Audi A4 Cabriolet Review - Can Style Last 20 Years?

The A4 Cabriolet was the go to car for every trendy 20 something of the naughties. After a decade and a half on the used car market, how much luxury is left?
Tony heads out to review this 2005 Audi A4 Cabriolet S-line. Testing out the electric roof, CVT gearbox, and distinct style, he finds a lot to be impressed by. But the A4 starts to falter when it comes to dashboard layout, and a needy service schedule.
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@tonyisnttony

[@valentin3037]

Been driving mine for the past 3 years and the design just never gets old such a great car

[@CarSoul]

It seems like a very timeless design

[@Orhan556]

hey, i am wondering are back seats comfortable in this car and do they have enough space for a relatively tall people. I always wanted a cabrio, but going to the beach with my friends who are 190+cm tall doesnt seem like a good idea in these cars, so im wondering if this car maybe has some space for them

[@MBTIMemes]

This was probably the best video about the A4 cabrio I've seen. Yall rly made me fall in love with it lol

[@CarSoul]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment! Hope you enjoy the show!

[@sandroleandro2493]

Thank you very much for this, it really helped put my mind at ease about buying one. Point of interest. The CVT in fact DOES NOT have gears, that's why it almost feels like it doesn't have gears... 😉

[@CarSoul]

Thanks For watching! The engineering behind the CVT box is certainly interesting, and to be honest we didn't quite manage to wrap our heads around it in time to talk about it properly for this film! Your comment did just send me on a little hunt for some videos explaining it more so thank you for that! Hopefully in the future we can make more films dedicated to the engineering behind cars as well, there are so many fascinating things to learn!

[@garethreece]

@@CarSoul There are some great videos dotted around YT that I've used to explain the system to friends. Bought a 2006 2.0TFSi S-Line Multitronic back in June and it's been a fantastic bit of kit. What surprises me is the lack of equipment compared to the 2007 Saab 9-3 I had before it... Or even the 2006 Suzuki Swift I had about 10 years ago!

[@paulhatcher4151]

Love this guys! You’re a total natural presenter Tony - you should be knocking on the door of Top Gear!

[@CarSoul]

Thanks Paul! As long as we get to drive fun cars we’re happy fellas!

[@scintards]

Great job on this one, Tony! I loved the drone angles and sensual voice-overs. Very well done! I very much ook forward to the next one!

[@CarSoul]

All about those sensual M&S voice overs :')

[@ianedwards2605]

Yes now I've got one i would not go to anything than AUDI absolutely love em my son has one add we'll you can't go wrong with them well any comments im in edwards give us a call if anyone is interested.

[@billhigginsbottom2191]

Great honest review. I love the fact that my 2003 could be a future classic because I absolutely love it and intend to Keep it. I think I did very well to buy my 1 owner 108k miles fsh 2.4 v6 for only £1100 last year. It just went through its first mot on my ownership and only required a headlight adjuster motor for £15. It is a manual 6 speed and is a dream to drive. Keep up the good work mate.

[@CarSoul]

It's great you picked one up for such a good price, hopefully that value only goes up! We love the quality of Audi's, and there are definitely more being featured in the not too distant future! Keep that modern classic safe!

[@cats_dad]

That's a really well-made video nice and pleasant to watch , thank you

[@CarSoul]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidreid2301]

I've had one of these for many years: a manual, 1.8T, sport, Quattro convertible, on an 03 plate, 121k miles, runs like a dream, dolphin grey with oxblood leather and matching roof - coupled with all of the aluminium it's an absolutely stunning colour combo! I've done a ridiculous amount of work on the vehicle over the years, all myself, but yesterday it failed its M.O.T here in the UK - excessive corrosion in the front subframe, with a hole in it to boot! I just don't know if I can justify replacing it on jack stands on my own, plus I'm struggling to find a subframe for it even if I wanted to. I think it'll just have to stay in my driveway until I decide if it's worth it, because currently, in winter at least, they're only worth £1000ish! However, ever since I bought it I've been predicting that this great automobile is a future classic, and this video gives me hope that it's worth keeping! Good for you, I totally agree!

[@CarSoul]

We've driven the Quattro system in the original TT, can only imagine it makes the A4 even better. Well done for keeping it on the road, if you can keep it somewhere definitely do that. Shame it's behaving like a classic before attaining the value of one!

[@samisaarinen8978]

@@CarSoul A4 has torsen and not haldex like the "Quattro" in TT

[@user-dm1wq4pp9l]

Very good thanks for the help. I will be working on this at the weekend.

[@CarSoul]

Glad it helped, enjoy your weekend of tinkering!

