People don’t have to remind me that I’m one lucky dude when it comes to having a job that requires driving a different new car almost every week.
My stint behind the wheel of the 2008 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet Quattro was one of those “pinch me, this must be a dream” weeks.
First of all, only 300 units of this amazing car exist in the entire United States for this model year. Second, we’re talking convertible on one of the best summer weather weeks in the Pacific Northwest. Third, we’re looking at more power, performance and technology than the mind can conjure.
It’s still not in my colleague Mary Lowry’s league – but she’s high maintenance and I’m not. End of that story.
Imagine a Phantom Black Effect exterior paint job coupled with a black roof and black carbon fiber interior accents, and a pasty white redhead at the wheel with an ear-to-ear grin. Sorry to ruin the picture for you, but that was me.
There’s only one trim level for this bad boy: fully loaded. With a price tag a skosh shy of $85,000, one might think the RS 4 a tad expensive. But when compared with BMW’s M6 convertible, this Audi adds Quattro all-wheel drive and costs about $25,000 less — a veritable bargain.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way at the top: The RS 4 is a gas hog. It earns a $2,100 gas-guzzler tax with its 12 mpg EPA rating for city driving — which may be generous. And while it includes a painted-on back seat, let’s not kid ourselves. This car is made for two.
There, it’s over with. Let’s get to the fun. And I mean FUN.
The RS 4 Cabriolet is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 engine complete with 32 valves, FSI direct injection, dual overhead cams and a stratospheric 8,250-rpm redline. It’s the same engine found in Audi’s muscle sedans, so it’s no surprise that this smallish car turns into a pocket rocket with that V8 crammed beneath the hood.
Mated to a six-speed manual transmission working in tandem with Quattro delivering all that power to the pavement, the RS 4 generates 420 horsepower, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reaches a top speed capped at 155 miles per hour.
I’m convinced it could go much, much faster. It even comes with a lap timer, for crying out loud. Let’s just say the tach was never in danger of redlining, and the engine was like a genie in a bottle — my wish was its command.
The push of a button doffs the convertible top, which stores neatly inside an enclosed space inside the trunk. When up, a triple-layer “acoustic hood” keeps the convertible unusually quiet for a cloth top.
Every RS 4 rolls off the assembly line with a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, iPod interface tucked inside the glovebox, nine-speaker Bose sound system with a six-disc CD changer and Sirius satellite radio, silk Nappa leather eight-way power front seats, heated front and rear seats, tilt and telescoping steering wheel and much, much more.
The exterior reeks of testosterone. There’s a unique honeycomb grille, widened wheel flares that showcase the 19-inch alloy wheels and 255/35 Z-rated rubber, lower side skirts and extra-large dual chrome tailpipes.
On the safety side, in addition to Quattro there’s the obligatory complement of airbags, anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stabilization, and an active rollover protection system.
My dream ended when they took my RS 4 Cabriolet away and had the audacity to loan it to another automotive journalist. But at least it wasn’t Lowry.
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