That said I had a Z3 with the big M package motor and suspension and could push it through a set of repeated S turns at about 75mph, that was paying very careful attention to a tail out very reactive nature where throttle off hung it way out and throttle on induced front end jump and push. Another way to put this is to say don’t try this at home kids you’ll get into trouble if you don’t know what you are doing. The S8 can do it at 85 with a Latte in one hand and cell phone in the other, and all but the speed impaired could do it without getting into trouble.

I will admit to Bridgestone Pole Position tires and much lighter aftermarket wheels which dramatically improved the ride and handling from the stock wheels and Michelin Pilot Sports. You just don’t see reviews that quantify the difference between BMW’s that win paper races and real worls driving. I’ve had two M5’s starting with the early 1985 model, a 750il, an M6, and a 540 sport model, I’m sorry it’s Audi’s from now on and I get a woody thinking about my next one which will be an R8 and I may get an RS6 as well just because they are priced so low I can’t resist. I’m waiting to find one of the super rare 6 speed models of which there are only a few.

By the way, I blew by an M5 that was up at about
155mph at over 180mph, I think he lost a door or two in the vacuum created when I sucked his doors off but he was out of sight so quickly I can’t be sure of that. I terrorize the WRX’s, EVO’s, and Corvettes on the twisties around Placerville. I accidently went by a sheriff at 150 who was sitting hidden in a sweeper and had it well beyond redline in top gear with the speedo beyond it’s top speed as well making sure he couldn’t catch me, believe it or not. I took a friend out who said that was bull and showed him, he wanted me to slow down when the guages were buried and wasn’t at all comfortable hanging sweepers at 150. You have to love the Recaro seats at times like that.

And a BMW that beats an Audi on the track in the last 3 seconds of the race isn’t worth crap to say it’s better for the normal driver. My racing days on the track are over…

By the way, my Audi A8 (1999) Quattro is still f’n beautiful and luxurious and in perfect condition even with 76,000 miles on it. I have people begging me for it. People still wonder how I round those exits so fast… it’s the handling bro! My friend in his Lincoln following me last night could not keep up on the exits and I wasn’t going that fast, but I can round those without slowing down much. It will beat any small car for handling.

Additionally I DOUBT YOU SEE MANY BUM W’s of that age riding around anymore!

I just think all you Audi bashers are jealous of me. :-P

My S5 black on black will be here soon soon soon!

I just hope I don’t mind sacrificing the size of my A8 for the stick shift. I miss stick shifts I really do..

I will just keep my A8 for a spare for when I’m not in the mood to wrap my fingers around that stick…

… and then there are the people who can’t afford Audis, so they feel the need to bash those who can to make themselves feel bigger ;)

Kidding aside, I was very PRO-BMW before plunging myself (with some doubt) into the Audi scene… I looked for every reason to purchase a 2007 3-series over a 2007 A4, and after test driving both multiple times, researching both endlessly, I couldn’t justify purchasing the Bimmer.

An Audi is not about being the fastest, being the cheapest, being the most luxurious, but rather about being a bit of each and wrapping it up in a beautiful package (both inside and out). The overall package of sport, quality, looks and luxury is hard to beat.

You are kidding yourself if you think BMW’s have nicer interiors than comparable Audis (.. and this is where you will be spending 100% of your driving time).

Even though I don’t have as much HP as your BMW 335i, or your 350Z, etc. I’m perfectly content with my e-peepee size.

… and to the guy who said Audis sales will tank, please check the latest sales figures. Audi is up 7.2% for the month of March on the back of the Audi A5/S5 when almost EVERY OTHER manuf. is experiencing a big decrease in sales (BMW is up ~1%, Mercedes is up ~3%). What recession?

I looked at the supposedly comparable BMW, but they are old fashioned English looking and rather ugly, and still use the outdated REAR WHEEL DRIVE.

The Audi is the most beautiful car of 2007 according to the contest in Milan Italy.

