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