Dilemma - S5?

I am in a bit of a dilemma, my friendly Audi Sales Guy yesterday phone me to see how I'm getting on with my S3, and was there anything he could do for me. I've been in the garage a few times lately asking about the RS3, as I'm getting the impression my S3 isn't quite as characterful as I'd like it to be.

It's only 9 months old, seems to be getting quicker after 3k miles and tbh I can't fault it really.

However there's a cracking deal on the table that would get me into an S5 black edition, including active dampers, sports differential etc.

It's approx. 2k in, and my monthlies would increase by £50.

Totally unsure what to do. I promised myself I'd keep the S3 for at least 2 years. I am a serial car changer. Is it just the thrill of getting a new car that's the appeal?

The thing that's probably swinging it in the favour of the S5 is the engine. I like the minimalist interior of the S3 and tech wise it's newer. I'm really not fussed about nav/Google/making my car a hot spot or using as a laptop so that's not my concern.

What I would like the S3 to do is sound better and be a bit more involving. Would the S5 give me that?

Opinions welcome! This is pretty much what the S5 would look like ..

It's the v6 supercharged version. I think I need a test drive to suss out whether the engine had enough oomph and noise for me.

I think the RS3 will be out of budget for me. No discount and nowhere near as good apr %. Not sure I want to sink 10k into a car, sit in and think hmmm, it's the same as the S3 I had and is it 10k better?

If the S5 had kept the V8 (but updated nearer the RS5) I'd be all over it.

Maybe I need to wait and try a Mustang when it comes out.

It sorts of feels most manufacturers are engineering character out of cars these days.

GTDezza said:

The S3 for me is an understated classy car. It's not about the exterior, it's all about the mechanicals. That S5 although I understand your intention is in my opinion all about the looks and it looks, especially in white a bit neddy (chavy). Plus agree with comments about the interior is really small and well out of date. Plus, not sure what your deal is but I would think the S3 residuals will be way better than a white S5.

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It's fair to say I like a nice looking car, but I drove Subaru's for years so it's not that important to me, both externally and internally they're pretty agricultural. If it is all about the mechanicals, then lets remove the exterior, and look at the specs.

Do you want a 2.0 blown four pot with Haldex, primarily front driven car or would you prefer a 3.0 v6 supercharged permanent four wheel drive with an active sports differential at the rear. I think mechanically the S5 is a better package, if you're not concerned about fuel economy. What the S3 has going for it, is it's efficient and it's lighter.

As for white, yep I kind of agree. White was the colour I did not want on my S3, it was the only one I didn't consider (especially Amalfi). However my wife has just picked up a Q5, in Ibis, and it's lovely. Much easier to keep than Sepang too.

If I do order the S5, it may be the case that the deal will be done on the basis that I get to choose from the colour options for no extra cost.

I spent yesterday in my S3 wondering if I'd miss the interior, or think I'd be going backwards with the S5, however soon figured out I spend all the time looking out of the window at the road, probably could have been sat in anything at not noticed lol ..

haha, I've had 2 mini's, a Porsche Boxster and a TT, so have a history of driving 'ladies' cars lol ...

Remap would be awesome, switchable and no TD1 code either ...

Not yet

So yesterday, I picked this up for a few days, luckily my local dealer has an S5 demo .. it's not a Black Edition but obviously similar to one I would be looking to buy .. dropped off my S3 Sportback and into the S5





Looks nice in Sepang, but if I ordered I think I'll be going down the white/grey/Daytona route ..

So first impressions, bearing in mind, we had weather Noah would have been familiar with in Scotland yesterday.

Exterior:
It's big - I parked the S3 next to it and it's a big car. It's pretty much the same length as my wife's Q5. It does look nice in Sepang, but I'm not convinced by the 19's alloys. Confirmed my choice of rotors (since you can't get V-spokes) if I was to order one. I'd not be going Sepang again, too common for S cars now and although a beautiful colour, it's sometimes a bit brash for me, especially on a bigger car with 2 doors. It needs broken up a bit I think. I'd like this one to be a bit more discreet.