[@peekaboo4390]

At the moment I am rebuilding and upgrading my 03 a4 3.0. Gone is the FWD CVT and I have quattro swapped it with the 5 speed tiptronic. Stainless Milltek exhaust and catless downpipes, all new brakes, wheel bearings, new starter, quattro gas tank, timing belt and water pump and so much more. I consider the A4 convertible to be Audi's most finest design and definitely a classic, a car to hold onto. When finished which means interior and audio upgrades, a respray I will take it to the local car shows. I love my $ 600 cad Audi convertible and restoring it to show grade condition is and has been a complete joy.

[@allsearpw3829]

Yes a nice car ours is 15 years old now , love it , although just found the rear screen is leaking , but in for a reseal at this time . Keep the services up and it will be ok .

[@edblair5253]

You do good vids. Keep it up. Need more exposure to the masses.

[@CarSoul]

Thank you sir 🤩

[@George-nv1ri]

Love it, i had a 1.8t and about to pick up a 3.0 V6 hoping its a rocket

[@totofan962]

Great Video, thanx. I have the 1.8 T from 2005, I love this car really much. Actually the price is getting higher and higher in Germany, cause this cars are getting more rare in a good condition.

[@CarSoul]

It's a shame cars have to get rare before they're appreciated, but we're glad to see this car getting more of the love it deserves 🥳

[@toms_garage]

Cool review, very carfection

[@CarSoul]

Glad you liked it!

[@TimboNagasaki]

Agree, it's a lovely car and a future classic.I have a 1.8t Quattro that has been garaged for a year while I rebuilt the engine with an S3 spec turbo. Much more peppy. Repainted in metallic black with RS6 19' wheels. Simple and elegant. Looking forward to some warmer weather so it can stretch its legs. I'll be keeping mine indefinitely.

[@CarSoul]

Sounds fantastic, Audis Quattro drive systems make for great performance and handling, enjoy those summer drives!

[@CultOfMU]

I have red 2005 B6 1.8t manual quattro cabriolet currently sitting in a garage. Manual, sport interior with alcantara+leather seats. Pretty much perfect combination in every aspect. The quattro awd system is torsen, unlike haldex in TT so it works differently. I have no plans to sell it, even though it doesn't see much driving these days (I have an EV for commuting). Instead I have been thinking about giving it a little bit (at least 50+ hp) more power. A proper summer car.

[@CarSoul]

Spending a bit more time in the garage can be a sign of a little extra love and appreciation. as long as it gets the love it deserves on the best summer days, the EV's ok for the daily! :P

[@rylanhyatte7135]

I like the design classic not too big but not too small great fun to drive

[@CarSoul]

That was one of the reasons we loved it!

[@Ej6daniel]

Last year I got one of these Audi's because I restored the interior of a 98 Honda Civic with 210k and then traded it to a guy who had a 2005 A4 B6 Cabriolet with 140k that was "broken down". The only things wrong with it were it needed a new crank position sensor and the rear window had to be re glued. Other than that i've done the thermostat and coolant flange kit and put some size 16 audi wheels from a b5 on the car too replace the ugly chrome wheels someone added. 20 years old to this day and I think it still has an amazing look. In my opinion it has a more slimmed down bathtub look as compared to the cars of the past like the Porsche 356, Packard Sedan & Nash Statesman.

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

Nice review bro, I'm looking to pick one of these up in Ireland, a guy in a neighbouring county is selling it. 1.8t, manual 2004. 130,000 miles

[@CarSoul]

Thanks! we loved it as a piece of well priced motoring luxury. As good as the automatic is we would have loved to drive a manual one, let us know how she drives!

[@eamonnoconnor1917]

how did you get on im looking for one now

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

@@eamonnoconnor1917 I ended up getting an Audi 80 2.8 v6 instead

[@CraigMansfield]

I've got an Audi A4 TDI cabriolet, and I absolutely love it. Currently got a teeny oil leak up the front somewhere, and that's all that's wrong with it..... Could do with a new auxiliary belt. The car is a wonderful blend of comfort and grunt. Mind, living in Newcastle, I can't see when I'll be using the skis bag any time soon. That says something about their original demographic.... Somewhere to keep y'fuckin skis 😂😂😂😂 Buying laminate flooring.... Might be good for that 😂

[@CarSoul]

Do you even own a car if you dont have an oil leak?? Next time we review one we'll be sure to include 'trips to B&Q per square meter of laminate' segment for our viewers from Newcastle 😂

[@barryianson4693]

I love mine too and even got to use the ski bag going skiing in Weardale and Alston so perhaps the designers had bangernomic lovers in the north east of England in mind after all?

