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
,no S3 haters in here
