I'm prepared to hold my hands up and say that yes, the car deserves the tag. It got it because when launched it was clearly a matter of form over substance. The car is flawed. Performance was disappointing. It wasn't as powerful or as fast as people had hoped it would be and handling was numb and unengaging. It simply was not the genuine sports car that the world's motoring press had been eagerly anticipating. It was exactly like the Alfa Romeo Brera which got everyone so excited when we first saw it on Top Gear - it just looked gorgeous! - but which turned out to be an under-powered big lump.
But with the TT, despite its flaws people rushed out and bought it in droves - and we have to admit that it wasn't a rush of petrol-headed, sports car enthusiasts. It was a rush of people who just wanted a TT because it was such a good looking car and who couldn't care less if it drove like a dog. It was the must-have of airline cabin crew, estate agents and yes, hairdressers! It was a car to pose in. Not a driver's car.
There's no point denying it.
But over the years we have found ways to make the TT the car it should always have been. Remaps sort the power issues, Defcons, uprated bushes and ARBs sort out the numb steering and suspension upgrades deal with the ride. What many of us have now is the car the motoring press wanted in the first place. Had Audi released the car as we have them now then perhaps we wouldn't have had that hairdresser's tag, but in reality we probably would. The simple fact is, it is such a good looking car that it was always going to be bought for its looks and nothing else.
But so what? I now have a car that drives like a dream and looks fantastic. What do I care what other people have to say about it? What is telling, though I have plenty of friends who enjoy making the odd hairdresser jibe, without exception they just love the car when they ever get a ride in it! One or two even went on to buy one of their own.