Topless Two-Seat Tango: Sport Roadster Comparison

MotorTrend

The Motor Trend Editors leave the test gear behind  and take four hot roadsters -- the 2010 Audi TTS

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:26 Ah, the Roadster.

00:28 Originally conceived as street legal racers, they are now the

00:31 weapon of choice for carving up canyons and country roads.

00:34 We took a quartet of modern Roadsters, including the Audi

00:37 TTS, BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster S, and Nissan Z Roadster to some

00:43 of Southern California's twistiest roads to determine

00:45 which one best fulfills the mission profile.

00:48 But before heading out, we laid down some ground rules.

00:51 We would not count cup holders nor factor in leg room.

00:54 We'd log fuel economy for those who care, but not count

00:56 it in our final tally.

00:58 Such practical matters are for practical cars.

01:01 We even put aside the stopwatches and calculators

01:03 in favor of data collected by our hands, eyes, feet, and

01:07 ears.

01:08 Can this heart and soul approach accurately determine

01:10 which Roadster is best?

01:12 Decide for yourself.

01:15 The Z4's stunning body makes this one the best looking of

01:18 the group, with top up or down.

01:22 It absolutely nails the Roadster chic, with an interior

01:25 that rivals Audi for top honors and sheet metal without

01:28 equal.

01:31 That long nose, short deck body is simply gorgeous.

01:36 Its turbocharged inline six belts out a note so sweet, you

01:39 forget about the many chassis problems.

01:40 The Z4's six-speed manual is up there as the best manual

01:51 BMW offers.

01:52 Short throws and crisp action.

01:54 It jumps around and has issues putting down the power.

02:01 The steering is ratchety rather than fluid at the

02:03 turns.

02:04 Well, I'm shocked.

02:10 Just got out of what I expected to be a contender for

02:12 first or second, and now I'm wondering if it's

02:15 going to make third.

02:18 The Z Roadster offers the most for the money, the most

02:20 power, the most sophisticated front suspension, and the

02:23 largest brakes.

02:25 Wow, as Ed points out, looks like a nurse

02:28 shark crossed with a cow.

02:30 The Z has awkward styling, but it does look aggressive and

02:33 muscular.

02:34 Great wheels, too.

02:37 I think the Z's interior is attractive and quite nice for

02:39 the price.

02:46 Six is strong, but it's unacceptably rough and noisy.

02:50 On twisty canyon roads, it delivers a more confidence

02:56 inspiring drive than the BMW Z4.

02:58 I could feel some flex, but it managed to feel very secure in

03:04 the tight twistings.

03:06 Tons of grip.

03:09 Steering is good, and the shifter is easy to stir.

03:13 The Z steering has a hefty weight to it, which is nice

03:15 for feel, but it almost becomes tiresome after long

03:18 drives on twisty roads.

03:19 The Nissan is easily the least expensive of the group, but

03:28 also feels that way.

03:29 She may not be pretty, but she grips hard and goes fast.

03:38 The TTS is the real deal, far more of a driver's car than

03:44 the BMW Z4.

03:47 The Audi has a very comfy, attractive interior.

03:50 Everything is easy to operate, and it looks sharp and

03:52 expensive.

03:54 Despite a willing, turbocharged, direct injection

03:56 four cylinder, in this pack, the Audi just doesn't have

03:59 enough fends.

04:01 Handling is what this Audi does best, and it's one of the

04:04 most fun and easiest to drive.

04:06 This Audi's chassis flexes like a solid build of aluminum

04:12 alloy, meaning not at all.

04:14 Really impressive how tenacious this chassis is.

04:17 This golf-based chassis is best appreciated up to about

04:23 7/10, above that level, and it's more basic underpinnings

04:28 begin to surface.

04:31 The turbo mill matched with GSG isn't for me.

04:34 At times, it shifted awkwardly, leaving me out of

04:36 the power range.

04:40 Our winner, not even close.

04:42 The Porsche Boxster S is easily the most stirring

04:45 two-seater of this group.

04:46 It's a mid-engine magic carpet ride, capable of

04:49 delivering a soulful and exhilarating experience from

04:51 the very first flick of its six-speed shifter.

04:54 At over $66,000, it isn't cheap, but a fair price to pay

04:58 for pure driving satisfaction.

05:00 Man, oh man, oh man.

05:08 This is a sports car.

05:11 The Boxster is the only car here to make you feel like a

05:14 race car driver.

05:15 Steering is absolutely perfect.

05:21 Light, but beautifully precise.

05:23 The Boxster is also the best riding.

05:25 Smooth, well-damped, and downright plush compared to

05:28 the Z4.

05:30 Six-speed manual is just about perfect.

05:32 Light, precise, with the right space pedals and velvety

05:35 clutch feel to make every shift up or down as smooth as it

05:39 is effortless.

05:41 It's a mid-engine masterpiece developed keenly for speed,

05:44 style, and comfort.

05:45 Completely in a league of its own, it's that superior to

05:51 every other machine here.

05:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]

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