A5 vs. S5 - Daily Driver

[GSS5]

the 'don't need all that power' argument is null, IMO. nobody 'needs' an audi. you don't 'need' to be revving at 6k+ rpms to enjoy the power benefits of the 3.0t vs the 2.0t because the 3.0 is still making substantially more power and torque than the 2.0 throughout pretty much the entire rev range. and adding to the fun factor, you get much improved throttle response and soundtrack (as fake as it may be) with the supercharged 6 vs the turbo 4. this isn't to shit on the 2.0t a5, which is still a great car. but i think there's really no question at all about which car is sportier or more fun to drive, even in any type of daily driving situation outside of stop-go traffic. and op should still obviously consider those occasions in which he will really get to open up the car.

and honestly, i don't think the marginally better mileage of the a5 is much of a justification to choose it over a s5. it's not like we're comparing diesels/hybrids/evs/amg v8s here..

[trinim3]

Oh and don't forget about the steering. The steering is always with you no matter the driving situation and although the s5's steering is not that great it's still much more sporting than the a5.

When you have the 3.0T stop n go traffic is effortless. You can merge from the slow lane to the fast lane with ease (first time I did this, I was coming from an e92 m3 with no torque so I was in AWE). The S5 is one of the best cars money can buy...if you can afford it why pass on that? A5 is good too but from the moment you sit in a S5 you know you you've spent your money well. It feels "special".

[Beast]

the 'don't need all that power' argument is null, IMO. nobody 'needs' an audi. you don't 'need' to be revving at 6k+ rpms to enjoy the power benefits of the 3.0t vs the 2.0t because the 3.0 is still making substantially more power and torque than the 2.0 throughout pretty much the entire rev range. and adding to the fun factor, you get much improved throttle response and soundtrack (as fake as it may be) with the supercharged 6 vs the turbo 4. this isn't to shit on the 2.0t a5, which is still a great car. but i think there's really no question at all about which car is sportier or more fun to drive, even in any type of daily driving situation outside of stop-go traffic. and op should still obviously consider those occasions in which he will really get to open up the car.

and honestly, i don't think the marginally better mileage of the a5 is much of a justification to choose it over a s5. it's not like we're comparing diesels/hybrids/evs/amg v8s here..

+1

[ssv22]

the 'don't need all that power' argument is null, IMO. nobody 'needs' an audi. you don't 'need' to be revving at 6k+ rpms to enjoy the power benefits of the 3.0t vs the 2.0t because the 3.0 is still making substantially more power and torque than the 2.0 throughout pretty much the entire rev range. and adding to the fun factor, you get much improved throttle response and soundtrack (as fake as it may be) with the supercharged 6 vs the turbo 4. this isn't to shit on the 2.0t a5, which is still a great car. but i think there's really no question at all about which car is sportier or more fun to drive, even in any type of daily driving situation outside of stop-go traffic. and op should still obviously consider those occasions in which he will really get to open up the car.

and honestly, i don't think the marginally better mileage of the a5 is much of a justification to choose it over a s5. it's not like we're comparing diesels/hybrids/evs/amg v8s here..

even though I have an A5, i agree with almost all your points. here on forums, almost everybody is an enthusiast. but i am sure there are folks who dont need the extra power that an S5 has to offer but are satisfied with what an A5 has to offer as long as the ride is sportier than a camry and the tech feels better. some just want the brand, looks and something different from the crowd so the A5 does it for most.

[jrabakker]

To each their own. I just know i would want for more if i chose the A5. That said, i would never have been able to afford an S5 if i was still in my old country (double the price and 10$/gallon)


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[GSS5]

even though I have an A5, i agree with almost all your points. here on forums, almost everybody is an enthusiast. but i am sure there are folks who dont need the extra power that an S5 has to offer but are satisfied with what an A5 has to offer as long as the ride is sportier than a camry and the tech feels better. some just want the brand, looks and something different from the crowd so the A5 does it for most.

That was in response to some of the comments making it sound like the performance benefits of the s5 are almost useless in a daily driving situation.

