Audi A3 Cabriolet



OK, I know you're all thinking it, so I'm just going to come out and say it: the first thing you feel the urge to say when you draw up in a white Audi A3 Cabriolet is 'I'm not gay'. The important introductions out of the way, you can then demonstrate what is quite possibly the best little chop top hatch on the market.
The basics are: two petrol engines, two diesels. Either 2.0-litre version will be fine, although the 2.0-litre, 200bhp petrol we're testing here is possibly the best, with 'S-Tronic' gearbox to your own taste - the six-speed manual is perfectly adequate, but the DSG is a lovely addition if you can afford the premium.
It looks a bit stumpy with the roof off, but that fabric hood can make use of even the sparsest sparkle of sunshine because it can be neatly electrically stowed in just nine seconds - a slightly more leisurely 11 seconds to reverse the decapitation. There is a slightly slower roof option that isn't fully automatic, but I didn't have time to poke around that one. Suffice to say the full-auto version is excellent.
And yes, you did read that right: just nine seconds and up to a speed of about 19mph. It also looks great with the top down - more elegant than the cash outlay might suggest for a convertible Audi certainly - and the roof has a hard panel that sits on top of the rear section like a TT or Boxster that cleans up the back so it looks super neat.
On the move it feels really light, which is a pleasant surprise and possibly a function of having a lightweight fabric hood rather than a more fashionable retractable tin-top. You certainly don't pay in terms of insulation with the roof up, because it's as close to a CC-top as makes no difference.
There's very little shake, positive responses and a decent dose of good old fashioned fun, roof up or down. Nope, it's not going to win drag races or start any fires, but for this sort of car it works beautifully in virtually every direction. Apart from your feet that is, because on this left-hooker the pedals are ridiculously offset from the steering wheel. We'll have to wait to see whether this issue resolves itself in translation to RHD.
The TG prediction? This'll sell well. To everyone. Including men with the balls to carry off a pert little cabriolet in a vibrant colour. Hopefully.