... and its only been happening since like, 2007 I love my Subarus, but the STi motor hasn't been something to write home about recently...

Edit- So Lesley, did you get to actually talk with Frank? An interesting character (to say the least), no?

Yeah, I rode a couple of laps with him. Great driver. I've met him a couple of times before through my motor sports club, and I visited their shop to buy a new short shifter for my MX3 last fall. A few years ago, I was car 99 sweep at the Galway Cavendish rally, and Frank jumped in the back for a ride to the end of the stage. It's a great road - 9 kms of crushed gravel with lots of winding downhill turns. I couldn't help myself, and started having a little fun. Unfortunately... I had low-profile, performance rubber on the press car I'd borrowed and ended up in an impromptu, sweeping 180 drift around one corner – and mere feet from a craggy drop-off into a swamp. I think the club president in the passenger seat might have needed new drawers, but Frank merely remarked that "I may have gotten a little bit behind on my steering".

Mecaglisse?

Looks like fun.

Yeah, sorry, it's at Mecaglisse. The surface was hard to walk on, it was that slippery.

Link for folks that don't know of the place....looks like so much fun.

I have lusted for this car from afar, for quite some time.

I have no use for a TT RS, I LOVE 3doors and slightly less love for 5doors. If given the chance, I would gladly face assault charges, to kick an AUDI representative in the nuts. Not just any rep mind you, just one who thought this car would NOT sell in the USA.

I would even ignore the dismal reliability record of VAG to own this cars awsomeness.

The TT RS is a lot of fun - but trust me, you do not want to sit in the back seat.