So I was poking around last night and realized that the S5 was only about $7,400 (gas guzzler tax incl) more than my A5 that is coming in any day now (see sig). That really isn't much more...

I was talking to my sales rep just a moment ago and he mentioned someone's new 2009 S5 came in earlier this week and he backed out. I had originally ordered an S5 but backed out because of price and gas milage. But I can prob do this deal...the problem is...

The car has different inlays than I like...it has black lacquer and stainless against the red magma...I would have preferred the carbon, but might be able to live with this...going to look at it later today.

The second thing is there is no drive select which I kind of wanted. But to be honest, I don't know all about it. How does the car drive w/o Drive Select? Does it drive in dynamic mode all the time, or....? So with Drive Select not being on this car it is only about a $5k difference. Should I be all that worried about drive select? I don't really need a "comfort" mode as I drive a big truck now with very stiff suspension.

It is the exact color combo I would have gotten on the S5 too...Meteor/Magma...6sp...tech...nav...ami...b&o...

Should I pick this up instead??

Mainly because the opportunity presented itself. I ordered the A5 because I felt I didn't need all that extra power just driving around town (I don't race or anything like that). As for the drive select, its a nice option, but again, do you really want it that bad. Is it something you can live without.

I think you'd be best served going with the S5, as it will shorten your wait for a great car, but both (A5 and S5) have their merits.

EDIT HERE.. didn't realize your ordered A5 was so close. If you want the Drive Select, stick with your order. Its not that far away!

It would be like having the ADS in dynamic. It helps make a regular car better but when you start with a great car like the S5, you do not need ADS.

Sorry, its a classic movie.. the lines must be correct and honored to their full glory.

Is an A5 w/ Drive Select or an S5 w/o Drive Select the better option? All other options being the same...

can switch back to a more comfortable less jarring mode. Knowing me and i did order it on my S5 (that i backed out of) I would end up driving in dynamic anyway as that is what I like. On the gas mileage thing its really up to your style of driving anyway not so much the engine...I can get mid 20s in my RS6 but the way i drive i get 13.

HOWEVER the main reason i would suggest the S5 is that it is inherently always going to be worth more than the A5 and that difference is likely to be more than 5K in the future. The A5 is very pricey for the money but the S5 is a little more in alignment. If the extra in payment is not an issue you will keep up better with depreciation with the S5. You can always change the inlays obviously.

honestly the Drive select makes the A5 a better car with a better range of handling but the S5 is set up from the beginning with better handling performance. So an S5 w/o is always > A5 with. And the bigger engine makes better use of that handling.

If you can afford the difference in monthly payment with no worries, I think S5 is hard to turn down.

1) resale will be better (car is more limited)
2) seats and leather are better (I've only heard of sagging leather problems with A5)
3) Engine/Performance
4) Looks (quad-tip exhaust, aluminum mirrors, and grey grill that looks great on Meteor)

And as for the inlays, I know I didn't like the carbon inlays in person (thought they looked kind of cheap). So you might wind up liking the stainless better anyway.

...to being set up as "essentially Dynamic." That is not the case. The 2008 S5 has a softer suspension than the 2009 in the Dynamic Mode, and the 2008 has a far less communicative steering feel than the 2009 in Dynamic.

I know because I have driven the heck out of both, on the same routes: highways, switchbacks, exit ramps at 65mph; this also includes abandoned parking lots in an industrial park that serve as my skidpads and slaloms... After all, I ordered the 2008 originally, so I test drove it a lot.

Think about it, if they didn't give it more steering feel, and made the suspension more taut, they really would not have improved much and addressed the critics much, would they? And the reviewers would not praise it so much, if they simply used the setting to make the 2009 "softer."

I must say that the feel of the 2008 S5 is sort of between "Comfort" and "Dynamic," but only `sort of.' IMHO it is really closer to "Comfort," than "Dynamic." The feel is not really in the middle, and it definitely is not like the "Dynamic" setting. "Comfort" in the 2009 is softer than the base 2008 suspension, but not "Caddy-cushy."

Audi has finally addressed and put to rest the "disconnected-from-the-road-steering-feel" and the softer suspension that many critics--and many in this Forum had--compared to the likes of the BMW 325 and M3.

First, the Drive Select--Dynamic setting changes the steering feel, the steering ratio and the suspension in an integrated fashion and such a dramatic way, it gives the entire feel of the road that Audi drivers complain is missing.

