AudiS4 Cabriolet
By Paul Borden
With the afternoon showers of summer still to come and the vagaries of January in Southwest Florida— will it be 80 degrees or 60 today?—behind us, March may just be the perfect month to enjoy the affable attributes of a convertible.
The temperatures are right—warm enough but not too hot—and the sun bearing down doesn’t make you stop a half block away from a stoplight so you can be in the shade, a common maneuver during the summer when driving with the top down.
Yes. March is just right for convertibles.
Convertibles once appeared to be on their way out of the American automotive scene, and U.S. manufacturers dropped their production of ragtops in the mid-1970s. But Chrysler revived the segment in 1982—its Sebring convertible continues to be a sales leader among ragtops today—and many other automakers have followed since with their own versions.
Though convertibles make up only a small fraction of total automotive sales in any given year, usually less than five percent of the market, they still carry an impact that goes beyond their mere numbers. Even the most sedate sedan drivers have to be just a bit envious when a convertible passes. I don’t care what may be going on inside their heads, what problems they may be facing at work or home or in their love lives, convertible drivers always seem to have a carefree air about them as they motor along. Mussed-up hair? Who cares?
But which convertible?
Choices are multiple and varied.
There are models with tops that fold now into their own compartments, eliminating the need to snap down a tonneau cover—if any of you really bothered anyway—as in past years.
There are tops that go up and down with the push of a button, locking in place without the need to manually secure the clasps, and others on smaller cars that you must lift in place with your own muscle power.
In recent years, several manufacturers have delved into the 1950s and brought back the true retractable hardtop models, giving them the advantages of a coupe when the weather isn’t suitable for top-down cruising.
And, of course, there are now many domestic offerings to compete with the imports.
The final decision may come down to a matter of just how frivolous you can be. (After all, the opportunity to be frivolous is part of the convertible’s appeal.) You may want a two-seat roadster, but you may need something with a backseat (however small it may be).
So you compromise, if just a little.
One area where you needn’t do that, however, is in the matter of performance.
You may get both a convertible that offers fresh-air motoring along with sporty power in the Audi S4.
Essentially, the S4 series essentially is a version of Audi’s popular A4 lineup but with a little more kick to it. Actually, a lot more.
The A4 Cabriolet—which is what Audi calls its convertibles, which sounds more sophisticated than the Brits’ “Drophead Coupe”—comes with either a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine or a 3.2-liter normally aspirated V6. The S4 gets a 4.2-liter V8 that boots horsepower to 340 from 200 (for the A4 four-cylinder) and 255 (for the A4 V6).
Torque in the S4 is rated at 302 pound-feet, which moves you from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in the neighborhood of six seconds, slightly quicker with the six-speed manual transmission, a tick slower with the six-speed Tiptronic automatic. (Tiptronic allows for manual selection of gears in the automatic.) That’s a little more than a second quicker than the times Audi reports for the A4.
The 2008 S4 Cabriolet comes in one trim with a long list of standard features that include the fully automatic soft top; antilock brakes with Electronic Brake pressure Distribution (EBD); stability control; 18-inch wheels with high-performance tires; a sporttuned suspension (which makes for a stiffer ride overall but improves stability in cornering); Audi’s all-wheel drive system (called Quattro); tilt and telescopic steering wheel with redundant audio controls and paddle shifters for automatic transmission models; leather seats; dual-zone climate control; 12-way power adjustable heated front seats with four-way adjustable lumbar support; Sirius Satellite radio; and Bluetooth for hands-free cell-phone operation.
Options include a navigation system and a convenience package that features the Bose premium sound system, Homelink, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a compass on the interior mirror, seven-spoke wheels and other items.
The front cabin is very roomy, and the sport front seats are comfortable and supportive. The backseat, on the other hand, is small, even for a convertible, and is suitable only for children or adults with very short legs. The instrument panel is presented in a prominent position that is easily seen at a glance by the driver, with the tachometer and speedometer flanking an information/message center in the middle.
There’s something about the aura in the cabin of a German car, and Audi has it. Materials used in the interior are top grade. You may also pay extra for gray birch wood or carbon fiber trim on the door panels and center console to enhance the visual experience.
One of Audi’s strong points in past years has been its resistance to follow the examples of its Teutonic colleagues by cluttering up the operation of the audio and navigation systems with all kinds of technological wizardry. But both the radio and navigation system in the S4 are a bit on the fussy side, especially for one who is constantly flipping through the dial during commercials.
Driving the S4 is a fun experience. The S4 gets high marks for its acceleration, braking and handling, and the all-wheel drive’s extra grip provides a very secure feeling. Maybe you won’t have the opportunity to test drive it in northern snows, but its four-wheel drive can be certainly appreciated in Southwest Florida’s summer showers.
The S4 Cabriolet starts at $57,550 when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission and $58,750 with the automatic (including destination and delivery), which is about $10,000 more than the MSRP for the A4 Cabriolet, which offers only the automatic. You also have to tack on a $1,700 (manual) or $1,300 (automatic) gas-guzzler tax for the S4. EPA ratings for fuel consumption are 14 miles-per-gallon city, 21 highway for the manual, 15/23 with the automatic. Premium fuel is recommended for top performance.
A word here: If you’re going to spend upwards of $60,000 for the car, don’t skimp by trying to save a quarter or so on a gallon of gas. A true convertible lover wouldn’t do that. You especially shouldn’t do it with the S4 Cabriolet.
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