Audi A4 CABRIOLET 3.0 V6
The 3.0-Litre V6 Version Of Audis A4 Cabriolet Wont Be Short Of Willing Takers. Andy Enright Reports
If, as industry figures claim, sales of four-seater cabriolets have multiplied fourfold in the past ten years then perhaps Audis cabriolet brand manager isnt entirely opposed to the concept of global warming. After all, theres nothing like throwing the hood back when the Phew What A Scorcher headlines start to appear. Chances are youll be looking at the back end of a Devon Hathaway caravan, but there can be few finer places to admire the Hathaways cottage style interior and attractive pitched beam ceiling than from the drivers
seat of an
Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0 V6.
Many will remember the old Audi Cabriolet as car that was owned by celebrities, developed slowly over its 11-year life span and had a chassis only slightly less flexible than an inebriated contortionist. With over 72,000 satisfied customers it seemed that style really was more important than substance. Judged on that basis, it seems that Audis development budget for the A4 Cabriolet was hugely overinflated. This is a car that didnt need to be much cop to sell by the thousand.
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That its a thoroughly well sorted car represents money that could have been directed elsewhere to worthier projects such as plumbing the 450bhp RS6 engine into an S3. Still, 220bhp is hardly inconsequential, powering this £28,930 3.0-litre A4 Cabriolet to 60mph in a mere 7.8 seconds, whether you choose the standard six-speed manual gearbox or the optional CVT Multitronic gearchange.
Theres also the option of Quattro four wheel drive for £30,330 plus Sport and S-Line packs which boost the cars dynamic appeal. A robust 221lb/ft of torque makes the figures of the pricier
BMW 325Ci Convertible (192bhp/181lb/ft) look rather limp wristed. At 1580kg the
Audi is around 100kg lighter than the BMW and even marginally better aerodynamically, but the simple fact that the BMWs drive goes to the rear wheels and the Audis to the fronts means that theres little in it in terms of sprinting ability. The Bavarian drop top counters by returning marginally better fuel economy figures and C02 emissions than the A4.
"This is a car that didnt need to be much cop to sell by the thousand."
When it comes to dropping the hood and cruising, the Audi is streets ahead. Wind intrusion is minimal and the suspension does a fine job of insulating the drivers from most road imperfections. Big expansion joints, drain covers and potholes can pierce the A4s armour but never cause any shimmy in the body. Audi have worked hard at ensuring the A4 Cabriolet is more than twice as torsionally rigid as its predecessor.
A bolted on subframe at the front and additional diagonal reinforcing struts help to prevent scuttle shake and the steering column is connected to a cross member which in turn links to a girder that affixes the windscreen. Instead of providing rear
seat accommodation good only for kids or lifts down the pub, German coachbuilder Karmann (who also build the Mercedes CLK Cabriolet) have worked with Audi to create a true four-seater. They claimed that about the old car of course, but as anyone who had to endure a back seat perch on long journeys will know, they lied. This time, thanks to a body thats 207mm longer, 50mm wider and 99mm longer in the wheelbase, the designers have at last delivered.
According to the figures, theres 52mm more rear shoulder space and 66mm more rear knee-room. So yes, you and your drinking partners really can go touring. Mind you, dont go carrying too much baggage: though the boot capacity is 26 litres up on the old car, that still only means 246 litres with the roof down (or 315 litres with the top up): enough space for two golf bags in real terms. On to the beautifully lined three-layer roof which hides beneath an aluminium-trimmed solid tonneau cover when not in use. Electrically operated of course, it opens or closes in 24 seconds and there are no fiddly manual latches to break your nails on before you can press the button. The whole thing can also be done from the outside of the car by using the remote control keyfob.
Unfortunately, the wind deflector (essential if you want to comfortably drive with the roof down at speed) costs extra and, to add insult to injury, it effectively reduces your car to a two-seater. The rear window is a proper heated glass affair and there is of course an optional hard top, should you want to drive your car day-in, day-out all winter. The Multitronic CVT gearbox is an interesting option. Theres little difference in performance between an A4 Cabriolet with a manual gearbox and one fitted with the Multitronic box.
In fact, the CVT box does marginally better at the pumps. The electronics incorporate a Dynamic Control Programme (DRP) which monitors both the driver and the driving conditions. It assesses the way the driver uses the accelerator pedal and determines whether the emphasis is being placed on performance or economy. The electronics also take into account uphill and downhill gradients and assist the driver by compensating for the added load or boosting engine torque accordingly.
Arguably the most ingenious feature of these electronics is the aforementioned manual mode which can be selected by moving the gear lever to the right of the gate. It offers six fixed transmission stages, each selected with a touch of the gear lever or steering wheel-mounted rocker switches (which wed recommend). Again, on the move, the gearchanges are jolt-free. As with ordinary Tiptronic-style gearboxes that offer this kind of manual set-up, its something thats initially fun to use, but the appeal soon palls.
If you want a car that entertains down twisty roads, a BMW 3 Series Convertible would be a better bet. Cabriolets arent about performance or ten tenths handling, however. For those that appreciate the more satisfying aspects of the entire ownership experience the A4 Cabriolet has the edge. Its a newer, more polished product than the 3 Series and promises even better residual values.
It may be a case of head ruling heart, but its difficult to make a convincing case against the A4 Cabriolet 3.0 inheriting the top step of the podium.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0
PRICES: £28,930-£32,280 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 235g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.8s / Max Speed 151mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 20.3mpg / (extra urban) 38.2mpg / (combined) 29.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ESP, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4573/1777/1391mm
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