Pick up a Sport model, which comes with lowered, stiffened suspension, sports seats and leather steering wheel and the drive gets even better, although you will be paying a premium of about £800 for the pleasure.

Buying a used Audi A4 cabriolet may not be the cheapest way of enjoying a spot of open-top motoring but it certainly is one of the most elegant.

As Coco Chanel once said: “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” In the case of the Audi A4 cabriolet it could just be the motoring equivalent of Chanel No 5.

Boot
A total of 315 litres with roof up, 246 when stowed — about the same as a BMW 3-series convertible but smaller than the 386 litres available in a Mercedes CLK

Upholstery
Leather upholstery was an option only on smaller-engine models but few cars left the factory without it

Drive
Front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive available on virtually all models, giving the A4 cabriolet an advantage over competitors. Expect to pay around £750 more for a quattro model

Safety
No Euro NCAP test results have been completed but all models come with multiple airbags, ABS and electronic stability program as standard

Servicing
Variable service interval on many models. Check the service book carefully and call the servicing dealer to confirm authenticity of the stamp if in doubt

Gearbox
Manual or automatic available on all models. Expect to pay around £750 more for a multitronic or tiptronic compared with a manual

Climate control
Standard on all models

Roll-over protection system
Automatically activated in the event of a potential roll-over accident

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Audi A4 cabriolet 3.0 quattro Sport
Engine 2976cc, six cylinders
Power 220bhp
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel 28.8mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 8.3sec
Top speed 139mph

THE ONE TO BUY

A 2003 03 Audi A4 cabriolet 3.0 quattro Sport with 40,000 miles. Pay £20,500 at a dealer or £19,500 privately

VALUES

Mileage 10,000
2003 03 Trade £21,100 Retail £23,500
2004 04 Trade £22,500 Retail £24,750
2005 05 Trade £24,150 Retail £26,500

Mileage 20,000
2003 03 Trade £20,150 Retail £22,500
2004 04 Trade £21,450 Retail £23,750
2005 05 Trade £23,000 Retail £25,500

Mileage 40,000
2003 03 Trade £18,250 Retail £20,500
2004 04 Trade £19,550 Retail £22,000
2005 05 Trade £21,000 Retail £23,500

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY

2000 W Jaguar XK8 convertible
2001 Y Lexus SC 430 coupé cabriolet
2003 53 Mercedes CLK 320 Elegance
2003 03 BMW 330Ci Sport convertible
2004 54 Saab 9-3 2.0T Aero convertible