[Closed] Talk to me about Audi A5 ownership

😯

[i]I understand that Audi drivers have a certain rep so I'm not after a debate on that.[/i]

I fear these words may return to haunt you...

Is that post the equivalent of asking for advice on pork pies in a Koranic debating forum?

I would suggest driving one. Also check out the size of the boot if coming from an estate. Tempter myself but I do need an estate.

I have the A6 Avant version of that - in S-Line 'Black' trim. No idea what the A5 is like in comparison, but the new model A6 is [b]vastly[/b] superior in comfort terms compared to the last model (I had the A6 S-Line Avant). As they use that modular chassis set-up I would assume the handling will be similar across the range - although the A5 shares more of the chassis with the A4 and Q5 apparently.

Even with the huge wheels the Black has (bigger than the standard S-Line) the comfort is amazing.

Engine, fine, just sails along without fuss and I love the quick step down into the sport mode by pulling the lever towards you, then pulling again to put back into standard.

No idea about intervals – it just pops up on screen when a service is due (not had one yet at 8k).

335d (remapped)

😆

You're a Pistonheads member, aren't you?

Talk to me about Audi A5 ownership

It's worth going for the optional extra activation of the amber lights fixed to each corner. For some reason, Audi seem to reluctant to ship their cars with these as a standard feature.

It's worth going for the optional extra activation of the amber lights fixed to each corner. For some reason, Audi seem to reluctant to ship their cars with these as a standard feature.

Come on, as a minimum you must have expected some gentle ribbing when starting this thread? 🙂

You change your car every 20 weeks? 😯

Or 40 weeks if it's just 100 miles total a day. Still 😯

Not a pistonheads member...yet!

Yup, every 20k miles so less than a year. I know I know, you don't want to know how many bikes I change a year!

Johndoh - so nothing about ensuring the autobox oil is changed at xk miles like the Merc?

Mine is on the auto service indicator lark so I don't even worry about it until the dash tells me to book in a service. I *assume* this includes the autobox oil – I had better check 🙂

I think your user name should be Mintedjim!

I have nothing to add about the car as I buy a year old car and run it till it dies.

DSG Auto box oil needs changing every 4 years or 40K miles

Make sure you find one with working indicators, quite a rare find...

My old boss had an A5. The 3 litre diesel with the flappy paddle gearbox. Apparently, he didn't go for the 2.7 as it only came with an inferior type of auto box, but I don't know the intricacies of why it was inferior.
It was white with massive alloys so looked quite 'drug dealer-esque'.

I drove it once and was very impressed with it. Not sure you need that much grunt in a 'normal' car and it's so refined that you don't feel like you are anywhere near the speed limit (when you may have passed it several mph ago).
Not sure you'd get such a sense of pace, comfort and refinement coming from your current car.
I think my boss averaged 37mpg out of it and that was doing a 130 mile daily round trip. And he wasn't known for holding back.

Have you tried one? Would the boot space suit your needs? How about the rarer A7?

Not an A5, but I had a 2012 A4 Avant. It was alright, but didn't set the world alight. The steering felt numb and the ride, on 17" wheels, was very fidgety on anything other than the motorway. I changed jobs and much prefer the Golf I have now.

I *assume* this includes the autobox oil – I had better check

Well on my DSG Passat it does not - the service indicator only tells you about engine oil, but the garage should warn you about it.

Of course a modern Audi might be more sophisticated.

hahaha, not minted, by changing every 20k miles (with one service) I normally sell the car for what I paid for it.

Thanks Jon, that's the stuff I'm looking for! Yes, yes, I know about the problematic indicators!

stumpy, that's not bad. I get about 40mpg and I'd say I'm about average when it comes to speed. Occasionally thrash but normally an amble for my commute

Stretched A4 and as a result not a car for people who enjoy driving anything other than motorways. Probably ok in the US with the roads they have there.

That said I have an SMax at the moment...

BTW, the wheels on mine are 20'' (255/35R20) but really the ride is lovely (although I do like a very firm ride) but as I said before, it is superior to the old model (and that only had 18'' IIRC). Coming from the car history you have, I don't think it would be too firm or harsh at all.

Stretched A4 and as a result not a car for people who enjoy driving anything other than motorways.

