Would anyone recommend NOT getting an A5? [M/22]

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Kieronboz

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I put the information in the title to give you a rough idea of who i am really, im 22 so I guess i still fall into the young and dumb category, ive had an A3 a couple of cars ago, but I just got a new job and im travelling 60 miles a day now, so my 1.6 petrol MX5 is becoming annoying.

Im planning on spending between £0-£13000 that kind of large ballpark; on a car, ha. the 2.0L Sport has taken my fancy, insurance is coming in around £600-£700 so thats not a problem, its certainly not going to get much cheaper.

Reason i like the A5 is that when i spec up something like an A3 with the gear an A5 has, it ends up costing more, and the A5 looks like alot of car, certainly more executive ha.

I guess I just want peoples thoughts? as i said ive had Audi before, fixing it was never an issue, i have friends with garages and ramps etc, though a car like the A5 is probably better with Audi all over the service history.. ha.

Part of me is worried it will be zero fun to drive, but im thinking, short term, and probably slightly blasphemous to you guys; lowering springs, splitter, change the grill to an aggressive honeycomb one, and remap, I like tinkering and changing (much like 80% of this forum!)

Anyway, just let me know if anything i just wrote sparks an opinion
 
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I got my A5 3.0TDi recently and i've done pretty much your list to it (except the springs) plus a few more.

I love the car and don't regret buying it one bit, it's my first Audi, and had a few fun cars before (back in the day lol) including a Orion RS, Calibra Turbo and Impreza Turbo, but TBH would pick this over them anyday.

If you've not driven one before get a test drive booked somewhere so you know what to expect.
We did some remaps the other week and the 2.0Tdi guys were happy with the result and mine is now around 280bhp and pulls like a train. More importantly it feels nothing like a diesel.

If you want the economy the 2.0Tdi is good, for a mix of both power and economy the 3.0Tdi gets my vote. I do 60 miles per day too and get around 35mpg from mine (quattro) 80/20% on the motorway.

Either way, i think you'll like them ;)
 
I would certainly recommend an A5, but then we are probably a little biased in this sub-forum. ;)

As for modding, you'll be in good company, plenty of people mod their Audi's even if it's not for everyone (or me).

If you can afford it why not?
 
from a personal point of view, all the A5s I see are dickhead reps that think their diesel s line is quick trying to hammer it up and down the motorways of the UK... going to 'important' meetings...

they seem to have moved over from the BMW 3 series, and have middle manager small **** written all over them.

No doubt a sweeping generalisation and nothing really to do with the car, as I'm sure it's a half well built and boring as rest of the Audi offerings, but they do have quite a negative image... if you care about that sort of thing...and what others think.

it'll be OK for the daily motorway grind, but as you've pointed out already, it'll be boring to drive... again...as almost all Audis are - it's in their DNA... even my RS6 is boring to drive when you get down to it.

if I were you... I would keep your fun car, and get a comfy cheap one to do the daily commute...and with your mileage probably a diesel would be best.... something like a Citroen C5...
 
This oracle has spoken - even commuting in an RS6 can be boring. So it's not the car, it's the driving.

Make your commute more interesting by raising your driving from an activity into an art-form. Join an IAM or RoSPA advanced drivers group and take an advanced driving test. Maybe take on the challenge of persuading a Police Class 1 driver that you can drive systematically, smoothly, safely and at a "progressive" speed.. It might sound boring but it's actually a lot of fun.

I have never ridden in an MX5 but cannot understand how it would be annoying - is it cold and drafty or what?

My fist car was an Austin 1300 - I would have killed for a car as good as the A5.
 
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My first car at 21 was an Austin Metro City 1.0. You're very lucky to have that sort of budget.

On a more practical note, there is a lot of chatter around the 2.0L petrol engine and the potential for it to use a LOT of oil. It's a well documented issue that Audi UK seem to be ignoring mostly. Be careful if that is your engine of choice for I fear your budget puts you in the right vehicle age bracket.

Other than that, it's a mighty machine. My 177 TDi S-Line is a grand bus, sporty enough to engage on the back roads, comfortable enough cruising.
I recently priced up an S3 with similar spec to mine and it was well in excess of what I paid, so I see your point.

As beemerboy says, the driving enjoyment is really down to you. The quattro makes it a great car to chuck into bends with confidence (unlike my e92 BMW..!) and I vary my routes to take in B roads on the way home so I'm never bored on my 40 mile daily commute!

HTH
 
beemerboy9 said:
This oracle has spoken - even commuting in an RS6 can be boring. So it's not the car, it's the driving.

Make your commute more interesting by raising your driving from an activity into an art-form. Join an IAM or RoSPA advanced drivers group and take an advanced driving test. Maybe take on the challenge of persuading a Police Class 1 driver that you can drive systematically, smoothly, safely and at a "progressive" speed.. It might sound boring but it's actually a lot of fun.

I have never ridden in an MX5 but cannot understand how it would be annoying - is it cold and drafty or what?

