Audi S5 test drive ...

[sirob]

Pros:
German V8 sound at any speed and RPM range
Many Luxurious Features (i.e. Bang and Olufsen sound system)
Quattro All wheel drive – doesn’t slip in curve under full throttle, pulls from all four corners and handles pretty well given its hard suspension
Styling (more outside than inside)

Cons:
Steering – absolutely terrible. We did not even drive off the lot and I complained how light, vague, not-sporty it was providing no feedback
Felt slower than my car (Stock E92 335i). That is probably due to the added weight despite despite an extra 45 hp (extra 400lbs over the BMW)
The V8 – as nice as it sounds, it does not feel to perform up to its sound and runs noticeably out of boost after 5000 RPM
Smaller interior – virtually no space on the back seats
Noticeably heavier and not as nimble around the corners.
$60,000.00 price tag – ouch

[AndrewAZ]

I went looking about leasing one... They wanted $5k down and $1,100 a month.. I was just quoted for a caymen the other week $800 a month (taxes included ) with 0 down, both 36 month 15k mile a year leases...

[rockne]

Originally Posted by sirob

Cons:
Steering – absolutely terrible. We did not even drive off the lot and I complained how light, vague, not-sporty it was providing no feedback
Felt slower than my car (Stock E92 335i). That is probably due to the added weight despite despite an extra 45 hp (extra 400lbs over the BMW)
The V8 – as nice as it sounds, it does not feel to perform up to its sound and runs noticeably out of boost after 5000 RPM
Smaller interior – virtually no space on the back seats
Noticeably heavier and not as nimble around the corners.
$60,000.00 price tag – ouch

A co-workers of mine also went for a test drive. He complained about the steering and the interior styling. He said there were way too many "buttons" and that the enterior of the 335 was much nicer. Not worth the extra cash in my opinion.

[RyanDe680]

Even though it's running 45 bhp more on the S5, how did overall accelleration feel, especially for the 5-40mph? Did you have the opportunity to try it out?

[noro]

Saw one in person today, the rear is nice, reminds me of the new maseratti. The front LED lights under the headlights belong in a Tokyo drift movie. Overall the car is no competition to a 335i, it's slower, less striking, heavier and is an Audi.

[jct0518]

IMO I would take a s5 over a stock 335i..it just has killer looks..and that v8 sound is amazing..

[slowturbo]

Originally Posted by jct0518

IMO I would take a s5 over a stock 335i..it just has killer looks..and that v8 sound is amazing..

Agreed...that car is beautiful

[ironjw]

Originally Posted by jct0518

IMO I would take a s5 over a stock 335i..it just has killer looks..and that v8 sound is amazing..

+2

[hks786]

Originally Posted by jct0518

IMO I would take a s5 over a stock 335i..it just has killer looks..and that v8 sound is amazing..

+3

[footie]

Originally Posted by sirob

Pros:
German V8 sound at any speed and RPM range
Many Luxurious Features (i.e. Bang and Olufsen sound system)
Quattro All wheel drive – doesn’t slip in curve under full throttle, pulls from all four corners and handles pretty well given its hard suspension
Styling (more outside than inside)

Cons:
Steering – absolutely terrible. We did not even drive off the lot and I complained how light, vague, not-sporty it was providing no feedback
Felt slower than my car (Stock E92 335i). That is probably due to the added weight despite despite an extra 45 hp (extra 400lbs over the BMW)
The V8 – as nice as it sounds, it does not feel to perform up to its sound and runs noticeably out of boost after 5000 RPM
Smaller interior – virtually no space on the back seats
Noticeably heavier and not as nimble around the corners.
$60,000.00 price tag – ouch

The steering does take time to get use to and some people will never like it. The thing does weight up quite a bit as speed builds but I would agree that feel isn't one of it's strong points. But in it's defence you will find the S5 far easier to steer at 150mph than the 335i and the same is true on poor surfaces, call it swings and roundabouts.

It's the turbo boost that makes the 335i feel quicker, the same is true when comparing the 335i against the M3v8 but the fact is that in both cases it's the 335i that is the slower car.

Totally agree about interior space, for such a long car there isn't much room in the back.

This is the funny thing, I found the 335i less responsive on turn in compared to the S5 and I also found the S5 to have more front end grip during the corner. I would agree that there is more weight and possibly during a slalom run the 335i would be better but I doubt the difference would be by much.

As for the power tailing off after 5000rpm, come on are you sure you drove one which was run-in. My I recommend you re test the car only this time press the throttle only an inch down and stay in 3rd gear, if you still feel that the power is tailing off then you are driving a dead engine. The car pulls long and hard right to the limiter and that's in every gear, in fact the S5 will run to 175mph with the limiter removed and it couldn't do that if the power wasn't there after 5000rpm.

[AtoB]

Originally Posted by hks786

+3

+4... a beautiful coupe.

[gundamfans]

the looks really do it for me, only thing stopping me was the steering feel really...

[Greeney]

Its all programable, people are working on a computer mod that tightens up the steering at low speeds.

[Dragonman4]

Originally Posted by slowturbo

Agreed...that car is beautiful

Yea, they are dead sexy. But for the price tag, I'm expecting it to move as good as it looks.