Based solely on car show appearance, I vote the S5 to be a much more handsome inside and out than ANY other midsize coupe on the road today. This is hard to admit for a person who has worshipped Porsche and BMW for the past 25 years.

My past experience with an E36 M3 was like everyone else’s: a pure pleasure to drive, with excellent balance, power, and grip to do anything well. Based on that taste, we later decided to get a Z3 and later a Z4.

I guess it was a lot of little things that convinced me slowly that BMW lost its way. I became disenchanted with the local BMW dealers. It became clear they were snobby pricks who know nothing about quality service. The Z4 seemed novel and different at first, but in retrospect, i see that Bangle royally f*cked up the tasteful, timeless lines that BMW once offered (850i, for example). Our Z3 wasn’t great, but the Z4 was amongst the most problematic cars we ever owned. Interiors were not up to par, and the annoyances & breakdowns just kept adding up. There is simply no excuse for an “unrepairable” leaking roof in a roadster of that price. Our new TT, on the other hand, has not disappointed us yet (time will tell).

Pricewise, every european car is expensive in the USA thanks to the Shrub driving the US dollar value into the dirt. At any price, quattro makes the Audi a vastly better all-season coupe than anything BMW or Merc (or Lexus, or Caddy) offers. While that’s not critical to me, it should be a major consideration for car owners in the snow belt. What’s the point in having perfect BMW chassis balance or a 400+ hp Merc V-8 when the traction control system must constantly swoop in to keep you out of the ditch? The S5, if it’s like other recent Audis I have driven (TT, A4, S4, A8) makes up for its lack of 10/10ths driving prowess by offering value in all the ways that matter in real-world driving. If you want a racecar, get a ZR-1 or a GT3.

Like I said, I’ve not yet taken an S5 for a test drive. I don’t doubt it understeers a bit more than the competitive RWD cars. Still, the S5 looks every bit as good, if not better, than the competition for most people. Moreover, the purely subjective comments in this review I just don’t find very compelling. There isn’t really a bad choice in the luxury compact car categories these days. My pre-review already leans strongly in favor of the Audi.

… and yes, BMW is sweating. The Audi RS5 and the R4 will be released soon, not to mention Porsche’s Panamera and a refreshed Cayman. It’s great to see Porsche’s influence on VWAG…

I drove the S5 and loved the car. It is a far superior vehicle in nearly every way. Amenities, traction, build quality, engine, and design. Every review has mentioned that the S5 out accelerated the 335 with one major magazine stating a 4.5sec to 60 time if that’s what floats your boat. Yes, a single review on Youtube stated the 335 won around the track by a measly .06 hundredths of a second – and??? That test didn’t look very scientific to my eyes but thats just me.

Regarding the beautiful interior – It is better than some interiors costing twice the price of the S5 (yes that’s 100k dollars) and dont take it my word for it, go to an autoshow and check for yourself or pick up one of the many magazines on any newstand. It has garnered enough praise to become redundant. The exterior design is downright gorgeous while having a very masculine look about it. The car also voted one of the most beautiful car in the world.”

I would have to agree with carz_suk. About a month or so ago on a weekend afternoon, my wife and I stopped by one of the local Audi dealers in town to have a closer look at the Q7. We had been contemplating off and on if my next car would be an SUV or another car. As we pulled into the dealer lot, parked right outside the show room was a meteor gray pearl S5. I think our pupils dialated immediately and our hearts began to race. The both of us were floored at the stance and the presence of this coupe. Yes, as one would read across many publications, buying a coupe is truly an emotionally stirring sort of thing. This car certainly did that for both of us, especially myself.

Albeit, the Youtube video shootout between the 335i and S5 rendered the Bimmer .06 seconds faster, but in all seriousness, who really drives like this around town anyway – let alone an infinitesimal difference such as this garner any real deciding muscle to helm the bimmer superior to this Audi.