I definitely agree that some people couldn't care less about the extra hp, in which case choosing the a5 is totally justifiable. But the op wants something sporty and is seriously considering the s5, so in his case, personally i really see no reason not to pick it over the a5.


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[ExhaustNote]

What are your long term plans with the car? Will you be modding it a lot for more power? If so, you should consider the 3.0T S5.
Personally though, I'd go with the V8 S5. I had one of those before I had my RS5 and I've also driven the 3.0t S5 extensively (ActivS5)....NOTHING beats a V8 engine...the grunt, sound, linear power and feeling of substance behind the car is unmatched.

[Nastybutler]

the 'don't need all that power' argument is null, IMO. nobody 'needs' an audi. you don't 'need' to be revving at 6k+ rpms to enjoy the power benefits of the 3.0t vs the 2.0t because the 3.0 is still making substantially more power and torque than the 2.0 throughout pretty much the entire rev range. and adding to the fun factor, you get much improved throttle response and soundtrack (as fake as it may be) with the supercharged 6 vs the turbo 4. this isn't to shit on the 2.0t a5, which is still a great car. but i think there's really no question at all about which car is sportier or more fun to drive, even in any type of daily driving situation outside of stop-go traffic. and op should still obviously consider those occasions in which he will really get to open up the car.

and honestly, i don't think the marginally better mileage of the a5 is much of a justification to choose it over a s5. it's not like we're comparing diesels/hybrids/evs/amg v8s here..

By this logic, why get anything other than an RS5? All the arguments being made for the S over the A could be made for the RS over the S. Yes, I do realize the OP isn't considering a RS. Just pointing this out.

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[GSS5]

By this logic, why get anything other than an RS5? All the arguments being made for the S over the A could be made for the RS over the S. Yes, I do realize the OP isn't considering a RS. Just pointing this out.

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You said it yourself. Op isn't considering a rs5. Maybe it's price restrictive? Idk? That's irrelevant to this discussion.


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[A4orce84]

You said it yourself. Op isn't considering a rs5. Maybe it's price restrictive? Idk? That's irrelevant to this discussion.

That's correct, RS5 is out of my price range. This discussion is purely around A5 vs. S5.

[bknewtype]

OP, since u mentioned the 4.2 is also a choice, do you have a preference in the pre fl vs post fl exterior?

[LINDW4LL]

By this logic, why get anything other than an RS5? All the arguments being made for the S over the A could be made for the RS over the S. Yes, I do realize the OP isn't considering a RS. Just pointing this out.

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Because a tuned 3.0T is faster and torquier than an RS 5. Flamesuit on. The S5 simply provides the best cost to performance ratio.

[Zee Dgerman]

Here is my advice,

You just want a good looking, good car? Get an A5
You want a versatile sports car? Get an S5
You want the best handling, best sounding, best looking car? get an RS5

Simple isn't it?

[A4orce84]

OP, since u mentioned the 4.2 is also a choice, do you have a preference in the pre fl vs post fl exterior?

Facelist I'm assuming? Not sure what the differences are between pre and post.....anyone post up some pictures please?

[bknewtype]

Facelist I'm assuming? Not sure what the differences are between pre and post.....anyone post up some pictures please?

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[bknewtype]

To b fair thats an rs lol


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[LINDW4LL]

Pre facelift (B8)


Post facelift (B8.5)

[bknewtype]

^ makes me so happy that i chose the pre fl instead xD

[teky929rr]

^ makes me so happy that i chose the pre fl instead xD

I'm so happy if you're happy. I think we can all agree that the A5/S5/RS5 is the sex.

[SE-Chris]

S5 is on a whole other planet from an A5. If you want something sporty I wouldn't even consider an A5.

Engine, gearbox, suspension, wheels, tires, quattro/ torque vectoring/differential, exhaust, seats, front and rear bumper/diffuser are just some examples of substantial upgrades from an A5 to a S5.

Worth every penny.

