SolidGranite

Yeah, I know it's not as fast as the C63 but it does have several nice perks over it.

1.) Price (56k loaded)
2.) Interior (WAY nicer than the C63)
3.) Bang and Olufson Stereo (amazing sound according to reviews)
4.) Standard 19" Wheels
5.) Manual Transmission (automatic option coming shortly)

These are just the top 5 advantages I can think of the S5 has over the C63 and I'm sure I could come up with 5 which the C63 has OVER the S5. I'm just curious to know what everyone else thinks... I have setup a test drive tonight at an Audi dealer near me to see how this car behaves. I sat inside it a few days ago but that dealer would not let me take it out for a drive.

So far, it has been tested at 4.8sec 0-60 and 13.2sec in the quarter. Pretty much C55 numbers. Like I said before, it's no C63 in a straight line but there is so much more to consider and #1 for me is PRICE. 70k for a c-class is going to be tough to swallow.

Thoughts?

sanf

"Why no talk of Audi S5 here?"

probably because its a straight up C63 section. hahaha

anyway, I dig the A/S5, it looks pretty nice and the price is attractive.

ItalianStallion

I don't think the S5 is a competitor of the C63.

SolidGranite

You're probably right. We won't see any magazine comparos against the C63 but it's still a viable option for the board members to consider instead of a C63, M3, RS4, etc...

Carl Lassiter

Personally, I don't see the fuss about the S5. It's a car that girl's say, "oh, I'm in love with that," and that's about it.

SolidGranite

Huh? Is that how you feel about the 335i Coupe?

No fuss really, just a cheaper option with less power but other pluses to help make up.

Carl Lassiter

Nope, I'm quoting how every girl reacts when they see one. The 335i is nowhere near as pretty or classy.I guess I'm just not into pretty cars- I like the M5.

MBE50003

S5 isnt a competitor for the AMG line...thats what the RS version is for. I.E. RS4, RS6 - coming out omg TT V10

SolidGranite

Guess I wasn't aware... The car has only been out a short while and I do not know any women who have come across one yet. The lack of flared wheel arches do make for a less agressive/manly look though.

GBlansten

Amen to the above.

The S5 is on par with the BMW 335i in terms of performance. The RS5 and RS4 will eventually come out and those will be the competitors for the C63 and the M3.

SolidGranite

I agree, it's not a direct competitor. Just an OPTION for those of us who might want to spend a little less dough.

E63ory

No it is not. As a previous owner of a B6S4, the S line is not even remotely in the same league as the AMG line.

Carl Lassiter

That has now become the case as Audi put the S just below M/AMG and the RS above but did you ever track your S4? Stock for stock it left it's direct competitor the C32 behind in that department.

IwantA124

I love the looks of the S5 but it gets beat by a 335i around a track on fifth gear. That was a disappointment for me. I wasn't expecting a total crush of victory by the S5 but I was expecting better.

Here's the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHj0zbhjLZI

SolidGranite

Really? That is quite diappointing.

GBlansten

The new S5 is a beautiful car. I like it. It just needs a sportier suspension and a beefier engine to compete in the segment. I think C&D or Automobile did a head to head with the 335i recently and the 335i won. I think its price is a bit much though.

SolidGranite

Yeah, I think it's about 5k more than a loaded 335i which is probably built into the V8 mostly even though it's no faster than the 335. The overweight AWD system has always killed Audi.

ndabunka

I think the PRIMARY reason you don't see much talk about the S5 is because it's basically a 2001 CLK55 coupe (349HP normally aspirated, zero-to-60 in 4.9sec, 13.5 quarter mile car). The S5 only has AWD and a newer stereo system basically. The CLK55 ///AMG did sell for $80K when it came out so in that respect, the S5 IS cheaper but for the performance-seeking, you can get VERY similar performance for $25K (street price of a 2001 CLK55 ///AMG coupe). I enjoyed my CLK55 when I had it but the reality is that I (personally) have "been there, done that".