20"! I can't imagine what the tyres cost. You're probably right though, I prefer a firm ride (oo-er), just need to test drive one, which is harder than you think when you live in the sticks - hence my questions

[s]Can the mods change the OP's username to MintedJim :D[/s]

Note to self: Learn to read.

They are about £210 each online 😯

Hang on! I paid £11k for the Merc with 55k on the clock; not sure that qualifies me as MintedJim...although it is amusing, granted.

Ouch, I used mytyres.com and my 255/35 R18 were £150 I think, so not insanely different I guess

Another A6 Avant Quattro 2.7TDI 2007 model owner, had it 7 years 120k miles. ex-Wife kept in divorce otherwise I'd still have it.

Fabulous motorway car, had 4 adults in it to Marseilles at high speed for 10 hours. Car never missed a beat. Very comfortable. New models are better all round too. Superb grip in wet and in snow (was driven to Alps for skiing 1 or 2 times a year inc through a blizzard which had other cars falling off the road and this was on normal tyres never used the chains and for biking trips to Alps in the summer). Very little in the way of work required on it, petrol guage went a bit variable (sometimes it worked sometimes it refused to budge from empty). Tyres where a bit pricey but lasted reasonably well.

Negatives. Had very bad experience of dealer network recommending unecessary work (which we ignored). Once we got a good independent we where much happier. Not a brilliant load carrier. OK for two bikes with front wheels off laid on top of each other. Bit of a barge in a multi-story car park, car was very long, recommend front/rear parking sensors.

Pretty good ecomomy given how I drove it. Not a sports car round corners but decent enough.

IMO the A5 is a bit of nothing, not a real sports coupe and not an estate either. Mate had one and liked it very much, like the A6 its great on motorway.

If I had the space I would get an A4 avant quattro but am currently looking at A3's I am really sold on the Quattro mechanics

OP if I where you I'd look at A4 or perhaps A6 Avants

I haven't looked extensively though as I haven't needed any yet.

It will eat tyres. I have same engine in an A6 and get about 15k out four tyres (they wear as a full set and Audi recommend you change them as a full set too as it's allegedly better for the drivetrain). Mate got 8k out of four on his A4 but he drove like a dick when he first got it. Otherwise auto box is great, loads of torque, effortless speed once you're moving (I got 200k out of mine on autobahn no probs, have to be very careful if you floor it on mway here). Test one and see if you like it.

15k out of tyres isn't really 'eating' it territory though is it - not in a 250bhp engine in a heavy diesel car

My second car (Mazda 3 Sport – 150bhp) gets through front tyres at about 10/12k (and that is being driven very sedately around town and *very* rarely gets ragged in the slightest. That is 'eating' territory.

Yup, every 20k miles so less than a year. I know I know, you don't want to know how many bikes I change a year!

Sense < Money

(they wear as a full set and Audi recommend you change them as a full set too as it's allegedly better for the drivetrain)

OP. Rotate tyres as usual, change as required. Our A6 used to wear the fronts much faster, not surprising as its a heavy car and I drove it fast.

Our A6 used to wear the fronts much faster, not surprising as its a heavy car and I drove it fast.

IMO the A5 is a bit of nothing

I like them. I've never been in one and I honestly don't care if it has raw connected feeling or inspiring chassis control or anything like that. I'm sure it's as capable a drive as any modern car. The reason I like them is that they look bloody gorgeous. Possibly my favourite car on the road today.

@john quattro (I would have thought fwd would have been worse)

I am sure FWD will be worse. I haven't noticed that my fronts are wearing significantly mnore than the rears in my Quattro yet (but still only 8k)

Had a S5 Quattro with optional remap 1.8T for a weekend about 3 years ago.

It sticks to the roads like sudocrem to a cat, on twisty country roads I dropped my all-time commute to work record down from 17 mins to 14 – could possibly drop it more but my neck was in bits after 3 runs. Steering is a little vague and with some understeer, not annoying, just not getting all the feedback from the road (there are sections with a lot less grip that felt the same as the few smooth bits of road).

Can do 120mph and feel like the equivalent of 80mph in my Mondeo, scary how smooth and damped everything is.

Mpg got down to single figures and the engine was rough for 2 minutes when started on the Monday.

I’d pick carefully off the options list if it was my money, the silver thread upgrades to seats and optional matching metal (coated plastic) sub covers is not worth nearly 2K. Back is pretty tiny too, child seat will just about squeeze in.

