A5/S5/RS5 [Official] Audi RS5

[footie]

Just back from a short testdrive with a RS5 (white).
The traction off the line is really impressive. Just floor it and change gear after gear, it goes like a rocket. Change to Dynamic and the engine sound gives me goosebump. I wish it had this sound all the time.
The road I drove was damp but nonetheless you feel secure when you hit the accelerator.
In real life the car looks quite anonymous, its discreet looking car imo.
On the way home after I returned the car I met Maserati Granturismo S. Why didn't I meet this car when I had the RS5

I've also seen A7 in person, looks much better in person than the photos I've seen.

In the dry I can't disagree with anyone questioning the benefits on awd in normal spirited driving but in the wet it's benefits become more clear. It's a shame they didn't let you do a launch in the wet, you would have reached 60mph in near enough identical times to the dry such is it's traction.

I'm interested to hear what you thought of the steering, I'm use to this system but would love to hear from someone like yourself who isn't.

P.S.
I told you the A7 looking a lot better in the fresh, plus it's interior with the wood really does look the part.

 

[Zafiro]

In comfort mode the steering felt like any Audi I think. When I put it in Dynamic it felt heavier but I dont think I felt more road feel/steering feel. Perhaps it also felt too unnatural (I hope I used the right word) . Maybe I missed an important combination, I don't know.
Some people say the steering wheel in the M3 is too thick to hold on to but I disagree. I like to hold on to a meaty steering wheel and I wish the steering wheel in the RS5 was a tad thicker

I think its a shame manual gearbox isnt an option. IMO both options should be offered and the same goes for BMW and Mercedes as well.

Overall, RS5 is a very nice car and I would be happy to own one but I'm not going to lie. M3 has and always will have special place in my heart.

 

[footie]

In comfort mode the steering felt like any Audi I think. When I put it in Dynamic it felt heavier but I dont think I felt more road feel/steering feel. Perhaps it also felt too unnatural (I hope I used the right word) . Maybe I missed an important combination, I don't know.
Some people say the steering wheel in the M3 is too thick to hold on to but I disagree. I like to hold on to a meaty steering wheel and I wish the steering wheel in the RS5 was a tad thicker

I personally prefer 'auto' mode on the steering as it's heavier than comfort but not as heavy as dynamic which I too reckon it feel too un-natural. As for the steering wheel, I personally rate the feel of an Audi wheel to be better than any other but I must admit that on the brief occasions I drove M3s I always came away with the feeling of the wheel feeling too thick but after owning one and living with it I can see the appeal some have with it.

I think its a shame manual gearbox isnt an option. IMO both options should be offered and the same goes for BMW and Mercedes as well.

I get the feeling that RS models will continue to offer only DSG instead of manual, it's what most people want nowadays.

Overall, RS5 is a very nice car and I would be happy to own one but I'm not going to lie. M3 has and always will have special place in my heart.

Yeah the M3 is indeed a special car.

 

[Mr Robert]

I personally prefer 'auto' mode on the steering as it's heavier than comfort but not as heavy as dynamic which I too reckon it feel too un-natural.

There was a great article in a recent issue of Evo on the subject of steering technologies and on how these have developed immensely since the wide adoption of the new electric power steering. I wonder when we will see such a system that can match the feel of the old school hydraulic power steering, let alone the non-power systems.

 

[footie]

There was a great article in a recent issue of Evo on the subject of steering technologies and on how these have developed immensely since the wide adoption of the new electric power steering. I wonder when we will see such a system that can match the feel of the old school hydraulic power steering, let alone the non-power systems.

It will take a company like Porsche or Lotus to really develop a version capable of matching hydraulic. But I personally think too much steering feel is unnecessary on the road where surface conditions are far and a way rougher than you get on the track. To me the Boxster/cayman setup offered the 'goldielocks' amount of feel but as a daily driver I reckon the M3 is spot on.

 

[Mr Robert]

It will take a company like Porsche or Lotus to really develop a version capable of matching hydraulic. But I personally think too much steering feel is unnecessary on the road where surface conditions are far and a way rougher than you get on the track. To me the Boxster/cayman setup offered the 'goldielocks' amount of feel but as a daily driver I reckon the M3 is spot on.

I agree - for a daily driver, enough is enough. Heck, it's not until you really drive, that you notice the difference. Take my MINI, when driving around town I really don't care about feel and feedback. It's just annoying to get too much information when all you want is to get home.

Next question is, what is enough? And further to that question, is it possible to implement alterations between "going home" and "racing home" in a way that makes none of them a compromise?

