Audi S3 Cabriolet Quattro 2.0L TFSI

The Audi S3 cabriolet is a much more purposeful beast that the standard A 3 soft top tested elsewhere in this blog..
For a start it sits much lower on 18 inch wheels and 35 series tyres. 
That extra tuning and the quattro AWD system gives the S3 enormous grip in corners..
The 2 litre turbo engine is a cracking powerplant..210 kw and 380 nm, throws the S3 down the road in about five seconds..seriously quick acceleration, accompanied by a rorty pop from the exhaust each time you change up a gear.I saw an average of seven litres per 100 kilometres during my week with the car in  both highway and city driving.

There are several suspension settings...Dynamic, Eco, Sport,Individual,Auto and Comfort,
In Dynamic mode the revs rise and the exhaust from the four pipes takes on a much more sporty growl. The ride , even in sport mode is quite acceptable..smooth and not harsh over most surfaces.  

Flick the steering wheel paddles to change down and he engine will "blip" itself to get the revs just right without any driver input.The steering feel is quite heavy, but you get used to its communication with the road.

Heated seats are welcome on cold days, but with the seat adjusted for tall drivers there's no room at all for anyone in the rear pews.
The soft top is well insulated from outside noise... and raises and lowers while on the move at speeds of up to 50 kph.

Bright, crisp xenon headlights give good spread and penetration on the darkest of nights...The extra weight needed to maintain rigidity in the Cabrio means it's not quite as quick as the hatch versions of he S3, but it's still a very exhilarating and distinctive drive and at just over 69K is a bit of a performance bargain.
Peter Sellen