CAR AND DRIVER: 2008 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet - Car News

2008 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet - Car News

Audi decides its fantastic RS 4 is safe for U.S. consumption in convertible form as well.

BY JARED GALL, June 2007

"Maybe you need a 420-hp, 8250-rpm V-8 in your family convertible. Or maybe you need to peel the top off of your 420-hp, 8250-rpm, V-8–powered family sedan. Either way, the time to rejoice is now. Audi has announced that it will be bringing its RS 4 cabriolet to the U.S. for 2008.

Mechanically identical to the RS 4 sedan, the RS 4 cabrio is powered by a high-winding 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8 herding 420 horsepower through a six-speed manual to all four wheels. The conversion from sedan to convertible cuts the door count to two and adds about 300 pounds to the RS 4’s saddle bags, but the RS 4 cabrio should still be good for 0-to-60 toots in 4.8 or so seconds.

The other great—as in scale, as in uh-oh—addition in the transformation from sedan to convertible is in the price. Audi has yet to announce pricing for the convertible, but figure on paying at least $8000 more for the droptop two-door than for the sedan, meaning a cool $77,000. First thing we’d do after driving this sweetie off the lot (well, after the break-in miles, anyway) would be a top-down rip through a nice, long tunnel, since the 4.2 screaming to its 8250-rpm redline is one of the tastier exhaust symphonies this side of $100,000.

Those with the money will want to wipe up their slobber, get to the nearest Audi dealership quickly, and throw down a deposit, as only 300 2008-model RS 4 convertibles will make it to the U.S. Keep an eye out for them starting this fall."
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MunichRob - 8/14/2007 4:49:12 PM

+1 Boost

Lovely A4 with the price tag of a SL or 6-series convertible. While it may outperform both of them, it's still to expensive for an A4.

BMW4me4ever - 8/14/2007 10:12:40 AM

0 Boost

actually it will most likely be more than that. I would expect it to price in the low $80k's range. That is alot of dough. AWD is great unless paired with high performance summer tires, like the RS4. Now with a set of nice winter tires would be pretty awesome in the winter, but for about $ 25k plus. I would just chip a 335 conv and put a set of winter tires on it ...

S4cabriofoxone - 8/14/2007 11:31:57 AM

+1 Boost

No you wouldn't. Or at least, I wouldn't. The 335i vs. S4 Cab comparison is understandable, but you just can't cross-shop a 335i with the RS4. That's M3 territory- in fact, it's beyond M3 territory. And the only reason you'd get a 335i "over" an RS4 is because you couldn't afford the RS4. You could say it has a hardtop, making it more comfortable in the winter, but I could say AWD. You could say "winter tires!," but I could shoot back with how well-padded the top is on my S4, and I know the MY2007 Cabriolets have even better ones.

BMW4me4ever - 8/14/2007 11:58:15 AM

0 Boost

S4 .. think you need to get a grip. I could afford a RS4 cab. Right now in my life not too interested in a conv. I was just voicing my opinion and apparently that doesnt work with yours. and your point is exactly? I was just stating, that is alot of money for a RS4 cab. One fully equipped is going to be about $83 to $84k, right? Where is the RS5 cab going to fit in? Personally, I would rather wait til the S5 or RS5 cab becomes available, cause I think that is a better looking car with more style and flair to it. Also, for that money, I would rather get a MBSl550 with a hardtop and that classic design. This is just my opinion. For the money, i believe that there are some better alternatives.

S4cabriofoxone - 8/15/2007 12:12:42 AM

+1 Boost

Eh, the RS4 Cabriolet is a niche vehicle. When you want one, you know it. Most people wouldn't cross-shop it with anything at all.

RS4 starts at $82K, but loaded it's $89K. I agree- too much money. But I'd still pay. I just don't want to, at least right now. I'm very happy with my mere S4.

Also, just to make sure... you know the A5/S5/RS5 Cabriolets will replace the A4/S4/RS4 Cabriolets, right? Because some on the site seem to have missed that. The new S5 coupe looks amazing.

Neverfollow - 8/14/2007 10:30:09 AM

+1 Boost

Is an M3 really worth the difference? You know they look even more similar to the 335 for a cool $20K+ more money.

I see so many suckers on the road driving M3's like they really think they know what they're doing. I swear there's an M3 club meeting at every stop light in Scottsdale AZ. It's such a follow the heard mentality..."better get what my friends think is cool" kind of thing.

300 RS4 cabs for the whole country will make that difficult to duplicate. I'll tell you this however, I've been in the collector car hobby for about 20 yrs now and low production German convertibles bring a lot of money!

If you don't get one now, wait and snap one up used some day. It'll be worth holding on to.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/15/2007 9:54:13 AM

+1 Boost

I would choose the RS4 Cab over the SL550 anyday,

For starters there would be much less RS4s on the road and i feel it can match the Luxury of the MB while beating it for Space.

And and RS4 is unmistakeable
Unlike the SL which is the same from the 350 to the 550.