I've greatly enjoyed my B7 S4, but am looking at trading it in or selling it. I need a daily driver that can handle an IL winter, and I don't have the balls to try the M3 or C63 w/ snow tires all winter. I still want a fun driving car, preferrably with tighter handling but capacity to carry 4 and some decent luggage space. Does the S5 fit the bill and is it worth the upgrade from the B7 S4?

I just ordered the AWE cat back for the S4, so I'm obviously leaning toward keeping it (or selling it to my dad, who has been inquiring). Now if I could just find an S5 to test drive...

I had a '05 B6 S4 which, realistically, is the same as the B7. The S5 is a much more advanced vehicle an every single way. It is faster and smoother. Sounds much better. Interior design and equipment is much more advanced (after all, the b6/b7 interior dates back to 2002). It also doesn't hurt that the S5 gets much more attention than the S4 ever did.

For me, the S5 was the natural next step from the S4.

As for whether it can seat 4, there are many varied opinions. I haven't tried it yet. I think it could seat 4 if I moved the driver seat up a bit. That was one of the reasons I got the S5 -- I knew that if I really needed to, I could seat 3 or 4. But I can't imagine that being too comfortable if I needed to seat 4 on a regular basis.

that's the comparison I'm looking at since a deeply discounted new RS4 is about the same price as a loaded S5, and is available right now, not 8, 10, or 12 months down the road.

The S5 has many advantages on paper with the newer design, but the RS4 really appeals to me.

It would be tough, but I think I could live with either one :-)

The RS4 is a spectacular car. But, no matter how you look at it, the interior and design are out of date and a new RS4 will likely show up in the next few years. Even before the next RS4 shows up, I know that if I had a B7 RS4, I would be kicking myself every time I saw B8 A4/S4/and definitely RS4. Given the significant cost of an RS4 or S5, I would rather go with the car that I know I won't regret at any point in time. For me, that would be the S5. With the RS4, the interior and electronics are simply way out of date and it would annoy me. Look online at some photos of the B7 dash and electronics and compare that the S5. Then ask yourself how you would feel when the entire Audi lineup looks like the S5 but your B7 RS4 still looks (and functions) like 2002. Also, I would think the residual value on the S5 will hold longer given that it is a new model while the RS4 won't necessarily hold up once the B8 A4/S4/RS4 show up.

Just my 2 cents.

Is it an incremental improvement or enough to notice?

Suspension isn't as jarring over bumps. Handling feels tighter. Power delivery is smoother (and quicker). I am sure some of that may have to do with the S5 being brand new, but I think there are key differences between the B6/B7 and the B8 platforms (e.g., weight distribution, front overhang, etc.) which are noticeable.

The back seats are suitable for short trips and short people. anyone over 5'10" will have limited head and leg room.

The handling is superior to any Audi ever made save for the R8.

The car runs at 354hp, it's more than enough for most.

The trunk is huge.

that does not appeal to everyone because, let's face it, it's really a 2, or possibly 3-seater. Thus, I don't think an S5 is a viable substitute for a B7 S4 because of the 2 versus 4 door configuration. Now, a B8 S4, that's a whole other story.

I really need to see a B8 A4 in person to try and decide whether I prefer the B7 RS4, S5 or B8 S4, which reportedly will be a great car with a more "driveable" torque band. I've seen an A5 S-line and driven the S5, though only on a very short loop. I like the S5 allot and am kinda leaning towards keeping our A4 and ordering one, but it doesn't give me quite the same "king of the hill" feeling as driving the RS4, but the technology in the S5 is definitely more modern and functional. In the end, the S5, or B8 S4 is probably a better way to go.

I just took delivery yesterday of my 09 S5, coming from an 05 B6 S4 and although the front end was different from an B7 S4 I can say hands down that there is no way I would have considered the RS4 in it's current set up vs. the B8 when it surfaces. The S5 in incredible and has more than adequite room in the back seat when necessary. Try squeezing two people in the back of an S4/RS4 and trust me they would not be happy. The technology in the S5 is spectacular and you would feel lost in the stone ages going back to the older technology. It truly is night and day. Seeing my 05 S4 in front of the dealership today made me realize just how much fun this car is going to be.

......would someone with the knowledge please tell me if the S5 comes with a tilt/telescoping steering column, and if so, is it power or manual? Thanks.

For the money (new RS4 same price as loaded S5) it seems like more car and a better deal, mainly because of the more powerful engine, better brakes and better suspension.

I like the S5, but to me it also seems kinda cheap on the inside compared to the B7. Saw one in Alcantara today and I would take the full leather seats in an RS4 any day. The door panel and dashboard inserts are also much smaller, yet you pay more for them, and the trim around the instrument bezel looks really tacky to me.

The engine does seem very nice though and an improvement over the non-FSI S4, and I'm sure the handling is a big step forward.

Comparisons between RS4 and S5 are really apples to oranges IMO though. The S5 seems like more of a "cruiser car" and the RS4 is more serious and "in your face." Will the B8 RS4 be better, sure... just like the latest CPU chip is better than the previous. That doesn't mean the old version is obsolete and unuseable, it's just different technology.

A lot of the new technology is just fluff. I mean, do you really NEED a backup camera to back up a car? If you can't do it without a camera you shouldn't be driving.

One of my cars is a heavily modified 1990 Porsche 944 S2. Talk about old technology... it's roots are in the 70s, but it still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. The RS4 would do the same... as would an S5 :-)

YMMV