Full Test: 2008 Audi S5

The Audi still has the heavy nose weight bias that BMW's don't have.
Interesting to note the mention that the vague on center steering feel has been fixed. That's what has kept me away from Audis in the past.

Does anyone else think its wheels look like the BMW M6's?

Ive read somewhere that Audi had pushed the engine back even further even though its FWD based vehicle. That alone would validate the better/involved driving experience Edmunds commented on. Id like to see how its actually laid out compared to the RS4's layout. I also found it interesting that Edmunds came to the conclusion this car drove better than the RS4 which is the highest performing model in the A4/5 range while this is the middle of the pack S4 model, so the RS5 should be a delight!
 
Sabastian, I think youre right. It seems to fit in between the 335i and upcoming M3. Im sure there will be an RS5 to compete squarely with the V8 M3 coupe. But in terms of straight line accleration the 335i is right there with the S5.
 
Desmo, Ive always liked Audis ever since my mother had one (1986 Audi 5000 CS Turbo) while I was still in high school (early 90's). Although the car suffered from some serious electronic glitches something about the car made me fall in love with it. The styling, interior excecution, the performance of that 2.2 inline 5 turbo. It was smooth, looked great, rediculously solid ( typical Germanic feel), and surefooted in any type of weather and it wasnt Quattro equipped. Whats kept me away is the rediculous reliability record, high price, and rediculous resale value.

What gets me hondacura4 is that I always thought that Audis had that vagueness in the straight ahead position, which turned me off them. And made me wonder about the press reviews that raved about the steering in the A4 for example (which I have driven). Now they test the S5, and this is the first time I've read the complaint re. the previous models.
Which goes to show, take reviews as an infomercial and test drive the cars yourself to see what you think. Not what someone else tells you to think.
p.s the motor has been pushed further back in the chassis to improve balance, but at 58/42 front to rear it is still ways off BMW's 50/50 balance.

Yeah its always better to get a feel for yourself as you and I may have totally different driving styles and views as to what "feels good".
 
My mothers Audi 5000 was a terd from a stop as it had some serious turbo lag. But once that bastard spooled (especially from 60 or so) that car would walk just about anything it came up against. Torquey, smooth, and it had that signature Audi 5 cylinder growl, a very stout piece for its time. Reliability.....thats a whole different story. The brake fluid alone was almost $35 a can!
 
The one thing that interests me so about Audi is their timeless design, attention to detail, and the way they combine classy style with modern technologies. The lighting, materials, color combos, it all flows so well. They never look bloated, every line is taught, precise and purposeful something the Japanese cant match. And best of all the designs are original, not copies of something else.
 
The wheels, paint, it all just exudes quality and richness. Audis design team is certainly first rate as nothing they have created is overstyled or generic. My favorite Audi designs to date would be of course the R8 and the A8L/S8 with the19 inch wheels, those car are sweet! As far as design is concerned Audi certainly has nothing to worry about.

UGH, that is just such a gorgeous car...Infiniti G-thirty-what?

I dunno, this just seems a lot bigger than a G37 or a 3 series coupe. I'd almost think of it as a poor man's 6 series.
 
I think it look a bit like the old Chrysler Sebring, but that was a handsome car, so who cares? Looks good now, too.

The front looks good until you slap a license plate across the grille.
I agree with everyone about Audi design language. Few companies maintain a presence like Audi and manage to keep signature designs. I can spot an Audi a mile away. And admire it, too!
 
I just can't bring myself to buy any European car, though. Reliability is a top priority for me, and I have a strong impression that all Euro vehicles suffer high-cost repairs throughout their lives.

Im guessing the L shaped LEDs in the headlights is Audis new signature design as BMW has the twin rings.

To answer some of the comments concerning reliability: I have owned a 2003 A4 3.0Q as well as a 2005 AllRoad and have experienced one faulty fuel pump over the course of 4.5 years. It is one of my pet peeves when I read peoples comments that are based on outdated information. Previous to my Audi's I owned an 88 Honda Prelude which was about as reliable as my Audi's. I couldn't be happier. To wit, BMW has fallen quite a bit in its reliability status having been passed by most manufacturers even including Chevrolet. Check out Consumer Reports or others for this data for yourself. It may surprise you.
 
To the point made about percieved performance due to weight distribution. 50/50 isn't the ideal. Perhaps for a rear-drive car but not when the layout is AWD. Even on RWD you may find many that will tell you the weight needs to be closer to 40/60 (try a Porsche Cayman). Admittedly, this is going in the wrong direction for the current A5/S5 but suffice to say the layout has improved. What worries me is that the changes made won't be necessarily noticeable while driving up to the 8/10th mark. This is where most of us spend most of our time behind the wheel (as much as would like to say I get to track day often, I really don't).
 
Regardless, the A5/S5 represent quite a leap in exterior/interior design and, in my opinion, is where Audi continues to distance itself from the competition. BMW will need to trash their Bangle design language in hopes of ever coming close to producing the sort of cohesiveness that Audi has been executing for well over a decade now.