CARS
In the case of the Audi A3 Cabriolet, there is a lot of forgiving to do, which is surprising since Audi’s other convertible here, the A4 Cab, is really quite dishy.
In the A3 Cab, the first thing that takes some getting used to is how the body is prone to scuttle shake. It is something that is almost as hard to ignore as the steering judder.
Now, these two weaknesses are not uncommon in convertibles, which often lack the body rigidity of a hardtop. The harder springs they sit on do not help, either.
The BMW 120i Convertible – A3 Cab’s direct rival – also suffers from steering judder.
But unlike the Beemer, the Audi does not deliver an inspiring driving experience as compensation. Although fitted with a tried-and-tested 1.8-litre turbo that produces 250Nm of pull from 1,500rpm, the car feels stodgy and lifeless unless you crack the whip and pile on the revs.
Power delivery seems a tad unsatisfactory and a notch below what you expect of a free-revving power plant mated to a seamless dual-clutch transmission – in this case, a lightweight dry-clutch seven-speed.
I am not certain if the larger clutch plates employed in this gearbox are to blame but the other car that had this shortcoming was the new VW Golf tested last month. It, too, was equipped with a seven-speed DSG.
Being based on the compact A3, the A3 Cab does not have the luxury of real estate. Having said that, Audi has managed to carve out decent rear quarters for two. The boot is expectedly modest, though.
Another not-so-flattering thing about the car has nothing to do with it being a convertible. The brakes are starchy at crawling speeds – and especially so when you are reversing.
Funnily enough, the BMW 120i Convertible had the same problem.
If you are a driving enthusiast, you would have to be a saint to overlook the A3 Cab’s flaws. But if you are quite happy with form over function, then this Audi will not disappoint.
The car is a looker, thanks evidently to Audi’s design magic once again.
Despite a constrained canvas, the stylists have managed to pen an elegant open-top model that does not look ridiculously squat or toy-like (yes, you have seen such examples on the road).
In fact, the A3 Cab will draw as many eyeballs as the topless A4.
And if there is one thing the smaller car excels in, it is its roof operation. It retracts in an instant and comes back up almost just as speedily. The opening and closing are accomplished so silently, it will make Rolls-Royce envious.
The cabin is also incredibly quiet with its roof up. You do not hear the wind, very little of the road and hardly anything from the engine when it is idling or unextended.
It is no use looking cool when you have to endure heat and humidity with the roof retracted.
Hence, you will appreciate the A3 Cab’s strong air-conditioner (dual-zone automatic climate control), which is quite capable of keeping the stickiness of open-air motoring at bay.
The car is adequately equipped compared with its rivals. It has a decent Bose sound system, Bluetooth mobile phone pairing, automatic xenon illumination with daylight-running LEDs and 17-inch alloys that give the car a seriously sporty stance.
But you have to pay extra for cruise control, a feature you tend to take for granted in VW Group products.
All in all, this Audi convertible meets the mark in the “cool” department. As for driveability, it has one redeeming quality: manoeuvrability.
The rag-top has not lost much of the A3 hatchback’s nimbleness, its point-and-shoot steering (despite the juddering) and a handling quality that is competent if not brilliant. In downtown Singapore, this is almost as big a boon as the car’s chicness.
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