[revah2]

Hello board.

Today i headed down to Champion Audi in Coral Springs, Florida to test drive the Audi S5.The Sticker price I saw was 56,000 loaded just the way I like it, fully loaded minus the navigation (but you still get the nav screen)
My first impression of the black on black was that this Audi was easily the most gorgeous Audi inside and out, to ever hit the market.Like the R8, there are a bunch of LED daytime lights that give the already beautiful car even more presence. The interior, certainly a lot sexier and loaded with a lot more gadgets than my 335i. The parking brake is electronic, which I thought was awesome. The audi navigation is certainly better than the idrive- more user friendly.
So, I found myself completely in love with the S5.... so much presence, alot more masculine looking than the 335i. The sexy quad exhaust and the burble of the v8 engine.
However, The drive itself completely changed my view on the car. On open road I floored it, I know that to 60mph it is supposedly making what the 335i is hitting... but it just didn't feel that way. The ride is so smooth, that I actually grew to dislike the way it felt. You just don't feel the road, seems like the car does all the work for you. Where as in my 335i, you FEEL the road- a lot more sportier.. There is something unique and indescribable that belongs to BMW,to the 335i, during the entire test drive I told myself It just doesn't have that BMW feel that I'm so desperately looking for. I was also surprised by the noise it makes.
Anyone standing near an S5 flying by would say it sounds great, its got a beautiful sounding low pitched V8 burble. But inside of the car the v8 was barely audible and you only really heard it when you redlined it. I know the car is as fast as the 335i stock for stock- but once again- the ride was just so damn smooth you didnt FEEL the true power of the engine, you didnt feel the road. And that is exactly why I didnt like it. I guess I'm too used to the way the BMW feels.
Oh and also, in first gear the wheel just felt WAY too light. Think Russian roulette, one spin of the wheel and it feels like the car could be doing donuts - seriously. However, as you climb through the gears the wheel becomes tighter and stiffer. until you finally get past 100mph where it starts to feel more reassuring than my 335i.
So I'm in between. Completely stuck. Am i just to used to the BMW feel. Is the Audi more than I could ask for. Beautiful car- inside and out. just not what I made it out to be on the road.

[purplewidow]

i went to an audi dealer and they straight out told me to keep the 335...since i was about feel esp so i'm not to suprised to hear this...great review...i wish bmw offered the upgraded leather that's in the current 6 series honestly that interior is soooooo damn hot with the updraded leather i spent 62 on my 335 so what's another 2400!!!!! i wish they offered it!!!! i like the dakota but i just wish they had gone back to something more supple...too bad bmw like most companies have a hard time stopping the leather from fading and cracking...my e34 540 doesn't look soo hot inside yet the leather is softer and smoother than that in the 335 at least i know with the dakota it won't fade and crack as easily as past bmws...still i wish we had the updraded leather for the 3's soo damn hot!!!!
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yamaha yzf-r1 history
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Sexycandyfox

[blueaudi18]

so u like ur ride to be more rough... i know what u mean about the sound....when the saleguy pulled up for me to test drive the car... the car sounded awesome.. when i was driving i had to turn of the radio to hear it...

the way audi put together the option is weird... either u get evrything or nothing at all.. in order to get the tech package...u must allso get nav... thtas like 4000 altogether....thats what made me get a 355. i didnt want active steering or 19" wheel which comes "standard" on the s5...gas guzzle also push me over to the dark side(bmw)...ive been an audi driver since i got my licience...9yrs

[E90ice]

I drove the A4 and RS4 last week on the track and I can tell you that my 335 feels much better. The steering, the chassis and everything else feels sportier and with more feedback in the 335. The clutch in the A4 was awful compared to the 335/330.
Also, I liked the sound of the V8 in the RS4, but I wasn't impressed with its power. I have PROcede and it pulls harder than the RS4.

I do agree that the S5 is the best looking Audi ever, but I don't think it's really worth 58k (including Nav).

oh by the way...is there a gas guzzler tax on the S5? cause thats just crazy...I would never pay that on an Audi S5.

my 0.2 cents.

[horsedjump]

Audis tend to feel like they are floating unless the susp is siqnificantly upgraded.

[Greeney]

1,300 is the GG Tax, 400 less than the S4.

[revah2]

Originally Posted by horsedjump

Audis tend to feel like they are floating unless the susp is siqnificantly upgraded.

agreed

[Los Angeles]

Originally Posted by E90ice

I do agree that the S5 is the best looking Audi ever, but I don't think it's really worth 58k (including Nav).

$58k is a damn good deal. A loaded 335 coupe, is $47-49k.

The A5 is clearly a step up from the 3 series so I think the pricing is right on for Audi.

Yeah yea, the Audi isn't as sporty on the track but that's what the RS series is for.

[digi]

Originally Posted by Los Angeles

$58k is a damn good deal. A loaded 335 coupe, is $47-49k.

The A5 is clearly a step up from the 3 series so I think the pricing is right on for Audi.

Yeah yea, the Audi isn't as sporty on the track but that's what the RS series is for.

58k a good deal for an S badge that's nearing the base of an e92 m3, but can hardly keep up with a plain ole 335? I'd hardly say thats a winner. And why is the A5 a step up from the 3 series? It should be the other way around. The S models now compare with the regular 3's, while the RS's are desperately trying to stay in line with the M's. Sad to say but the A5 is not even in the picture.