My fist car was an Austin 1300 - I would have killed for a car as good as the A5.
Click to expand...

Regards to the advanced driving and stuff, that is a good idea and your right it isnt so much about the car, I guess i expected the A5 to have a floaty living room feel to it, but then its not like im colin mcrae every morning- so i dont know what im expecting either!

And the mx5 is fun, but it goes through fuel and its always wet and windy inside the car ha, every morning its fully dripping inside through moisture just getting in!

Statler said:
My first car at 21 was an Austin Metro City 1.0. You're very lucky to have that sort of budget.

On a more practical note, there is a lot of chatter around the 2.0L petrol engine and the potential for it to use a LOT of oil. It's a well documented issue that Audi UK seem to be ignoring mostly. Be careful if that is your engine of choice for I fear your budget puts you in the right vehicle age bracket.

Other than that, it's a mighty machine. My 177 TDi S-Line is a grand bus, sporty enough to engage on the back roads, comfortable enough cruising.
I recently priced up an S3 with similar spec to mine and it was well in excess of what I paid, so I see your point.

As beemerboy says, the driving enjoyment is really down to you. The quattro makes it a great car to chuck into bends with confidence (unlike my e92 BMW..!) and I vary my routes to take in B roads on the way home so I'm never bored on my 40 mile daily commute!

HTH
Click to expand...

I would be going for the most eco- edition, (i think-) the 2.0l diesel, but thanks for all the advice, you guys are helpful. it is tempting! I think i need to drive one next.

thanks everyone
 
Well i brought my S5 when i was 20, now 21 and i love it haha I was in same position as you, got a good job and a nice pay rise so did what any young dumb guy would do.. buy a ridiculous car ;D
I get told its too old for me but when all your friends are driving there 1.6 astra's you'll be the one in the gorgeous looking A5, i tend not to take any notice, the other 99% of people love it

It's not zero fun to drive but if im honest i did test drive a E46 M3 before i brought my S5 and it was alot more fun to drive but thats about it.. nothing like the luxury or the quality of a A5 and the running/repair costs of a M3 are waaay too much for me.. Audi's are like normal cars when it comes to servicing and repairs ext no extra cost just because its got a M badge on it
 
Vibe said:
Audi's are like normal cars when it comes to servicing and repairs ext no extra cost just because its got a M badge on it
Click to expand...

hahahahahahaha, that's the funniest thing I've ever read on here, spat my cornflakes out all over the place...

but seriously though... isn't the S range 'normal' because.. well they are... they are built on the same assembly line as the rest of the range (as far as I am aware) there are few unique parts on them.

The M3 is built by BMW M GmbH.... a different company than bmw... so they are different and are therefore more expensive to maintain/fix

A better comparison to an Audi would be the RS range... they are built not by Audi, but by quattro GmbH - a seperate company...and trust me... their costs are shocking high for simple parts and servicing...

to put it in practical terms, my S8 costs £0.62 pence per mile to run... and as you say, pretty 'normal' costs... my RS6 costs £2.77 a mile to run! lol
 
Would you look at that i spat my cornflakes too!

When did i mention RS running costs or repairs? I was comparing E46 M3 to a S5 due to similar performance and price..
I wasn't saying a RS is 'normal' cost to run
 
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oh I get that... but you are saying that the M3 has high running costs compared to your S5...

all I am saying is you can't really compare the M3 and S5 because one is purpose built on a different line, by a specialised company, and the S models aren't.

so if you want to really compare the running costs, you need to use the RS range to be fair about it...
 
the_cueball said:
oh I get that... but you are saying that the M3 has high running costs compared to your S5...

all I am saying is you can't really compare the M3 and S5 because one is purpose built on a different line, by a specialised company, and the S models aren't.

so if you want to really compare the running costs, you need to use the RS range to be fair about it...
Click to expand...

You can compare anything you want to, there are no rules of comparison. If the starting costs (new v new or used v used) then the comparison has relevance.

OP, take a good, long test drive over varied routes and your usual commute. Reset the computers before each route and see what you get commuting, and driving hard.

I've not driven an A5, but the S5 and RS5 are good with increasing levels of entertainment.
One thing you can guarantee is that it will be a great looking car that is well built, so if you place high importance on looks and luxury then you will appreciate that.
 
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BMW servicing is a complete joke. I know personally two BMW technicians and they are spanner monkeys at best. And from my experience pricing ridiculous.

The BMW range in general is more driver focused. They are rear wheel driven afterall. For example a good friend of mine has an E92 330i and for a car that's isn't strictly an M car it handles unbelievably well.

Audi sits, in my opinion, somewhere in the middle. Favouring refinement at the expense of handling but yet still putting in decent power units.
 
get an an A5 of any flavour and you will love it!
I do even if its not built in a different factory! ( wtf does that mean anywho??)
makes me laugh at these beemer bummers thinking the M cars are special lol!
no there not!
there not alpinas by a long chaulk!
and even the alpinas are just bmw
 
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