Car September 2015.pdf

Audi A3 cabriolet
Drop-top flip-flop slip-slop load of plop?
With the roof up, other than a bit more road/wind noise,
you’d never know you were in a cabrio, and the cabin is
coolly styled and made with precision. The only shudders
come from your cold arse – no standard heated seats.
Vauxhall Cascada Elite
Drop-top flip-flop slip-slop load of plop?
Creaking like an arthritic octagenarian getting out of their
wingback, Vauxhall’s usual solid build quality has literally
been pulled apart at the seams. Every panel joins in the
cacophony, and the wing mirrors flop like Dumbo’s ears.
More refined than
many tin-tops.
Still corners like
an A3 though
More creaks in here
than on a map of
Australia. Twists like
Chubby Checker
Hacking about or a fine drive down the middle?
The 1.4 TFSI engine needs a good poke at the top end to
garner any performance and it makes a noise as beefy
as an electric toothbrush. But it steers and corners like a
standard A3, which isn’t orgasmcially exciting, but does
the job.
Do we still need Derek’s Saab estate?
Yes. You’ll never take the garden rubbish to the tip in this
finely leathered cabin, but it’s just about a four-seater and
the boot is okay, if nothing on the Vauxhall’s deep swallow.
Cylinder on demand makes it by far the most efficient too.
Verdict
Roof down driving should be easygoing, indulgent, and if
you’re going to be seen, make sure they’re a bit envious too.
The A3 delivers everything you could want in a convertible.
Hacking about or a fine drive down the middle?
With the structural rigidity of rice pudding skin, it has
nervous breakdowns on rough roads and delivers steering
weight that varies on how the chassis twists. But the
excellent engine is powerful, fruity and responsive and it’s
a comfortable cruiser if strolling along.
Do we still need Derek’s Saab estate?
Easily the most commodious of the cars here, with a deep
boot and big comfy chairs, and lots of kit as standard such
as heated leather, dual-zone climate control, and HiPER
front struts from an Insignia VXR. For what, we’re not sure.
Verdict
Heard the pub bore say ‘there’s no such thing as a bad car
these days’? Well, he’s probably not driven a Cascada. Size
and power can’t make up for its rattly, pricey shortcomings.
AUDI A3 CABRIOLET
S LINE 1.4 TFSI COD 150
Price £28,990 > Engine 1395cc 16v turbo
4-cyl, 147bhp @ 5000rpm, 182lb ft @ 1500rpm
> Gearbox Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
> Performance 8.9sec 0-62mph, 138mph,
55.4mpg, 122g/km > Weight 1365kg > On sale
Now > Rating ★ ★ ★ ★
VAUXHALL CASCADA ELITE 1.6T
WINNER
> Price £28,715 > Engine 1598cc 16v turbo
4-cyl, 196bhp @ 5500rpm, 207lb ft @ 1650-
3000rpm > Gearbox Six-speed manual, frontwheel
drive > Performance 8.2sec 0-62mph,
146mph, 41.5mpg, 158g/km > Weight 1658kg
> On sale Now > Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
September 2015 | SUBSCRIBE & SAVE UP TO 66%! GREATMAGAZINES.CO.UK/CAR
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