Second, the body roll, although the 2008 doesn't have much, is far more noticeable in the 2008 suspension than in the 2009 with it in "Dynamic Setting" mode.

The car is still heavy, and it doesn't feel as nimble as, say, the Porsche Cayman, which I came very close to buying instead, but it does have a balanced feel, and it feels taut and tighter in turns than the 2008 S5.

I could not believe the difference in feel. If I truly felt the difference was minor, I would say go for the sans-Drive Select 2009; however, it makes such a significant difference, I can't really recommend you getting it without Drive Select.

wait for S5 with drive select.

I have had my car since last year, have 7k on it and I love it more and more and can't wait to drive it. nobody is hinting at one of more nice features and the one that goes to your issue at hand - THE PHUCKING SOUND OF THIS CAR IS AMAZING! there, I let the cat out of the bag. I have never had a shimmy, the mileage is not all that bad, or $hit, fine it sucks, but the car is just flat out a trip to own. we are going away for the weekend to ride road bikes and see tom petty - what other car can you stuff 2 full sized road bikes into and still have a cool car to drive once you get there? nothing, no car is as well rounded for looks, speed and utility. have a nice weekend.

...I got away from his initial question a bit. I can't say about the A5 with Drive Select, as I have never driven one that had it.

But based on driving the 2008 A5 without it, and driving S5s with and without it, I would take the A5 with Drive Select.

I would do this only if the sound of the exhaust note and speed were not as important to me.

A5s always seem so overpriced to me. I expect the old A4 pricing territory but suddently they are post old S4 pricing. S5 on the other hand, seems to be underpriced these days compared to the A5 pricing and the competition out there.

As for drive select, the question should really be how does it compare to one with it. The question should be whether you like it without drive select. Some of the comments here (yes, I'm pointing at you CNVRT) make it seem like the car is horrible without it. Well, I didn't have a choice, but I can tell you that the plain old S5 handles great. A huge improvement over the B6 S4 I previously owned. I could only imagine what kind of a difference drive select would make (if it is that great), but can't really say for sure whether I would have paid extra for it. If I had to choose between A5 with drive select or S5 without (assuming you don't want to wait for drive select on an S5 or pay more than you would already pay for the S5), I would say S5 without a doubt. There's more than speed and sound to it. There's seats, appearance, exclusivity, and a likely better residual value. Oh, and the S5 is fun too.

I live in LA and the roads are mixed to say the least - the way the car feels and takes up the bumps is a prime feature I love coming from my B6S4 - that car sucked on LA roads so I would never use ADS to alter it. Despite what others might think it not a whip it around performance car or a car good on the track - it will go around a track, lots of cars will and with a decent pilot it will make it around in ok form but its a lot of work compared to a car that is made for performance driving + who want to change trashing a 60k car or have some noob plow into you - it happens often enough to mention. This is not a p-car, if you don't care about a trunk that is what you should get - they are much more fun to drive but if you want a refined car that is a pleasure to ride on mixed roads and for distance then the S5 without ADS is just fine. I also dont think there is any supporting data on long term repair of the ads of what happens if you lower your car, etc. if you do plan on susp modes the 3k is a solid deal and is covered under warranty. get the right tool for the job.

Obviously more expensive on fuel costs but to me it's totally worth it and hard to go without one once you get used to it. The power is highly addictive and just awesome to have at your disposal. To me the extra cost is worth it.

Second of all the S5 looks a bit more badass with the subtle styling differences. The 19" S wheels are beautiful.

Drive Select -- I wanted it on my 2008 but now that the 2009's are out with it, I don't really care that much. The ride on the S5 is really good and I don't feel like I want to stiffen up the ride or steering. Like others have said, for driving on city streets the car is just great and the majority of us would be happy with the Audi determined characteristics of the 2008. I mean the RS4 and R8 didn't have drive select and they have won people over quite easily.

I have the stainless steel and piano black surround and much prefer it over the carbon but that is all individual preference. The carbon is nice but has been around a while while the stainless is something new and a bit elegant. Just my opinion though.

So yeah, I'd go for the S5 myself.

Got me real excited about my S5 with Drive Select that's on the way.

Good to finally hear a review from someone who has driven both cars (with and without Drive Select).