308 better by a smile

THIS new Peugeot 308CC, above, is so much better than the car it replaces you wonder how on Earth Peugeot will sell their remaining stock. Especially as it’s only an extra 600 quid.

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Rossi: Is he their Valentino?

THE “will-he-won’t-he?” rumours won’t go away because bike ace Valentino Rossi keeps test-driving the Ferrari F1 car.

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Birthday for Mazda

MAZDA aren’t saying much about this special 20th anniversary edition of the brilliant MX-5, because they don’t want to spoil it ahead of its launch at the Geneva Motor Show on March 2.

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OPEN-TOP AUDI IS A BRIT SPECIAL

ABOVE: AIR CRAFT: The new Audi Cabriolet is a winner - even in Britain

4th October 2009

ODD as it may seem, the UK is one of the biggest European markets for soft-top cars.

I reckon it’s because we like to make the most of any decent weather we get.

Or maybe, as we approach middle age-dom, we just like to show off our receding hairlines.

It rained all week when I had the A5 Cabriolet. So all I can tell you is that the roof doesn’t leak, wind noise is no different to the hard-top and the boot’s a bit smaller.

In all, it’s as good to drive as the saloon version. The punchy two- litre turbo diesel may be found in the whole range of Seat/VW/Skoda but in this particular state of tune it’s a sweet match for the A5.

Fast enough, refi ned and easy on the derv. Can’t really understand why anyone would want anything bigger and more expensive under the bonnet.

The two-litre diesel engine is good for 140mph (that would ruffle your barnet with the roof down), sprints to 62mph in 8.3secs and delivers 49.6mpg on the combined cycle.

The tank range will be over 900 miles if you tread carefully with your right foot. Impressive.

To improve its CO2 rating it’s fitted with the intensely annoying start-stop system. The less said about this the better.
I loathed it.

The base model A5 Cab with twhis engine and six-speed manual gearbox is £33,085. Heated seats are a must (£245) and beeping parking system (£295) may be useful too as rear visibility ain’t that good.

Some paint finishes may cost you up to £585 extra, so be warned. Get carried away with the options and what was a 30 grand car can quite easily become a 40 grand car.

Personally, I’d go for the saloon with its improved passenger roll- over protection, bigger boot and roomier rear passenger area. After all, what’s wrong with air con when things warm up a bit?

But as cabrios go, the A5 is a pretty civilised, handsome and really well-engineered attempt. As an aside, it’s one of the most thief-proof cars on the market.

The other day a mate asked if he could move it, so he could get his van out of a parking space. I gave him the keys and forgot him.

Fifteen minutes later he was back, red-faced. Being used to normal cars, he couldn’t start it.

Firstly, the key doesn’t look like a key. It’s like a black plastic stub. Secondly, it goes into the dash to the left of the steering wheel (he couldn’t find it) and it doesn’t turn but needs to be pushed in slightly.

Thirdly, the clutch pedal has to be depressed before it’ll start up. No wonder the poor sod was struggling...

Price: £27,485

Engine: 1,968cc turbo diesel

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 350Nm

Top speed: 140mph

0-62mph: 8.3 secs

Economy: 49.6 combined

CO2: 148g/km

Insurance: Group 14

For: Handsomely styled

Against: Handsomely priced

Sum up: Practical midlife dilemma solution