Haha — it looks like the R8 had a baby!
I guess it does! No, this is a TT wearing a snazzy R8 bodykit.
It must be quite rare; we’ve not seen one like it around here...
Neither have I; I am not sure if there is another one like it. If there is, I’d love to see it!
We’ll keep an eye out for you. You’ve loved cars since you were a kid, right?
Yes; ever since I can remember I have been a fan of cars and, in particular, I had a passion for sportscars. I also have always loved the idea of having a convertible; these really appeal to me. I have many favourite cars but key for me is the design; they ought to be similar to my personality and exude the same style as me. People tell me I dress very elegantly and I guess I like my cars to look elegant and unique. The car you drive represents who you are, in my opinion. At the same time, buying a car is very much like choosing the right house and selecting the appropriate furniture — it is a very personal choice.
Tell us about the first car you bought. What was it and why did you buy it?
It was bought during my university years — a convertible 2002 BMW 328. It was a great car and lots of fun to drive. Dropping the top after a tough day of learning and going for a cruise was the ideal stress buster. Then after I landed my first job, I purchased a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 and installed an AMG 55 body kit. I have to say it looked really good, but it was a little later that I realised that cars should try to find a balance between sophistication, power and uniqueness.
Wasn’t it during this time that you began to develop an interest in the TT?
I had always liked the TT but never really took it seriously and was more than happy with my SL 500. But, yes, I found myself becoming more and more interested in the little Audi. However, it was very expensive and I always put buying one on the back-burner. That was until my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I spotted a limited-edition TT with an R8 body kit in the US. I had never seen anything like it before. I had a friend in the States who helped me to purchase the car and then I had it shipped over here. It took about two months before it arrived. The R8 is somewhat of a dream car but this TT looked like a smaller version. I was intrigued by it and just had to buy it.
It’s an awesome-looking thing, that’s for sure. It must make driving a real pleasure…
Yes, absolutely. I had become so used to driving different cars, which I love to do very much, but they often become a little stale and you lose the excitement factor with some models after a while. But with the TT R8, it feels like I am driving a new car every day. I think it will be some time before I am bored with this one. My family and friends love the car and they refer to it as ‘Anas’s unique car’, which I like. I love fast cars and this Audi is plenty quick and provides me with an adrenaline rush. But I see people here with fast cars and they abuse the roads and this is just not on; we should respect the laws of the land and be careful when we are behind the wheel.
Well said, Anas — safety first. If only others out there were as sensible as you. Now, tell us more about this little beast…
Well, apart from the UAE national football team, my other favourite team is Germany and I particularly like their black and white colours. This was another reason why I bought this car; it matches the Germany kit. The red leather interior looks fabulous and is a nice contrast to the exterior. My favourite features are the 3.2-litre engine that produces a very healthy 320bhp and the quattro all-wheel drive, which provides superb traction, not to mention the very user-friendly satellite navigation and sound systems.
We bet this thing turns quite a few heads when you are driving around town…
Without fail! When people randomly stop me in the streets and compliment my car or take photos with it, which happens every day (no jokes!), that is when I realise that I made the right choice. It’s a little difficult to hide in this car — it sticks out like a sore thumb! I am thinking about replacing the rims with those on the Porsche 911. Also, I would love to install a turbo to give it more punch, but the RTA is strict on these sorts of modifications so I probably won’t be able to. However, I am considering doing up the interior a little and perhaps furnishing it with a different material.
911 wheels — so this TT might look like a R8 and a Porsche? It’ll be a German bombshell!
That would be quite a combination, wouldn’t it? But in all seriousness, I am aiming to buy a 911 Turbo next, so I may just leave the TT the way it is.