Its STW, so may I be the first to recommend that you instead get (gulp!) an Octavia Estate..... 😕

Don't we all already own one on instructions from other STW users?

I have several now.

I thought A5's were supposed to have a very harsh ride regardless of what wheel size / spec. They are certainly not great around corners.

A5 drivers appear to not like being followed by 3 series, so put their foot down, but then struggle around corners that the 3 series isnt even troubled by.

When was the last time you got in a 3 series? Rear leg room is vastly improved over old ones. Suspension has also been altered slightly to give a softer/less harsh ride, but they still handle fantastically.

I'm really after 4x4 Quattro system in a nice car, so Octavia is out.

My previous car was an E92, 2008 coupe and the rear was fine - and it had a removeable towbar!

Gotta say, the Merc is on a par with my last beamer for handling and sounds a lot better as a V6 diesel than the BMW straight six

Steering is a little vague and with some understeer, not annoying, just not getting all the feedback from the road (there are sections with a lot less grip that felt the same as the few smooth bits of road).

Can do 120mph and feel like the equivalent of 80mph in my Mondeo, scary how smooth and damped everything is.

Re vague steering etc. There are 2 reasons for that.

1. Modern cars have had to change the power steering systems to meet emmissions. The new electronic system basically do not give half as much feedback. Even the new Porsche Boxter apparently suffers from it.

2. In a race to make executive cars quiter, more comfortable etc, it makes them a little more dull to drive, unless of course they are Audis which are just dull.

I was a little disapointed when I first got my BMW as just appeared a little dull. But when you want it to, to coin a phrase, it really comes 'alive' unfortunately though you have to be going very quick for the given road for that to happen.

Its quite impressive how they can make a car so quiet and refined but then handle like a sports car when you push on a bit.

I like them. I've never been in one and I honestly don't care if it has raw connected feeling or inspiring chassis control or anything like that. I'm sure it's as capable a drive as any modern car. The reason I like them is that they look bloody gorgeous. Possibly my favourite car on the road today.

Agreed, the R8 and other supercars excepted, definitely my favourite 'normal' car out there!

Had a S5 Quattro with optional remap 1.8T for a weekend about 3 years ago.

S5s have the 4.2 V8 (and are all Quattro), did you have an A5 S-Line Quattro with the 1.8, or the S5? Very different cars! Or am I reading that wrong 😕

I don't like the look of the A5, to me it's an Old Mans design, bit like a Jag..and I don't think you a) look that old and b) should look that ill informed.

So, I'm ooot and recommend an E63 AMG Estate.

Jags. Yeah, old men's cars.

[img] [/img]

Yup, they still are. 😀

I don't like the look of the A5, to me it's an Old Mans design, bit like a Jag.

Jag XF is one of my other favourites, so looks like I'm old 🙂

IMO you buy a Jag 'cause it's "cheap" and looks a little bit like an Aston. I'd take a used Aston over new Jag all day long - roughly same money, possibly even take a risk on a Masserati.

Ok, I maybe a little "finger wagging" and "pointy" but Jag have had 2 very large Demonstrations and Open Days here in Shiney Town in the last Year.
Most of the Demo's were conducted over a closed Canary Wharf curcuit (the same one as the ProTour use) and they had all those ^^ Jags here, soft and hard tops.
Lots of half nekkid Girls and Promo Staff running around shuving brochures in ones face and tat including scalves and... caps, baseball and flat. Nope, I kid you not, baseball and flat caps.

Ok, so the image has always been associated with "MAMGTPG"* and I'm sorry but it's stuck, stuck hard and fast.

I get to see many very nice cars up here in the Center of the Universe and Jeeeze, if Jags are still driven by "MAMGTPG" types. I have never seen a young bloke driving one, by young I mean under 35.

Well made, vaugly interesting to the eye, but still a car designed for "MAMGTPG"

Secondhand Astons a far better bet.

*MiddleAgedManGoingToPlayGolf

I had an A5 3.0 tdi for a few years.

Firstly, make sure you get one wit the full sat nave and the B&O system. This will make it more saleable in turn.

Tyres can be found for about £200 - Vredesteins are as good if not better than the Sport Pilots they come with.

EGR valves can be problematic. My first went at 55,000 so was covered under warranty. The second went at 80,000 and was a £800 bill.

