Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Another sodden summer means this is hardly the most propitious time to be bringing a new rag-top to market. But as Audi continues its seemingly relentless expansion into new areas, it’s refreshing to find at least one new model from the brand that is entirely predictable.

The A5 Cabriolet is an open-top version of the existing A5 coupé and, despite its numerically enhanced moniker, is a direct replacement for the previous A4 Cabriolet. Which means it’s got a tough act to follow.

Autocar:

Against Overly firm ride, too expensive

Continuing proof that Audi drivers choose their nasty cars without test driving them first. If they did they'd buy something else.

As for the 2-and-a-half-star drubbing at the end, bravo Autocar for having the balls to start scoring these overweight, overpriced, shockingly unreliable pigs correctly.

ThwartedEfforts:

bravo Autocar for having the balls to start scoring these overweight, overpriced, shockingly unreliable pigs correctly.

Overweight:  Yes, but then so is nearly every luxury-targeted car on the road.  Audi is hardly alone here.  Lotus is the exception, not the rule.

Overpriced:  Surely this is just a reflection of demand?  Given that Audi is consistently out-performing BMW, Mercedes and any other so-called rivals, it would seem their pricing is spot on.  Why don't you drop into your local Audi dealer and enquire about waiting times for a new A5 cabriolet?

Shockingly unreliable:  And what empirical evidence do you have to back this up?  From my experience, Audis are no more or less reliable than any other cars.  No doubt you can quantify your otherwise pointless little rant?

Pigs:  I think your post says a lot more about your bovine qualities than the car's.  Or are you just a bitter little BMW driver who is desperately clinging to the image your brand used to have before it gat Bangled and quit F1 in a little huff???

 The truth of the matter is that the equivalent BMW will be better to drive, lighter (despite having a folding hardtop) and faster than this so i'd have the Beemer.

I do conceed that the Audi has the more stylish interior and is better looking but the Bmw is just as classy 

If i were in the market for one of these cars i'd hang on until the new e class convertible.

disco.stu:

Shockingly unreliable:  And what empirical evidence do you have to back this up?  From my experience, Audis are no more or less reliable than any other cars.  No doubt you can quantify your otherwise pointless little rant?

Please read James Rupert's review of the warranty direct figures.

Unfortunately for a "premium" car they are shockingly unreliable!

autocar:

As it shares all of its major suspension components with the A5 coupé, you would be justified in expecting the drop-top to put in a similarly composed dynamic performance.

Hang on, that wasn't what you said a couple of weeks ago, stating that their trick adjustable suspension was the only way to sort the handling on an A5?

TegTypeR:

Hang on, that wasn't what you said a couple of weeks ago, stating that their trick adjustable suspension was the only way to sort the handling on an A5?

Isn't that only avaliable on the sportback or whatever the 5dr version is called?

Agree with most of the above.  And as for "well packaged" - yes, absolutely agree - providing you're speaking from the perspective of a ONE LEGGED MAN. 

Look at where the seat is relative to the left foot rest... if I wanted to spend all my time driving along skewed to the right, I'd...... well, I'd buy one of these confounded things. 

Great engine, pretty exterior, all the rest completely underwhelming.  Audi are going off the rails...

I know this has been asked before but why do Autocar continuously test M Sport BMWs and S line Audis, which everyone knows have the firmest suspension set-ups in the range, and then complain that the car's ride is too harsh?!

Of course it's going to be firm, it's the model's sports-orientated trim.  For goodness' sake test an SE once in a while!  And don't keep doing group tests which put M Sports up against more luxury-orientated cars like XF Portfolios or Infiniti G37s.  I can't be the only one to notice the glaring disparity in make-up (and more often than not, price) between certain cars which are allegedly direct rivals.

The excuse given in the A5 road test, that they "couldn't try an SE in the UK" simply doesn't wash.  Wait until you can then, or borrow a reader's car.  Maybe <gasp> test the base 2.0 TFSI model for a change.  But don't write off a whole range based on one bad experience with a particular trim.

Really, it's almost enough to make one take out a subscription to AutoExpress or something...

"Pigs:  I think your post says a lot more about your bovine qualities than the car's.  Or are you just a bitter little BMW driver who is desperately clinging to the image your brand used to have before it gat Bangled and quit F1 in a little huff???"

 To use a quote from your own post..... "And what empirical evidence do you have to back this up? No doubt you can quantify your otherwise pointless little rant?"

Thing is about Audi's - they are now driven by all the tossers who used to drive BMW's. Simples.

Nick Rutter:

why do Autocar continuously test M Sport BMWs and S line Audis, which everyone knows have the firmest suspension set-ups in the range, and then complain that the car's ride is too harsh?!

 That's  good point. It's partly the car makers' fault: they supply top line models so they'll look good in the photos. But if they then get bad reviews for appalling ride quality (and from what I've read ALL Audis have terrible ride quality) it's also their own fault.

disco.stu:

Shockingly unreliable:  And what empirical evidence do you have to back this up?  From my experience, Audis are no more or less reliable than any other cars.  No doubt you can quantify your otherwise pointless little rant?

From my experience, brand X are wonderful and you're talking rubbish. Who, exactly, is making the "pointless" rants here?

Of course I have irrefutable evidence that the A5 is less reliable than any equivalent car, because I'm not stupid enough to pass off my own worthless experience as objective proof. Seemingly your four-ringed blinkers prevent you from seeing the facts here:

Audi A5 is the least reliable new car

And this is new news, not old. So go stew, stu.

P.S. I don't own a BMW and I'm not little or, for that matter, bitter. Trite remarks like that reveal far more about the person who made them than the person at which they were directed.