What do you think of the Audi S5 Sportback?

blschaefer1 · 03-01-2018, 11:21 AM

I cross shopped the S5 Sportback before getting my S6. Really liked the car.

MSRP was in the low-mid $60k's and leases were right around $700 even (CA taxes included) with normal drive offs after negotiating hard on the cap cost. Best I could do was 8% off MSRP as they are in high demand.

This is not M3/M4 money, particularly with BMW's lease rates these days.

Having said that, I got my S6 for the basically the same money. The V8 TT was just too good to pass up.

Absurdium · 03-02-2018, 03:02 PM

Curious about what everyone thinks about the interior. The new s5/s5/rs5 definitely have a great design in that department. But having sat in a new rs5 and comparing to my F8X with full Silverstone leather and piano black trim, I wouldn't say the rs5 is a step up. The virtual cockpit is definitely a plus but the feel of the merino leather on everything above chest level really makes the M4 feel upscale. This coupled with the new iDrive in the M4 which is in my opinion objectively better than the Audi MMI (though MMI is very good, probably second in the business just behind BMW) makes for a pretty pleasant interior. I will say though, if not for the full leather in the M4, I'd give the edge to the rs5. The problem is, the gap between a 428 to m4 interior is quite large where as the Rs5 has an near identical interior to an A5 even in materials(no full leather option for rs5). Therefore, it's hard for me to agree with you that the S5 interior is hands down better than the M4, provided that you spec the M4 with full leather of course.

Aapparition90 · 03-03-2018, 05:13 AM

Hey s5 is a lovely car more so in sportback style. Its a very good daily car thats quick and effortless, i couldnt swap my m3 for it unless i had another in garage for my thrills. I think a good 40 min test drive is a must for you. Gl

nicknaz · 03-03-2018, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minn19

I knew it was slower, but I didn’t think it was that bad.

It's just like moving to an e9x m3... definitely slower but could be worth it for the sound. I guess for the s5 you could say definitely slower but could be worth it for the interior

My bias is showing through but for a $67k cost level, I'd take a nicely modded 6mt 997.1TT as an f80 replacement over an s5.

Isn't a new Ttrs also $65k?

minn19 · 03-03-2018, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicknaz

It's just like moving to an e9x m3... definitely slower but could be worth it for the sound. I guess for the s5 you could say definitely slower but could be worth it for the interior

My bias is showing through but for a $67k cost level, I'd take a nicely modded 6mt 997.1TT as an f80 replacement over an s5.

Isn't a new Ttrs also $65k?

I get it. I coming from a perspective of a car for my wife and a comfortable cruiser/miles eater for the family instead of driving our F150 all the time. Definitely not a replacement for a M3/4 or GT350 for that matter.

CanAutM3 · 03-03-2018, 03:19 PM

We looked at the B9 S5 sportback when shopping to replace my wife's B7 S4. There is something we both found disturbing in the side profile design that we could not get past. It has to do with how the design lines swoop downwards where the A-pillar meets the body. It makes it look to us as if the car is about buckle at that point. It reminds me of the '90s VW Corrado and I always disliked that aspect of that car. We preferred the overall more classical look of the B9 S4 sedan. However, both the S4 and S5 drove very similarly and we found them too soft and characterless, so my wife ended up with an RS3. Not as luxurious, but a hoot to drive.

clutchdj · 03-03-2018, 03:33 PM

S5 sportback is an awesome looking car.
The 2dr version appears as if the hood is seven feet long and looks very odd to me but the 4dr is just right. Overall not as aggressive as an F80 but hey...It sounds like you have nothing to loose!

fusionchicken · 03-09-2018, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

There is something we both found disturbing in the side profile design that we could not get past. It has to do with how the design lines swoop downwards where the A-pillar meets the body. It makes it look to us as if the car is about buckle at that point.

Dammit I laughed way too hard at this

G-AZ-M4 · 03-14-2018, 10:23 PM

I was thinking of waiting for the RS5 when I test drove the M4 I bought same day.

jmg · 03-14-2018, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

We looked at the B9 S5 sportback when shopping to replace my wife's B7 S4. There is something we both found disturbing in the side profile design that we could not get past. It has to do with how the design lines swoop downwards where the A-pillar meets the body. It makes it look to us as if the car is about buckle at that point. It reminds me of the '90s VW Corrado and I always disliked that aspect of that car. We preferred the overall more classical look of the B9 S4 sedan. However, both the S4 and S5 drove very similarly and we found them too soft and characterless, so my wife ended up with an RS3. Not as luxurious, but a hoot to drive.