[rooster92]

Originally Posted by sirob

)
The V8 – as nice as it sounds, it does not feel to perform up to its sound and runs noticeably out of boost after 5000 RPM

Lol a NA V8 runs out of boost after 5k rpm? Did you check the flux capacitors?

[3coupe]

Originally Posted by sirob

Pros:
German V8 sound at any speed and RPM range
Many Luxurious Features (i.e. Bang and Olufsen sound system)
Quattro All wheel drive – doesn’t slip in curve under full throttle, pulls from all four corners and handles pretty well given its hard suspension
Styling (more outside than inside)

Cons:
Steering – absolutely terrible. We did not even drive off the lot and I complained how light, vague, not-sporty it was providing no feedback
Felt slower than my car (Stock E92 335i). That is probably due to the added weight despite despite an extra 45 hp (extra 400lbs over the BMW)
The V8 – as nice as it sounds, it does not feel to perform up to its sound and runs noticeably out of boost after 5000 RPM
Smaller interior – virtually no space on the back seats
Noticeably heavier and not as nimble around the corners.
$60,000.00 price tag – ouch

"no boost" - i don't think this car is boosted. please correct me if im wrong.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by jct0518

IMO I would take a s5 over a stock 335i..it just has killer looks..and that v8 sound is amazing..

+0.5

I'd have a really hard time choosing between the two. I think the S5 has the slight edge just for looks/interior/engine note alone. The thing is AWD just isn't my thing, and RWD is just so much more fun to me.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by 3coupe

"no boost" - i don't think this car is boosted. please correct me if im wrong.

He meant boost in a figurative manner.

[Year's_End]

Speaking of steering weight...I just got out of 2 day M school two days ago. The M5/M6's steering is just as light as the S5's at low speeds . Personally, I think Servotronic steering sucks. The M Coupe's was amazing though.

[3coupe]

many ppl on this forum like the s5 for its looks - however not many have actually driven one. if you buy a car soley for its looks then your preference is only skin deep.

i for one buy cars based on its ability to achieve balance in all categories. yes, i agree the s5 look more "bling" than my 335i....but i believe that the 335i's design is FUNCTIONAL in its means. anyone can throw a v8 in a car, but it takes thinking outside traditional parameters to come out with a inline 6 with a turbo (i like better gas mileage since gas aint cheap). many car manufacturers try to put as much chromy materials on the car to attract consumers.....however true car enthusiasts will see past that.

i actually like the audi interior....many do because they like a cluttered cockpit. with a trained eye, for ppl that think bmw's interiors are boring....well you have your opinions, but again its functional design, if you look closely many details matches the car's demeaner whch is smooth and flowy. i can't blame auto makers for inserting materials that catches most consumers as they want to look good in their cars....

i bought this 335i cause of its ability to exceed my expecations in more categories than any other car. gas mileage? bullet proof drivetrain? reliability? schedule maintenance? subtle and soothing enterior? lets not forget the 335i out performed the s5 on the track. so it comes down to, do you like the bling and a shitty drive? or do you wanna drive an engineering marvel like this 335i? audi comes out with cars like hot cakes cause they are always tryign to be competitive. bmw has one of the longest product life cycles......because they built strong, quality products that are true to the bmw engineering prowess.

my 02 cents - it can be biased cause im on my 3rd bmw.

[vAnt826]

Apparantly the girl from 5th gear doesn't think the steering is all that responsive either, and it lost the track race against the 335i.

[footie]

Originally Posted by 3coupe

anyone can throw a v8 in a car, but it takes thinking outside traditional parameters to come out with a inline 6 with a turbo (i like better gas mileage since gas aint cheap). ...............lets not forget the 335i out performed the s5 on the track. so it comes down to, do you like the bling and a shitty drive? or do you wanna drive an engineering marvel like this 335i? audi comes out with cars like hot cakes cause they are always tryign to be competitive. bmw has one of the longest product life cycles......because they built strong, quality products that are true to the bmw engineering prowess.

my 02 cents - it can be biased cause im on my 3rd bmw.

Please let me begin by saying nothing I am about to write is meant personally.

Firstly, either you have a very short memory or are very young indeed, to think that it's amazing engineering skill and enlightenment to put a 6 cylinder Bi-turbo engine in a mid-sized car, Audi did this years ago in the old S4 and RS4.

Secondly, the S5 and 335i posted identical times on the longest most demanding race tracks in the world (the ring), the S5 was both quicker and slower (depending on tyre choice) on the Hockenhiem course against the 335i but you choose to make reference to a TV programme (Fifthgear) for your bases in the remark that the S5 in slower than the 335i. Wake up and smell the rose.

The S5 as you refer is 'bling' with a 'shitty drive', you clearly haven't driven the S5 because if you had you would know it an enjoyable drive with an exciting engine note that is more than capable of matching anything that the 335i can do. It is very ill-informed opinion to think that BMW are somehow superior to it's other German competitors, they are all very skill engineering companies. Best leave Motorsport out of the argument because this is on area where BMW are found wanting against either Mercedes or Audi, I ask you, in the nineteen thirties what were BMW making when both Mercedes and Audi where building 400km/h machines to race on the roads.

This might sound like I don't appreciate BMWs or the engineering skills but that is not the case, I think what they are currently doing is brilliant but wouldn't rate any more incredible than any of the others.

P.S.
Check the production cycle of both Audi and Mercedes and you will see little difference between them and BMW in this respect.