First Drive: 2008 Audi A5/S5

bankhead submitted on 06/07/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 3:16 PM
from: www.motortrend.com

Tags: 2008 Audi A5 S5

2008 Audi A5 S5

First Drive: 2008 Audi A5/S5

Good times are rolling at Audi. Sales, production, and profits have all risen for each of the last 11 years, so the marque is in a celebratory mood. The first champagne cork to fly was the mid-engine R8 supercar. The next one will be a voluptuous, decadent four-seat grand tourer, the likes of which Audi has been itching to produce for the last 11 years, while it was attending to more serious business. With its all-new A5 and S5 coupes, the company is scratching that itch in grand style... Read Article

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AMGC55 - 6/7/2007 4:03:50 PM

0 Boost

S5 is sick looking but i think its slightly over priced compared to the 335i coupe

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Will_ - 6/7/2007 4:15:56 PM

0 Boost

The S5 has slightly better performance than the 335i, so the price is justified.

Plus, I don't mean to sound like GermanNut or S4cab, but you get a better interior.

JRobUSC - 6/7/2007 5:17:52 PM

+4 Boost

Will, the base price of the S5 is expected to be $14k more than that of the 335i Coupe. Fourteen thousand. That isn't s slight difference, that's a big one, that's 35% more expensive. The "nicer interior" (which is subjective anyway) better be made out of diamond and unobtainium to justify that kind of difference. Plus the 335i Coupe has more rear seat room despite being smaller, and it handles and rides better based on the reviews I've read. The base A5 3.2 is expected to start for what the 335i Coupe starts at, and as nice as I'm sure the A5 is I'll take a 335i Coupe all day for that money.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 5:39:03 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

JRob, that's also because the S5 will probably be better-equipped. You can easily push a 335i coupe to $55K+ with high-end options that BMW offers. I optioned up "my" 335i convertible last week, and it was $59K, only $4K less than my S4.

And I don't mean to sound like a troll, but you do get a lot of "coolness, prestige and exclusivity" with an S-badged Audi. It's not the same in a "normal" 3 Series.

JRobUSC - 6/7/2007 8:14:02 PM

+1 Boost

S4, that's true, if you literally put every single option BMW offers on a 335i Coupe you'll be at $56120 with destination. But no one ever, EVER gets that car. You're talking about active steering, adaptive cruise, etc. There's no way the S5 comes with all that standard. A (what I would consider) loaded 335i Coupe (premium, cold weather, sport, nav, park distance, comfort access) is $48925, and that's a whole bunch less than "$55k to start". I think the A5/S5 is going to be a really nice car, I just think they overpriced it.

r_driver04 - 6/8/2007 4:25:46 PM

0 Boost

I read somewhere that the S5's steering communication leaves something to be desired. The chassis is still not as balanced and communicative as the BMW.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/9/2007 1:18:34 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I read (in an S5 article, not a comparison) that the S5 has pretty fabulous steering. I believe it was AutoWeek, but there were other raves. On its own, the S5 is a superb sporty GT. Compared with the 335i, though, it's faced with a real challenge.

Hwany - 6/7/2007 4:30:10 PM

-3 Boost

Umm you don't buy an Audi for its performance.

If you want best bang for the buck, go buy a suby or Mitu or a Vette.

Audi's are known for refinment, its interior, and its overall package, not just performance.

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AlexTx - 6/7/2007 5:07:59 PM

+6 Boost

So....what about, S4, S6, S8, RS4, R8...if that is not performance, I don't know what is.
The Mitsu is hell of performance, but...not refined at all.

candywhite - 6/8/2007 1:46:04 PM

+1 Boost

^ lawl, R8 is nowhere close to turbo performance.

r_driver04 - 6/8/2007 4:26:39 PM

+1 Boost

Good point.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/9/2007 1:52:32 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Apparently, it's quicker around the track than a Turbo, and if pushed, can pretty much keep up in a straight line (0-60 in 3.9 for R8, 3.5 for Turbo).

TheSailor - 6/7/2007 5:03:18 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I absolutely LOVE this car, but I'm still not impressed with that interior design! Don't like the way the vents slope into the hood-thing, I don't like the way they integrated the navigations screen into the console and I don't like the crowded center console with all those controls... But I'm sure fit, quality and ergonomics are up there with the very best... And it is hard to judge the interior from a picture... Hopefully the danish dealerships will have gotten some testers home by the time I'll be home come october so I can see for myself and get a test drive...

