Parking in the overflow lot at the X Games seemed like a good idea until it was time to leave, and the Evo and WRX owners here went all Travis Pastrana on us (the owner of the rally-prepped Celica was above all that). Our long-term 2009 Audi S5 survived with a fine coating of orange dust; fortunately, Monday is bath day for the cars in our fleet.
Apart from getting dirty, the S5 coupe was a superb weekend car. Ride quality is perfectly judged for Southern California freeways -- something I've never before felt, or said, about an Audi. Everything is neatly damped and under control over just about every surface, yet the ride is remarkably compliant. I could drive for days in this car and not get tired of it.
And I do like this 349-horsepower version of the 4.2-liter V8. With it, the S5 gathers speed effortlessly when merging onto freeways. Though it has been mentioned that the exhaust note is too quiet to deliver satisfaction during heel-and-toe downshifts, if you listen hard, you can hear the deep note during passing maneuvers. Sometimes I would drop down an extra gear or two just to enjoy it.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 6,375 miles
srlracing says:
05:26 AM, 08/ 3/09
Shame on you Erin being in a car built by the people that started the AWD rally revolution that paved the way for these young punks in Subarus and Evos and not showing them a thing or two about rallying through dirt parking lots. I kid of course.
jeepsrt says:
08:21 AM, 08/ 3/09
I would hate to be in the area after one of these events let out. After all these kids and some adults get excited watching the pros on a track go out to their cars and try to drive like they do. I remember when I did the SRT experience they said that there are police around the area waiting for everybody to leave and make sure no one does anything stupid on public roads.