What do you think of the Audi S5 Sportback?

[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?

[Gibson6594]

I'm looking at the A5. I'm just not into the high power of these cars anymore, so the regular A version is fine. It checks a lot of boxes and I think it's a stunning car.

I'm going to be driving a lot more soon, so Quattro will help with these NY winters. I also have a soon to be toddler, so the sport back will be nice for extra room. I also need to get something that isn't a 6MT, so my wife can drive it.

In my opinion, it's great for those who kind of need an SUV, but don't want to make that leap yet. The 4 series GC is similar, but to be honest, after having BMWs for the past 10 years, I'm looking for a change.

If you're comparing the two cars, the Audi is a flat out downgrade to the M in my opinion, but if it suits your needs like it does mine, it's a great car to get.

[Capt Crunch]

I loved the S5 when I drove it. Have you considered the M550? It doesn't have the sportback (which I love) but it has a boatload more power and the active cruise and other goodies. Lease rates were comparable when I compared them.

[iamwingman]

I bought one. I dig it so far. Sporty car, not a sports car. Fast enough and rides, in my mind, better on the highway. I’m doing more traveling and needed more space. So m4 is gone. I will consider the rs5 sportback when it comes out in a year or so.

[FriskyDingo]

Love them. Gorgeous cars that drive very, very well.

[minn19]

I drove one recently that sounds like it was equipped the same. I came away very impressed. I don’t think it is a replacement for an M3/4 sporty/driver wise at all, but definitely a really really nice DD. Especially optioned the way they are at that price.

If you care about a softer less driver focused, but more livable DD car with better options/tech I’d say go far it. But if you still value driver dynamics and over all better sports car attributes, I wouldn’t do it.

[nicknaz]

You'll be that guy who paid $67k for a 428 GC instead of $67k for an m3. If that appeals to you, go for it.

101mph traps vs 119mph traps is just way too much of an acceleration potential gap. No way I'd consider that move without any sort of $ savings

[minn19]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

You'll be that guy who paid $67k for a 428 GC instead of $67k for an m3. If that appeals to you, go for it.

101mph traps vs 119mph traps is just way too much of an acceleration potential gap. No way I'd consider that move without any sort of $ savings

My wife has a 428 GC and the S5 sportback felt considerably more powerful. I don’t know about trap speeds though, but it should be more comparable to a 435/440. It reminded me of old 335 power wise.

I agree with the insane prices some pay for regular 3/4 series though. Fortunately ours MSRPd for 52k and we got it for around 47k. I still think it is overpriced for what it is, but my wife loves it. Just like she loved the massaging seats in the S5 we test drove. BMW better pick it up in the next generation of regular 3/4 series because they are getting left way behind IMO.

[omaralt]

So I just left Audi. I spent a long time driving and playing with the car. The interior blows the m3 away. But I honestly couldn't get past the auto transmission. It's definitely a more civilized car but it's no M. So I ended up leaving with my M3

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by minn19

My wife has a 428 GC and the S5 sportback felt considerably more powerful. I don’t know about trap speeds though, but it should be more comparable to a 435/440. It reminded me of old 335 power wise.

I agree with the insane prices some pay for regular 3/4 series though. Fortunately ours MSRPd for 52k and we got it for around 47k. I still think it is overpriced for what it is, but my wife loves it. Just like she loved the massaging seats in the S5 we test drove. BMW better pick it up in the next generation of regular 3/4 series because they are getting left way behind IMO.

I missed it's s5. I thought a5

But s5 is still 112mph ish so still would be notably different from m3.

That's 335 caliber, as you said

[minn19]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I missed it's s5. I thought a5

But s5 is still 112mph ish so still would be notably different from m3.

That's 335 caliber, as you said

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

[6spdTanzM4]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

You'll be that guy who paid $67k for a 428 GC instead of $67k for an m3. If that appeals to you, go for it.

101mph traps vs 119mph traps is just way too much of an acceleration potential gap. No way I'd consider that move without any sort of $ savings

He listed 67k as the MSRP, he didn't say he was paying that and instead getting a great deal, whatever that number is.

