A5/S5 Coupe after an S4 cab?

[NickHKent]

I've had my S4 for just over 5 years and have been toying with swapping the old girl for some time as I could really do with an auto of some description.

I've done the usual hunting around on the internet and after reading a few reviews quite fancied a 3.0tdi (loads of torque!) but from looking at the ones for sale cars with circa 50-60k miles are a similar price point to an S5.

I only do around 6k miles a year so the MPG element isn't too much of a problem but I'm keen to find out if one is more reliable than an other and what the servicing costs of the TDI would be. (I imagine the S5 will be pretty similar to my S4).

I've used the search facility to read some ownership experiences of the S5 but haven't been able to find much on the 3.0TDI. Has anyone got anything to report?

On a slight tangent the performance figures of the 2.0 FSI S tronic quattro look pretty good- is this model worth considering?

ETA: Is the interior space in the A/S5 sportback much bigger than the coupe?

Thanks

Edited by NickHKent on Thursday 13th June 14:10

[static2010]

Interesting one this.

I've wondered about the same sort of thing S3 - S5, & tbh I found the 4.2 S5 a little underwhelming.
I know what you mean, on paper there's nothing in it with similar 0 - 60 times.

I do think the S5 will handle better & is more likely to come with a higher standard equipment.

I looked into this about 2 years ago & have come to the conclusion I'm better off waiting for the right 3.0 v6 S5 or the new S3 to come out.

Don't discount the S3 sportback btw. It has more leg room in the back than the A4 has. Only slightly limited boot space. But coming from a cabrio i'm sure that won't make much difference to you.

[fatboy b]

I went from an A4 3.0 tdi cab to an A5 tdi.

Initial impressions on the A5 were good. Lovely engine like the A4, but the interior was a tad cheap, unlike the A4. Then the rattles started. I eventually got so pissed off with the cheap-shiite interior (08 model) , I p-ex'd it for a new XF. The interior in the Jag is in a different league to the A5. And I' m not the only one to notice! OK the touch screen is a little slow, but you get used to it. Rattles just continually annoy you, and the Jag doesn't as yet.

[Lostprophet]

I have the S5. Its no rocket ship however its fast enough. The interior is awesome and its been a reliable car so far.

Its comfortable, fully equipped, looks stunning, drives well but its no sports car and carries 2 adults and 2 kids with ease.

I reckon my next move will be the RS5 or a XK-RS/XKR.

XF... lol. Yep nice, maybe when I am 60. XFR... that's a different matter...!

[fatboy b]

Lostprophet said:

XF... lol. Yep nice, maybe when I am 60. XFR... that's a different matter...!

So you haven't driven one then.

[Cupramax]

Can i join in, I've done all three and still think the A4 cab was best. Unfortunately i should have never sold it, but via an A5 cab which was ruined by being fwd, I've ended up with an A5 coupe which i get on reasonably with, the XF interior just didnt feel as good as i thought it would, but then again neither does the A5. I do however need quattro as i live at the bottom of a very steep culdesac which even winter tyres will struggle on.

[NickHKent]

Thanks for the opinions, makes for interesting reading.

The S3 sportback makes sense on paper but I'm not sure if I'm sold on the looks. Leg room in the back of my cab is pretty tight and I was hoping that there would be slightly more in an A/S5.

In terms of rattles I've currently got one right by my head in the roof- it's driving me mad!!

I like the looks of the XF but I love the "safety" of the Quattro drivetrain.

I'm really keen on an A7 but I use the car twice a week at the most and can't get my head around spending that sort of money to have it sitting in an underground car park.

[fatboy b]

NickHKent said:

I like the looks of the XF but I love the "safety" of the Quattro drivetrain.

TBH, the A5 Quattro was crap in the snow. The only good things it had were getting off the lights in the wet, and foot hard down around corners. Both were fun, but the XF scores higher in most other areas IMO, incl. the interior in the right colour - i.e. no wood. I actually find the Jag more sure-footed than the A5 was.

[Kell]

fatboy b said:

NickHKent said:

I like the looks of the XF but I love the "safety" of the Quattro drivetrain.

TBH, the A5 Quattro was crap in the snow. The only good things it had were getting off the lights in the wet, and foot hard down around corners. Both were fun, but the XF scores higher in most other areas IMO, incl. the interior in the right colour - i.e. no wood. I actually find the Jag more sure-footed than the A5 was.

My Brother in law had one the XFs and loved it initially, but eventually sold in after 9 months and said the build quality was appalling.

Maybe he got a bad one. OT maybe you've got a good one. But his was forever going back to the dealer, and it put me off one as an ownership experience.

[fatboy b]

Kell said:

fatboy b said:

NickHKent said:

I like the looks of the XF but I love the "safety" of the Quattro drivetrain.

TBH, the A5 Quattro was crap in the snow. The only good things it had were getting off the lights in the wet, and foot hard down around corners. Both were fun, but the XF scores higher in most other areas IMO, incl. the interior in the right colour - i.e. no wood. I actually find the Jag more sure-footed than the A5 was.

My Brother in law had one the XFs and loved it initially, but eventually sold in after 9 months and said the build quality was appalling.

Maybe he got a bad one. OT maybe you've got a good one. But his was forever going back to the dealer, and it put me off one as an ownership experience.

I think the first model suffered a little bit. My facelift seems good so far. Also i'd never buy a car in it's first year of production due to quality issues, so he may have had one of those. And that goes for any make.

[NickHKent]

Would I be playing with fire if I ran either an S5 or A5 3.0TDI without a warranty?

My S4 had been reliable apart from water frying the ECU in the passenger footwell and needing the odd sensor or two.

[Cupramax]

Neither are what you'd call unreliable, the early 3.0tdis can suffer with inlet manifold flaps borking but theres a kit to fix this now. Find an S5 thats had 10k oil changes and not the long life 2 year ones and as long as the £480 tax doesnt bother you thats the way i'd go.

[NickHKent]

That's good to know. Are the "auto" gearboxes reliable?

[Dr G]

NickHKent said:

That's good to know. Are the "auto" gearboxes reliable?

Tiptronic almost indestructible.

S-Tronic pretty good too but needs oil every 40k.

[Gio G]

On a slight tangent the performance figures of the 2.0 FSI S tronic quattro look pretty good- is this model worth considering?

2.0TFSI + remap = easy 270-300hp, which transform the car, well within tolerances..

[NickHKent]

Appreciate your views chaps, thanks.

ETA: What's the score with the hill assist with these gearboxes? I know it's an option rather than standard across the A5 range, is it essential? Could really do without the missus rolling back into someone else on Blackheath Hill!

Edited by NickHKent on Thursday 20th June 15:55

[NickHKent]

That is good to know!