Still, they go like stink, handle very very well although the Sport version can be a bit spine shattering. I would say it is line line with a 330d. I have a XF now and it is a little quicker but has bigger turbos.

@nevis brave man admitting you've gone A5 to Jag (?) XF 😉

brave man admitting you've gone A5 to Jag (?) XF

These preconceived ideas don't half stick! A while ago I went to a local Audi dealer to look at a new A5. At the time I was training for a triathlon so I was looking at the boot to see how easy it would be to get my road bike in there. The salesman came across and said "I know what you thinking, I can tell you there's plenty of room for two sets of golf clubs in there."

I wouldn't want to be seen in a golfer's car so I bought an XF instead.

The salesman came across and said [b]"I know what you thinking[/b]

"I know what you thinking, I can tell you there's plenty of room for two [s]sets of golf clubs [/s]rival drug dealers' bodies in there."

Damn this IOS predictive typing! 🙂

A6 = ok

A5 = grey haired man who fancies 25yr old women.

@hora, I think the general tone here was

A6 OK
A5 OK
Jag = grey haired man ...

@Rio, I thought the Jag actually came with Golf Clubs so no need to ask the question ? 😉

FWIW Golf is a great game.

Maybe just buy a Skoda? 🙂

My fave lady friend has an A5 it seems to work ok does that help?

S5s have the 4.2 V8 (and are all Quattro), did you have an A5 S-Line Quattro with the 1.8, or the S5? Very different cars! Or am I reading that wrong

New ones are a V6 TFSi, same as in the S4.

Personally I'm not a fan of the A5. I think it looks heavy and blobby, especially compared to BMW coupes (although I'm not a fan of the new 4 series). It'll have a lovely interior though. The ride will be appalling, even worse in S Line trim. The ride in my step uncles RS6 (C6) was dire in dynamic mode....it spent it's entire life in comfort.

The S Trinic ( DSG) 'box is a brilliant bit of kit. The earlier 6 speed ones are more reliable than the later 7 speed jobbies, so check they've been serviced and work as they should as replacements are scary money. I believe that due to the software, it needs to be repaired by Audi. The box died in Chris Harris's S4 and even with a contribution from Audi it was the wrong side if £3k. The normal auto boxes will be sealed for life according to Audi so fluid changes won't be on the service schedule (in reality it seems that many do change the fluid around 80k).

As for Jags, the new F Type looks and sounds amazing but I'd never buy a new one. The depreciation will be savage...for that kind of monynid be hunting down a V12 Vantage. Will be interesting to see what the XF's replacement will be like. The current one has been around for ages now and is showing its age.

Funny also how perception change as i remember Audi running an ad campaign saying they were the car for the more reasoned person as opposed to the option (BMW) being a car for the cad merc didn't even come into it as they were the berlin taxi.

marketers have been doing their stuff since then!

I own an A5 variant, post face lift. Apparently the RnH on the early A5s wasn't as refined as the later ones and the DRLs look way better on the face lift models. I find the high output 2.0ltr diesel is usefully rapid. As for understeer, nearly all modern cars are set to go into understeer, when the driver is approaching the limits of the road, the vehicle and usually their [i]talent[/i]. On a day to day basis, there are a few variables which will effect a car's tendancy to understeer, which aren't necessarily OEM specific.

As for design, generally, Audi have until most recently, traded very well on the basis that they produce [i]pretty[/i] cars. In the case of the A5, it has some very good exterior design surfaces / features.
Where I think Audi went slightly off the target, with the A5 coupe, was to maintain a complete 'B' pillar. The glass house, the waistline and roof all form the classic, pillarless coupe profile, but the 'B' pillar breaks the lines and detracts from what it might have looked like. My car doesn't have the 'B' and I like having the complete open sided, windows down epxerience.
Mercedes remain a curiousity which I may decide to investigate in the future. BMWs have also been on the radar, but frankly, the current interior designs are dreadful and I couldn't drive a car, having to look at a dashboard which looks like a soggy, partially collapsed sandwich.

As for Jaguars, I don't ever see me owning one. Nothing really wrong with the product, I just don't see me in one.

Funny also how perception change as i remember Audi running an ad campaign saying they were the car for the more reasoned person as opposed to the option (BMW) being a car for the cad merc didn't even come into it as they were the berlin taxi.

marketers have been doing their stuff since then!

All this bluster about understeer, BMWs being better through corners and all that. What a load of little man rubbish all that it.

