1998 Audi Cabriolet Review
Price Estimate: $221 - $358
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Solid German engineering. Low volume = higher social cache.
Cons
- Underpowered V6 engine. No manual transmission. High price.
What’s new
Based on the ancient 80/90 platform from the late '80s, the Cabriolet soldiers on with minimal change. A new steering wheel design is standard, and the Audi logo disappears from the side moldings.
For sale near Picayune, MS
Vehicle overview
Audi has been selling the Cabriolet for several years now, with little success. A high price, a limp powertrain and an aging design (based on the old 90 Coupe) have steered buyers to BMW, Saab and Ford showrooms in search of a top-down fix. This year, Audi makes no attempt to revive interest in the Cabriolet. Virtually nothing is new for 1998.
Audi's 172-horsepower 2.8-liter V6, mated to an automatic transmission and hauling around nearly as much weight as the A6 wagon, feels anemic in this application. A manual gearbox would improve matters, but is not available at any cost.
It's no surprise that Audi sells few copies of the Cabriolet in the United States, considering that the BMW 3-Series and Saab 900 convertibles are priced in the Cabriolet's range and are more viscerally satisfying automobiles. Buyers looking for both luxury and speed can get a loaded Mustang GT convertible and save a few grand, or pop for a similarly-priced Cobra variant. The BMW, Ford and Saab convertibles have more character than the Audi, and are more fun to drive. Audi needs to go back to the drawing board on this one, and we doubt that the upcoming TT roadster is the answer, unless the question is, "What 20th century automobile looked the most like Miss Piggy?"
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Mississippi
$177/mo for Cabriolet Base
Cabriolet Base
vs
$144/mo
Avg. Compact Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Audi Cabriolet Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
My '95 Audi Cabriolet
4.75 out of 5 starsruss911, 09/15/2011
1995 Audi Cabriolet 2dr Convertible
I just purchased my 95 Audi.
It has 101,000 miles and runs good.
I have some electrical problems including the driver's window not going down which stops the top from coming back up. I have to shut the car down and wait for the breaker to reset. Is there something I can do or replace? I owned a 2004 Quatro Conv which was a great car. I will see how this stands the test of time.
Beautiful, but only to the eye.
2.75 out of 5 starsRandom Beast, 05/27/2009
1997 Audi Cabriolet 2dr Convertible
This vehicle is very, very attractive. Mechanically it has been very disappointing. The engine is lame. I don't need a power house but this engine is simply not eager. We've had many problems with this car, passenger seat jammed, engine light on consistently, front suspension issues, roof won't open all the time, driver window regulator blew, fuel gauge inaccurate and fails, replaced … fuel tank evaporator valve, seats squeak, replace engine seals due to oil leaks, water pump failed early, cigarette lighter doesn't work, radio antennae mast failed, trunk lid struts failed and other minor irritants. The car isn't as good a handling vehicle as my '97 BMW. Fuel economy isn't stellar. Don't buy 1!
The Red Rocket
4.88 out of 5 starsclassic , 09/07/2010
1996 Audi Cabriolet 2dr Convertible
I bought my 1996 red cabriolet from a friend a couple years ago. It had been sitting in his garage for 10 years, and only had 40,000 miles on it. It now has 50,000 miles, and is still in mint condition. Baby's got a V6 engine. Love this car. It's going to be a classic. My car has a sports package, and the seats are very unique. A friend of mine just bought an RS4, and liked my seats … better then his. I get offers for it all the time. Last weekend, a woman offered me her brand new 2010 Ford Explorer (with 2,600 miles) for my Audi at an even trade! Had to take a pass.
Driving under the radar
4 out of 5 starsGene, 05/16/2018
1994 Audi Cabriolet 2dr Convertible
The Audi 80-based Cabriolet is a solid, luxury sport convertible. Slightly under-powered for the weight with a sluggish transmission. However, it shines in comfort and still turns heads at 24-years old. As a retirement second car, it's just fine. Mine has the winter package, and it's needed when driving year-round in Iowa. With purchase price and maintenance included, it has cost less … than $2,000 per year over my 10 years of ownership. And, that includes a recent purchase of a parts car plus a trip to the body shop for some cosmetic work. Market valuation has stayed in the basement for years, making it easy to send damaged cars to the crusher. As the car becomes rarer, the valuation is slowly increasing.
I sold my Audi with 124,400 miles on it. The frequency and cost of repairs became more than my budget would allow. My advice to anyone looking to buy an early cabriolet is to find the cleanest, best maintained car possible. Repairs will be inevitable, so minimize your risk and enjoy the car for what it is.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1998 Audi Cabriolet, so we've included reviews for other years of the Cabriolet since its last redesign.
1998 Cabriolet Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $177/month |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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