Pros:
* Versatile turbocharged engine
* Sticks to the road like glue
* Well-appointed, luxurious interior
* Soft-top folds down in a mere 15 seconds
Cons:
* Could use a few more ponies under the hood
* Rear seats are for kids only
* A bit pricey, even for a luxury convertible
Let’s face it, in the eyes of car enthusiasts convertibles just don’t get much respect. Taking the top off of a sporty coupe is seen as a recipe for appealing to the fairer sex, for whom aesthetic appeal is far more important than tire roasting acceleration or slot car like handling. When Audi announced that it would produce its A5 coupe in a cabriolet for 2010, one could easily interpret this as a blatant move in the hairdresser direction. With the TT roadster aimed more at the sports car segment, the A5 Cabriolet will surely appeal to the well-coiffed crowd.
The only problem with this formula is that like most Audis, the A5 Cabrio is a pretty damn good driver’s car. Sure, it has a less than macho soft-top, but to write this car off as a mere style accessory would be missing the point. After several days of driving twisty, hilly backroads, the only facial expressions we could muster involved lots of grins and smiles. And here in California, where the sun shines most days of the year, we sure don’t mind having the wind in our hair while tearing down the road.
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