Audi A4

It was a perfect summer for drop-top owners. Day after day of cloudless blue skies meant there was no excuse for keeping the roof raised. And so our Audi A4's fully automatic hood mechanism was put to good use. With no handles to twirl or levers to yank, all you have to do is press a button to enjoy life in the open air.
With summer still resisting the onset of autumn, only the chilling wind has persuaded us to keep the roof up recently. But that's no excuse really, since the Audi has a neat way to prevent you getting cold. When you lower the hood, the heater automatically ups the temperature.
Our car is also equipped with the £230 wind deflector that does a superb job of reducing turbulence in the cabin and keeping expensive hairdos looking presentable. We think it should be standard kit on a car of this price, although it takes up boot space when stowed and the mesh isn't easy to see through. As long as you're not carrying passengers, it's worth folding the deflector flat and leaving it in place over the rear seats.
Luggage room was at a premium when my wife and I took the Audi on a two-week excursion around France. Yet with the hood raised, the boot swallows holiday gear with ease, while the rear seats accommodate two adults comfortably.
Our route took us through the French Alps for a few days, before we continued on down to the Mediterranean. Here, the Audi was in its element, blending in with Cote d'Azur traffic effortlessly. The mountain roads, though, had been more of a trial. Because of the A4's Multitronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), throttle response is poor and the engine struggled for air in the thin atmosphere. That meant higher revs were required and, with the roof lowered, engine noise was a real issue. Not only that, but the Cabrio isn't a dynamic masterpiece, so despite the wonderful scenery and glorious roads, driver involvement was in disappointingly short supply.
Motorways proved a less arduous test of the car's abilities. Cruising was a pleasure, but again the CVT failed to impress. Considering that the TDI engine produces 163bhp, performance is far from great when the A4 is loaded - the gearbox seems to sap power from the usually punchy powerplant. Over the course of 2,400 miles, the Audi slurped its way through 340 litres of derv, averaging a disappointing 30.9mpg. Mind you, at French pump prices, the diesel cost only £170. When we got back to the UK and washed the car, the 18-inch cross-spoke alloys again show-ed what an absolute nightmare they are to keep clean. Worse still, leaving them off the specification would have saved us £1,190!
We've also noticed one or two slight faults starting to appear. The laminated finish is peeling off both number plates, while the source of an intermittent squeak from the roof where it meets the driver's door glass is proving frustratingly difficult to trace. But with comfort levels aided by excellent sports seats (a £500 option), the Audi is still proving a popular choice with colleagues. Long may it continue.