Interior:
Probably my biggest concern as I think the S3's minimalist approach is lovely. I didn't particularly like my wife's A4 Avant (2012) either, however it's actually nice. It's not as busy as I had expected. It's definitely bigger and feels more solid (impression I think, not actually). It feels a class above, less airy, more cocoon like. Electric sports seats are comfy and feel better quality than the S3 leather I was worried I'd feel I'd gone back to an old design. I understand, in terms of tech, it's probably a long way behind what you can have in an S3, but I didn't spec and form of tech pack or nav in my S3, so that probably tells you something. The B&O system sounds fine, more expansive than the *** in my S3. Both systems though are well above what I need in a car. In fact I drove around all day yesterday with the radio/tunes off

Drive:
So start the car, ooh nice growl. Deeper note than the S3. I check the dash for drive select, errrm no so this car does not have adaptive dampers, throttle or the rear sports differential. Disappointing as I wanted to try an S3 in comfort and dynamic. I feel there's not a huge difference in the S3 between all the modes. Noticeable yes, wildly different, no

Right off we go. Just potter around waiting for the car to warm up. It feels more solid, heavier on the road and actually quieter. Less road noise in the cabin. Deeper exhaust note but in D, and with small throttle openings and it's very very relaxed, quiet and smooth.

I'm thinking of changing as I would like a more cultured exhaust note in my car, and I also feel the S3 is a bit bouncy and floaty on B-roads. Sure I could add a Milltek, remap and get some coilovers, but that would likely cost me the thick end of 3K, which is what it would take (approx.) to get me into a new S5 (ok £50 a month increase in finance). Bye bye warranty too

Ok car now warm, on some B-roads, stick across to manual and give it some beans. Better throttle response than the S3. Seems to take off quicker, no waiting for the turbo to spool up (I guess the big advantage of a supercharger). It feels a bit strangled @5.5K and tails off a bit. It would NOT leave the S3 in a straight line which I guess is to be expected, more BHP/torque but also heavier. I think the S3 may be a bit quicker.

Noise, oh the noise .. wonderful, you will never get a 4 pot to sound like this. A little reminiscent of my boxster, a bit of 6 cylinder howl. Sold!

The roads were treacherous, but it handled full throttle with ease, much more tied down the S3. Quicker out of corners with better throttle response. Without looking at the rev counter you change up around 5K as that's when it feels a bit breathless. It doesn't clatter into the limiter like the S3. Is it a better engine than the S3? In some ways yes and in some ways no. The two things it's better at, is a sharper response and a vastly better noise. The S3 is as quick and revs a bit freer.

I think both cars would be equally as quick across the ground but you'd be clenching your *** cheeks more in the S3 .

Onto the dual carriageway on the way home, and this is where you can tell it's a more expensive car. You also get a nice noise as you accelerate up to 70, and with 7 gears it's more relaxed. Fuel economy was identical to what I would get from the S3.

So no surprises really, ones a 35K hot hatch, the other is more a 50K GT car.

So have I made my decision, pretty much yes. I am a sucker for a new car, and with the large discount, dealer contribution and low APR% I could have one on my driveway in September for 2K cash and £50 more a month. That gets me into a near 50K car.

I understand it's near it's end of life, the new S5 is rumoured to be a 3.0 turbo with a 9 speed S-tronic, it will be awesome. A few issues with that. To get me into one, will cost me a huge amount more than the current car. There will be no Audi or dealer contribution and the APR% will be much higher. If I wanted to drop 10K on a car and pay £500 a month I won't be looking at an S5. Second issue, 9 speeds, or 8 or whatever. I'm relatively old school (43), I like manual boxes and although the S-tronic isn't perfect when I'm in manual mode (most of the time) and on a B-road, I like to think I have a reasonable idea whether the corner ahead is a 2nd gear/3rd gear based on driving a 6 speed manual with normal gear ratios. With 8 or 9 ratios, to be fair, I won't have a ****** clue, so the best way to drive quick is leave it in Auto S mode. That's just too dull for me, may as well have a ****** multitronic box and go everywhere with the revs at 3,000K.

So apologies, a very long post and in no way am I dissing the S3. It's very capable, quick, classy inside and out. For me, you can't make any 4 pot special (boxer engine maybe) and it's this, and the slightly disconcerting feeling at speed on B-roads where the S3 lacks the final 10% to make it a great car.

I'm still making my mind up, will I be disappointed if I have to keep the S3 for another year, no, not at all However, watch this space, there may be an S5 with active dampers and sports diff on the way