http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/new_car_reviews/article1682005.ece

if only they had just produced the nuvolari...how sweet life would be.

Again, sounds like Marketing had more influence than the engineers on the A5/S5 models. --Pity.

Hope Audi makes some quick changes before the vehicle is ready to go for the US Market. It is sounding more and more like only an RS5 can save the day. I was really hoping that the chassis changes would make a noticable difference in great handling. Or maybe the reviewer's expectations were set too high since they seem to be based on the Ur-Quattro of the past. Then again, they liked the TT and R8, so we can't discount their opinion entirely...

If the UK reviewers are correct, this doesn't look very good for the upcoming (B8)A4 models.<ul><li><a href="http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/new_car_reviews/article1682005.ece">Link to: TimesOnline.UK</a></li></ul>

To me, I love all the Audis on th market however one day when I'm ready to buy one I definitely want to get at least an S model, but more so an RS model. I like to have the ultimate of things and I think its worth it to wait a bit longer and pay a bit more for something really special, whether its a TV, computer or car.

The thing that I like so much about Audi's S and RS models is that they are so much better than anything the competitors put out which really defines them as ultimate cars.

Audi will most surely continue this trend of ultimate cars too, in some ways, perhaps they have reduced some things in their standard models to make the leap to an S or Rs model so much more amazing.

To me this is good but not all people will agree, its understandable though that not everyone is prepared to save up for longer and wait.

The RS5 will most surely be amazing though, it will definitely benefit greatly from the new chassis.

And also, we can't make a judgement of the new A4 until it is released, even though it is similar to the A5; Audi could still make adjustments to it, maybe they even used the A5/S5 as a test to see how the new B8 platform works and what peoples opinions of it would be because they will definitely be selling a lot more A4s than A5s.

and to read that the 'S' model is uninspiring comes across as suprising to me. I really can't see the 4 door (A4/S4) having better handling than the coupe, as it would seem that Audi would place a more sporting emphasis on the A5/S5. I'm sure (as you mentioned) that the RS5 will do much better but it sure would be nice to get a great handling Audi for &lt;$60K.

I don't know, the review made the S5 sound like the definition of an 'American Muscle car' - something that can go fast as long as the road is straight...

UK reviewers do seem to be more critical, so we'll have to see what the rest of the world has to say.

That includes not taking advice from the so called expert reviewers. Most have made it to where they are becasue they can crap out wordy columns that take up space on a page, the best review is your own.

After all everyone is an individual, with individual tastes.

The reviews havn't really made a comparison to the old chassis; they need to test an A4/S4 and A5/S5 back to back to really see the changes. Their memmories wouldn't be too good as they are always driving different cars.

Andrew Frankel is listed on the masthead of Autocar as the Senior Contributing Editor of Autocar. Mike Duff, the writer of the Autocar First Review article, is the Features Editor.

Perhaps both authors felt the need the need for consistency in the reviews. Interestingly, both writers stated that they do not find the S5 entertaining on the twisty and bumpy sections but fail to elaborate on the reasons why. Dull simply is not a satisfactory answer.

Therefore, I can not comment on it. So far, the British press, from the articles I have read, prefers the BMW to the Audi. Autobild is the only publication, so far, that has had a very positive review of the new S5.

it doesn't seem to be a large enough difference to tell. If Audi was shooting to be the 'sportiest luxury brand' maybe they aren't including the A5/S5? A lot of us have been 'waiting' for this new chassis to 'redefine' how Audis handle; maybe finally shedding the lack of steering feel, numbness that seperates them from BMW. I just hope these reviewers have got it wrong on this.

end up saying when he tests the A5/S5 though. With a total of 3 "reviews" out there it really isn't enough to draw a full conclusion concerning how well (or not) the car handles but I don't remember the same comments about the previous B5 and B6 S4 models. Probably comes down to expectations from a chassis that was 'hyped' up too much.

And let's remember what the new chassis does do.

It integrates a longitudinal V6/V8 with torsen quattro while moving the engine back 4" (which is huge in the engineering world) and minimizes the front overhang and improves weight distribution.

If you follow an experienced reviewer who has, in the past, come to the same conclusion as you on a review, why not trust that review in the present?

For instance, I trust Road &amp; Track reviewers because their assessment of cars seems to agree with mine.

I agree ultimately it's a personal decision as to whether you dig a car or not, but don't entirely discount the trusted reviewer.

Having said all that, I am curious as to see the R&amp;T review of the S5.