In fact, when I was looking at a used 2007 A8L at the dealership the salesman tried to get me to "take a ride" in the demo S5 they had there. I looked at the car and it is nice but when I learned it (only) had 350HP, I told him I would pass. Funny thing is that the ONLY reason I am considering the A8L is BECAUSE of it's AWD so I DO like that feature (even with the added weight). If they had simply added a S/C or a bit beefer engine, it would contend but since they did not, it DOES not IMHO (Of course).

SolidGranite

Well said.

Although me being a guy who loves a manual transmission, I believe that to be a massive difference between the S5 and CLK55. Yes the stereo is better, but so is every other portion of the interior from the seats all the way to the navigation system. Finally, as you said the AWD is also a pretty significant difference from the CLK55. The more I think about it, the only blaring similarity is the power output. I guess the older I get, the less I care about having as much power as possible without killing myself. There is just so much more that goes into an automobile other than how much HP it has and what it does in the 1/4.

MBE50003

^^ DING DING DING!!
well said. Audi has wonderfully refined vehicles. Good power(nothing outrageous), amazing interior, great styling etc. smooth when you want it to be, but can take corners hard (quattro) just wait for the B8 S4 which will hopefully be amazing. F/I 3.0 liter V6 with a new quattro system...its gonna be fun and may throw me back to audi esp w/ rumors of the RS5 coming out

Carl Lassiter

The S5 has a new chassis. Makes a big difference.

GDawgC220

Yep, The B8 S4 is more positioned against the C350 and 335i. It'll sport a 3.0L Twin Turbo putting out 330hp! With a chip and exhaust, going by those mods done on the previous 2.7T, it'll be about 400hp . The RS models will go after the AMG and M line.

Some info on the B8 S4:
We have confirmed with inside sources that the B8 S4 will debut with a brand new 3.0-liter TFSI bi-turbo producing 330-hp. With this powerplant Audi can nearly match the B7's 340-hp output while providing even better performance figures. Manufacturer published (conservative) 0-60mph drops from 5.4 seconds to very low 5's, while the accompanying combined fuel economy rises from 17 mpg to over 20 mpg.

More importantly, at least from the enthusiast point of view, a return to bi-turbos means that modifying the B8 S4 to enhance its stock performance capabilities will be a more historically straightforward (and less expensive) endeavor. And lest we forget the all important marketing perspective, the 3.0-liter bi-turbo will also best a similar offering in BMW's 335i which weighs in at only 300-hp.

Delivering power to the ground reveals the other technological breakthrough which will debut on the new S4. It is given that it will employ Audi's revered quattro all-wheel drive, however it will not be just the active sport differential system which is centered around distribution of torque on the rear axle.

The B8 S4 will instead mark the debut of Audi's vectoring quattro system which will allow the dynamic allocation of torque to all four wheels. Audi's already improved driving dynamics thanks to its recent rearward bias will improve even further as the S4 gets the most neutral driving characteristics ever found in a performance sedan.

http://audiworld.com/news/07/b8-s4-exclusive-preview/

SeattleBum

Neutral driving is safe, but pretty boring on a road course. It can make for some fast times though! However, it's far better than the previous layout (understeer, understeer, understeer).

ndabunka

Oops, I honestly did not realize that I had wandered into the Audi fan club section of the forum. I am in the process of weighing the 2006 and newer S8 and A8 lines as a competitor to the non-AMG S-class and the standard BMW 7-series. I do realize that the RS versions Audi puts out are competitive but an RS4 is simply too small for my current taste (I don't care how well it performs).

I did read the article and according to it, the new A4 wont' be here until fall of 2008 and the S4 would be significantly later? You guys sure seem to be (prematurely) hyped up about a car we won't even see for at least another year? I've seen multi-billion dollar companies evaporate over that time period (Enron). By then I almost expect Audi to go ahead and turbo the v8 they already have in these cars rather than take a step back in power plants.

tommy25000

me and a buddy test drove one... typical slow audi...