For a daily driver, A5 offers more or less all the same looks and can have a majority of the creature comforts as either of the others but a LOT less money and better gas. I personally see A5's driving around and I think to myself "Haha... cheap Audi!" But then I realize, oh... i'm paying a ton more to drive exactly the same as that guy because it's not legal or possible to utilize the S5 or RS5 anywhere within 100 miles of me 90% of the time =(

So, unless you think you'll actually be able to make use of the S5/RS5, why waste the money? Fully loaded A5 is damn close when it comes to interior/exterior options.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Mops on the move

[FaceSmA5h]

Interesting S-line package on the A5 really has all the same exterior bits as the S5? (Except exhaust)?

Check my build with the Sline Competition Package. I also upgraded to Dual Exhaust.

Are you sure we are talking about the A5 here? I have never heard of 41 mpg for the A5. I drive in bay area traffic everyday and i dont get more than 22-23 mpg with 50/50 city/hwy reasonably sedate driving. If I drive to LA, i get 31-32 mpg at best.
and I don't trust the trip computer, its overly optimistic.

+1

I also never heard of 41 mpg. Must be going down a hill with zero traffic. I drive 95% Highway from LA to Vegas (twice) and drove 95% from LA to SF (once). 28MPG with Manual at best.

Car weighs a ton. Even for a 4 banger, MPG better than a Honda Accord? Lol. Always go by EPA City for overall MPG is what I tell people.

[FaceSmA5h]

Looking at used currently, and as I said I'm in the research phase. My B6 A4 is doing just fine for the time being, so I'm not in a super rush to get into a newer A5/S5 anytime soon. I took almost 6 months to find my B6 A4, so I'm pretty careful and like to look at all

Will be selling my A5 in approximately 12 months. Let me know.

[Antique-ace]

I might as well add my $0.02 to this discussion. I use my '10 S5 (4.2 V8) as a daily driver (except in bad winter weather). My M-F commute to work is about 25 miles per day. I agree that with the traffic conditions I usually encounter when driving to/from work, the additional performance of an S5 over an A5 is pretty much useless. That being said, I have never regretted buying my S5 over an A5. I'm not always driving in traffic and whenever I have an open road, that's when I'm glad I have my S5.

[geekdandpunkd]

I was in the same boat as you once I found out I was moving to Hawaii.. what it came down to for me was that there was about a $15k difference between the S5 and the A5.. granted.. the S5 is incredibly more fun than the A5; however, you have to decide if it is worth it to you. For me, moving to Hawaii meant lots of traffic and the highest speed limit being 60mph and no type of "back country roads" to enjoy. I ended up going with the A5 and used the extra money to do a few mods to make it feel a bit sportier, I have to say that yes I still want an S5 but I'm happy that I went with the A, the gas mileage in traffic alone has made it worth it considering this is my daily driver. While a lot of people on here will bash A5's and talk about how much better S5's are, it really boils down to if that extra $15k is worth driving a car that is going to cost you more in gas and whether or not you can actually enjoy the extra hp and handling.. and honestly in the end I'll be going with the turbo upgrade which should put my car just around 300 crank hp while still being under the additional $15k that I saved by not buying the S5...

[trinim3]

OP you're in Austin, TX aka hill country. While you can still feel the difference between a S5 and an A5 in everyday driving you will absolutely want an S5 when you're tearing down 2222, those carousel off-ramps off of Mopac, the big sweepers off 183, the twisty turns of roads like Lime Creek and Spicewood Springs, and the undulating hills of Marble Falls. And if you ever travel to Houston/Dallas where there are 10 lanes going in each direction those extra ponies will come in handy. You've worked hard your whole life. Reward yourself and live life to the fullest. Get the S5 and don't ever look back.

[rasetsu]

Because a tuned 3.0T is faster and torquier than an RS 5. Flamesuit on. The S5 simply provides the best cost to performance ratio.

As a RS 5 owner, this statement is pretty much true. You do pay for the exclusivity of a RS with the RS 5. RS cars are special in their own right. The S5 is the best bang for the buck though.

