Audi A4 Cabriolet (2006 – 2009) Review

Audi A4 Cabriolet (2006 – 2009) At A Glance

3/5

+More emphasis on handling, comfort and refinement than pre-facelift model. Very classy image.

-Windows prone to rattle.

On average it achieves 98% of the official MPG figure

For 2006, the Audi A4 Cabriolet was revamped to Audi A4 B7 spec and look. It featured four engines new to the A4, including the 1.8 20v that became VAG's small perfoermance engine for many years, powering the Audi TT, the SEAT Leon Cupra, the Skoda Octavia vRS and WW Golf GTi.

Audi A4 Cabriolet (2006 – 2009) models and specs

Dimensions
Length 4573 mm
Width 1777 mm
Height 1391 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1540–1855 kg
Boot Space 246 L
Warranty 3 years
Servicing -
Costs
List Price £25,995–£42,645
Insurance Groups -
Road Tax Bands H–M
Official MPG 20.5–44.1 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall -
Open Car
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.8T £25,995 34.0 mpg 9.4 s
1.8T Auto £25,995 - -
1.8T S line £28,345 34.0 mpg 9.4 s
1.8T S line Auto £28,345 - -
1.8T Sport £26,730 34.0 mpg 9.4 s
1.8T Sport Auto £26,730 - -
2.0 TDI £26,785 44.1 mpg 9.7 s
2.0 TDI Auto £26,785 - -
2.0 TDI S line £29,135 44.1 mpg 9.7 s
2.0 TDI S line Auto £29,135 - -
2.0 TDI Sport £27,520 44.1 mpg 9.7 s
2.0 TDI Sport Auto £27,520 - -
2.0T FSI £27,290 34.0 mpg 7.9 s
2.0T FSI Auto £27,290 - -
2.0T FSI S line £29,640 34.0 mpg 7.9 s
2.0T FSI S line Auto £29,640 - -
2.0T FSI Sport £28,025 34.0 mpg 7.9 s
2.0T FSI Sport Auto £28,025 - -
3.0 TDI quattro £32,845 35.8 mpg 7.3 s
3.0 TDI quattro Auto £32,845 - -
3.0 TDI quattro S line £35,195 35.8 mpg 7.3 s
3.0 TDI quattro S line Auto £35,195 - -
3.0 TDI quattro Sport £33,580 35.8 mpg 7.3 s
3.0 TDI quattro Sport Auto £33,580 - -
3.2 FSI Auto £32,420 - -
3.2 FSI quattro £32,370 25.7 mpg 6.8 s
3.2 FSI quattro Auto £32,370 - -
3.2 FSI quattro S line £34,720 25.7 mpg 6.8 s
3.2 FSI quattro S line Auto £34,720 - -
3.2 FSI quattro Sport £33,105 25.7 mpg 6.8 s
3.2 FSI quattro Sport Auto £33,105 - -
3.2 FSI S line Auto £34,470 - -
3.2 FSI Sport Auto £33,155 - -
S4 quattro £42,645 20.5 mpg 5.9 s
S4 quattro Auto £42,645 - -

Model History

September 2005

Revamped Audi convertible to made its world public debut at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Available to order in the UK from November for first deliveries in the first quarter of 2006

Features four petrol and TDI engines, four of which were new to the A4 Cabriolet - 1.8 T petrol (163PS), 2.0 T FSI petrol (200PS), 3.2 V6 FSI petrol (255PS), 2.0TDI (140PS) and 3.0 TDI (233PS)

Extensively revised chassis and steering maximise dynamic performance

New optional acoustic hood maximises cabin refinement

2.0TDI 140 priced from £26,500.

(Directly injected and turbocharged 2.0-litre unit with high-pressure pump injection delivers 140PS @ 4,000rpm and 320Nm between 1,750rpm and 2,500rpm. 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, top speed of 131mph, 43.4mpg combined. Standard diesel particulate filter helps to minimise
emissions - 176g/km output. Paticulate filter needs not additives or servicing for life of the car.)

The five engines will be available with a choice of three trim level options - standard, Sport and S line - and will deliver their power to the road either via quattro four-wheel-drive or through the front wheels. Five-speed and six-speed manual gearboxes, continuously variable multitronic transmission, which has seven speeds in its 'manual' mode or six-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox.

Upgrades inside and out for new A4 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI S line Special Edition

Special version of sought-after A4 Cabriolet powered by 2.0 Turbo FSI 200PS engine and priced from £29,990 OTR available to order September 2007 for first deliveries in December 2007. Spec includes S line exterior styling, Pearl Nappa leather upholstery, BOSE sound system with CD autochanger, acoustic parking and xenon headlamps. 200PS @ 5,100-6,000rpm, 280Nm @ 1,800-5,000rpm, 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds (multitronic 8.1), top speed 146mph (multitronic 144), combined mpg 34.0 (multitronic 33.6), CO2 199g/km (multitronic 199g/km)

May 2012

Audi revised its recommendation for timing belt replacement on the 200PS 2.0TSI engine to be 75,000 miles or 5 years whichever comes soonest.

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

S4 and RS4 have three radiators, two situated in the front whings where they are vulnerable to stone damage.

Early 2.0TDIs have a chain drive to the oil pump and the chain drive can eventually snap. Later cars have a gear train positive drive to the oil pump. Modifying early cars to positive oil pump drive can cost as much as £1,600. Failed oil pump drives totally wreck the engines and if the car has not been 100% Audi maintained, Audi will not pay.

A problem of later 2.0TDI PD 140s and 170s is failure of the oil pump. The oil pump is driven from a balancre shaft via a short hexagonal shaft. The peaks of this hexagonal shaft locate in six corresponding but minute grooves machined within the otherwise circular-bored oil pump drive shaft. Thus, the oil pump drive relies entirely on an interference fit of little more than 0.010" along the peaks of the hexagonal shaft. After about 50,000 miles, the shaft can round off, resulting in a totally destroyed engine and turbo, plus a bill of up to £9,000. If the danger is known and the oil pump is removed by the garage in good time, a new replacement pump will cost over £500, plus the labour etc to remove and refit it. However, it is also possible to save the old pump and modify the drive at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Many local machine shops already have numbers of these pumps in for such rectification, the drive shaft of each having been on the point of rounding off.

01-02-2014:

The drains to the sills may require periodic cleaning otherwise water can collect inside them.

22-07-2014:

Another Audi A4 B7 2.0 TDI BLB oil pump failure, this on a 60k mile 2007 A4 2.0 TDI cabrio. Dealer quoting £5,500 for new engine and turbo.

14-09-2016:

Report of oil pump chain failing on a 63k mile 2006 Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.0 Turbo Petrol S-Line. DSG, resulting in destruction of engine. Had been ritted with replacement timing belt in 2013.

What does the Audi A4 Cabriolet (2006 – 2009) cost?