Comments on: 2009 Audi A5 and S5 Convertible range

By: Wilf

Wilf — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:44:33 +0000

The new Audi A5 in a winner and gets my vote. Just wonder when it will be launched so I can order one.
I have had ywo convertibles in the last four years. One was the Saab Aero with sofyt top the onther a BMW335i convertible with hardtop. A convertible has to have a soft top. It looks better, is cheaper and takes in a lot less space. I live on the Gold Coast where it never rains so my roof is open most of the time. On a colder day, put on the heated seats. There is no better feeling than to drive a powerful convertible on a sunny day ( especialy in winter on the Gold Coast). Even my cocker Spaniel loves it.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:48:35 +0000

Wheelnut, you appear to have rather outdated views. Are the Jaguar XKR, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, Aston Martin DB9 Volant, Rolls Royce Phantom DHC, Bentley Azure for softcocks? Well actually, no because it’s rather easy to pull girls with cars like that, even if they are mindless gold diggers.
I also disagree with your comments about the roof being up. There is nothing wrong with having the roof up on a convertible because basically, the roof going up and down is just another feature. I have a television built into the sat nav in a couple of my cars but you can bet I hardly ever use it.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:16:23 +0000

Doesn’t matter if its an Audi Convertible; Merc-Benz Convertible; Porsche Convertible; BMW Convertible; or even a Holden Convertible…. fact of the matter is despite the owners saying “I bought a convertible because I love the sense of freedom and the wind in my hair” – it will still spend up to 90% of its life with the roof up even when its 25-30 degrees and clear blue skies.

Which virtually negates the reason for buying a convertible in the first place.. Not to mention that all the extra weight and reinforcement takes away from the performance it once had as a coupe….soft-tops are for softc–ks!

By: Myke

Myke — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:00:05 +0000

Some hardtops suffer from high arse boot, but the 3 series doesn’t. Anyway, if I was looking at the 3 series, I’d get the coupe. Audi’s, apart from the R8, they are too conservative and generic. IMO outclassed by their German RWD competitors.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:44:39 +0000

I’d rather one of these to the 3 Series convertible because most reviewers have already determined that the 3 Series convertible is kind of heavy which dulls the drive and the 3 Series doesn’t work as a coupe cabriolet because when the roof is up on a 3 Series, it isn’t exactly the same as the coupe in looks, it just doesn’t flow as nicely.
It is true though about the extra security and structural benefits. I would have said a hard top convertible was far more hairdresser than soft top B Man and this is hardly a hairdressers car.
Soft top convertible are just so much classier and dignified somehow. The Phantom DHC is a soft top and the Bentley Azure is a soft top and I don’t see that changing any time soon. And of course you don’t end up with a fat arse problem. I love the Ferrari California but dear god, the back is just so much higher than the front!

By: MB

MB — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:48:08 +0000

I currently have a SLK 350 and have previosly owned a SLK 230 and over the I have never had a problem with the folding roof at all.

I have only seen one occasions of the rooof failing to close due to dirty sensors.

The Audi looks tits and is tempting purchase especially the S5

Also the MB’s come with a manual lever that screws into the roof so if you have a flat battery for exampe you can still close & seal the roof.

By: Myke

Myke — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:30:13 +0000

^Well with all due respect, french cars are prone to questionable relability, I see it less likely happening to a BMW or Volkswagen. Personally I think Audi should have opted for a hardtop, for the price they are asking for and everything, I don’t see the benefit over a 3-series convertible. Dynamically too, it is expected to trail the BMW.

By: B-Man

B-Man — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:29:18 +0000

Alex.

You’ve never seen a BMW soft top stuck half way? Expensive and time consuming to fix to say the least. The benifit of a hard top over a soft top is structural stability and added security. This just looks like another car to add to my hairdresser’s christmas list.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:16:18 +0000

Nice. Thank god one will still be able to buy a premium convertible with a soft top. I don’t want a hard top convertible because no matter how good the engineering, one day it’ll start raining, you’ll press the button and it will jam half way up. I’ve already seen a Megane and once a 206 cc just driving around with all the pieces out, boot closed as much as it could be. It was funny but the owners looked less than impressed.

By: GTR

GTR — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:11:37 +0000

Awesome even better then the hard top version!