For a daily driver, A5 offers more or less all the same looks and can have a majority of the creature comforts as either of the others but a LOT less money and better gas. I personally see A5's driving around and I think to myself "Haha... cheap Audi!" But then I realize, oh... i'm paying a ton more to drive exactly the same as that guy because it's not legal or possible to utilize the S5 or RS5 anywhere within 100 miles of me 90% of the time =(

So, unless you think you'll actually be able to make use of the S5/RS5, why waste the money? Fully loaded A5 is damn close when it comes to interior/exterior options.

Because OP lives in TX and you live in CA. So long as he can afford it, he's got more opportunities to use it.

OP you're in Austin, TX aka hill country. While you can still feel the difference between a S5 and an A5 in everyday driving you will absolutely want an S5 when you're tearing down 2222, those carousel off-ramps off of Mopac, the big sweepers off 183, the twisty turns of roads like Lime Creek and Spicewood Springs, and the undulating hills of Marble Falls. And if you ever travel to Houston/Dallas where there are 10 lanes going in each direction those extra ponies will come in handy. You've worked hard your whole life. Reward yourself and live life to the fullest. Get the S5 and don't ever look back.

On point. Austin rush hour traffic is bad, but there are some really awesome roads that are very quick to get to.

[fasteddy91]

Man.... I need to move the Texas....I guess everything in Texas is bigger 80D

[trinim3]

Man.... I need to move the Texas....I guess everything in Texas is bigger 80D

TX is AMAZING. But you can't beat that Cali weather ;)

[SE-Chris]

TX is AMAZING. But you can't beat that Cali weather ;)

Sure you can! Living anywhere else in the country (almost) is substantially cheaper. Enough so that you can take all the money you save and travel to tropics often!

Ok... Not the same but still what I'd recommend!



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[BCT]

I currently have a '13 S5, 6MT with Sports Differential. I had a '09 A5 3.2, 6MT. The A5 V6 was silky smooth but I always felt power was lacking, even with the 3.2 rated at 265. I drive country roads and the passing sections are short. The A5 just didn't have the torque and power for fast, short passing. The handling was decent, but does not compare with the S5 with Sports Diff.

I thought I wanted the V8 S5 until I test drove the Supercharged V6. The newer S5 just felt a bit more nimble to me and not as "nose heavy".
But as far as choosing between the A5/S5, go for the S5 with the Sports Diff. You will smile everytime you go for a drive!

As far as gas mileage, I was averaging around 27 with the A5 (30 on the highway). With the S5 I'm down to around 22/ 24mpg. Both cars were/are driven hard, more so with the S5, so this is one of the reasons the MPG is down, but still not a huge difference.

IMHO the difference is in driving enjoyment and the "smile" factor. To me, MPG should not even come into the equation, especially when you are paying 50 to 60K for a car. Now the RS5 is another matter. Not having a chance to drive this car, I can't imagine the "smile factor" this car would bring. Probably a good thing I didn't drive it, I probably would think the S5 is lacking in power.

[AirmattRS5]

If you can afford it, go for it.

I prefaced that because I used to DD a 2011 TT with a similar engine as the a5 (2.0t 211hp/258tq) and while it was economical and take me basically from work to home, it became mundane and boring. If you're that kind of person who settles for bare minimum then that's totally fine (I still drive my beater Honda prelude around), but if you want your drive to be an experience everytime you step in a car, then it's best to spring for the s5. All the little things like sports diff, beefier engine, exhaust note, exterior styling, etc will all add up...and those little things are what make driving fun.

Sure you don't need the extra power, you don't need to be paying more for basically the same car and to that same*token, you don't need an audi either. I didn't need an RS5 but when I drove my TT in for maintenance I couldn't take my eyes off of the sepang blue sitting in a corner of the showroom floor. It's irrational both mentally and financially, but hell, you can't put a price on happiness.

[trinim3]

If you can afford it, go for it.

