2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet Review

Specifications

Having grown up and lived on the West Coast my whole life, my Midwest boyfriend likes to tell me I’ve never really experienced a ‘true’ winter. Where I come from, winter consists of lots of rain, the occasional dusting of snow and a few days of sub-freezing temperatures. Where he comes from, winter lasts six months, there is ample snow, and sub freezing temperatures are the rule, not the exception. But hey, opposites attract, right? So, with all the drastic climate changes from state to state, is there a car that can allow me to reap the benefits of the sunshine, when it pokes out between the clouds, and still be capable enough to brave cold, wet and snowy winters? Absolutely! What’s more, it comes in the form of a beautiful two-door drop-top called the Audi A4 Cabriolet.

I remember waking up one morning during my week with the A4 Cab to roads that were completely covered in white, and thinking, “Yes!” Say what? Some might ask how is a pretty little drop top going to help me drive through the slick, snow covered streets? Well, the A4 Cabriolet comes available with Audi’s world-renowned quattro all-wheel-drive system, which is phenomenal in slippery situations. I was so ecstatic to get into the A4, crank my heated leather driver’s seat to its max position and drive to work. It sounds a little odd, but I couldn’t think of a better or cuter car to brave the city’s ‘winter’ in than this. While most drivers loathe these conditions, Audi drivers embrace them.

Unfortunately for me (but fortunately for pretty much every other person in town) the snow didn’t stick around for long at all. In fact, it melted away within a day. I was a little sad not to get as much playtime in the snow, but then again I can always fix that and move to the East Coast! Snow aside, the Audi impressed me in more than just this one aspect. The A4’s upgrade engine, a 3.1-liter V6, makes 255 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque; which is divine for city and highway driving in the snow or shine. It makes for a fairly quick car, taking about seven and a half seconds to hit 60 mph, and has plenty of reserve power left for passing.

Since the snow melted so quickly, I made an effort to drive around with the top down at any opportunity I had. Now, I can’t tell if people were staring at me because the A4 looked really good with the top down, or because they thought I was insane for driving around like that in ‘freezing’ cold weather. It was probably a little of both. I know I’m a little off my rocker sometimes, but for me, if the sun is out, the top is down. It’s a fact! Plus, if dropping and raising the top on every convertible were as easy as the push of a button (no latches to undo here) everyone would be doing it. Part of what makes the A4 so habitable during the sub-freezing weather with the top down is its amazing seat heaters. But this luxury feature isn’t just for up front - it’s got them in the back too, as an option - perfect for my victims… I mean, passengers, driving with me on sunny days.

If you don’t have people riding in the back and you want a nearly draft-free cabin, the A4 Cabriolet features a large, mesh wind deflector that basically prevents any wind from entering the front part of the interior from behind. It’s not only good for keeping the chilly air off your neck, but it’ll save your hair too.

When driving around, it was fabulous to have the six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission linked with the V6 engine. It has a sporty feel, delivers the power amazingly quick and is as smooth as butter. Although I love the athletic feel of the Audi DIY shifter and clutch, the A4 Cabrio only comes with the automatic transmission, whether in 2.0T or 3.2 V6 form, and with the base front wheel drive A4 2.0T, it isn’t even an automatic - it’s a CVT. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, for such a serious good ride. And speaking of the ride, the sport-tuned suspension combined with the car’s all-season 235/45 R17 tires and 17-inch rims to give the A4 Cabriolet the looks to match its driving performance. The whole package was just wonderful.

What wasn’t so hot about the A4 was the lack of legroom in the rear. As I was taking photos of the car, top down and all, I sat behind the driver’s seat to test it out. I’m not tall by any means, but even at 5′5” I felt a little cramped. And I’m not fussy about legroom, but when my 6′3” boyfriend sat in the rear seats, it was another story altogether. As long as he was riding shotgun and there was no one sitting behind him, life was good. Put the top up and the rear headroom isn’t too bad either. Of course, when the top is down, the sky’s the limit! Another less favorable attribute of the A4 comes in the form of reduced visibility when the top is up. The C-pillars are a little bothersome and inhibited my parallel parking and reversing abilities. However, most convertibles have this problem so it’s nothing new.

Otherwise, the 10.2 cubic feet of luggage space isn’t bad for a convertible. There’s still enough room for groceries, shopping bags, odds and ends and almost everything your heart desires with the top up or down. Mind you, it won’t fit a hockey bag or a large bag of rock climbing gear with the top down; that’s where a Q7 would come in handy! Fuel economy is also pretty decent with an estimated 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Overall, the A4 is a fantastic all-in-one package starting at $47,900 for the V6 model. Its style and elegance grace the city streets, while its powerful engine and sporty suspension can rip up the pavement on back roads and highways (not literally, of course!). The same car with the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four comes at a less impactful price, $41,850, and if you don’t mind something a little smaller, there’s always the sexy TT Roadster.

Whether you live in a colder or more temperate climate zone, the A4 Cabriolet 3.2 quattro is a four-season package that just might suit your style.