Popped me //S5 cherry - muwHA!
11-21-2007, 09:58 AM
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Popped me //S5 cherry - muwHA!
I really didn't want to like the //S5. Nope. Uh uh. Pictures did it no justice in mags or online. Seeing it upclose and personal @ NYIAS earlier this year proved it easier on the in person eyes than virtual, but being red didn't help. Sitting in it evidenced one of Audi's finest cabins yet.
It just looked more than a little too "BMW". But "good" BMW. Translation: BMW sans Banglebastardization (TM pending). Especially "odd" was the character line flowing down the side profile, while akin to that of a women laying on her side it just seemed contrived on the car.
So my buddy Elvis (he lives, yes!) spontaneously emails me "I'm parked outside next to the //S8" moments ago. I whip off a few cell shots, the juxtposition against the //S8 backdrop really dates the poor D2. The //S5's got undeniable presence - and really gotta love them white LED running lights. In this slate-ish blue / grey, that "character line" is refreshingly masked - the car looks *dare I say* GOOD.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5__s8_rf.jpg">
More good is the idling exhaust note. He kicks the loud pedal a few times - while it's the familiar 4.2L it's as if it were from the same mommy with different daddy. More "whoseyourdaddy", NASCAR fans would approve. "Get in" he mutters.
He takes me for a whirl, I'm enjoying the seats, the Bang & Olufson, the CF trim - then he pulls over and says "your turn".
OOOOOOOooookkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaay...
All of 250 miles on her... and it's not even his it's his friend's who's left it in his care for the week. BwHA!
After Brian here posted such a defaming report of his experience in the //S5, it further reinforced how much I wanted to dislike the car.
Uh, Brian... do you share your crack or do you horde it all to yerself I wonder???
8-)!
OK... clutch take up is the SUCK - it's the cluch equivalent to drive-by-wire. There's zero feedback, negligble feel, it's either engaged or disengaged... tho it's also so forgiving my nonstickdriving Wife could manage sans issue.
But...
BUT...
Row that 4.2 through the gears via the snick snick of a bolt action shifter. Saw away at a steering wheel covered in breastly silken leather, with decent weighting and precise response. Giggle at the tach sweep as if electrified to the subtle 7k limiter.
Each gear is like that Ground Hog Day movie - deja vu it's powerband all over again any rev any gear all revs all gears. 2k bog at a roll? WHAM TORQUE!
Oh and the accel note... nearly as blissful as the addictive decel note. I'd average 10mpg in this thing crusing interstates in 3rd at decel muwahahahaa.
The whole experience is rather digital, you do feel somewhat videogamesque. While I'd normally argue that's a bad thing, somehow just somehow it works in the //S5.
Me likey.
As he departed I stood there and chuckled at the velvet hammer WOT exhaust note. Subtle yet overt, if possible. And note the undeniable GT presence of a fine machine.
Neato, says Paul...
It just looked more than a little too "BMW". But "good" BMW. Translation: BMW sans Banglebastardization (TM pending). Especially "odd" was the character line flowing down the side profile, while akin to that of a women laying on her side it just seemed contrived on the car.
So my buddy Elvis (he lives, yes!) spontaneously emails me "I'm parked outside next to the //S8" moments ago. I whip off a few cell shots, the juxtposition against the //S8 backdrop really dates the poor D2. The //S5's got undeniable presence - and really gotta love them white LED running lights. In this slate-ish blue / grey, that "character line" is refreshingly masked - the car looks *dare I say* GOOD.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5__s8_rf.jpg">
More good is the idling exhaust note. He kicks the loud pedal a few times - while it's the familiar 4.2L it's as if it were from the same mommy with different daddy. More "whoseyourdaddy", NASCAR fans would approve. "Get in" he mutters.
He takes me for a whirl, I'm enjoying the seats, the Bang & Olufson, the CF trim - then he pulls over and says "your turn".
OOOOOOOooookkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaay...
All of 250 miles on her... and it's not even his it's his friend's who's left it in his care for the week. BwHA!
After Brian here posted such a defaming report of his experience in the //S5, it further reinforced how much I wanted to dislike the car.
Uh, Brian... do you share your crack or do you horde it all to yerself I wonder???
8-)!
OK... clutch take up is the SUCK - it's the cluch equivalent to drive-by-wire. There's zero feedback, negligble feel, it's either engaged or disengaged... tho it's also so forgiving my nonstickdriving Wife could manage sans issue.
But...
BUT...
Row that 4.2 through the gears via the snick snick of a bolt action shifter. Saw away at a steering wheel covered in breastly silken leather, with decent weighting and precise response. Giggle at the tach sweep as if electrified to the subtle 7k limiter.
