The latter can experience valve-lifter problems, often caused by a fall in oil pressure due to clogged oilways, resulting in a drop in power. The point is that the Cabriolet soldiered on throughout with its old B3 platform until its retirement in 2000, the reason a simple issue of economics, since a convertible is more expensive to engineer than a conventional car yet sells in lower numbers.Įngine: The V6s should run smoothly and quietly while the five-cylinder unit should emit a pleasing rasp. This platform was superseded in 1992 by the longer B4 that underpinned the facelifted 80 and then in 1994 by the all-new B5 platform for the A4. The Cabriolet was launched in 1991, based on the B3 Audi 80 that first appeared in 1986. Still, you could argue that most of these problems are subjective. It also suffers that old soft-top curse of scuttle shake.
Owing to its solid build quality and additional body strengthening, it’s a heavy car and not the sharpest through corners. The pick of the lineup, the rare 2.3, produces 133bhp.ĭownsides? Without question, the model lacks the sporty character and image of the equivalent E36 BMW 3 Series Cabriolet and the engines are a little lifeless, although the 2.3 sounds good and pulls strongly. They’re all fuel-injected, too, with power outputs ranging from 115bhp (2.0) to 174bhp (2.8).
#Project cars 2 day one edition manual
There’s a choice of strong and reliable four-cylinder 1.8-litre 20v and 2.0-litre 8v engines, a short-lived 2.3-litre five-pot and two V6s (a 2.6-litre and a 2.8-litre), all driving the front wheels (there was no Quattro version) through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox. It’s built like a battleship, having a galvanised body that laughs in the face of corrosion and a hood that chortles at the worst weather. It looks super-cool, with its elegant roof-down lines unspoiled by the presence of a roll-over bar (the strengthened windscreen does the job instead). Why so? It’s hard to say, especially since the model has so much going for it.