RS5 Impressions - Week 1

[ianbell330]

Picked up my Phantom Black RS5 coupe this week - I'm absolutely in love with it! I will post pictures once it stops raining here in Oregon. Here are some things I am not too hot on so far; please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. These are just my opinions. I am also coming from a Porsche 997 which I absolutely loved, but had to sell so I could get more room for the rare times I need to put kids in the back seat and because of my frequent traveling (I need room for luggage larger than carry-on, not to mention golf clubs). Two different cars, so I am not going to compare them - I love them both for what they are.

1) The Electronic Power Steering takes some time to get used to. I do not like how loose the steering wheel is at a stop. I love the feel of it once the car is moving, nice and tight (in Dynamic mode)

2) I hate that I have to manually push the button on "Dynamic" every time I drive the car in order to hear the deep exhaust - I want the car to not only start in Dynamic mode, but to have the exhaust flaps open by default every time. My understanding from another thread on here is that Audi does that to help pass emissions/avoid the gas guzzler tax? Not sure if that is true.

3) The Slow MMI and car systems start-up. Would be nice if those came on in the first 10-15 seconds Vs. the 30+ seconds it can take.

4) The 2nd smaller cup holder is pretty much useless unless you have a standard disposable water bottle or the special Audi thermos cup. I need room for two coffee cups! :)

I actually like the B&O sound system. The Bose in my Porsche sounds like total crap. I agree that the B&O could use better bass, I hate the hallow sound of it.

The only real problem is is constantly turning on and off the sound system so I can listen to the engine and the exhaust! :)

[Zee Dgerman]

Congratz!!!!! Enjoy your new baby!!!

[superswiss]

Congrats and enjoy.

2) I hate that I have to manually push the button on "Dynamic" every time I drive the car in order to hear the deep exhaust - I want the car to not only start in Dynamic mode, but to have the exhaust flaps open by default every time. My understanding from another thread on here is that Audi does that to help pass emissions/avoid the gas guzzler tax? Not sure if that is true.

This part is actually a bit confusing. The car does start up in Dynamic mode, however the transmission/engine does not. You are only in full Dynamic mode if the transmission is also in Sport mode, in other words, the transmission mode overrides the Drive Select mode for engine/transmission. So all you have to do after a cold start is put the transmission in D and pull it down to go into S and you are back in full Dynamic mode. Many of us do the following routine: D -> S -> M. Keep in mind that D -> M is different from S -> M. These are two different manual modes.

[ianbell330]

Great, thanks for the tip!

Congrats and enjoy.



This part is actually a bit confusing. The car does start up in Dynamic mode, however the transmission/engine does not. You are only in full Dynamic mode if the transmission is also in Sport mode, in other words, the transmission mode overrides the Drive Select mode for engine/transmission. So all you have to do after a cold start is put the transmission in D and pull it down to go into S and you are back in full Dynamic mode. Many of us do the following routine: D -> S -> M. Keep in mind that D -> M is different from S -> M. These are two different manual modes.

[Runge]

#2 - can be fixed easily for exhaust - just disconnect the vacuum lines in trunk. Funny thing now in Ontario, I could run with no exhaust at all (as long as my O2 sensors are working) I will pass the test! (e-test is only a ECU check, not actually emission test, I will fail the e-test though if I had a license plate light bulb out)

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/rs5-gener...aust-note.html

[2008c4s]

Picked up my Phantom Black RS5 coupe this week - I'm absolutely in love with it! I will post pictures once it stops raining here in Oregon. Here are some things I am not too hot on so far; please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. These are just my opinions. I am also coming from a Porsche 997 which I absolutely loved, but had to sell so I could get more room for the rare times I need to put kids in the back seat and because of my frequent traveling (I need room for luggage larger than carry-on, not to mention golf clubs). Two different cars, so I am not going to compare them - I love them both for what they are.

1) The Electronic Power Steering takes some time to get used to. I do not like how loose the steering wheel is at a stop. I love the feel of it once the car is moving, nice and tight (in Dynamic mode)

2) I hate that I have to manually push the button on "Dynamic" every time I drive the car in order to hear the deep exhaust - I want the car to not only start in Dynamic mode, but to have the exhaust flaps open by default every time. My understanding from another thread on here is that Audi does that to help pass emissions/avoid the gas guzzler tax? Not sure if that is true.

3) The Slow MMI and car systems start-up. Would be nice if those came on in the first 10-15 seconds Vs. the 30+ seconds it can take.

4) The 2nd smaller cup holder is pretty much useless unless you have a standard disposable water bottle or the special Audi thermos cup. I need room for two coffee cups! :)

I actually like the B&O sound system. The Bose in my Porsche sounds like total crap. I agree that the B&O could use better bass, I hate the hallow sound of it.

The only real problem is is constantly turning on and off the sound system so I can listen to the engine and the exhaust! :)

What did you have for a 997? I just traded in a 2008 C4S for an RS5 order. I loved the C4S and even looked at getting a GTS but felt it was to similar to the car I just owned. I like the 991s but couldn't justify the price increase over what I paid for my 997 ($25k+). Im looking forward to the nice weather and the RS5 but saying good bye to the 997 was bittersweet. Im hoping I wont miss her to much. Are you still enjoying the RS5?

[GotRS?]

The only real problem is is constantly turning on and off the sound system so I can listen to the engine and the exhaust! :)

Congrats! And there are no less than two radio mute buttons for that very reason, it must have come up in a customer survey before ;)

[ianbell330]

What did you have for a 997? I just traded in a 2008 C4S for an RS5 order. I loved the C4S and even looked at getting a GTS but felt it was to similar to the car I just owned. I like the 991s but couldn't justify the price increase over what I paid for my 997 ($25k+). Im looking forward to the nice weather and the RS5 but saying good bye to the 997 was bittersweet. Im hoping I wont miss her to much. Are you still enjoying the RS5?

I have/had a 2009 911 C4S. Only 24K miles on it too (I put 12K on it). Totally bittersweet like you mentioned. This is going to be a tough one for me!

I love the RS5, but totally different car. More luxurious for sure. It will be a nice work commute in the RS5, but I will miss the back roads on the weekend with the C4S.

Pic attached!

[ianbell330]

Sorry for the large image. I will try to replace it.

[2008c4s]

She's a beauty. 6spd or PDk? I was suprised at how much I enjoyed my test drive of rs5 but also worry at some point I'll miss manual

[Zee Dgerman]

I love the RS5, but totally different car. More luxurious for sure. It will be a nice work commute in the RS5, but I will miss the back roads on the weekend with the C4S.

Pic attached!

I don't think you'll miss it too much... My brother in law has a 2009 C4S he lets me borrow from time to time. While I really like the car for about 30 minutes, after that the noise and the stiff suspension really get to me especially for a DD driving in the city. That manual gearbox is a pure pleasure though, one of the best I've driven.

[ianbell330]

She's a beauty. 6spd or PDk? I was suprised at how much I enjoyed my test drive of rs5 but also worry at some point I'll miss manual

6spd. How about yours?

[ianbell330]

I don't think you'll miss it too much... My brother in law has a 2009 C4S he lets me borrow from time to time. While I really like the car for about 30 minutes, after that the noise and the stiff suspension really get to me especially for a DD driving in the city. That manual gearbox is a pure pleasure though, one of the best I've driven.

Well, I have both cars still until I can sell the 911. I will tell you that I feel WAY more confident driving the 911 hard and into a good curve. The car has almost zero body roll. I'm sure it will just take some time for me to get the feel for the RS5. I hate the limp steering wheel on the RS5 while going slow.