Each gear is like that Ground Hog Day movie - deja vu it's powerband all over again any rev any gear all revs all gears. 2k bog at a roll? WHAM TORQUE!
Oh and the accel note... nearly as blissful as the addictive decel note. I'd average 10mpg in this thing crusing interstates in 3rd at decel muwahahahaa.
The whole experience is rather digital, you do feel somewhat videogamesque. While I'd normally argue that's a bad thing, somehow just somehow it works in the //S5.
Me likey.
As he departed I stood there and chuckled at the velvet hammer WOT exhaust note. Subtle yet overt, if possible. And note the undeniable GT presence of a fine machine.
Neato, says Paul...
11-21-2007, 10:33 AM
#3
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Hey Paulukkah!
You've been fooled again. That car isn't even out yet "so easily duped one."
But; if it is/was, I had mostly wondered about the the more of a 50 50 balance itsupposed to provide. I had read that the motor is moved back a bit on this chassis to provide this.
If this car were available and you had the opp to drive it, how would the suspension be?
Finally if the car was being sold, how much be it?
I'm guessing uhmmm.... well uhmmm I'll say $53k Bob.
ps gas mileage be damned!
But; if it is/was, I had mostly wondered about the the more of a 50 50 balance itsupposed to provide. I had read that the motor is moved back a bit on this chassis to provide this.
If this car were available and you had the opp to drive it, how would the suspension be?
Finally if the car was being sold, how much be it?
I'm guessing uhmmm.... well uhmmm I'll say $53k Bob.
ps gas mileage be damned!
11-21-2007, 10:44 AM
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Au contraire - BOLOGNA I SAY!
How you like 'dem apples?
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5__s8_rear.jpg">
I too was very intrigued by the 50/50 balance prospective. I didn't get to hustle it through too many twisties, just up 91N and some mild back roads back to my orifice here. What I felt I liked.
I too guesstimate ~ mid $50k's.
Thing's pretty big inside, too. Lots of shoulder room, and the doors have the widest sills I've seen on a car - sufficient for my arm to rest even while sporting a winter coat. Makes the shifter kinda oddly far away, which in conjunction with the ohsoshort throws takes some getting used to. But in a good way, one that feels sorta unnatural to be rowing for yerself in a car that large.
Why, you shopping? Hahahahahaaa...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5__s8_rear.jpg">
I too was very intrigued by the 50/50 balance prospective. I didn't get to hustle it through too many twisties, just up 91N and some mild back roads back to my orifice here. What I felt I liked.
I too guesstimate ~ mid $50k's.
Thing's pretty big inside, too. Lots of shoulder room, and the doors have the widest sills I've seen on a car - sufficient for my arm to rest even while sporting a winter coat. Makes the shifter kinda oddly far away, which in conjunction with the ohsoshort throws takes some getting used to. But in a good way, one that feels sorta unnatural to be rowing for yerself in a car that large.
Why, you shopping? Hahahahahaaa...
11-21-2007, 10:48 AM
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Jah, but that was all in regard to the clutch - there's alot more to like about the car I thought.
The clutch did suck, just took some getting used to.
And like I said, the "videogamesque" feel kinda works in this application for some inexplicable reason. Normally I'm with ya on that one.
Again, 8-).
And like I said, the "videogamesque" feel kinda works in this application for some inexplicable reason. Normally I'm with ya on that one.
Again, 8-).
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11-21-2007, 12:14 PM
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Eggzactly - NICE! Hahahahahaha...
Looks sorta akin to the Bentley Continental GT really:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5_side.jpg">
And the wheels are *very* ///M6...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/86747/s5_side.jpg">
And the wheels are *very* ///M6...
11-21-2007, 12:20 PM
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Re: I Thought...
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/62836/s8_s5_side.jpg"></center><p>It was a much better looking car in person than in pictures. It doesn't quite sound like an RS4, but not too far off, and the LEDs are neat. It's got lots of road presence. But I don't think it makes the D2 S8 look dated; I think they look comfy together. I 2nd on liking it.
11-21-2007, 04:26 PM
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It's not ugly. In fact, it's attractive, so I'm sure it'll sell. But it's not an Audi.
Too swoopy, too "styled." Long hood, short deck is not Audi to me. The Audi Bauhaus "form follows function" design ethos - what happened to that? And note the sunroof THAT DOES NOT SLIDE (tilts only). Why? I'm guessing because the roof is too short - so function (or lack of it) follows form. This is all a real departure from what I've always understood the Audi DNA to be . . . Sorry about the previous post - Where's Mavis Beacon when you need her?