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TheSailor - 6/7/2007 5:15:03 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"the way the vents slope into the hood-thing" That is the air con vents in the interior... In case anyone was wondering!

S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 5:40:10 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

If you saw it, I did post a glowing review of the S5's interior in another article. I'm not too impressed from the pictures, either, but from what I've read it's just as good/better than the current A4 Cabriolet's interior.

Lexus - 6/7/2007 5:21:27 PM

+2 Boost

I don't like the look of the front, other than that I think it look great. But I still think the Audi RS4 and the R8 is the besting looking sportcars Audi has.

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S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 5:41:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

I love this car, but I have a dilemma. Should I get an RS4 Cabriolet this year, get on the list for an R8 next year (and wait a year) or wait for the S5/RS5 Cabriolet to come out? I'm really having trouble. I need some help from you guys.

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S4cabriofoxone - 6/7/2007 5:45:32 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Oh, BTW, some info on my position:

The RS4 Cabriolet is going to be a limited vehicle, as they're only bringing 300 here, like the R8. I'm thinking of being spontaneous and getting myself on the list soon, but what I'd like to do is drive the RS4 sedan (Cabriolet won't be available to drive), the XKR convertible, the 911 C4S and maybe even the 650i- that will let me know if any of the others (non-Audis) are worth waiting for. Because, I would only get the RS4 Cabriolet this year, because I'd have to. I'd wait a few years to get the others.

The R8 should seem like the obvious choice, I know. I am in love with it and there's nothing about it I don't like, but there are two issues: price and viability. Can I realistically blow $120K on a car (I may end up leasing it), and would I really be able to take it through the winter? It's also not a convertible, and I'd have trouble not having a convertible in the hot Chicago summer. The summers here are just as intense as the winters.

S5/RS5 is the wild card... I don't even know if either of those (in Cabriolet form) would be out by the time I'm looking, but I do really like how the new S5 looks. It's probably not worth waiting for, though, when you have the RS4 and R8 as other choices that you can get sooner.

TheSailor - 6/7/2007 6:03:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

I'd buy a car with a proper roof :P

Are you going to use the car as a daily driver? Because then the S5... That is probably the best of both worlds... 90% of the fun, 0% of the inconvenience.
If you "need" a fun car with some versatility the RS4 (the RS5 cab won't be out for another two years), I've driven the sedan and have been driven in the cab a few times and it is very good for fun, but though a little more fluffy than the sedan, it is still a pretty harsh ride and the sound track is pretty loud, even with the cloth up.

If you are just looking for a sweet toy, the R8... But I'm pretty sure you are too late for the next years worth of delivery. Unless you have an inside source ofcause... A friend of my brothers work as a race engineer with Audi DTM and LM and also do a little work with Quattro... He helped tweak the engine and transmission in the R8 and he says that the car is a blast to drive, but it can't get past the fact that it is a mid engined car (he is getting one of the first V10s BTW)...

Lexus - 6/7/2007 7:00:22 PM

+1 Boost

S4, if I were you, I would get the Audi R8, because it is so distinctive. And off course it also has performance of a super sportcars level.

Chip - 6/7/2007 7:16:07 PM

+2 Boost

S4, unless you put down a huge deposit on an R8 already, youre sh*t out of luck.

Audi has sold out the 1st year's production and half of the second. Better run!

S4cabriofoxone - 6/8/2007 1:17:28 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I've already figured that I'm not going to get a new car until 2009. It's just stupid for me to get an RS4 Cabriolet this year, or even next year.

Thinking about it, I'll probably end up with an XKR, C4S or 650i. I don't know, though. Something new could be out by then (a sporty Lexus?).

JRobUSC - 6/8/2007 8:27:16 AM

+1 Boost

why not the new M3 convertible then?

HeavyChevy - 6/8/2007 12:42:51 PM

+2 Boost

RS5 cabriolet

S4cabriofoxone - 6/9/2007 1:20:43 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I just can't bring myself to get a BMW, let alone an M3. It looks beautiful and I do admire it, but the car is just too much of a cliché, and too many @ssholes drive them. I don't want to be looked at in that way- "just another 45-year-old in an M3."

My elder son did convince me that I'm just not a "BMW guy," the other day. I'm inclined to agree. It's Audi, Porsche or even Jaguar for me- but not BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

TheSailor - 6/9/2007 5:09:52 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

You mean just another guy going through a mid-life crisis? :P

Chip - 6/9/2007 2:24:13 PM

+1 Boost

S4, who cares if people think youre an @sshole!! The M3 to me isnt a cliche at all, its the gold standard.