[@hl6859]

well spoken presentation

[@CarSoul]

Thank you, Glad you Enjoyed it

[@user-zx2pf8ob8f]

I've had 3 cabs..over 20 yes a 2.6 B5, a 2.8 B5 and now 2.0T B7 which is by far the best, great blend of performance ,economy and of course build quality and I get up to 45mpg on a run..pure classic surely

[@CarSoul]

I recently got back behind the wheel of a 1.8 cvt and was blown away all over again. I see why you would keep buying them!

[@ianedwards2605]

I love my AUDI miles 173.000 5 months mot its a soft top need a good clean but i love it its worth around 750 pounds but the same its a lovely runner i don't even care if i can't sell it im really happy to keep it but if i can get another one i would be up set losing my one but when ii get back to work i would probably but it back again

[@danielgariepy131]

I'v got one and me and my wife love to go cruising on the road with it. It has this refine classic look and the german driving sensation, a real joy to cruise around with. I'm a happy owner.

[@CarSoul]

Very nice!

[@davidwilson1008]

It is a modern classic... One of the firsts, of the 2000s.

[@CarSoul]

Completely agree, think the numbers need to drop a bit for a everyone to appreciate what they are.

[@drdoc7508]

looking at a few 06 and 07.. whats more reliable 4 Cyl or V6?

[@CarSoul]

I’d say the bigger the better. Any VAG engine will treat you well but a v6 is likely to have had a more caring history

[@Evocati-Augusti]

I'm buying an Audi A4 Cabriolet 2006, that only has 87k miles on it, it's in showroom shape.

[@Evocati-Augusti]

I always use the highest miles on a car before I buy it, and I've found these well over 200k

[@CarSoul]

Enjoy that unbeatable style

[@ianedwards2605]

Yeah like it I've got the AUDI A4 diesel beautiful car looking for a swap I've got the 2004

[@ianedwards2605]

Iv got the same sort of car love driving it its beautifully smooth just need a smaller cc as iv got the 2.5litr engin don't want to get lose it but do need smaller engine I'm unemployed

[@CarSoul]

They are quite the lookers

[@brandonc5031]

What I be able to somehow connect Bluetooth to my phone for music

[@ronofficial5958]

My wife has a 2003 with 3.0 FWD with 140,000 miles. The car is mechanically sound. The top has become troublesome, and the Alpaca Beige on the front deck has started to lose its clear coat. My wife would like to get rid of the car. I think I will buy it from her instead. It just runs too good. New transmission, new top, new rims, new timing belt, water pump, always covered or garaged. Probably will run for the rest of my lifetime. We are 57 and don’t drive a lot.

[@CarSoul]

What surprised me when driving this one was just how well it drive with almost 130 k on the clock. Can’t imagine how well they drove fresh from the showroom

[@peekaboo4390]

Keep it and maintain it.

[@toneywalker6779]

Do want sell it

[@rogerbowles8201]

how is that a respectable 0-60 when my mk1 golf did it exactly the same in 1983 with exactly the same size engine but without a turbo and 45hp less

[@CarSoul]

Probably because a mk1 golf weighed about 800kg, didn’t have a retractable roof, and as you’re saying had a 1.8 I’m assuming was a gti? I’d say pretty respectable when everyday non sport spec drop tops match the performance of top tier gti hot hatches from 15 years prior.

[@George-nv1ri]

​@@CarSoulyou just destroyed that guy haha

[@3kkk514]

If you know how to fix car this is for you a good car for fun other wise tfsi engine is a sick engine.

[@CarSoul]

They’re going to need some good mechanics as they get older, but they’re very much worth keeping on the roads!

[@mrtyreus0]

If the 2008 Bentley Continental GTC is a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, the 2008 A4 Cabriolet is a Squier.

[@CarSoul]

😂😂

[@rogerbowles8201]

You know you shouldnt overtake on a ghost island right

[@CarSoul]

There are the thing we know, and the things we don’t know, and there are the things we don’t know we don’t know. And then there’s James and Tony. They don’t know.

[@doncorleon9]

But it doesn't have gears! I see you though 😅

[@CarSoul]

Making at least one incredibly stupid statement per car review is kind of my thing 🤠

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

Very enthusiastic review, this car looks fine but also so dull. And the CVT gearbox just add to the boredom.

[@CarSoul]

A very interesting comment. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s a fine line between simple elegance and being dull. The facelift made the front end a little more interesting 🧐

[@meanstreetsuk]

MOST owners of MOST cars that are around the 20 year old mark, start blabbering out that their car is a “future classic”. Deluded.

[@CarSoul]

We’re only deluded until we’re right. We shall check back in with you in ten years 😎