Audi knows a thing or two about sound deadening. At highway speeds the cockpit of our 2009 Audi S5 is nearly silent. Aside from the V8 purr pervading its cabin above 4,000 rpm the driver is audibly isolated from the outside world. This is luxury.
This is also an S5. So Audi luxury wasn't all we had in mind when we ordered it. We wanted performance and we opted for the control of its 6-speed manual. An excellent choice if we drove windows down, V8 in our ears and wind in our hair 24-7. But the reality is that we don't. And based on our reality, we should have considered the automatic.
S5's quiet cabin is a disadvantage when it comes to the third pedal. Engine noise is discreet at lower rpm. Turn the radio on and its nonexistent. This doesn't allow for the use of engine note to anticipate clutch engagement. An issue further complicated by light clutch pedal uptake and an abrupt engagement point. We encountered similar driveability characteristics from our long-term G35 Sport. But that doesn't make it right.
Get the automatic.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 5,500 miles
carguy622 says:
03:33 PM, 07/ 7/09
Get the automatic...NEVER!
bimmerjay says:
03:55 PM, 07/ 7/09
I completely disagree, get the manual.
sherief says:
04:27 PM, 07/ 7/09
I will never give up my third pedal.
skibird says:
04:29 PM, 07/ 7/09
Or try a louder intake or exhaust? Something without too much drone might just fix this problem.
Mad_Science says:
04:37 PM, 07/ 7/09
Get an aftermarket exhaust system.
huyracing says:
04:59 PM, 07/ 7/09
AWE is good for no drone.
ddoouugg says:
05:13 PM, 07/ 7/09
You could remove some sound deadening. I'm sure if you drive the car every day you would figure out how to drive it.
audibmwfan99 says:
05:22 PM, 07/ 7/09
No offense Mike, but when I pay 60k for a car, I don't want it to sound like a Camaro, so I enjoy the fact the V8 is subtle at low RPM. Also, I don't have any problems hearing my engine over the radio. Are you shifting at 2,000 rpm, or maybe you need to turn yours down a little? As for the sissy automatic suggestion...
hondacura4 says:
05:41 PM, 07/ 7/09
Question: Does the Audi S5 have Lexus levels of sound deadening/isolation? If it does, I'm not interested as that one characteristic simply validates that this car has looks but little substance in terms of sportiness.
Id gladly take a cheaper G37S 6MT Coupe or 335i 6MT Coupe over the S5 and have more fun.
huyracing says:
05:56 PM, 07/ 7/09
That's the problem... some want it loud, some want it quiet. Audi can easily fix the problem with a sound tube, but they're probably expecting that most will be automatic and said owners could care less about hearing the engine. With the GTI, it's an easy call on the sound tube as most buyers would be into that. The new Mustang is actually so refined now that they use a sound tube. Perhaps Audi should package the manual transmission and sound tube together...
audibmwfan99 says:
07:31 PM, 07/ 7/09
hondacura4...to answer your Q, no, the sound deadening isn't anywhere like a Lexus, its a touch more refined than a 335 (wind/tire noise) but with a throatier engine note (think 650i). The V8 is subtle at low rpm but gets pretty robust as the rpm's rise. Per the above posts...no, it doesn't need a sound tube or aftermarket exhaust. Obviously the Hyundai Genesis crowd and the Audi S5 crowd are different target markets. Kind of funny how so many people have an opinion on a car they've never driven.
After you test the G37 and 335 and S5, I'm very interested what you'll think. Best of luck!
dougtheeng says:
05:58 AM, 07/ 8/09
"Get the automatic."
Blasphemy!!
bkochuk says:
05:59 AM, 07/ 8/09
why buy an S5 if you're not gonna get the manual?
trentor says:
08:13 AM, 07/ 8/09
I agree with the masses. Wow, "Get the automatic"? That's horrible! If you truly need to hear the motor better, spend a couple hundred bucks on an intake. It won't increase volume while cruising at any speed, but will give you just that little bit extra when on the throttle and shifting.
I tend to side with audibmwfan99, I don't think it really needs it. Although it's quiet taking it easy around town, there's enough of a low-pitch tone to know when to shift...even with the radio on (at a reasonable volume!).
As far as the G35 comment, I'm not sure why Infiniti always screwed up the clutch. Although 5 minutes for a simple adjustment with a wrench and pliers under the dash makes the clutch a dream on any G35. It then feels more like a BMW or Honda.
bkochuk says:
09:03 AM, 07/ 8/09
what do you adjust?
shaddai says:
09:51 AM, 07/ 8/09
That's odd - how quiet exactly is the S5? I just picked up a 2008 B7 S4 and I can tell you it's anything but quiet inside. Not egregiously loud, but it's definitely not quiet or subtle.
trentor says:
09:33 PM, 07/10/09
bkochuk - You actually adjust the rod which goes from the pedal through the firewall to the clutch cylinder. On the G35 and many cars, this rod is threaded. So you loosen the nut holding it tight and then take a pair of pliers and turn the rod, which actually moves the engagement point up or down depending on which way you turn.
You just have to be careful to not turn it too much or you'll end up with a clutch which never disengages/engages fully. Also, it does actually move the pedal too, so depending on how much you adjust, you may have to adjust the ignition and cruise control switches too.
On my G35, a section of the rod is even etched in order to get a better grip with the pliers.