In fact, an equally equiped 335i would come up around $1800 less than the S5 with B&O stereo, technology package, and nav. For me, this wouldn’t be the line in the sand in selecting the Bimmer over the Audi. I currently drive an ‘03 Z4 sport pac. It handles well and is certainly a bit ‘raw’ when it comes to hard cornering and the like, but in all honesty, I really enjoy it most on long open road trips – 200+ mile distances or greater where this car rides well barring any road imperfections, but it isn’t as smooth as I believe the S5 is capable. In effect this is what GTs are made for (long distances at high speeds in exceptional luxury).

I’ll admit, the first photos I saw of the A5/S5 didn’t make me want to head straight down to the Audi dealer. If it weren’t for our original interest in the Q7, I would have completely dismissed this car altogether until I would have seen it on the road. This is a car that must be experienced in person to understand its desireablity factor. The gorgeous daytime LEDs and aluminum/chrome exterior side-view mirror housings, the wide track at the rear, and the gently falling roofline as it flows into the c-pillar and the trunk lid boot. Hands down the interior is exceptional, even the parking brake is an unobtrusive finger pull buttom situated to the upper left corner of the center console – well done Audi.

I’ve yet to drive one, as I’m really certain that if I do, I’ll buy it. However, I was told by the Audi salesman that the DSG will be offered in 24 months. I’ll try very hard to wait until then for the DSG offering in Brilliant Red and pearl silver interior. Absolutely gorgeous car.

Exactly! I grew up with a family who loved German, British and Swedish cars. I can say with absolute authority that BMWs are much more appealing to the nouveau rich because they are a more conspicuous statement of wealth. Not that there’s anything wrong with being newly rich, but you’ll rarely see dubs on an Audi A8 like you always will on a 7 series or S class. I was at a conference last June where the president of the Luxury Institute spoke. Of the households making over 500k/year, more had at least one Audi than any other brand. I didn’t expect that.

“But to enthusiasts and to folks who are into status, Audis are always going to be considered as something like nouveau riche”
And thats dead wrong, because there are loads of enthusiasts having fun with their S4s and RS4s. I guessed you missed all the street cred generated by the RS4. Not sure how, but you did miss it man. Prior to that, could the S4 hang with an M3? No, I’ll give you that. But… The AWD was surely nice to have, and the price tag was also considerably less. BMWs are more for the nouveau rich because of the added status. BMW’s are first and foremost a status car my friend. The X5, and the 318s made sure of that. 1 series anyone?

Ever try getting golf clubs in a BMW Z? or a 350Z? I mean come on. I could pile in dead bodies into my GTI. Not to mention, If I get into a wreck, Ill appreciate the 6 airbags, and steel cage the GTI offers. I wouldn’t wanna get hit by anything in a Z4 man. Ouch. Also, GTI DSG vs. a Z4? I’ll wreck a Z4 man.
GTIs beat em all the time bro. Why? max torque at 1800RPM. I can shift in .2 seconds, lol. Can a 6speed do that? No, but I can. and how much more am I spending for a Z4? lol @ that man.

The VW Group makes some sick cars bro, and for the price they are great. The S5, is not a 335i comparison. You can name a coupe in that price point with that kind of power/luxury combination? Please let me know. 360HP FSI engine, Keyless entry with proximity sensor. Rear camera, active suspension system. The car rides so smooth, and handles well. The V8 responds man.

This weekend, I drove the 335i, the S5, the TT 3.2. If you get in a 335i after getting in an S5, its a joke. The 335 luxuries and interior is a damn joke. Its all performance, and thats about it. The ride quality also, isn’t as good. The engine sound of the Audi is also way more impressive IMO.

Bottom line. The S5 is not a 335i. Maybe the 335i wins in a drag race. But I’ll take the S5’s looks, feel, comfort, features, and interior over the BMW anyday.