Well now I can't unsee it. Thanks for
Ruining this car for me!

UGADawgFan · 03-19-2018, 01:32 AM

My wife chose the B9 S4 over the S5 sport back..she didn't like the "frumpy" look (her words, not mine) of the S5.

Fantastic car and gorgeous interior- she also chose daytona gray on magma red.

I love my F80, but I could easily live with this car...and MUCH prefer it over the 340i (both in performance and design).

Audi really did a great job with the B9 (both A and S models)

Oxymoron · 03-19-2018, 05:06 AM

Weird that the S5 is similar to M3 money there. In Australia the S5 is closer to the M2 price.

S5 SB is 99k plus options
M2 95k plus options
M3 is 150k plus options

At those price points the S5 is amazing value. Got one for my wife. I have an M2. M2 is way more fun. But the S5 detroys it in just about every other area.

Aapparition90 · 03-19-2018, 05:42 AM

S5 and m2 is a very nice stable. Whats got better motorway acceleration in your opinion ?

omaralt · 03-19-2018, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGADawgFan

My wife chose the B9 S4 over the S5 sport back..she didn't like the "frumpy" look (her words, not mine) of the S5.

Fantastic car and gorgeous interior- she also chose daytona gray on magma red.

I love my F80, but I could easily live with this car...and MUCH prefer it over the 340i (both in performance and design).

Audi really did a great job with the B9 (both A and S models)

beautiful color combo. mine is the exact same but with no roof

enjoy

pokerface · 03-19-2018, 08:42 AM

The S5 sportback looks more GT. Very expensive but it does not evoke that sporty sedan look the way an M3 would.

omaralt · 03-19-2018, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerface

The S5 sportback looks more GT. Very expensive but it does not evoke that sporty sedan look the way an M3 would.

having driven the S5 cab over the past two weeks i can definitely say that it is nowhere close to the drive of the M3. i took for granted going into a few turns on my way to work going 60mph without breaking a sweat. i definitely have to recalibrate my driving now.. this car is definitely not a M competitor; it's a competitor for the 3/4 series.

Oxymoron · 03-19-2018, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aapparition90

S5 and m2 is a very nice stable. Whats got better motorway acceleration in your opinion ?

Both almost identical when stock. But M2 is tuned now so it has a little more.

UGADawgFan · 03-19-2018, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerface

The S5 sportback looks more GT. Very expensive but it does not evoke that sporty sedan look the way an M3 would.

Why do people keep trying to compare an S4/S5 to the M3/M4? They're not even intended to compete with each other....

The 340i (or whatever BMW calls it now) is the direct competitor.

eonflux · 03-29-2018, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omaralt

so one of my patients works at a new audi dealership down the street and is giving me a great deal on a 2018 S5 sportback prestige w/the sport diff. the MSRP is $67.5K. they'll take my M3 lease out of my hands w/no negative equity (i put no money down on the lease). so essentially i'm giving them my car and maintaining the same monthly payment, so even trade

i'm torn because i'm losing the manual but the S5 has many more options (active cruise, massaging seats, fine nappa leather, etc). i drove it and it feels amazingly fast because of the AWD. and that virtual cockpit is amazing..

has anybody switched? any opinions?

