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Audi A4 Cabriolet Gallery
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| COMFORT AND EQUIPMENT RATING: |
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The sports suspension can be unforgiving, but by and large, the A4 Cabriolet rides exceptionally well, with virtually no scuttle shake or rattles. A new, thicker-layered "acoustic hood" is now an option (standard on the S4) and this has quietened the cabin down with the roof up.
Roof-down, the optional wind deflector keeps things civilised - though this can only be used if there are no rear seat occupants - and the heater and heated seats are highly effective should you wish to go top-down in the winter. The roof is raised or lowered in 21 seconds at the touch of the button and can now be activated at speeds of up to 18mph.
The roof does retract down into the boot rather than folding on top, however, which cuts down on luggage space: 246 litres with the roof down and up to 315 litres with it up, which involves releasing an internal load area cover. In comparison, bear in mind that the tiny Nissan Micra C+C, with metal folding roof, has 255 litres of bootspace roof-down, and a phenomenal 457 litres with it up, no additional adjustment needed.
The drop-top Micra's legroom for rear seat passengers isn't much less, either: the back of the Audi is somewhat cramped for such a large car, though admittedly, its two rear seats are much deeper, better-bolstered and more feasible for long-distance transportation than the little Nissan's.
Equipment levels are higher than before, however, with a wide range of options and add-ons. Standard kit includes automatic air conditioning with sun sensor, front and rear electric windows, remote central locking, fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Unbelievably, standard audio systems only come with a cassette player - who plays cassettes any more? - rather than a CD. Tick the right boxes, though, and you can add six-CD autochangers, DVD satellite navigation with 6.5-inch colour display screen, electrically-adjustable front seats, a coolbox in the front glove compartment, xenon headlights, adaptive front lighting, sports seats and/or the S-Line trim package, with grid-pattern front grille, lowered, firmer suspension and special trim. All at a somewhat hefty price, of course: this is not, when specced-up, in any way a cheap car. But therein lies a lot of its cachet - and it doesn't fail to feel worth the outlay.
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