I am thinking about going back t an Audi. I have owned an A6, my brother has owned both the A6 and a few A4's. We both had many issue with these cars and decided to switch it up a little. I went to the 2007 Lexus GS350. Thinking about the the 2011 S5. Has anyone experienced any issue with there cars. Any info would be a great help. Thanks

I only have 800-odd miles on my 2011 S5 right now and so far (knock on wood), no issues. The only long standing issue so far with the S5 coupe has been with the clutch. Audi has said that the problem has been resolved for the later 2010 MY and newer cars, but we'll have to see if that is a long lasting fix.

There have been leaking water pump issues with the S4 and S5 cabriolet (as they use a supercharged 3.0 engine rather than the coupe's V8) and some reports of issues with the Sports Rear Differential.

Other people can add, comment or correct me.

this is my second A5 the first one was a lemon and now this one is starting to have problems.I have had the control arms replaced, all four tires and it still shakes and keeps going out of alognment. I spoke to a mechanic who said Audi still doesn't have the long term reliability that other cars are known for. I am about to get rid of this one and get a Lexus or Acura

this is my second A5 the first one was a lemon and now this one is starting to have problems.I have had the control arms replaced, all four tires and it still shakes and keeps going out of alognment. I spoke to a mechanic who said Audi still doesn't have the long term reliability that other cars are known for. I am about to get rid of this one and get a Lexus or Acura

Your dealership clearly installed the new control arms (and possibly performed other repairs that were needed) improperly, probably due to supreme incompetence.

Your mechanic obviously has little to no experience with the 1984 and prior, 1991 to 1997 and 2005+ Audis. Your mechanic clearly only has extensive experience with the 1985 to 1990 and 1998 to 2004 Audis. Also, your mechanic clearly has absolutely no experience what so ever with Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. Otherwise, that mechanic of yours (who is clearly a bozo and/or simply judgmental and/or stubborn) would know that Audi does, in fact, now have the long term reliability of most other brands.

And, FWIW, the 2007+ Acuras and Toyota Motors vehicles are problematic enough to make all problematic Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles (old and especially new) look like the 2006 and prior Toyota Motors vehicles by comparison. Avoid the 2007+ Acuras and Toyota Motors vehicles like the plague.

Even so, since you obviously hate the Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles so frigging much, I recommend that you finance, lease or purchase a vehicle from one of the following vehicle brands and corporations: Ford Motors (now just Ford, Ford Truck, Lincoln and Mercury; soon to just be Ford, Ford Truck and Lincoln), Fuji Motors (now Daihatsu, Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki), Hyundai Motors (Hyundai and Kia) and Nissan Motors (Infiniti, Nissan, Nissan Truck and Renault).

I would recommend the 2010+ Buicks, the early or mid 2000s (depending on the model) and later Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Chevrolet Corvette, the crossover vehicles and truck from Chevrolet and GMC, the Dodge Challenger, Mazda and Volvo. However, the new ownerships that Mazda and Volvo are under have mediocre at best reputations (making Mazda's and Volvo's futures somewhat questionable). Chrysler's and General Motors futures are very questionable due to a dizzying array of problems (of which there are way too many to mention) they had (some of which the still have) for so many years. Therefore, I cannot recommend any of the vehicles in this paragraph of the this reply message to this topic, unfortunately. :(

Also avoid all European vehicles other than the Volkswagen/Audi Group and Volvo (especially Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and the BMW Group) like the plague as they are also problematic enough to make all problematic Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles (again, old and especially new) look like the 2006 and prior Toyota Motors vehicles by comparison.

A vast majority of Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicle financiers, leasers and owners that have or had the rare problematic 2005+ Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles that are fed up and hate the brands and corporation as a result are North American Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicle financiers, leasers and owners on the message boards for the brands in the Volkswagen/Audi Group. Otherwise, the Volkswagen/Audi Group would not score well at all with Consumer Reports and True Delta (CR and TD, as Automotive sources, matter more than all other automotive sources by a very large amount). JD Power and Associates and Strategic Vision only matter when they 100% match CR and TD. Otherwise, as automotive sources, JD P&A and SV matter less than all other automotive sources by just as large an amount as CR and TD, as automotive sources, matter more than all other automotive sources.