S5 is a 340/440 competitor
Get the RS5 instead

03-01-2018, 11:21 AM	#23
blschaefer1 First Lieutenant 205 Rep 393 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 xDrive 30i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Prescott, AZ iTrader: (1)	I cross shopped the S5 Sportback before getting my S6. Really liked the car. MSRP was in the low-mid $60k's and leases were right around $700 even (CA taxes included) with normal drive offs after negotiating hard on the cap cost. Best I could do was 8% off MSRP as they are in high demand. This is not M3/M4 money, particularly with BMW's lease rates these days. Having said that, I got my S6 for the basically the same money. The V8 TT was just too good to pass up.
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03-02-2018, 03:02 PM	#24
Absurdium First Lieutenant 152 Rep 336 Posts Drives: F82 TB Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Curious about what everyone thinks about the interior. The new s5/s5/rs5 definitely have a great design in that department. But having sat in a new rs5 and comparing to my F8X with full Silverstone leather and piano black trim, I wouldn't say the rs5 is a step up. The virtual cockpit is definitely a plus but the feel of the merino leather on everything above chest level really makes the M4 feel upscale. This coupled with the new iDrive in the M4 which is in my opinion objectively better than the Audi MMI (though MMI is very good, probably second in the business just behind BMW) makes for a pretty pleasant interior. I will say though, if not for the full leather in the M4, I'd give the edge to the rs5. The problem is, the gap between a 428 to m4 interior is quite large where as the Rs5 has an near identical interior to an A5 even in materials(no full leather option for rs5). Therefore, it's hard for me to agree with you that the S5 interior is hands down better than the M4, provided that you spec the M4 with full leather of course.
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03-03-2018, 05:13 AM	#25
Aapparition90 Captain 193 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2016 lci m3 mw Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 bmw 328i [0.00] 2012 bmw 328i [0.00]	Hey s5 is a lovely car more so in sportback style. Its a very good daily car thats quick and effortless, i couldnt swap my m3 for it unless i had another in garage for my thrills. I think a good 40 min test drive is a must for you. Gl
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03-03-2018, 03:19 PM	#28
CanAutM3 General 21117 Rep 20,741 Posts Drives: 2021 911 turbo Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 Audi RS6 [10.00] 2021 Porsche 911 turbo [10.00]	We looked at the B9 S5 sportback when shopping to replace my wife's B7 S4. There is something we both found disturbing in the side profile design that we could not get past. It has to do with how the design lines swoop downwards where the A-pillar meets the body. It makes it look to us as if the car is about buckle at that point. It reminds me of the '90s VW Corrado and I always disliked that aspect of that car. We preferred the overall more classical look of the B9 S4 sedan. However, both the S4 and S5 drove very similarly and we found them too soft and characterless, so my wife ended up with an RS3. Not as luxurious, but a hoot to drive. Attached Images __________________ Porsche 911 turbo 2021 992 GT Silver Previous cars: M4cs 2019 F82 Limerock Grey / M4 2015 F82 Silverstone / M3 2008 E92 Silverstone / M3 2002 E46 Carbon Black Last edited by CanAutM3; 03-04-2018 at 07:20 AM..
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03-03-2018, 03:33 PM	#29
clutchdj Colonel 1877 Rep 2,398 Posts Drives: a few cars Join Date: May 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (6)	S5 sportback is an awesome looking car. The 2dr version appears as if the hood is seven feet long and looks very odd to me but the 4dr is just right. Overall not as aggressive as an F80 but hey...It sounds like you have nothing to loose!
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03-14-2018, 10:23 PM	#31
G-AZ-M4 Enlisted Member 38 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M4 Comp Pkg Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	I was thinking of waiting for the RS5 when I test drove the M4 I bought same day. __________________ 2018 F82/M4 Comp Pkg/HUD/DCT Big grin on idiot in driver's seat Uniden R3 beeping / 70s rock competing with perfect exhaust note Wheels & Moonroof I like and you don't have to
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03-19-2018, 01:32 AM	#33
UGADawgFan Major 587 Rep 1,017 Posts Drives: 991.1 GT3, B9 S4, E92 M3, G05 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Woodstock, GA iTrader: (3)	My wife chose the B9 S4 over the S5 sport back..she didn't like the "frumpy" look (her words, not mine) of the S5. Fantastic car and gorgeous interior- she also chose daytona gray on magma red. I love my F80, but I could easily live with this car...and MUCH prefer it over the 340i (both in performance and design). Audi really did a great job with the B9 (both A and S models)
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03-19-2018, 05:06 AM	#34
Oxymoron Private First Class 88 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 LCI MGM Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia iTrader: (0)	Weird that the S5 is similar to M3 money there. In Australia the S5 is closer to the M2 price. S5 SB is 99k plus options M2 95k plus options M3 is 150k plus options At those price points the S5 is amazing value. Got one for my wife. I have an M2. M2 is way more fun. But the S5 detroys it in just about every other area.
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03-19-2018, 05:42 AM	#35
Aapparition90 Captain 193 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2016 lci m3 mw Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 bmw 328i [0.00] 2012 bmw 328i [0.00]	S5 and m2 is a very nice stable. Whats got better motorway acceleration in your opinion ?
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03-19-2018, 08:42 AM	#37
pokerface Colonel 430 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: F25 X3 N20 / F80 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	The S5 sportback looks more GT. Very expensive but it does not evoke that sporty sedan look the way an M3 would.
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