I thought the A5 / S5 was the 3 and 5 door versions of the A4 – not based on the current A4 platform, but the introductory models for the new forthcoming A4 platform??
Errrr, you’re nearly 4 years behind the times… The A5 came out late summer 2007, the A4 on which it shares its platform came out in 2008. So whilst you’re correct, you are very late!
I really like the styling of the A5. Whilst the 5 door ‘Sportback’ may be more practical, it looks shit! Sure you can get a bike in the 3 door, I’ll have a bloody good try
The S5 strikes me as a bit pointless though, I’d just get the 3.0 tdi Quattro. Or the new RS5 if you had too much money to spend.
Incredibly, they’re not as impractical as you might suspect. The rear seats fold flat, and though it’s only a 2 door, the boot opens pretty wide. You’ve got to take the wheels off yes, but you can get a bike inside easily enough. I know, cos I’ve done it in the one my Dad had…
The 3litre TDi really is pretty rapid, it may be 120bhp shy, but its got more torque. And besides, if you want more power, it will easily remap to add another 50bhp and yet more torque. It is reasonably economical on a run too, considering the size of the engine, the 4wd system, and mahoosively wide 19″ tyres. I did a 500 mile round trip, from mine to the lakes, round the lakes, and back in my Dad’s car, and it averaged 39mpg the whole time. And that was 85-90 mostly on the motorway, and some spirited back road driving! Round town the MPG is poor, like most heavy cars with a big engine, but my Dad topped 50mpg on a round trip once! OK, it was about 60 miles of dual carriageway, at a constant 65mph, but it can be done… The petrol S5 would be lucky to do half that!
+ Is it just me or are all Audi’s going down the tacky route at the min? I drive passed their showroom on the way home and the wheels are getting proper bling garish things and wings are appearing on boots and stuff. I thought Audis were a conservative brand ?!?! or are they now aiming for the new money c@ck market ?
Audi went down the “bling it up” route years ago, look at how many non S-Line normal Audi’s there are on the roads these days… Not many! All the guys who used to buy M-Sport Beemers back around 2000-2005 have all moved into S-Line Audi’s. You used not to be able to move for M-Sport 3 series, these days though, most new 3 series BMW’s seem to be the much more modest SE spec, whereas all new Audi’s come blinged up to the nines! Hey ho…
I’m counting on the trend bucking any time soon though, cos just agreed to buy an old A4 Avant after my Passat died the other day! Y2K model though, pre drug dealer wheels and all that though 😉