B6/B7 A4 Cabriolet Buying advice please!

[Davey Blueeyes]

I'm thinking of a ragtop for the lovely summer I'm hoping we will have on the island. I think this every year and never do it so by the law of averages this is the year to do it!

Anyhoo, I know NOTHING about these cars! So, what is the engine/spec to look out for? Is the soot chucker too noisy in the open air?? Is the multitrauma auto really that bad?? Does having leather guarantee burnt hind quarters when it's hot??? Plus which colour is the quickest?!

To show the lack of pinpoint precision I am bringing to this, I might also consider a MX5! Mucho fun on island roads! Honestly, performance isn't really the goal here and there are so many engine choices here I'm not sure where to start

Plus is it true that having a 4 seater convertible makes anyone sitting in the back look like Hitler??

[Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Davey Blueeyes

Plus is it true that having a 4 seater convertible makes anyone sitting in the back look like Hitler??

I'd say Jackie Onassis



Can't give much advice specifically on the convertible, but the 3.0-litre TDI in the B6/B7 is the engine to have.

I'm sure another forum member bought a B7 a few months ago and was suitably impressed with it.

[1781cc]

That would be me... http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13812

I love mine, its been brilliant to drive, I've had two S4's on the B6 platform and this B7 platform cabriolet, I also had the earlier 80 based cabriolet.

I have the 3.0 TDI engine, its perfect, roof down no issues with noise as you get the wind sound anyway and the exhaust sound waves are taken away a lot while you move forward anyway. Its surprisingly refined with the roof up, only the S4 and the 3.0 TDI have the acoustic fabric roof, seriously, its like a saloon with the roof up, not S8 quiet, but very good.

I get about 40-44mpg on a sensible run using 70-85mph as a guide. I've had it remapped and the difference is night and day, I would 100% recommend the remap.

Things to look out for:

- leaky rear lights
- leaky 3rd brake light
- make sure RNS-E works
- auto is best in any cab, 3.0 TDI is all auto
- like the A8, glow plugs can have issues, ditto swirl pots
- 2006 model is pre-tax hike, so £305 a year
- check for rust, rattles and suspension creak as they are heavy cars
- make sure the roof works, dont buy it in the rain!
- the Genuine Audi deflector is better than aftermarket because it folds up into a case in the boot.
- Bose is best, comes default on all S-line, which is the best pick spec wise too with cruise, etc..

A good service history will help retain values, its very easy to work on yourself though.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend a 3.0 TDI quattro with a remap

[Ameiseuk]

.....I'll probably be flamed for this on an audi forum!

Go for the MX5 - if you can find a clean Mk2.5 (the less ugly one) 1.8
More smiles per mile than any other car I have ever driven.

Perfect for blasting round the island, ultra reliable.
If you can pick up a jap import it should be rust free and last 20+ years

I have a 1995 mk1 tucked away in the garage and I love it.

[1781cc]

I see MX5s on track a lot, they are dog slow but the people driving them seem to be having a laugh so cant be all that bad if speed isnt your thing and you dont care about space

Also meant to say, the 3.0 TDI isnt multichronic

[Ameiseuk]

A fine pairing

[ainarssems]

- 2006 model is pre-tax hike, so £305 a year

If you go for 3.0TDI and if they are anything like A8/A6 there was a lot of injector problems around this time that could be expensive at over £200 per injector if they have not been replaced. Early 3.0TDI (2003-2004) were OK and then 2008+ are OK as well but in-between could be a problem so might be wiser to get a newer car and pay a bit morefor car and road tax instead of risking bill for injectors unless they have already been replaced.

[HPsauce]

For having fun on the IOW the MX5 sounds ideal.

[paulrstaylor]

I went form an MX5 to an S4 cabriolet as my weekend car to sit alongside an 8....

The MX5 was "fun" but slooooow.... I was looking at a turbo kit, or even an LS3 V8 conversion, but it was cost prohibitive and buying an S4 made so much more sense!

V8, manual, open roof, 4 seats (kids)

[HPsauce]

But on the Isle of Wight: 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight: https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/10...-of-wight.html

1. Drive on a motorway
Motorway driving...not on the Isle of Wight
If you're a fan of standing on motorway bridges whilst writing down the cab numbers of HGVs then the Isle of Wight isn't for you. Alas, there is no equivalent of the M25 which circles Newport (although Coppins Bridge has similar qualities). Nor is there the equivalent of the M1 to get you from Ventnor to Cowes in 13 minutes. The roads are a bit creaky and bumpy and don't really go in very straight lines. The only dual carriageway is about a quarter of a mile long and it only has a national speed limit for about eight seconds.

4. Drive for more than 56 minutes
Assuming you don't get lost at Coppins Bridge or get stuck in August traffic then the longest journey on the Isle of Wight - from Alum Bay to Bembridge - will take you less than an hour. That means that if you live somewhere towards the middle, such as Newport then you are never going to have a journey of more than 30 minutes for a day out or a commute. Some people might find that a bit restrictive but personally I think it's rather convenient.

And: https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/5-...ney-games.html