Audi A3 Cabrio
The A3 Cabrio is a four-seater cabriolet with canvas canopy. It’s convenient to use as a convertible, and-at least under the hood most expensive of the two possible, also for use as car usually closed. It is on sale from € 29,840 (all prices A3 Cabrio).
Audi A3 Cabrio
A BMW 120i convertible (170 hp and € 33,867) is more expensive than a A3 Cabrio 1.8 TFSI (160 hp and 32,030 €). An A3 Cabrio 2.0 TFSI 200 hp S tronic costs € 37,920, a price very similar to a Volkswagen Eos with the same engine and changing gears. An Audi TT roadster, with the same combination mechanics, € 41,770.
The roof of canvas A3 Cabrio may be of two kinds. The core requires the intervention of the driver to engage or disengage the windshield and has two layers. The second has an additional insulation (between the inner and outer layer, there is a third of 6 mm in thickness, which improves sound insulation and thermal) and its operation is fully automatic. This ceiling is € 915 and is optional for all versions.
We tested the fully automatic version with hood. The feeling that gave us the A3 with this is that it provides a roof insulation similar to that which gives a convertible with folding hard roof, for example, a Volkswagen Eos. We have not tested the hood that has serial, but it may be advisable to opt for more expensive especially if they are going to use your car all year and will make many kilometres.
Audi A3 Cabrio
One advantage is that the A3 Cabrio descapotables with respect to the folding metal roof, you need less time to save or deploy the roof. The A3 needs only to save the 9 s in the trunk, to place on the body takes about 13 s. It any event, there is very little time and the operation can be done up to 30 km / h. The soft top folds in the form of Z, is housed between the rear seats and luggage compartment. There is a rigid piece that covers the hood when it is folded, so that is not from outside.
An interesting feature of A3 Cabrio is that the volume of the trunk is the same roof is folded or on the body. The trunk has 260 l, which is not much, but the driver does not have to worry about changing the distribution of luggage when the low ceiling: an important part of descapotables, the volume of its trunk and proportions change much when it hosts the ceiling within it. This is in a special way in which they have a retractable roof, because he usually occupy more than one site canvas. In a BMW 1 Series, which has tarpaulin roof, there is little difference in volume of trunk depending on the position of the roof: it has between 240 l and 280 l.
The endorsement of the rear seats of A3 Cabrio is divided into two portions and can reduce any of the halves, although for reasons of rigidity, when Abate seats leaving the gap is not as large as usual in a car with bodywork closed (picture).
With the A3 convertible can go up descapotado just over 120 mph allowing a conversation without raising much voice among the occupants of the front seats. Nor are felt especially troublesome air currents in the head or body (always in the front seats), although people may need a very high cap to limit the scourge of wind on the forehead.
As in all descapotables seems to us essential to use the aerodynamic deflector (at least for road travel): there is much difference between carry and no. This item comes in versions’ Ambition ‘and the rest is optional. It can be folded into four parts and keep in the trunk when not in use.
From the standpoint of the windbreak, A3 Cabrio is much more effective than, for example, a Mazda MX5. But it does not seem a reason to elect him in front of cars as the Volkswagen Eos.
2008 Audi A3 Cabrio
The range of engines available is interesting. It is composed of two petrol engines turbo (T FSI) of 160 and 200 hp, and two Diesel (1.9 l TDI of 105 hp and 140 hp, 2.0 TDI). The diesel version has a 140 hp engine which has recently released the A4 (and also bears the Tiguan), with direct injection through common.
The A3 convertible 105 hp diesel has a manual gearbox five speeds, while the petrol version has a 160 hp six. The 200-hp convertible is linked to an automatic change of double clutch (Stronic ") which gives an excellent result. The diesel version of 140 hp can elegrise both with manual with automatic ‘Stronic "(both six speeds).
The A3 convertible with petrol engines of 1.8 T FSI (160) and 2.0 T FSI (200 hp), gives a very good result, especially for benefits. The difference in benefits for the 2.0 l is greater than the advantage of that consumption is 1.8 l. However, given the price difference that exists between the two is so great as to rule out the more powerful.
One point in favour of 2.0 litre of 200 hp is bound to the automatic shifter ‘Stronic’ six marches ( "DSG" in Volkswagen), which we like very much.
They also tested the 2.0 l TDI 140 hp. An interesting aspect of A3 Cabrio with this engine is that it has a smooth functioning of a higher than A3 2.0 TDI with bodywork closed (the latter still does not have the new diesel engine that Audi A3 Cabrio has premiered in the new A4; The Cabrio yes).
Audi A3 Cabrio
Taking into account that the price of A3 Cabrio 2.0 TDI is similar to the 1.8 T FSI, the reason for choosing the Diesel is having a lower cost per kilometer. The gasoline is more powerful and pleasant.
On the road the A3 Cabrio is not equivalent to an A3 three or five doors. The differences between them, beyond those which are given by the roof, which is in convertible feel more vibrations in the structure, especially when the firm is not in perfect condition.
This lack of strength can be seen in the movements of the windscreen regarding the safety of arches rear seats (in the mirror is an element that vibrates with respect to the other, this does not happen in a closed car). In a similar measure, this occurs in almost all descapotables, especially those stemming from a car with a body of tourism (an Audi TT roadster, which derives from a coupe, apparently has a more solid structure that the A3 Cabrio).
The A3 convertible measuring 4,283 mm in length, 1,765 mm in width and 1,424 mm in height. It is virtually the same width and height of an A3 Sportback and 69 mm longer. The headlights of the convertible, when they are xenon, has a daylight consisting of seven diodes on each.
Mechanically has many elements in common with the A3, although the structure is different for the most part. A convertible needs more strength in all parts surrounding what is left open when folding canopy, as well as other reinforcements (the example of the shoebox: it is much easier without cap twisted that it). Many of those who need reinforcements are made of steel with very high tensile strength; altogether 54% of the structure of A3 Cabrio is made with high strength steel.
As an element of protection in case of overturning carries a fixed bars placed at the rear of the body and the structure of the windshield frame is reinforced.
Audi A3 Cabrio Review
The suspension is basically like that of other A3, with differences in flexibility necessary elements of elastic, shock absorbers and hardness of the alignment of the wheels due to weight gain in the convertible. The version with equipment ‘Ambition’ has set a suspension of ’sports’ which lowers the body 15 mm.