For The Audi A5 Cabriolet is as classy and desirable as you’d expect an Audi to be. It’s also reasonably practical, has a strong engine range and is cheaper than the rival BMW 3 Series Convertible.
Against It’s awful to drive, with an unsettled ride, rubbery steering and lots of body shake. There’s too much buffeting with the roof down, and the driving position is badly compromised on manual cars.
Cabriolets don’t come much classier than the Audi A5. Unfortunately, the driving experience doesn’t live up to the looks.
While the Audi A5 Cabriolet isn’t cheap, it undercuts the rival BMW 3 Series on price and should hold its value well.
Basic versions have a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but thanks to a turbocharger, this has all the grunt you need. It also averages over 45mpg.
Whichever engine you go for, the dealer should be willing to offer a discount. Savings of over £1000 aren’t out of the question. Resale values are strong, too, so expect to get back as much as half of the original price in three years’ time.
The queue of willing buyers will be bigger if you choose wisely from the options’ list. Leather upholstery is standard on SE models and above, but cruise control and satellite-navigation are desirable extras.
I replaced my 2004 BMW 318 Ci cabrio (automatic) with an A5 3.0 TDI cabrio. The only disappointment so far is the Audi's performance in snow -…