I test drove the S5 last weekend and agree it's not really an all-out sporty replacement for the M3/4 but loved it overall. Came away really impressed.

[ZoneLaps]

I traded in my 2013 M5 for a 2018 S5 Coupe (Not Sportback). I was wildly impressed for the first week but ultimately hated the car (engine noise issues, rattles, software bugs, slow acceleration/lag from a roll, B&O wasn’t very good, chrome accents outside drove me crazy, steering was way too light, exhaust was muted).

That’s not to say the S5 didn’t have positives. The B&O, while not great, was better than our HK. The leather and stitching in the car was better than even my M5 (except it had cheap fabric on the side you couldn’t see). The virtual cockpit digital dash is jaw dropping.

That said, I guess I just wasn’t ready for that steep of a drop in performance. It was my slowest car since 2008. Four months later I even traded it for a used 2015 M4 for a big loss. My S5 sticker was $68k, I paid $63k, and I traded it for $50k.

[alex2364]

You're getting a 340i/440i class car for M3 money.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by alex2364

You're getting a 340i/440i class car for M3 money.

I'd say it is nicer than those when fully loaded and as has been said two different missions between the 340/440/S5 vs the M3/4.

IMO and it isn't fair because the F3X are obviously at the end of their run, but currently it is night and day difference between the two right now. I'm very interested to see how BMW responds with the next gen 3/4 series. But, as of now we would lease a S5 sportback everytime over the current 3/4 series.

[sdshah]

When the ECU gets cracked and it is tuned it will be a beast... you will probably add 100hp/100lbs on a simple flash. Hopefully for S5 owners that is sooner than later.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by minn19

I'd say it is nicer than those when fully loaded and as has been said two different missions between the 340/440/S5 vs the M3/4.

IMO and it isn't fair because the F3X are obviously at the end of their run, but currently it is night and day difference between the two right now. I'm very interested to see how BMW responds with the next gen 3/4 series. But, as of now we would lease a S5 sportback everytime over the current 3/4 series.

I had a F30 335i before my M4 and while shopping for the M4 I test drove the new S5. While the S5 may be slightly better than the 340i/440i, it's no where near the M3/M4. The OP is leasing and Audi lease programs are much worse than BMW. The OP said Audi S5 is leasing for the same price as his M3. For the same price, would you rather have a M3 or S5?

[minn19]

Originally Posted by alex2364

I had a F30 335i before my M4 and while shopping for the M4 I test drove the new S5. While the S5 may be slightly better than the 340i/440i, it's no where near the M3/M4. The OP is leasing and Audi lease programs are much worse than BMW. The OP said Audi S5 is leasing for the same price as his M3. For the same price, would you rather have a M3 or S5?

I think I've already gone over that in my posts.

The only thing I disagree with you on is the current S5 is only slightly better than the current 340/440. Maybe numbers/performance wise yes, but as I said, I think is it is currently no contest that the S5 is the better car now. Of course it is only my opinion. I've ran a bunch of leasing numbers between a 340/440 and S5 are fairly competitive now.

Edit: I also had a F30 335 and a M3/4. Any my wife currently has a 428 GC.

[Habber]

If you can manage your expectations and not expect M3 performance it's a great car.

If you're spending same money as the M3, that hurts.

[minn19]

alex2364, I just built two similar cars in a 440 GC xDrive and a S5 sportback. The Audi lease according to the computer with same money down and similar MSRPs was $40 cheaper. You get a faster car with more options, better interior/materials and updated tech in the S5 right now for less money. It just comes down to brand loyalty and specific taste in the current decision.

I agree with to others though it is nuts these are up to base M3/4 prices. It is crazy, but they are very nice DDs and very quick executive cars.

[omaralt]

The s5 blows the 3 series (including m3) out of the water when it comes to the interior. But I just couldn't fathom paying m3 money for an s5. Maybe next time

[JibSTir13]

To echo what others have said, doesn't seem like that great of a deal even though your costs are the same (and you don't have to come out of pocket) because you are getting an S5 (inferior car compared to the F80) for F80 money.

In sum, less car for the same money.