BTW, the S5's looks are really growing on me. And that interior is just insane. But personally, looks alone are not worth the extra 10-12k over a comparatively equipped 335. If it was about 52-53k, then it might be an option, and even a hard one at that...

[Greeney]

Originally Posted by digi

58k a good deal for an S badge that's nearing the base of an e92 m3, but can hardly keep up with a plain ole 335? I'd hardly say thats a winner. And why is the A5 a step up from the 3 series? It should be the other way around. The S models now compare with the regular 3's, while the RS's are desperately trying to stay in line with the M's. Sad to say but the A5 is not even in the picture.

BTW, the S5's looks are really growing on me. And that interior is just insane. But personally, looks alone are not worth the extra 10-12k over a comparatively equipped 335. If it was about 52-53k, then it might be an option, and even a hard one at that...

Just an FYI, the RS4 is comparable, if not faster than the e92 M3...

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by Greeney

Just an FYI, the RS4 is comparable, if not faster than the e92 M3...

Sorry, but I think it was just proven that the RS4 is NOT faster than the E92 M3 by the M5Board race event in Sweden. It seems as if the Audi RS4 was the slowest of the bunch. In fact, the RS4 is slower than the PROcede 335i's.

[Los Angeles]

Originally Posted by digi

58k a good deal for an S badge that's nearing the base of an e92 m3, but can hardly keep up with a plain ole 335? I'd hardly say thats a winner. And why is the A5 a step up from the 3 series? It should be the other way around. The S models now compare with the regular 3's, while the RS's are desperately trying to stay in line with the M's. Sad to say but the A5 is not even in the picture.

BTW, the S5's looks are really growing on me. And that interior is just insane. But personally, looks alone are not worth the extra 10-12k over a comparatively equipped 335. If it was about 52-53k, then it might be an option, and even a hard one at that...

Although the interior is smaller than the E92, it's exterior is larger, like the 6 series, thus it puts the car in a different market appeal regardless of its track numbers.

[digi]

Originally Posted by Greeney

Just an FYI, the RS4 is comparable, if not faster than the e92 M3...

For owning an M, you sure don't seem like you know a lot about them or cars in general with that statement...Please go do your homework sir before such comments are misconstrued....or better yet just take a peep over at the FI thread...Thank you.

[digi]

Originally Posted by Los Angeles

Although the interior is smaller than the E92, it's exterior is larger, like the 6 series, thus it puts the car in a different market appeal regardless of its track numbers.

That may be true but in just about every pre-comparo I've seen, it's pitted up against the 335 coupe. Is it really that much larger than a 3? Wow, never would have guessed that. Anyhow, other than size, it's only natural to compare those two when shopping as they're in the same slots of their respective manufacturers.

[Bimmer007]

the epa on the s5 is 17/21 , and thats with the new 2008 standards

[Greeney]

Originally Posted by digi

For owning an M, you sure don't seem like you know a lot about them or cars in general with that statement...Please go do your homework sir before such comments are misconstrued....or better yet just take a peep over at the FI thread...Thank you.

I'm more than capable of reading threads and threads on comparing these two cars, and in every day life the RS4 will be faster than the e92 M3. Now if you read the post date on my reply you will notice it was before most of the e92 track data came out.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by sflgator

Sorry, but I think it was just proven that the RS4 is NOT faster than the E92 M3 by the M5Board race event in Sweden. It seems as if the Audi RS4 was the slowest of the bunch. In fact, the RS4 is slower than the PROcede 335i's.

I thought there is nothing faster than the PROcede 335 on this planet?

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by purplewidow

i went to an audi dealer and they straight out told me to keep the 335...since i was about feel esp so i'm not to suprised to hear this...great review...i wish bmw offered the upgraded leather that's in the current 6 series honestly that interior is soooooo damn hot with the updraded leather i spent 62 on my 335 so what's another 2400!!!!! i wish they offered it!!!! i like the dakota but i just wish they had gone back to something more supple...too bad bmw like most companies have a hard time stopping the leather from fading and cracking...my e34 540 doesn't look soo hot inside yet the leather is softer and smoother than that in the 335 at least i know with the dakota it won't fade and crack as easily as past bmws...still i wish we had the updraded leather for the 3's soo damn hot!!!!

So, the Audi dealer told you out right not to buy their car and keep the competitor's car...
Next thing, you're going to tell us that Dell told you to buy a MAC?

[Kev]

At that price point, I'd spend a couple G's more to get the M3 coupe. Just MHO though

[footie]

Originally Posted by dr325i

So, the Audi dealer told you out right not to buy their car and keep the competitor's car...
Next thing, you're going to tell us that Dell told you to buy a MAC?

I must say I am getting a awful bad smell as well .............. oh I know what it is, it's BS.

[BYZBYZ]

4wd will always stick the road, specially if it's quattro.
But any car of Audi will never be enjoyed like a BMW 335i, RWD, smells of drifts in traffic lights, turning around like you're on ice..It's the meaning of luv
Quattro Audis are for people who are tired of using cars, it'll be always harder to control a strong BMW if u compare to Audi.
In the other side, Audi RS4 is a really cool car

[FUR65]

S5 is a very sexy car that I've ever seen.. Hey BYZBYZ, I agree with you..Audi's quattro is better than any real 4wd.