I prefaced that because I used to DD a 2011 TT with a similar engine as the a5 (2.0t 211hp/258tq) and while it was economical and take me basically from work to home, it became mundane and boring. If you're that kind of person who settles for bare minimum then that's totally fine (I still drive my beater Honda prelude around), but if you want your drive to be an experience everytime you step in a car, then it's best to spring for the s5. All the little things like sports diff, beefier engine, exhaust note, exterior styling, etc will all add up...and those little things are what make driving fun.

Sure you don't need the extra power, you don't need to be paying more for basically the same car and to that same*token, you don't need an audi either. I didn't need an RS5 but when I drove my TT in for maintenance I couldn't take my eyes off of the sepang blue sitting in a corner of the showroom floor. It's irrational both mentally and financially, but hell, you can't put a price on happiness.

Well said.

[jrabakker]

^^+1

[bknewtype]

i think u guys are getting way too technical. to some, a sports car is just a coupe. differential this, differential that, im sure to most, with or without it, the owner will have fun. its what you make of the car.

but of course in the end, i think it will mainly come down to what your willing to pay. if you can comfortably afford the s5, then its a no brainer. but if you would like to save like 10k spring for an a5, ull probably have just as much fun. if you want to save even more, go for a pre facelift v8 s5, or even a pre face lift a5 and do a ecu tune or big turbo upgrade and it will be plenty fast on a budget. you cannot go wrong with either of the choices as the 5 is one of, if not, the sexiest car in its price range, and even sexier than some that are 2x its price.

i do not regret getting my pre facelift a5 over a facelift 3.0sc s5 one bit, granted at the time i was not planning to spend over 40k on a car, and even if my budget was that open, i woulda stuck with the pre face a5 ( maybe even the pre face s5 ). suits my needs just fine, and more.

and if you guys only care about power numbers, heres a dyno chart for a apr stage 2 a5. while its nothing "amazing" or anywhere near 3.0sc numbers, i think its plenty fast for a daily.

stage 2 93 crank



i love my stage 2 <3

[FamousLastWords]

If you're that kind of person who settles for bare minimum then that's totally fine

LOL. This is why I love web forums — the one single car becomes the world, and everyone starts making it personal. If you are a person who settles for the bare minimum [when buying an Audi] you buy a FWD A3, not an A5. Seriously, a little perspective would help this thread immensely.

[bknewtype]

LOL. This is why I love web forums — the one single car becomes the world, and everyone starts making it personal. If you are a person who settles for the bare minimum [when buying an Audi] you buy a FWD A3, not an A5. Seriously, a little perspective would help this thread immensely.

irrelevant, but lol

[tenbosch]

I like this thread because it reminds me of which users I can ignore for advice.

...Says the guy driving an A5...

[Mops@Nemesis]

We A5 drivers reek of peasantry. We are boring, our cars are slow, and most recognisably, we are cheap asses. But on the real, no matter the variant, none of the 5's are "sports cars". I bought mine for the look, and something fun to take into the hills. And I can still walk most RS owners

[AirmattRS5]

We A5 drivers reek of peasantry. We are boring, our cars are slow, and most recognisably, we are cheap asses. But on the real, no matter the variant, none of the 5's are "sports cars". I bought mine for the look, and something fun to take into the hills. And I can still walk most RS owners

I drove a peasant TT model for a few years too and felt no need for a TTS/RS until I drove a ttrs then all rationality went out the window.

Some guys can talk about x-money saved for getting the base model and use that money toward modding, but let's interject some perspective here. Not everyone wants to roll the dice by taking their car to a tuner shop and have the car messed with. Not everyone can afford the time to research parts and find reputable performance shops and if you live far away from either of those places, you don't have much of an outlet. It's also all about the OPPORTUNITY COST playing the modding game... some people have other passion and lives outside of modding and it's not worth the time and money to have a car being in the shop for a tune/mod on a 2-ton car.

If you have all the hookups in the world then of course it would make sense to go with the base, but realistically everyone on this forum is a car "fan" with a selected few being "gear heads", so really we all enjoy the cars immensely but for different reasons.