There is something terribly crucial missing from the engine offerings . . .

[Martinf]

A meaningful turbo version. And I'm talking about something at least as good as the 2.7liter V6 bi-turbo powerplant of the original RS4. IMHO, that's the finest and most exhilarating engine Audi ever produced in a production car. And nothing has come close ever since. Certainly not the current 'naturally-asphyxiated' 4.2 liter V8 of today's RS4. The way I see it, Audi is shamefully abandoning turbos in favor of lazy V8s and V10s etc. Audi shouldn't forget its roots, i.e. Longitudinal front engine + Torsen Quattro + intercooler & turbocharging + six-speed manual gearbox. These are the "magic" ingredients that made Audi into the company it is today. It boils down to the fact that the A5 coupe simply CANNOT be taken seriously as a true "spiritual successor" to the UR Quattro S1 Coupe without turbocharging. In short, for an RS5 I'd like to see something along the lines of a 3.2 liter V6 FSI biturbo, conservatively rated at 450BHP. Nothing less will do.

[Quattrings]

I think Audi is doing the right thing. Used car prices will benefit substantially as the previous 1.8T and 2.7T cars suffered on the used market. It's difficult to find an S4 that hasn't been modified and chipped and it seems that most people will pass on a car that is likely to have issues. The 5-cylinder turbocharged engine was great in it's day but probably better left to Volvo now.

Since Audi's decision to go naturally aspirated (S4 4.2V8) reliability bests both Mercedes/BMW now and the margin is growing. Nothing like the punch of a modified 2.7t but having driven the S6 and RS4 recently, they are incredibly smooth and strong in their own right. As long as Audi keeps torque a priority, (as they have recently and in the past) the increased reliability over BMW and Mercedes is a great thing.
----------------------------------------------
Consumer Reports:

"Lexus Slips, Lincoln Improves, Infiniti, Audi, and GMC also show big improvements, while Jeep falters; Mercedes-Benz drops to last place"

"In the European theater, Audi saw seven of its eight models in the average or better rating, resulting in a 15-spot improvement. Premium brand Mercedes-Benz fell four positions to replace Porsche in last place. Mercedes' new or redesigned-for-2006 models were all far below average. However, no brand fell further than MINI, now in 28th place. Both S and non-S convertible versions, of the Mini Cooper dropped to below average."

• Consumer Reports: 2007 New Car Reliability Predictions, Mercedes-Benz Last

[Martinf]

. . . BMW 335I EVOtech ECU Upgrade

QUOTE: " EVOtech is the first to release the 335i Twin Turbo ECU upgrade. HP jumps to an amazing 375hp!
$1295

Stay tuned for our 400hp turbo upgrade!! "

http://www.dynocomp.com/bmw.php?view=bmw

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watch out Audi!

By the way, I drove in a 500bhp chipped B5 RS4 Avant 2.7l biturbo, and the reliability was fine. About 100,000 miles on the clock, and it was still running the original turbo unit, which the owner assured me was coping just fine with the extra boost.

My friend has an Audi S2 Coupe five-cylinder 2.3 liter turbo with 130,000 miles on the clock. The car has never broken down. Original turbo unit.

[Quattrings]

I have considered the 335i Coupe also and there is no better coupe on the market right now for the price and especially if cheap power upgrades are wanted. To Audi's credit, they've been there done that with the B5S4.

For me, I have to have Quattro and I'm skeptical about BMW making a reliable late model turbocharged vehicle as they have trouble even with their current cars. (M3 previously blowing engines, etc) If Audi releases the RS5 with the "Lambo-V10" or even the current high-reving RS4 V8 with 450bhp - I will be happy.

[Bob W.]

it outperforms the previous 2.7T RS4 in every measureable way...acceleration, braking, handling, 0-60, 1/4mi, Nurburgring lap times, etc. What was that you said about not coming close since the biturbo?

[Martinf]

[Bob W.]

[06A8]

Naturally aspirated engines are a work of art that no tuner can achieve. It is the very epidemy of fine engineering. I hope you guys dont get caught up in the horsepower wars.. and get blinded by the amount of effot audi goes to make our cars.

[RTinNYC(again)]

I can't believe MB is now ranked below Land Rover... yikes!

[Martinf]

. . . It is no secret that from the late 1990s until recently, Audis did suffer from general quality related issues. But these were for all sorts of reasons -- i.e. to do with components throughout the car, mostly non-engine related. The CEO recently made it a no. 1 priority to root-out such needless lapses. The graph you show is the CEOs' policy bearing fruit.