 

[footie]

I agree - for a daily driver, enough is enough. Heck, it's not until you really drive, that you notice the difference. Take my MINI, when driving around town I really don't care about feel and feedback. It's just annoying to get too much information when all you want is to get home.

What you want from any steering system on a road car is just enough feel to notice differences in grip but not too much that every surface variation is magnified to the point that the steering feels twitchy, especially on poorly surfaced back roads. If only servotonic or what ever some other brand calls it worked the way it was intended, light and little feel at town speeds or less when maneuverability is paramount and increased resistance and genuine feel as speeds increased then we wouldn't be complaining about it now but we know this isn't the case. So far I haven't found a system that offers both perfectly, Audi's setup is OK on resistance but lacking in feel, BMW's setup is a little better still and on Porsches well I had one Cayenne with it and the other without, personally preferring the without, though in my opinion feel through the steering is one of many elements that relay what is going on under you, you also feel the shift of grip through the seat and just like losing any sense your others heighten to compensate.

Next question is, what is enough? And further to that question, is it possible to implement alterations between "going home" and "racing home" in a way that makes none of them a compromise?

It will take one of the car companies that are gifted in steering to tackle such a thing, personally I reckon Lotus or Porsche should be best placed for this but so far I have yet to see either match their best efforts without it.

 

[ss5]

Hi Guys, just wondering those who own or have ordered the RS5, did you take the normal sports seats or did you opt for the bucket seats? The bucket seats look a lot nicer of course and saves some weight but they are manual. So if one has people going into the back seat, it might be a little inconvenient?

 

[ZeroRisk]

Hi Guys, just wondering those who own or have ordered the RS5, did you take the normal sports seats or did you opt for the bucket seats? The bucket seats look a lot nicer of course and saves some weight but they are manual. So if one has people going into the back seat, it might be a little inconvenient?

Hi SS5,

I was quite taken with the photos of the black sports bucket seats with the red side panels, but they turned out to be a very expensive option (AUD$6,500 for the sports buckets, plus an extra AUD$6,500 for the custom red side panels and matching red stitching and piping on other leather trims - ouch!). You are correct that the sports bucket seats are (mostly) manual - they do have electronically controlled lumbar support for some odd reason. In the end, I opted not to spend the money, as (a) I wanted the full electronic control, and (b) my wife didnt like them.

Susbsequently, I took another RS5 demo car out for an extended drive, and it did have sports bucket seats installed. The dealer said, "You'll thank your wife for talking you out of the sports buckets after you've tried this", and he was right. They are snug to sit in, BUT they are a major nuisance to get out of, as the hip padding is quite high, so if this is your daily drive, you are going to get quite annoyed with them. And dont even think of taking any elderly relatives out for a drive - if you manage to get them out of it, you'll probalby be paying for their hip replacement soon after!

The standard seats are very nice.

Just my two cents worth...

 

[ss5]

The standard seats are very nice.

Just my two cents worth...

Two cents? This is great. I will give you $5 for this!!

Agreed on the points of exit and entry, especially for the older folk. I have a S5 now and my mum has great difficulity getting in and out of the front seat, let alone the rear.

The extra cost is also a little bit much. First more for the bucket seats. Then more again for having it red and black. Geez....

I did sit in a test car which had the bucket seats. Did not notice the inconvenience but guess at that point, with head pounding cause of excitement, not obvious!

The manual aspect is also a pain like you said. I always wondered already why my current seats do not automatcally move forward when I push the back rest forward. Obviously someone is getting in? And then once forward, putting the back rest back, the seat does not move back. And now on this car, at it's price, a manual seat? haha

Still, two things caught my eye when this car first came out. The red and black bucket seats and the 20 inch titanium rims. Guess one out of two is ok huh?

 

[ZeroRisk]

Two cents? This is great. I will give you $5 for this!!
...
I did sit in a test car which had the bucket seats. Did not notice the inconvenience but guess at that point, with head pounding cause of excitement, not obvious!

Still, two things caught my eye when this car first came out. The red and black bucket seats and the 20 inch titanium rims. Guess one out of two is ok huh?

Yeah, I went for the 20" titaniums - they looked even better in real life than they do in the photos!

The head pounding excitement is definitely a trap... try to go for a couple of test drives, in different configured versions if you can, and play with the Drive Select too.

Another option that is nice (if you're that way inclined) is the sports exhaust, but it only comes in black, so I didnt go for it as I like chrome exhausts. They do look nice, though, and they sound awesome!

