Audi A4 CABRIOLET (2001 - TO DATE)
MODELS COVERED: (1.8T, 2.4, 3.0-litre petrol, 2.
5TDi diesel [Cabriolet, Cabriolet Sport /Quattro])
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Rarely has a car undergone quite such an image transformation over the course of one generation than Audis A4 Cabriolet. Whereas its predecessor was regarded as a rather outdated if elegant cruiser, the post 2001 model is right up with the best as far as four
seat convertibles go. With a far stiffer chassis than the old car ever got and better engines to boot, the A4 Cabriolet offers those looking for a genuinely dynamic drive a number of options. The choice of quattro all wheel drive transmission and a quality diesel engine differentiated Audis offering and ensures that new cars sold well and used examples command strong residuals.
Bargains may be rare but then so are potential lemons.
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| Performance |
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| Styling |
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In a class full of particularly pretty cars, this one stands out, even against drop-top versions of the
BMW 3 Series and Mercedes CLK. And it costs less than either which is helpful for the predominantly private band of buyers who tend to fill the order books. New prices are around £3,000 and £5,000 less than BMW and Mercedes alternatives depending on which model you choose. Heck, its even better value than the ancient
Saab 9-3 Convertible, a car out of its depth on anything other than a motorway.
Mind you, dont go expecting this
Audi to be a hot rod in the handling stakes: Ingolstadt says that their TT Roadster (which costs similar money) fulfils that role. BMW still leads the class in this respect but owners of the soggy old 91-00 Cabriolet will be surprised how much better this one is. Of course, it darn well should be a lot better, given that the previous model was based on a car with a design dating back to 1986. Sure enough, the latest version is 112% stiffer and, more importantly, tauter than its two main German rivals.
As a result, scuttle shake has been almost banished and general vibrations of all kinds should be virtually impossible to detect. Though the general set-up is soft, roll has been kept in check, enabling you to push on with vigour when the need arises. Youll quickly tire of tyre-smoking antics in this car however, and settle back in the more tranquil mode that suits it better. Your passengers will thank you for that of course and in this case, there could easily be three of them.
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 Audi A4 Cabriolet holds onto its value with grim determination. Even the least popular model, the front wheel drive 2.4-litre without the Sport and with the CVT gearbox will command £20,000 for an 01 51-plated example. Given this car retailed for £25,420 new, its easy to see why these cars have rewarded owners with relatively inexpensive prestige motoring.
If you really want to tear tarmac, the Cabriolet 3.0-litre Sport is the best pick and these can be found from £21,000 if you choose a manual gearbox or £22,500 with the CVT box. The 2.5-litre TDi is an interesting proposition, Audi obviously having faith in the cars refinement and a manual Sport version can be found for £22,500.
The 1.8T models instantly became the best sellers upon introduction and the first 52-platers are around for £21,300.
There are no particular problem areas with any of the cabriolets. Audi's extensive corrosion proofing and excellent build quality ensure that all its cars are long lasting. Check any car for a full service history, of course, and don't forget to make sure the fabric hood is without slash-repairs, is waterproof and fits as it should. The interior may be slightly sun-damaged, especially models with leather trim, so have a good look around the top of the dashboard and seats.
(approx based on a 2003 A4 1.8T Cabriolet) A clutch assembly kit will be around £205 and an exhaust system (without catalyst) will be about £250. An alternator should be close to £120 and a radiator around £160. Front brake pads are around £75, rear brake pads will be £50.
As with all A4s, the build quality is brilliant, with every control you touch clicking beautifully into place. You can enjoy it all on the move too, thanks to a supple ride and impressive refinement aided by a class-leading 0.30Cd drag factor: this car makes less of a hole in the air with the roof open than the BMW 3 Series Convertible does with it closed. Which is just as well, at least from a fuel consumption perspective, given that the car is so heavy: at some 1580kg in weight, its 155kg more than the saloon and 150kg more than the old car. As a result, youll struggle to get much more than 20mpg around town in the 3.0-litre. Audi has its excuses ready on this one, as youd expect.
Its all apparently necessary to create that class-leading rigidity, incorporate the electro-hydraulically operated roof and meet current safety standards (theres the usual complement of front and side airbags). There are twin roll bars to carry around for example: these automatically pop up in a blink of an eye behind the rear head restraints should the car be in danger of rolling over. Whatever the reasons, the result is that, even in top 3.0-litre form, the performance on offer is likely to feel, shall we say, rather relaxed, even if blank paper figures (0-60mph in 7.8s en route to 151mph) suggest otherwise.
Remember this if youre thinking about one of the smaller-engined versions. At least the 2.5TDi can average nearly 40mpg.
When it first appeared on the market, Audis A4 Cabriolet managed to make everything else look a little old hat. Even now its still where many would choose to put their money. Class and quality dont come cheap, however, and youll need some serious disposable income to get behind the wheel. Once there you wont need too much convincing that youve made a good choice.
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