Since when do you have to own a vehicle to critique it??? And in the next 3 years I would not be surprised to see Audi sales stall from a lack of product identity.

I have once driven the most RWD-like AWD car on wet asphalt – the R32 Skyline GTR. A whole different ballgame compared to the Audis – it was lot more percise, engaging and fun. It’s a shame really that Nissan didn’t introduce this technology to the rest of the world. Like CAR Magazine once wrote: In 1989 Nissan introduced the Skyline GTR with AWD system that made the Audi’s Quattro look like from the bronze age. Audi basically hasn’t changed the torsen based quattro in 20 years. Guess Vorsprung Durch Technik (’progress through technology’) slogan doesn’t apply for their hallmark Quattro technology.

I bought our ‘01 2.7T over the competing BMW and Mercedes models for lots of logical reasons, and two big emotional ones.

Logical:
-much more back seat room than the competitors. (these are 4-door sedans, after all, meant to be able to be used to comfortably seat 4 6-footers.)
-cavernous trunk with fold-down rear seats standard. The trunk on the 528i was a joke in comparison, and fold down rear seats were a special order. This matters when you don’t own an SUV or Van for Home Depot runs.
-quattro. There’s nothing like being unable to spin a tire, regardless of how much power you’re trying to put down. This is a boon in dry as well as wet/snowy weather.

Emotional:
styling (subjective, obviously)
twin-turbo power + torque. (the 2.7T left the competitive BMW and MB models for dead in acceleration and responsiveness.)

After tracking my car multiple times, I can safely say that it understeers heavily, but I can also use all the power more of the time due to the traction and control of quattro AWD. On a related note, it will be interesting to watch the 335s at our upcoming events, spinning the inside rear tires out of all the slower corners. No LSD??? WTH was BMW thinking?

What I’ve found through owning 3 of these cars is that the effects of quattro are, on balance for street driving, a huge benefit. Heavy? Yep. Nose-heavy? Yep, too, but that’s changing, starting with the A8 years ago, and continuing in earnest with the B8 platform, of which the S5 is the first to make it to the states.

To those that wonder where Audi fits, my advice is to watch closely in the next 3 years, because they’re going nowhere but up in sales, market share, and perception.

I just don’t see AWD as inferior, insignificant, etc., not with the vehemence you do, when it comes to a performance/sports car. It’s not vital, true, and their is a downside to lessening the chance of the adrenaline production when you can hit a sweeping bend and get a power slide with the tires screeching but not breaking traction. But one, most people who are in the market for a luxury sports sedan or coupe like an S5 or even a 3-series are more interested in the luxury part and don’t care about power slides, and would wet themselves if they found themselves in one, but they ain’t commenting in this forum, and two, I personally if my budget would allow it would definitely buy a 330ix over a 330i or an Audi S5. I also wouldn’t mind a Cayman S4 for that matter.

Audi has always been in a strange position in the US. People I’ve known who dealt with Audi Foxes in the ’70’s thought they were crap- not extremely reliable, mainly, and when I read reviews or comments about Audis being more reliable now it makes me wonder a bit. Especially when Volkswagen gets criticized for unreliability, say, for the GTI, and then seeing A3 treated a bit differently in reviews. Audi always seemed to have a niche/fanatic/eccentric type appeal here, Subarus being a good example, or also, European car-wise, Saabs, at least pre-GM. They’ve tried to market themselves as being technologically advanced or innovative, especially in the aerodynamic styling and AWD areas, which is true only to a point. They’re not going to hit the same performance/handling level, though, until they move the damn engine on a lot of their models from being entirely in front of the front axle. That’s just a half-assed way to deal with fwd, which is part of their genetic make-up. I think their sales have made inroads into the suburban or non-enthusiast crowd mainly because they are German and a little less expensive than M-B and BMW.

But to enthusiasts and to folks who are into status, Audis are always going to be considered as something like nouveau riche compared to Mercedes and BMW blue bloods.