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