Ted5469, we've followed similar paths. I owned an '02 A6 4.2, 8 years ago. I only had minor problems like the brakes squealing, but it was the service that drove me away. It was actually one of my favorite cars, but I traded it for a Lexus because I was so fed up with Audi service. I owned Lexuses and Infinitis up until the A5 was introduced. I was also afraid to move back to Audi, but the A5/S5 was enough to change my mind.

I've followed these boards since the intro of the S5 back in 2008 and haven't really seen anyone having any major issues. I owned an '09 A5 S-Line for a while before trading for my '10 S5 Cab. Very low miles when I traded it in, but no issues. I've now had my S5 Cab for 9 months and 6,600miles... again, without any issues. It also seems that Audi has gotten their act together when it comes to service, at least based on what I experienced 8 years ago.

I'm not sure how long you keep your cars or how many miles you put on them, but so far so good! Nothing against Lexus because their cars are so reliable, but after owning an Audi again I can't imagine going back to one. In fact, we will probably trade our Infiniti G37 Coupe for another Audi next year. That's how impressed I've been. Hope that helps.

too early to say on the MY11 S5, but if it is anything like the previous years, you'll be good.

A mfr's ability to respond to design flaws for one year to the next is crucial. Do research on the forums on specific issues that might have been in 08, and see if it carries forward to 09 and 10 model years.

generally, the S5's are good, and hold their value well. i had an 08 with no issues. "Had," meaning i now have a 2010 S4---needed 4 doors. I will be back in an RS5 when it hits the shores. The A5/S5/RS5 is a damn good-looking car. My prediction is that it will be a class-leading design for many years.

BTW, magazines/companies that rate cars are decent for giving you summarized data, but they cannot gauge your subjective thoughts on looks, feel, and driving experience; no matter what anyone tells you. ONLY you are able to determine that.

Happy car hunting--- keep the S5 at the top of your list.

Have an 09 A5 3.2 only 8k miles - Dealer can't fix the steering wheel vibrations. Also have a nagging problem with the side assist shutting down. Also have an intermittent 'noise' on low speed turns (turning corner) it's odd, can't figure out what could be causing this?

This is my first (and last)Audi - very disappointed with all the little issues. Also disappointed that the dealer really could care less. I am also seeing Audi's on the road with issues. Tonight I was following what looked to be a new Q5 with brake lights stuck on. The other day I saw an A5 on the freeway with one side of the daytime running lights burned out.

I would say Audi quality is not good. Too many issues to track down. I have already spent more time at the dealer with this car than I have with my last three cars combined!

Have an 09 A5 3.2 only 8k miles - Dealer can't fix the steering wheel vibrations. Also have a nagging problem with the side assist shutting down. Also have an intermittent 'noise' on low speed turns (turning corner) it's odd, can't figure out what could be causing this?

This is my first (and last)Audi - very disappointed with all the little issues. Also disappointed that the dealer really could care less. I am also seeing Audi's on the road with issues. Tonight I was following what looked to be a new Q5 with brake lights stuck on. The other day I saw an A5 on the freeway with one side of the daytime running lights burned out.

I would say Audi quality is not good. Too many issues to track down. I have already spent more time at the dealer with this car than I have with my last three cars combined!

See my post from yesterday (September 13th, 2010) 8:45PM. Audi's dependability, durability, quality, reliability, satisfaction and service were a big problem from 1985 to 1990 and especially from 1998 to 2004. Otherwise, Audi is fine, especially from 1991 to 1997 and most of all, from 2005 to present.

