A4 Cabrio

Non-technical forum specific to Audi. Good example: Discussion of classic Audi's.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Mr Kleen
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 15034
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:46 pm
Location: Wiesbaden.DE

A4 Cabrio

Post by Mr Kleen »

I rented an A4 Cabrio this week and I give it good marks but also have some negative things to report.

- the brakes stop well enough but are near impossible to modulate and come to a smooth stop.
- the automatic transmission doesn't make smooth starts easy, you either have to floor it or creep away.
- lots of shudders and shakes (but it is a convertible)
- HUGE blind spots with the top up (again, it's a convertible)

+ the exhaust note is fantastic under WOT.
+ the power is very acceptable for a car of it's heft.
+ the adaptive xenon headlights are really cool (but damn I'd hate to pay to replace one)
+ great "German" handling (not sure if the tires should be this aggressive on a convertible model, but I don't mind)
+ great steering wheel and seats
+ has all the bells and whistles

all the negatives other than the brakes would be remedied by ordering a fixed roof manual model. my new object of lust is officially an S4. :mrgreen:
I'd do a better write up but my laptop battery is dying and I don't posses the literary skill of our resident reviewer legasleeper. :wink:
GaToR
DCAWD Groupie
Posts: 873
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:56 pm

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by GaToR »

Mr Kleen wrote:I rented an A4 Cabrio this week and I give it good marks but also have some negative things to report.

- the brakes stop well enough but are near impossible to modulate and come to a smooth stop.
- the automatic transmission doesn't make smooth starts easy, you either have to floor it or creep away.
- lots of shudders and shakes (but it is a convertible)
- HUGE blind spots with the top up (again, it's a convertible)

+ the exhaust note is fantastic under WOT.
+ the power is very acceptable for a car of it's heft.
+ the adaptive xenon headlights are really cool (but damn I'd hate to pay to replace one)
+ great "German" handling (not sure if the tires should be this aggressive on a convertible model, but I don't mind)
+ great steering wheel and seats
+ has all the bells and whistles

all the negatives other than the brakes would be remedied by ordering a fixed roof manual model. my new object of lust is officially an S4. :mrgreen:
I'd do a better write up but my laptop battery is dying and I don't posses the literary skill of our resident reviewer legasleeper. :wink:
You said what needs to be said. :)

Is that the 2.0T or 3.2?
User avatar
complacent
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 11651
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: near the rockies. very.
Contact:

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by complacent »

Nice review :)

I had a feeling you wouldn't be able to pass it up. Enjoy it out there!
colin

a tank, a yammie, a spaceship
i <3 teh 00ntz
User avatar
Sabre
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 21432
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Springfield, VA
Contact:

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by Sabre »

I've been dying for a ride in a RS4. I heard/saw one not too long ago and loved it at first site... but I DON'T like the price tag...
Sabre (Julian)
Image
92.5% Stock 04 STI
Good choice putting $4,000 rims on your 1990 Honda Civic. That's like Betty White going out and getting her tits done.
GaToR
DCAWD Groupie
Posts: 873
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:56 pm

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by GaToR »

Sabre wrote:I've been dying for a ride in a RS4. I heard/saw one not too long ago and loved it at first site... but I DON'T like the price tag...
I got to ride in a coworker's yellow RS4. Smooths out corners like they don't exist.
User avatar
Sabre
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 21432
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Springfield, VA
Contact:

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by Sabre »

:cry:
Sabre (Julian)
Image
92.5% Stock 04 STI
Good choice putting $4,000 rims on your 1990 Honda Civic. That's like Betty White going out and getting her tits done.
User avatar
complacent
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 11651
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: near the rockies. very.
Contact:

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by complacent »

legasleeper wrote:
I got to ride in a coworker's yellow RS4. Smooths out corners like they don't exist.


Stop it! You stop it this minute!!!


8)
colin

a tank, a yammie, a spaceship
i <3 teh 00ntz
User avatar
Mr Kleen
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 15034
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:46 pm
Location: Wiesbaden.DE

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by Mr Kleen »

I think it's the 3.2 but I'll need to check to be sure. I know it's a Quatro.

I think the RS4 is just way to expensive for what you get but the S4 can make a strong case for itself... :mrgreen:
GaToR
DCAWD Groupie
Posts: 873
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:56 pm

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by GaToR »

complacent wrote:
legasleeper wrote:
I got to ride in a coworker's yellow RS4. Smooths out corners like they don't exist.
Stop it! You stop it this minute!!!

8)

<------ Has an addiction to comfy cars that are fast. :oops:
User avatar
Mr Kleen
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 15034
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:46 pm
Location: Wiesbaden.DE

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by Mr Kleen »

it's the 3.2
User avatar
ElZorro
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 5958
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: USA! USA!

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by ElZorro »

Mr Kleen wrote:I know it's a Quatro.
There? For what, just in case a pineapple truck goes upside down?
Jason "El Zorro" Fox
'17 Subaru Forester 2.0XT
DCAWD - old coots in fast scoots.
GaToR
DCAWD Groupie
Posts: 873
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:56 pm

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by GaToR »

ElZorro wrote:
Mr Kleen wrote:I know it's a Quatro.
There? For what, just in case a pineapple truck goes upside down?
When I was there it would rain really hard every hour for like 5 minutes.

Driving in the sun... sun... sun... thunderstorm... sun...
User avatar
ElZorro
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 5958
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: USA! USA!

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by ElZorro »

Ok, I can see that, if they actually put some decent tires on it. I've seen plenty of 4x4 or AWD rentals with craptacular tires on them :-/
Jason "El Zorro" Fox
'17 Subaru Forester 2.0XT
DCAWD - old coots in fast scoots.
User avatar
Mr Kleen
DCAWD Founding Member
Posts: 15034
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:46 pm
Location: Wiesbaden.DE

Re: A4 Cabrio

Post by Mr Kleen »

it will put all the power it has down on the road, that's for sure. speed limits are low here but the occasional on-ramp has been fun. :-)

there are a lot of new style Impreza rental cars around here. not sure what that's all about. I would think a Forrester more suitable for Hawaii duty (roof rack for your surfing or boating gear, ground clearance for beach parking, room for gear in the back).
Post Reply