A4 Cabriolet 2.0T FSI S Line first impressions

[PeterS]

Last year I made my most serious (and expensive) car buying mistake [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] I chose an SLK after a brief test drive on a sunny spring morning. The reality of the car on a wet (and it was very wet last summer) dual carriageway was somewhat different. I knew within 200 miles I’d chosen the wrong car [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smashfreakB.gif[/img] In September I ordered an A4 2.0T FSI S Line cabriolet (I knew there was a reason for choosing an SLK – just three letters [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]), which I’d originally test driven in the spring. It was delivered in January.






Initial impressions? Good to back in an Audi - the interior is great. So far I’ve done a couple of thousand miles, and, according to the DIS, averaged 30 mpg The engine sound is a little disappointing, but the responsiveness is good and it’s certainly brisk enough for me. The gear change (6 speed manual) is a bit notchy; more so than the 5 speed ‘box in our A3, so I’ll have to keep an eye on that. The ride is firm, though not enough to be an issue, but the soft top does mean the car is not as rigid as the Avant I had in ’03 (albeit a B6 one).

There is no change with the roof down though, unlike the Megane which felt like a normal hatchback with the roof up, but noticeably more flexible with it down [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. I didn’t order the acoustic hood, which might have been a mistake. Our previous convertible (Megane CC) had a folding hard top, as did the SLK, and wind noise was not an issue. I didn’t even think about it when ordering the A4, but there is noticeably more wind noise on the motorway than in the folding hard tops; not enough to be a problem but I do wonder if the acoustic hood would have been a wise choice… [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Had the chance to use the roof (and heated seats) earlier in the year; in today’s sleet that seems but a distant dream [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sportifs2.gif[/img]. Nice to be able to operate it on the move, but it seems a little slow. Keeping it under 20mph to allow it to finish opening/closing it a little tricky… I gather the A3 convertible has a much quicker roof, though looking at the Audi website it seems to be no cheaper than the A4 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Other thoughts? I love the colour, and the wheels (though they are a little easy to kerb [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]). It’s had a bit of a rough start; a cracked windscreen within 1,000 miles (expertly replaced by National Windscreens), and a kerbed wheel almost immediately afterwards. That’s being refurbed at Worthing Audi next week [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/169144-ok.gif[/img]

Overall I’m very pleased; have just ordered the bits for the RNS-E retrofit – thanks for your guidance there Dave [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/169144-ok.gif[/img] I think perhaps I should have ordered cruise as well, so that might come later. All I need now is a bit more sun [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif[/img]


Peter