BTW, what were your last three vehicles, hwks1? I am guessing none of the vehicles I mentioned in my last post that are problematic enough to make all problematic Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles (old and especially new, which themselves are very problematic) look like the 2006 and prior Toyota Motors vehicles by comparison.

See my post from yesterday (September 13th, 2010) 8:45PM. Audi's dependability, durability, quality, reliability, satisfaction and service were a big problem from 1985 to 1990 and especially from 1998 to 2004. Otherwise, Audi is fine, especially from 1991 to 1997 and most of all, from 2005 to present.

BTW, what were your last three vehicles, hwks1? I am guessing none of the vehicles I mentioned in my last post that are problematic enough to make all problematic Volkswagen/Audi Group vehicles (old and especially new, which themselves are very problematic) look like the 2006 and prior Toyota Motors vehicles by comparison.


After owning over 30 high end cars in the last 30 years and in the last 10, 2003 M3 cab, 2005 Porsche C4, 2007 BMW 335 Cab, 2008 Z06 and now 2011 Audi S5 Cab I have to say this is the only car that gives me a Ha%D ON! Fit and finish is flawless, the Ibis with a Brown top jumps out at you. I was getting gas last night and a guy in a new E63 runs over and starts drooling on the car. He asked a ton of question and asked if he could sit in it and he was driving a new E63. This car gets looks. My only problem with the car and it's a big one is that I only want to wax it, it looks like a piece of art but we all know it's meant to be driven. I am glad it is not my everyday car. The MMI system is the best I have seen and with the Dunlop tires the car car drives leaps ahead of my old BMW with run flats. The Ibis white is very bright not your normal white. The B&O stereo kicks. If you get one get the ADS option this is a must.

After owning over 30 high end cars in the last 30 years and in the last 10, 2003 M3 cab, 2005 Porsche C4, 2007 BMW 335 Cab, 2008 Z06 and now 2011 Audi S5 Cab I have to say this is the only car that gives me a Ha%D ON! Fit and finish is flawless, the Ibis with a Brown top jumps out at you. I was getting gas last night and a guy in a new E63 runs over and starts drooling on the car. He asked a ton of question and asked if he could sit in it and he was driving a new E63. This car gets looks. My only problem with the car and it's a big one is that I only want to wax it, it looks like a piece of art but we all know it's meant to be driven. I am glad it is not my everyday car. The MMI system is the best I have seen and with the Dunlop tires the car car drives leaps ahead of my old BMW with run flats. The Ibis white is very bright not your normal white. The B&O stereo kicks. If you get one get the ADS option this is a must.

Sweet!!!!! :)

it's great to hear you love your car, however 30 cars in 30 years... how long do you keep them? do you drive any one of them long enough to put them into a situation where normal use (miles) start to reveal normal issues a car will have? That's where Audi S5 TC's CD reports base their informaiton on (primarily)--not necessarily on subjective evaluations.

Don't get me wrong, your testimonial is great to your passion for your car, but we're talking reliability, over time, as per the Op's post.

I had an S8, Z06, Cobra (still have), S5, and S4---I'll agree---the S5 turns MORE heads. Believe it or not, out of all the Audi models, i think the S5 DRL's are the best looking--even more than the R8. JMO...

Believe it or not, out of all the Audi models, i think the S5 DRL's are the best looking--even more than the R8. JMO...

I agree with that as well. I think that it is simple and elegant, rather than the somewhat overwrought look of the new A7 and A8 DRL. The R8 DRL does work quite well with the more aggressive look of the R8, but the A5/S5 coupes are the best looking Audi model yet (A5/S5 Sportback and S4 Avant filling up the top three).

Oh I forgot 2001 Audi A4 1.8 with an APR chip. and a 2003 wife's Toureg 4.2. 2005 TT wife's didn't really like.
The boat in the background is my toy. I think the brown top makes the car with Ibis exterior. The carbon fiber is a must in this color.