Audi TT RS (8S)

Audi’s 25 cars in the Dream Car Garage catalogue cover a broad range of choices, but the TT RS (8S) brings a combination found in just 10 of the 600 cars: a turbocharged inline-5 engine. That layout alone separates it from the wider collection, and only 8 cars in the catalogue pair an inline-5 with AWD. The TT RS is not defined by having the highest numbers in every category, but by how unusual its ingredients are when placed beside 599 alternatives.

Its 394 bhp places it at 437 of 600 for power, while its 3.7-second 0-100 km/h time ranks 244 of 600, meaning it is faster off the line than 356 cars in the collection. The contrast is revealing. The TT RS sits away from the absolute extremes of power and top speed, where its 250 km/h figure ranks 414 of 600, yet its acceleration gives it a stronger presence than its outright figures might suggest. It is a compact two-door coupe approach built around a 2.5-litre engine, 480 Nm of torque, and AWD.

That character comes from a specification that is increasingly distinctive within this catalogue. A 2,480 cc inline-5 with turbocharging is a rare technical choice among the 600 cars, and the pairing of that engine layout with AWD narrows the field further. The TT RS (8S), available from 2017 to 2022, represents Audi’s entry in this particular corner of the collection, where configuration matters as much as headline performance.

The used price of £42,000 places it at 475 of 600, more expensive than 125 cars in the catalogue, with a cost of £107 per bhp. Those numbers position it as a considered purchase within the wider garage rather than a simple chase for maximum output. Its German origin connects it to a catalogue where 197 cars come from Germany, while Audi’s own heritage traces back to a manufacturer founded in 1909.

For a collector, the appeal of the TT RS is found in the choice it creates. A garage filled with different expressions of performance can include many powerful cars, but this Audi adds a very specific formula: a turbocharged inline-5, AWD traction, and a 0-100 km/h time that places it firmly among the quicker cars available. Whether that unusual blend matters more than a higher ranking in power or speed is the decision that makes this car an individual choice.