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 Audi TT Roadster vs Porsche Boxster
By Peter Bleakney
So you’ve got 60 grand burning a hole in your pocket and you’re looking to spruce up your image with a stylish German roadster with, oh, 225 horsepower. Well, your life just got a little more complicated.
Both Audi and Porsche offer tanning sleds that meet that criteria head-on. Say hello to the TT Quattro Roadster ($59,000) and Boxster ($60,650), two fun-loving cars that are vying for stop spot on your shopping list.
Yes, I know. I can feel your pain. Which four-wheeled hair dryer is the right one for me? Should I go Ingolstadt or Stuttgart? Front-engine all wheel drive or mid-engine rear wheel drive? Turbo or naturally aspirated?
Relax. We’re here to help. Grab your sunscreen and let’s go.
Cool Factor:
Both cars cut a pretty sharp profile, so this contest really boils down to personal preference.
The Audi TT’s Bauhaus inspired exterior is still striking four years after its launch, and manages to look both muscular and cute as it hunkers down over the 17” six spoke alloys. Lovely details like the brushed aluminum gas cap and stylish roll hoops behind the seats elevate this car to rolling fine art.
 The interior is also beautifully conceived and executed, with a continuation of the arch and circle theme. Brushed aluminum surrounds are everywhere, highlighting the gauges, vents, shift boot, door handles and climate controls. Although elements of this design have been cropping up in other cars of late, this Audi interior is still a benchmark.
Stroll over to the Boxster and you’re presented with a sleeker, more languid projectile that is less “bug” and more “shark”. The car seems to sit lower - an impression enforced by the gentle arch of bodywork that rises over each wheel. It is a shape that is less concerned with fashion, arriving as it has via the engineering beneath it. No less beautiful than the TT to these eyes, but more purposeful.
Porsche interiors have never set any hearts aflutter, so the Boxster’s is pretty B-flat when compared to the TT’s. It is somewhat uninspired and plasticky, but you can take solace in the fact that the guy driving a 911 Turbo costing three times as much will be looking at pretty much the same dash.
The Greasy Bits:
 Based on the Golf platform, the TT Roadster uses the ubiquitous 1.8 litre turbocharged 20-valve four for motivation, pumped up to 225 horsepower and 207 ft/lbs of torque here via increased boost pressure and an extra intercooler. Power gets to all four wheels through a six speed manual transmission and an electronic Haldex centre differential. Under normal conditions each wheel receives a 25% share of the torque, but that can be distributed around as slippage is detected. The system will send power to only one wheel if necessary, with the thrust reduced to 60%.
This is probably the best version of the 1.8T engine, and not just because of the extra thrust. It’s quick to rev, emits a satisfying snarl and works well with the close ratio 6-speed. You’re still going get caught up in some turbo lag below 2000 rpm, but you can’t argue with a torque plateau as flat as Saskatchewan.
 The Boxster has a 2.7 litre, 24 valve flat six, also with 225 hp, that resides just behind your back-side. Porsche’s VarioCam Plus valve timing and lift system endow the six with 192 lbs/ft arriving at 4750 rpm.
Since the engine is only accessible from beneath the car, I can’t tell you what it looks like, but I can tell you what it goes like. Beautifully. A siren’s song. Right-now throttle response. Linear power delivery. An appetite for revs. What a sports car engine should be.
The five speed linkage has longer throws than the Audi’s, and the large gap between first and second had me wishing for the six-speed from the Boxster S. Clutch takeup is smooth and meaty.
The optional electronic Porsche Stability Management system is $1730 well spent, especially if you want to drive the car in winter.
Comfort and Convenience:
Both roadsters have comfortable and supportive seats and good driving positions, although the higher belt line in the Audi gives it more of a “bathtub” feel. With the top up, the visibility isn’t quite as good as the Porsche’s. There’s an aluminum brace on the side of the transmission hump that didn’t get along too well with my right leg.
The passenger-side airbag can be switched off in the TT, which is a bonus if you want to take your kid out for a blast.
 As far as luggage space goes, the Boxster has two reasonably sized storage compartments (front and rear) while the TT’s trunk is probably good for a couple sets of golf clubs.
Both cars have power operated tops, but Boxster has the edge here with a partial tonneau cover that neatly hides the retracted roof. The TT has a plastic panel that lives in the trunk which must be manually attached if you want the clean look. It has a bunch of fussy hooks. I tried installing it once, but after that it stayed in the hold.
Down the Road:
Yeah, yeah. Cut to the chase. These cars are all about driving, so what's the scoop?
Well, the Audi TT Roadster is alot of fun... but the Porsche Boxster is a much sharper driver’s tool. Which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The TT is a stylish roadster built on a VW corporate platform, whereas the Boxster is a purpose built sports car, constructed by a company whose sole reason d’etre (with the exception of the Cayenne) is to produce pure driving machines.
Not to say the TT isn’t a worthy road companion. Riding on Michelin Pilot Sport 225 45 x 17 rubber, it exhibits razor sharp turn in, prodigious grip and a resolute neutrality thanks to all four wheels clawing at the pavement. Powerful brakes and pedals set up perfectly for heel and toe downshifting add to the fun.
Where the TT falls down is in its lack of structural rigidity. It didn’t like having its roof cut off. A bumpy road sets up all sorts of wiggles, jiggles and rattles, and you get the sense that the car’s handling would be that much sharper with a stiffer structure. The ride is considerably chopper than the Boxster’s, too.
Hit a twisty road in the Boxster, and its “drive one before you die” reputation quickly come into focus. My tester sported optional 18” light alloy wheels ($4090). To use a tired cliché, this car shrink wraps itself around you so tight you’d swear it was reading your mind. Turn into a bend - no, just think about turning in - and you are there. It doesn’t so much steer as rotate on a central axis, with your butt being the pivot point.
There’s no guessing what’s happening at the contact patches - the lines of communication are wide open here. Just like in a Porsche 911, cornering attitude can be adjusted with throttle input, but in the Boxster it is never intimidating. It’s quick, but not stupidly fast, so you can get close to exploring its limits without inviting jail time.
The fact that all this handling prowess comes with a reasonable ride and a mechanical soundtrack to die for is pretty sweet.
Conclusion:
If you love the way the Audi TT Roadster looks, you will be very happy with this car. Factor in the safety benefits of all wheel drive and the high level of standard features (Electronic Stabilization Control, Brake Assist, heated seats, headlight washers) and you have a quick, stylish ride that’s not afraid of inclement weather.
If you place more emphasis on driver involvement, the Porsche Boxster is your only choice. It possess an enchanting, elemental purity that is irresistible. Yes, optioned out to match the Audi’s standard spec will cost you, but hey, it’s a Porsche.
Hope that helps. Of course, there’s always the BMW Z4 to consider...
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