I can drive quickly if I want (have done tutored track days and normally come out around the top, have karted lots and almost always place). I also have a 3.0 V6 250bhp 4WD. But I don't race other cars or get myself in situations where I am testing the limits of my car (or my abilities). The last time I felt understeer in a car was in a 2007 Astra Coupe (a car renowned for utterly dreadful understeer) and that was on a flat (unbanked) 90deg left turn in damp conditions. Even then it was only slight and quickly brought under control.

At the end of the day *any* modern car (as touched on by Solo) is far more proficient than the majority of drivers and for 99.9% of any of us, taking the tendency for understeer into account when buying a car* really is meaningless.

*But do avoid the 2007 Astra, especially the very quick one. YAK!

Love it! In classic STW style I think one or two people actually answered my question on A5 ownership and servicing etc. Thanks to those!

I got accused of being rich and there's a picture of a Jag, awesome!

Now also looking at A4/A6's although the A6 Avant is humongous, but it would appear that the engine, gearbox and quattro system is fairly gremlin free!

Loadsamoney.

But the Avant really doesn't feel big to drive (and I come from a history of driving small cars like Fiestas, Pumas, Clios and more recently TTs). The only time I notice it is parking nose-in in car parks and the boot sticks out a bit.

But as has been said already, *do* get one with front and rear parking sensors.

I understand what you're saying but it's more to do with parking at home and head to head on narrow lanes with speeding tractors, silage lorries and tourists!

Again, I never find it feels to big – like you I live in a quite rural location (Harrogate, North Yorkshire) and almost all our driving is on A and B roads.

It seems the Jag is the drug dealers car of choice, although perhaps they thought its so boring the customs will never stop us 🙂

[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11107179/Heroin-worth-37m-smuggled-into-Britain-in-bumpers-dashboard-and-engine-of-battered-Jaguar-X-Type.html ]£37m in drugs found in Jag[/url]

@Minty, if you are thinking of an A6 Avant you do need to check out the parking, I would agree with @john it doesn't feel a big car to drive, it certainly does in a tight town centre multi-story

[i]Love it! In classic STW style I think one or two people actually answered my question on A5 ownership and servicing etc. Thanks to those![/i]

Well, my A5 is too new to requrie servicing. I thought I'd outlined that the car handles very well and is usefully rapid. Everything still works and its reasonably refined wrt noise, vibration and harshness.

The dealers are another matter altogether. Experience ranging from having a high-up at the local dealer almost driving his A7 into my car, as he refused to slow to allow me time to complete my manoeuvre, through being quite useful, even, almost organized. To the smug get smile/piss take grin when they quote you a price for something.
No change there then.

I've had Audis throughout the last 20 years. The most noticeable change, imo, is ride and handling. Older VAG stuff use to handle like a brick dirfting across a loose surface.
My previous A4 (B7 ?) had much improved steering, albeit as the result of quite crude set up methods, which resulted in low speed scrubbing on low rubber.
Current A5 has a much improved / refined steering performance. The kind of performance Ford has had for at least 15 years. So thats an example of where different OEMs spend their development dollars.

The A6 is a big car but it doesn't really feel it. I've spent a fair bit of time driving the last shaped RS6 and was always surprised at how it felt quite small to drive despite it being a fairly chunky thing. They do a better job of masking their size than say the new 5 series which feels pretty large.

@mindmap - we where speaking about parking, we agree about on the road. RS6 are quite a beast performance wise.

I have a mate who recently got a new A6 saloon, the 2.0tdi sport type one. Its lovely, but he prefers my 520d tourer, both comfort sitting in and driving experience. The Audi has better toys though !

TBF, the difference between choosing a 5 Series or an A6 comes down to preference on styling and where you can get the better deal really isn't it? Neither are crap cars so to bicker about which is 'better' is purile.

At the end of the day I chose an A6 over a 5 Series for three reasons: 1 - I like Audi styling, 2- The Quattro system appealed (especially after the last few winters we've had), 3 - I could get one for about £100 a month less than a BMW on a business lease.

The whole BMW's are for keen drivers is a load of bull these days. Every new iteration gets less and less overtly RWD; look at the one series most owners couldn't tell.

Our E90 is a lot less prone to a hip wiggle compared to my old E46 despite having more power. Audi have also moved their engines back on newer models that will help with handling etc.