 

[ss5]

Yeah, I went for the 20" titaniums - they looked even better in real life than they do in the photos!

The head pounding excitement is definitely a trap... try to go for a couple of test drives, in different configured versions if you can, and play with the Drive Select too.

Another option that is nice (if you're that way inclined) is the sports exhaust, but it only comes in black, so I didnt go for it as I like chrome exhausts. They do look nice, though, and they sound awesome!

Went and had head pounding all the time. Plus the smell of the leather in the new car. Not sure if it was the smell or head pounding excitement but had a head ache after haha Did the drive select. Definitely gives a different feel compared to the S5 in terms of volume alone.

The exhaust was something to ponder but I think it would be considered because of the sound. I do like the chrome like you mentioned though. Ah decisions, decisions....

 

[ZeroRisk]

Ah decisions, decisions....

Yes, but arent they EXACTLY the sort of decisions you love to wrestle with???

 

[ss5]

Yes, but arent they EXACTLY the sort of decisions you love to wrestle with???

Haha definitely. But I was pretty certain about those decisions. The chair was the tough one. Those red and black seats are just so good to look at. Then again, comfort is more important I think and this will definitely be a every day car!

 

[footie]

The biggest killer with the sports Recaros is that if you are board in the hips (another word for not slim ) they can feel uncomfortable on longest journeys, i.e. longer than most test drives. But boy do they look the part.

 

[ss5]

The biggest killer with the sports Recaros is that if you are board in the hips (another word for not slim ) they can feel uncomfortable on longest journeys, i.e. longer than most test drives. But boy do they look the part.

I am ok on that part. I am on the small side and would fit nicely in there

Yes, they do look fantastic....

 

[footie]

I am ok on that part. I am on the small side and would fit nicely in there

Yes, they do look fantastic....

Well if your intentions is to keep the car long term then I would recommend the sports Recaros because they really do hold you in place better than the normal seats in the RS5 which as you know are the same of your S5, unless that is you prefer the electrics of the normal seats.

P.S.
If you go for them I wouldn't pick the coloured inserts because I believe you don't get the match on the rear seats which is a shame.

 

[ss5]

Well if your intentions is to keep the car long term then I would recommend the sports Recaros because they really do hold you in place better than the normal seats in the RS5 which as you know are the same of your S5, unless that is you prefer the electrics of the normal seats.

P.S.
If you go for them I wouldn't pick the coloured inserts because I believe you don't get the match on the rear seats which is a shame.

So the back seats will be just black? How disappointing. But that would kill it for me as I only like the seats with the inserts. Just black does not work so well for me.

But yes, the electronics are important as I do get people in the back fairly often. And the seats on my S5 (because they don't work properly) and the Satnav are my pet peeves currently. So don't think a manual seat would work for me

Ponder, ponder...

 

[stockwizard]

The lease on my BMW 335 coupe comes due in about a year..

At this point I am choosing the Audi RS5 as my next car mainly because it looks twice as nice as a M3 and it is more exclusive..

I know people will say it is subjective... but I don't care.. The RS5 looks way sexier than the M3 IMO.

Where I live every time I am with someone and they see a S5 they ask me what it is... M3 gets does not stand out.. I can only imagine how much attention the RS5 will get as it has not crossed the Atlantic yet..

I don't plan to track the car, mainly just drive it around the city..

My only other option would be a 2012 CLS AMG, however I would need a large bonus in the next year to make that possible..

If anyone knows, I would imagine the Sports Exhaust option would be worth it?? Is the purpose of this just an enhanced exhaust note???

We shall see!

 

[donkeykong]

The lease on my BMW 335 coupe comes due in about a year..

At this point I am choosing the Audi RS5 as my next car mainly because it looks twice as nice as a M3 and it is more exclusive..

I know people will say it is subjective... but I don't care.. The RS5 looks way sexier than the M3 IMO.

Where I live every time I am with someone and they see a S5 they ask me what it is... M3 gets does not stand out.. I can only imagine how much attention the RS5 will get as it has not crossed the Atlantic yet..

I don't plan to track the car, mainly just drive it around the city..

My only other option would be a 2012 CLS AMG, however I would need a large bonus in the next year to make that possible..

If anyone knows, I would imagine the Sports Exhaust option would be worth it?? Is the purpose of this just an enhanced exhaust note???

We shall see!

If you live in the states your going to have to wait till late 2012 for the rs5 right around the time the a5/s5 facelift will arive in our shores I stuggle with putting off till then to getting a new car for that is my main choice.