Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi RS4 Cabriolet B7 review (2007-2008) - price, specs and 0-60 time

Quickest A4 loses its roof – and its composure

Evo rating
RRP
from £59,625
  • The looks, the engine
  • The wobbling, the price tag

You can’t blame manufacturers for lopping the roof off some of our favourite cars; sales of posh convertibles are now a key part of a manufacturers profit generating range. All this despite the fact that losing the fixed top can dramatically change the feel of a car, mainly for the worse.

Engine and performance

Take the B7 Audi RS4 Cabriolet. While it shares the same wonderful, 414bhp, 4.2-litre V8 engine as the saloon, in the Cabriolet this engine has an extra 195kg to lug around thanks to the extra strengthening needed once the metal roof has been ripped away.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Not only does this dent the (still ample) performance, but it seems as if the extra bulk hasn’t helped stiffen the body too much anyway, as there’s still plenty of wobble to be had down a typical British B-road. Luckily the RS4 Cab is so perfectly assembled there are no squeaks or rattles to accompany this, but you expect better from an Audi these days.

The Cabriolet seems to have an even healthier appetite for super unleaded than the saloon, too, averaging around 15mpg in my hands (our long-term RS4 saloon manages around the 20mpg mark), and there’s yet another unwelcome side effect to the decapitation in that, with the roof up (which, let’s be honest, is how it will spend most of its time), less of the thrilling V8 growl makes its way into the cabin due to all the extra sound-deadening in the roof and rear deck.

The deeper you delve into the driving experience, the more disappointing it becomes. Fortunately there’s just enough of the original car left to save it from complete oblivion, but the four-door remains the only sensible choice.

Find used Audi RS4's for sale on the Classic and Performance Car site here.

Specifications

EngineV8, 4163cc, 32v
Max power414bhp @ 7800rpm
Max torque317lb ft @ 5500rpm
0-604.9sec (claimed)
Top speed155mph (limited)
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025
New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement
Ferrari Amalfi front
News

New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement

The Ferrari Amalfi picks up where the Roma left off, as a more capable, debugged super GT that’s finally brought back buttons
1 Jul 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025