Im a BMW driver/fanatic. Im not an asshole. I love my car. Thats what matters.

I previously owned a couple Audis (98 A8, 01 S4) and also thought I wasnt a BMW-type of guy. Then I drove one. Been hooked since.

But dont limit your options because of others opinions. Anyone with a nice car can be perceived as an @sshole, but as long as youre not, then who the hell cares!!

Htay7500 - 6/7/2007 6:19:04 PM

+1 Boost

im not gonna make any judgements until I try one. i think the idea isnt that bad though.

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MunichRob - 6/7/2007 8:09:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Really S4 I don't know how you can go from looking at an RS4, R8, Carrera S, & XKR to a 650i. Don't get me wrong I love the 650, I'd even say it's the best car I've ever owned, but don't you think that's a little tame after looking at those first 4?

On that list the R8 is the most exclusive, best looking, most expensive, & best performing...If you ask me that's the hands down easy choice, IF you can get one that is.

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S4cabriofoxone - 6/8/2007 1:16:09 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Well, the price, the exclusivity and the impracticality are what are holding me back. IF I got an R8 (which is highly unlikely), it would cost me in excess of $120K, and I still have a lot of payments left on the S4. I'm in a very confusing situation.

However, I have settled that I'm not going to get an RS4 Cab this year. It's just too much for me to take at once- new house this year, new car for wife next year, and home improvements. I'll be lucky if I'm comfortable buying a $100K car by 2009.

BTW, the 650i is on my list because of the cars I'm looking at, it's most similar to my S4. It's not as much as an intense sports car as the 911/R8, but more of a GT, which I like. It has great looks, a great engine and a great interior.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 6/8/2007 10:57:01 AM

+1 Boost

S4, how about a Merc CL? Or is that too expensive? If you're looking for a GT I would definitely consider the Maserati Coupe.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/9/2007 1:22:51 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

No, CL is not too much money. But if I want a coupe, I'm getting something like a Cayman S, XKR or used V8 Vantage. You know, something sporty. The new CL550 looks fantastic, and the interior is probably a dream; I'm happy for you in getting one, but I'll wait ten years before I can get a car like that. Right now I want a sports car.

AdmiralT20 - 6/7/2007 9:42:39 PM

+3 Boost

The S5 from what I have read from reviews is a very beautiful car with some fantastic performance but it has a big problem.
The problem with the S5 is that that there is a BMW 335i. The performance of the 335i is very close to that of the S5, a few tenths of a second difference and a very closely matched handling.
Like others have pointed out- the problem is that the BMW cost about $10k less, has more leg room, and better fuel economy.
The Audi S5 brings into play a 4.2 litre V8, while the BMW is equipped with an I6 TT engine.
Exterior styling I would say are closely matched, and the interior is subjective, although my preference would be the S5.

So would I take an S5 over a 335i- I doubt it, if it were this time last when there was no 335i- the S5 would have been a clear winner.

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AdmiralT20 - 6/7/2007 9:44:27 PM

+1 Boost

I meant this time last year with no 335i, the S5 would have been a clear winner.

truecarlover - 6/9/2007 11:01:07 AM

+1 Boost

I tend to agree with you. I love Audi's - but I think the price strategy is wrong with this vehicle. Comparing the base A5 to the 328 and the S5 to the 335 - the performance difference doesn't justify such a big price increase. I live in NY and see the 3 coupes and convertibles everywhere I turn. Pricing the A5 like that won't do the same for Audi. I know they said they are more concerned about profits in the U.S. than they are sales - so I guess that is their thinking. I don't think the article is right though. If an A6 starts at $40k - how can the A5? I think I would buy the base A5 over the 328 - but I can't see buying the S5 over the 335 with that big of a price difference. If it was only $5k then that would be a different story.

motoring127professor - 6/8/2007 6:47:40 AM

+3 Boost

this car is awesome especially with the new amazing audi v8! i think they could have priced it better compared with the 3 series coupe especially with the standard a5

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MunichRob - 6/8/2007 11:38:37 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Who are you kidding? Audi's line-up doesn't look like anything on the road today, if any company is guilty of not being creative it's Lexus.

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M53R - 6/9/2007 9:35:39 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I think this car looks sooo good, but if I was in this kind of market I ll look at the 335i, maybe with the M-kit they offer.

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