All Wheel Drive Coupes Are Nearing Extinction: '09 Audi TT

The world of all wheel drive coupes is slowly but surely getting smaller every single day. Just twenty years ago, we had dozens of options available to those of us who wanted something along those lines, including the legendary Subaru 2.5 RS, the Subaru SVX, the original Audi TT, the DSM trio (Plymouth Laser, Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse) and many more. Unfortunately in this day and age, AWD coupes are seemingly limited to the VW group, ie: Bugatti Veyron, VW Golf R32, Audi TT, Porsche Carrera 4s, etc, yet none of the cars available are what one would call "affordable", unless you are a Prince in the U.A.E.

I suppose if we have to be left with such a small number of AWD coupes, they may as well be as potent and good looking as the Audi TT we have at our lot in Santa Clara. It is a 2009 model equipped with a 2.0L 4cyl, producing 272 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Not only does it launch from 0-60 in just over 5 measly seconds, it does it while encompassing the driver in supreme comfort and luxury. Personally I could care less about all the amenities included such as power heated mirrors, heated seats, or even the built-in navigation. I prefer a much more spartan approach to driving. My daily driver doesn't even have power steering or A/C. Yeah, I'm that guy. Regardless of whether or not you want every option under the sun, how could you complain if you owned one? There would be nothing to complain about except the fact that it only has two doors, which again is totally OK with me.

1999 Subaru 2.5rs coupe

Now that we've covered how totally awesome AWD coupes are, lets go over why they seem to be dying off. First, I would have to say that they aren't the most practical of cars. Yes, they can go absolutely anywhere, and they generally look completely bad-ass, but they don't have a ton of storage space or even people space, for that matter. They are born and bred to be a drivers car. That is it. The AWD platform makes the smaller wheelbase cars hug the road like no other, and the lightweight forced-induction engines that most are equipped with produce enough power to make them all relatively quick. 

Now that we're in a time where people are buying their car based on the fact that it can park itself, I don't think there are nearly as many "drivers" as there were twenty years ago. Unfortunately we've been inundated with so much tree-hugging, Prius loving propaganda, auto makers have been turned completely upside down in regards to the markets they sell to and the cars we want to drive. 

What are your thoughts? Do you want more AWD coupe options available to you? I know I do. Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don't forget to "like" and share on your favorite social networking site! (Facebook.....ehem.)