We don't know. It was a concept car.

imho, these writers are contrarians- audi is doing tremendously well in the UK, so the press needs to trash them in order to keep things interesting.

and cls 63 amg....

there's a couple good reasons for the high resale value: the Porsche name and the fact the 997 is an incredible, yet practical, drivers car.

Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet...

. . . 4.2L V8 engines are heavy. Since it's a front-engined car, any "sport" version of the A5 (esp one that purports to be a successor to the original 'Quattro') needs to have a compact turbocharged engine that packs a massive punch for its weight.

Audi, it's your call.

not sure what the weight diff. is between 40V and 32V FSI.

The entire V8, with a gross weight of just 195 kilograms, is just as light as its predecessor in the previous S4, a twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 engine. This results in major benefits for the weight balance and handling characteristics.

. . . then a new 2.7L engine block would of course be significantly lighter than a 4.2L one.

it is very difficult to get a full sense of a vehicle from a 15min test drive. If the S5 doesn't pan out from those reviews, I will be looking for a CPO RS4. I really wanted an Audi Coupe but waiting until 2009 for the RS5 is out of the question.

The thing is, the magazine test drivers experience a much wider range of cars than I possibly can. If I listen to them when they rate the S6 above the M5, why wouldn't I do the same if they rate the 335i above the S5. I don't vote on party lines and I shouldn't buy a car that way either.

I don't know how the jerks at the UK Automotive press don't go out of business with all the junk that comes out of their mouthes. These pathological liars belong in asylums and sanitariums, not in the Automotive journalism business.

Your not actually stupid enough to believe those pathological liars in the UK Automotive press, are you quaTTrings? If so, admit yourself into an asylum or sanitarium ASAP!

discount their S5 opinion? I love Audis (at least) as much as anyone here but could it be possible that the S5 was more hype than anything else? Lets be honest, this isn't exactly the first letdown we've had with this model line.

I hope that you're absolutely right and that their opinion have no basis and are just an attempt to keep Audi down in their home market.

Evo have not published any driving tests or impressions as yet. I'm on their e-mail alert and buy the mag every month.

I visit their web-site quite often, and quite seriously, am finding CAR &amp; Driver improving relative to them. Still think that Motor Trend is the best US mag though.

balance is nearly 50/50

I prefer a more exclusive setup.

Not according to Car and Driver, Road and Track, Automobile and Autoweek, at least regarding the C6 A6 when it is equipped with sport suspension or air suspension.

Most people on AW (except for most of those who hate the C6 A6 and love the C5 A6) feel that the current (C6) A6 is substantially closer to BMW than MB and Lexus in performance.

Autobild and one or two UK Magazines (where the UK automotive aren't a bunch of trash talking losers who generally jerk people off about Audis) also feel that the A5 and C6 A6 are much closer to BMW than Lexus and Mercedes in performance. Even more so with the S5 and C6 S6.

Therefore, Spoonie G (and a vast majority of the UK Automotive press) has no friggin' idea what they are talking about.

Autobild, the one or two UK Auto Magazines who are extremely credible, C&amp;D, R&amp;T and Automobile, on the other hand, know precisely what they are talking about.

Nirad knows his stuff, unlike Spoonie G.

normally hold us up at gunpoint so that we buy their cars. If you truly think that the A5 and S5 have nothing to offer, then why subject yourself to forums that do nothing but discuss them? It just might be that BMW's 335 is truly a better fit for what you're looking for.

I am not 100% sure, but I think that Spoonie G is becoming a troll ala HighRoller, HarborA6, Fractured and some others.

"Not according to Car and Driver, Road and Track, Automobile and Autoweek, at least regarding the C6 A6 when it is equipped with sport suspension or air suspension.

- We're talking about the A5 not the "C6 A6 when it is equipped with sport suspension or air suspension". Show me the "A5" driving impressions. The C6 A6 and A5 are two different vehicles. You cannot apply the results from one to the other.

"normally hold us up at gunpoint so that we buy their cars. If you truly think that the A5 and S5 have nothing to offer, then why subject yourself to forums that do nothing but discuss them? It just might be that BMW's 335 is truly a better fit for what you're looking for."

- I'm still deciding. I'm I allowed to do that?

"I am not 100% sure, but I think that Spoonie G is becoming a troll ala HighRoller, HarborA6, Fractured and some others."

- Wow, I guess I'm not allowed to voice my displeasure here (even though I'm still considering the A5/S5). Or is there a limit to the amount of posts that I'm allowed to do so? Either way, calling someone a troll who voices legitimate gripes makes that person look like an insecure Fanboy.

Also, I've been on this board since 1996, back when this place was called "jet's A4 page", Troll or no troll I have seniority :-)