2003 Audi A4 Reviews

For years Audi struggled to gain equal footing with BMW and Mercedes in Australia, but that has all changed and sales have been climbing at double-digit rates for several years now. Though the Audi range is extensive and growing even larger all the time the A4, with its smaller brother the A3 at its side, has

Waves crash over rocks as they roar toward a foaming death. The location is Watego's Beach at Byron Bay, a nice place for a weekend stay and an even nicer place for a drive.A game of beach cricket was in progress among four family members and one brave soul went for a dip and lasted all of 38 seconds before retreating to dry himself with two jumbo-sized towels.Moments after the ambitious swimmer scurried back up the beach it was time to press the button on the centre console and raise the roof of the Audi cabriolet and block the wind chill. The good news is that the fully automatic hydraulic roof took less time to lock back in place than the lone swimmer's plunge in the icy water.This cabrio is endearing with smooth, clean lines and a functional cabin that is loaded with distinction through its simplicity and uncluttered design.It lopes along the highway effortlessly and pushes through the single-lane twisties with verve. Knocking the gearstick across to the left, the cabrio raises the bar, adding zest and punch to the 1.8-litre turbo for added overtaking performance.Ride quality is firm but contrary to some convertibles it is no bone-rattler. Fuel consumption on this 480km drive around northern NSW, the Gold Coast and Brisbane returned 9.3l/100km.There are the usual soft-top quirks, a few rattles here and there and cramped vision out the back when reversing.Those little traits are softened by virtue of the cabrio being one of the spunkiest and slickest looking convertibles around.

Audis can be cute, certainly the company is small by world standards, and the cars are very desirable.There's also an awful lot of them – an amazing 30 models on the Australian market today – so they have become popular car park fillers.The Audi A4 Cabriolet Turbo is the latest.It appears to aim at the more sports-oriented driver yet, in reality, it is presented as a cheaper alternative to the V6 version that pre-dates it by six months.The two variants share the purposeful yet alluring convertible body and, while it's $20,470 cheaper, the $84,900 Turbo misses out on very little in the way of luxury features.Though very popular in the US and Britain, convertibles are an acquired taste that demand occupants have an immodest attitude and a personal hairdresser waiting to coif madam's hair every time she departs a topless vehicle.There are other concerns: A harsh WA summer sun and torrential winter rains are added hazards for Perth drivers. Then there's the fact that, up to now, most convertibles rattled, creaked and rolled like a veteran rock band that refused to retire.I say up to now because the Audi Cabriolet is one of the very few that has a taut body free of structural defects.Even acceding to the wishes of the 1.8-litre turbocharged engine by pushing quickly through South-West roads, the car's body didn't hint at any flex.It was also drum tight and surprisingly quiet – features greatly appreciated because it was bucketing down outside.Front-wheel drive was also acknowledged by its surety through the winding wet roads, as were the xenon headlights when the sun went down.To say I enjoyed this car was an understatement.The bonus was an average of 7.1-litres/100km on the 580km trip, with the cruise control set on 110km/h and the engine ticking at a mere 2100rpm.The trip computer estimated that if I maintained that average speed, the fuel tank wouldn't empty for another 230km – pretty outstanding for a turbocharged automatic.The fact that the car toured so effortlessly shouldn't come as a great surprise, when you consider its training ground on the high-speed autobahns of Germany.It was, however, equally as competent in the city, with its only major vice being the very limited rear and rear three-quarter visibility with the roof up.The gearbox is a continuously variable transmission – which Audi calls Multitronic – that has no cogs and the unnerving trait of having the tachometer needle falling while the speedo needle rises.The box, by the way, is mainly responsible for the outstanding economy and has six preset ratios for those who enjoy flogging the gearlever and playing race-cardriver.Four adults can fit in the Cabriolet's leather-trimmed cabin, although I'd suggest two kids in the rear would have more fun.The well-insulated roof is electrically operated and goes up and down in a flash, although takes up a lot of boot room when collapsed.Excellent instrumentation, a delightful sound system, dual airconditioning and a comfortable touring ride complete the picture.

It arrives as Australia's new-found love affair with the convertible lures a host of drop-tops to our shores.While most of the new arrivals have come in at less than $50,000, the new Audi has a hefty price tag of $105,370.But the sexy A4 offers a lot more than an expensive fling, according to Audi managing director Graham Hardy.``When you drive this cabriolet, it's a huge step ahead in terms of equipment and what you'd expect in the conventional sedan,'' Hardy says.``And because of the improvements in rigidity, there is very little twist and flex and it's extremely solid.``I think that will make this car's appeal more enduring than it otherwise would be for this kind of car. It's much less of a compromise.''The new Audi convertible's chassis is twice as stiff as the previous model's, which means it won't wallow around corners and over bumps. It also helps reduce rattles and other noises that often annoy convertible owners.The A4's other advantage over many of its rivals is a back seat that genuinely fits two adults, with the rear passengers getting 66mm more room than in the previous model.The electro-hydraulic hood opens and closes in about 30 seconds and can be operated from inside the cabin or remotely via the key.Even with the hood down, there's 246 litres of boot space, enough room for a golf bag or two.The first A4 Cabriolets in Australia will be powered by a 3-litre V6 that delivers 160kW of power at 6300rpm and 290Nm of torque at 3200rpm. A cheaper version with a 1.8-litre engine will follow.The Australian A4 Cabriolets are front-wheel-drive and won't get the quattro all-wheel-drive system.They do, however, come with Audi's continuously variable transmission, called Multitronic. This system effectively offers an unlimited number of transmission ratios, which in practice means no obvious gear changes.Safety features include an active rollover system which triggers two protective bars behind the rear seats, as well as an electronic stability program and hydraulic braking assistance.The Audi Cabriolet 3.0 costs $105,370, with the 1.8-litre version expected to be $80,000-$90,000.On the roadBUYING a convertible is all about having fun and being seen to have fun. But it usually means compromising practicality.The Audi Cabriolet is a compromise but a very good one. It's not quite as sure-footed as a quattro, as sporty as an S4 or as much fun as the TT roadster. But it is a pretty competent and cool mix and, as far as drop-tops go, is practical and easy to live with -- something that cannot be said about every convertible on the market.With the fabric roof closed, the Cabriolet is a very good cruiser, offering the right dose of comfort and sporty handling. It also is pretty quiet and has relatively little intrusive wind noise compared with many convertibles. It also has a reasonable amount of room for the rear passengers as well, although taller passengers might struggle for headroom with the hood up.People buy convertibles for that open-air freedom but it often comes at the expense of body rigidity, which, in turn, impacts on the car's handling. The Audi Cabriolet, however, feels confident and solid on all but the roughest roads, thanks to its stiffer body.The 3-litre V6 engine is smooth and willing, without being breathtaking. But it's Audi's impressive Multitronic transmission that allows the V6 to star.Multitronic allows smooth acceleration without noticeable changes in gear ratios. It's so smooth it's almost eerie. For those who can't get used to it, there is a tiptronic function for manual use.The automatic roof is a wonderful thing and, while it folds away into the rear compartment, it attracts almost as much attention as the car itself.And with the top down, it's hard not to get noticed, even if it isn't quite as showy as the equivalent Benz or BMW. It is a statement but not a brash one.