What do the Guide Rating stars mean?
Insanity. That’s the only word to describe the still-sizzling Southern California real estate market, where a tiny, run-down two-bedroom shack in a questionable part of town easily goes for $500,000.
But it’s the price to pay to for the privilege of living in a locale where you can conduct a top-down two-car convertible test in the dead of winter. I tested a 2007 Audi A4 2.0 Cabriolet that was comprehensively equipped for $48,245, and its muscle-bound cousin, the 2007 Audi S4 Cabriolet, costing $62,970. EPA estimates are 24/32 city/highway for the A4 and 14/21 for the S4.
First glance: Red state, blue state
Larger photos:
A4: Front - rear
S4: Front - rear
It was a limpid February week when we were introduced to the two four-seater convertibles, the kind of days where the light is diffused enough to cloak the brown hills of Los Angeles in a romantic gauze that transforms even the eyesore known as the Port of Long Beach into a Hallmark card image. The A4, mantled in a classy Moro Blue Pearl Effect, and the S4, dazzling in a Brilliant Red, sliced through the mist with their sleek profiles.
While their fabric tops weren’t as inherently integrated as the retractable hardtop roof of the Volvo C70 or the BMW 3-Series convertible, the colors either matched or contrasted nicely for a cohesive appearance. The insides of the tops were lined with a premium fabric for insulation from wind noise and the A4/S4 Cabriolet can go from sealed to topless in less than 30 seconds. Better yet, a single button controls all four windows at the same time. You get decent coverage from the wind when the top is down and the windows are up, so you won’t arrive at your destination with a disheveled coif.
Audi consistently designs some of the most handsomely understated vehicles on the road today, and the Cabriolets are no exception. They won’t necessary turn heads, but no one will fault you for anything less than good taste. I wasn’t crazy about the A4’s grille design with its ostentatious brightwork when it debuted two years ago, but it’s since grown on me. Especially fetching on the S4 were painted brake calipers peeping out from behind twin-spoke 18-inch wheels.
In the Driver's Seat: Pretty but complicated
Step inside the Audi’s Bauhaus minimalist cockpit. Both the A4 and S4 had similar interiors, save for some distinctive badges and trim. With soft touch materials on every surface and high-style visual cues around the cabin, you won’t forget that you paid for a premium marque. It’s not flagrantly luxurious like the interior of a Lexus, but, like its exterior, you’ll appreciate its subtle tastefulness.
I really dug the clean instrument gauges and simple climate control, but the radio controls were unnecessarily complex. And a word to the wise: Don’t bother with the optional navigation system. I consider myself somewhat proficient in the ways of gadgetry, but after two weeks I still could not figure out the Byzantine navigation system that lacks any easy way of even turning off the route guidance. It’s frustratingly counter-intuitive and unhelpful, and I found myself driving with it off. Audi, please take a note from Lexus on simplicity and usefulness.
Accommodations for rear passengers are decent for this type of vehicle. My tall colleagues found themselves unpleasantly crunched when we took it to the local Indian joint for lunch, but how often do you ferry three passengers, each over six-feet tall? Most riders of average height will find it tolerable. Just be careful when opening the roof – they have to bend down, lest their precious noggins be bonked.
Then came the weekend. With the convertible tops opened, my fiancé and I headed north for some playtime in the womblike warmth of the California sun.
On the Road: True personalities emerge
California’s Highway 58 stretches from the desolate town of Buttonwillow, home of the racetrack of the same name, to a few miles inland and north of the Central Coast beach towns of Pismo Beach and Morro Bay. It’s a well-paved but mostly deserted road with long, straight ribbons of asphalt to stretch the engine’s legs, as well as roads that hug the contours of the landscape to give your reflexes and the athletic potential of any vehicle a workout.
The A4 2.0 is more than just a decent performer, with a sprightly turbocharged engine whipping up 200 hp. My test vehicle was equipped with the sport package for greater cornering ability, but overall the A4 is more of a Grand Tourer with a comfortable ride around town and on scenic routes. I’m not a big fan of Audi’s continuously variable automatic transmission, as it tends to lurch at lower speeds, but you can’t beat it for convenience in traffic.
On an open straightaway is when you truly appreciate the strength of the S4’s 340 horsepower V8, which sings a glorious exhaust note that soars like an aria. I found myself gratuitously tickling the right pedal and well as putting the full force of my leg on it to test the S4’s acceleration. It’s a honey of an engine with velvety smooth force almost everywhere on the rev band. It was also blessed with the fluid-action 6-speed manual shifter, a sport-tuned suspension to keep the S4 level when you pitch it high speed into twisty corners and a Quattro AWD system that kept all four rubber patches in contact with the road at all times.
Journey's End: Life is sweet on the sunny side of the street
The 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet is a compelling choice for anyone considering a luxurious, four-seat convertible. It possesses more than its fair share of style, amenities and performance potential. Other vehicles in the class include the pricey Mercedes-Benz CLK, the pleasant Volvo C70, and the aging Lexus SC430. If I were in the market I’d opt for the BMW 3-Series convertible for its driving prowess and its versatile retractable hardtop.
But should you live in a locale with inclement weather, remember that the Audi is the only convertible with available all-wheel-drive, which provides confidence-inspiring control in slippery situations. Just crank on the seat heaters, fire up the climate control, and away you go.
Would I pay the premium for the S4 over the A4? It’s likely, but I’m also a driving enthusiast. I would have to overlook the fact that the S4 quaffs fuel like a parched buffalo, averaging a dismal 16.2 mpg during our foray. Not to mention the $1,700 gas-guzzler tax tacked onto the sticker price. No mere concerns, but that exquisite exhaust note may have you opening your wallet faster than a truck driver at a topless bar.
Visiting relatives from the Midwest made fun of how much we were paying in rent. But after a top-down week in the Audis, they were green (well, mostly just pale) with envy at our sun-kissed visage. Just think of the money that you’ll save in not having to maintain your Mystic Tans. -- Liz Kim
