panj

Lease end approaching and must decide soon, eagerly awaiting US pricing on S5. The edmunds review of the 335i is very informative (compared to Infiniti G37--both manuals). Track and cruising review with torque and HP bands explaining 335i superior acceleration numbers. Good review of stregnths and weaknesses of both cars and helpful for S5 considerations. Likely to experience 0-60 near 5.0 flat for 335i automatic--what an engine hit that twin turbo is with peak torque at 1400 rpm(performance and mileage exemplary).

My choice set is 335i, S5 and 2006 Jag XJR (select edition used at 15K+ miles)--must do automatic given freeway traffic. Choice order is S5 top with 335i tied with Jag. (Already been burned on the board for including Jag (old, fuddy-duddy) but the 2006 Jag (ebony with tan interior--fully loaded, 0-60 at 5.0, improved CATS handling/braking package, beautiful interior, room, cache, etc.) is hard to beat at current pricing)

Lease (standard 3 year, 15k mi, $3k cap reduction has BMW at mid/upper 600's (very loaded though no Nav as must avoid MMI!) and Jag another $275+--still dealing). Unfortunately, hearing from Audi sales people that lease on a nicely configured S5 could still be $250-300 above 335i. Hope they are wrong!

Benefit/cost for my needs (preference for long distance cruising, acceleration passing over handling, coachwork/interior design, etc. ) has this order: 335i, Jag, S5. Knock $150-200 down on lease and S5 to front of line with room to spare--hence Audi pricing position for A5/S5 so crucial. Fingers crossed.

Spoonie G

If the S5 is $250-300/month above the 335i, then who in their right mind would choose one? $900+/month for an S5? I hope that the dealer was mistaken, because those are porsche 911 lease numbers. If Audi is indeed expecting to sell the S5 at the numbers mentioned above, expect some heavy discounts within 6 months.

You made a wise choice choosing the 335i over the S5. When you factor in the fact that the 335i will get about 10 miles more per-gallon of fuel than the S5 (while offering about the same performance), then it's almost in "No Brainer" territory.

The S5/A5 are nice cars but they seem to be little over priced and I'm not too impressed with the V8's fuel efficiency and the V6's power output.

tboned

Timing for auto S5 might take it out of running, no? How soon you need a car?

Quattrings

which will make it a DEC delivery. The current TT which runs around 52k fully loaded turns out a lease in the low 800s. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the S5 run in the 900s to hitting 1000mo. At that point, it makes more sense to buy rather than lease IMO. BMW quoted me 750-ish for a 335 well equipped with I-Drive and most options. I learned from the past that I'd rather spend 200 more a month to be in something I love than something I like.

<quoted numbers include 7.5% monthly tax rate >

AlexTXA4

will not be built at the same number as the A5.
Limited availibility= good residuals, but higher interest rate.
Expect the S5 to be in the $700 if not the $800s.

panj

Ouch on the Idrive versus MMI, don't know why I used that acronym (probably because the Audi s5 is so on my mind!). Agree on $150-200 as upper limit on threshold for being in desired ride if preference is really strong. BMW quotes on 0-60 very conservative for 335i as almost all tests (and have been a number) put manual under 5 seconds and about 3-4 tenths up from there for automatic. Interestingly, BMW reports some advantage for x-drive, getting that torque out to 4 tires I assume. Quote in low 700's for fully loaded 335i (nav and I-drive) sounds right though perhaps tax was in your estimate--not in mine.

Cheers.

Right about availability of automatic but can forestall the end of lease from Audi a few months if S5 works.

Quattrings

Seems really low for S5 quotes, unless it is for a non-optioned example excluding monthly tax, and/or takes into account a massive downpayment. $700s would be welcome numbers but it doesn't compute.<ul><li><a href="http://www.leasecompare.com/quick_lease_quotes.php?ModelYear=2007&amp;MakeID=8 0&amp;ModelID=127&amp;StyleID=155&amp;Make=Audi&am p;Model=&amp;Trim=&amp;ZipCode=92656&amp;QuickQuot e=-1">For Comparison sake (prices not including tax)</a

Speedy

The power output of the A5 V-6 is actually better than the 3-Series V-6 at 265hp/3.2liter or 82.8hp/l vs. 230hp/3.0liter or 76.7hp/l.

According to fueleconomy.gov, the 335 gets 18mpg City, 26mpg Highway (in 2008 numbers.) I doubt very much the S5 will be 10mpg less than this - that would mean 8mpg City, 16mpg Highway.

In fact, the A6 4.2 - with basically the same engine and greater weight, though certainly different gearing - gets 16mpg City, 23 Highway.

There is no doubt the BMW 3.0 TT is a remarkable engine and gets great gas mileage for the power produced, but the BMW 3.0 liter six is arguably less advanced than this latest Audi 3.2. I think the numbers on the mileage for the 4.2 also show it to be reasonable for the power output.

Would I rather get better mileage? Certainly. But the difference in gas cost (assuming 15,000 miles a year and gas at $3.50) will be only about $300 a year based on those EPA estimates. I could spend an extra $25 a month on gas for the S5.

My concern is not about the engine or mileage - it is the overall price. If the S5 comes in way too high, then the 335 is an option. If it starts in the low 50's (like Winding Road has been saying) I'll likely pay for it.

Fxhomie

he may have meant 10% rather than 10 mpg less, which wouldn't make sense...

Teh Goldie

<i>"will not be built at the same number as the A5.
Limited availibility= good residuals, but higher interest rate"</i>

Why a higher interest rate??

Lease prices are determined based on residual and money factor, the latter also sometimes being referred to as interest rate.

More often than not, the manufacturer can elect to choose a low money factor, e.g. manufacturer supported leases, to promote the vehicle, or what happens more in technological equipment, provide an "uplift" in residual, and therefore decreasing the monthly lease -term- payments...