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Just Test Drove Audi S5 (vs Gen 3.8)

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14K views 37 replies 17 participants last post by  Ronin  
#1 ·
Ok so i test drive the 2009 Audi S5 this week-end. So here is a little review and comparison to the Genesis 3.8 V6 Base Canadien version(same has US GT version).

The one i test drove was manual transmission and fully Load (GPS, etc.)
MSRP= approx. 85,000 CAD$
Engine = V8 4.2 liters, 349hp@5500-7000 ,325 torque@3500
transmission = 6 speed

Impression:

Exterior = I mean the front of the car is really sporty, and those headlight are one of the best out there (especially the led under projector headlight)
, the side of the car on the other hand, is plain and simple a bit boring, the rear is ok.

Inside Car = :woah:, it look like an airplane cockpit, buttons everywhere, i mean its ridiculous, its really not user friendly. The seat are nice (recaro), good support, but for me there are not superior to our Gen seats. The steering wheel:bowdown::bowdown:, i mean i almost cream my pants (not kidding) ...... im sure its the same feeling as touching Megan Fox ass. Nothing compare to the gen. The shifter feel as smooth as the steering. A bit more space in back seat compare to the Gen. And for the other stuff, i mean all you can imagine their i a chance the car have it ex: backup camera.

Driving the car = Car feel heavy, Suspension are really really good, they are stiff ( My base 3.8 feel like a boat) but you dont feel every imperfections on the road, in my opinion that is really good. When you take sharp turn the body is not gonna roll. Acceleration = 0-3000 rpm = same has the 3.8, after 3000rpm you start to see a little (yes only little) difference in acceleration compare to the 3.8. I mean from a roll the S5 is going to win but not that much. From a stop, the S5 will murder the GEN (thx to the Quattro). Another thing you really feel that the S5 is stable, i mean nothing compare to our Gen (even if our feel very stable). The sound of the Engine on the other end is a bit discret, i guess is because the car is really sound proof. I prefer the Gen engine sound, really much louder

Conslusion = I mean for a 85,000$ car, i expect a lot more from this. The owner of the S5 drive my car after and he was really impress.

I know its been said before but the S5 win in every categories except look (for my personal opinion) but the 50,000$ price difference is really not worth it.

But i will remember the steering feel for the rest of my life:fleshbox:
 
#2 ·
well yeah, two totally different cars, maybe the same general class (sports coupe) but that's about the only similarity. A5's and S5's are bad ass. really like their new design. still for me, nothing beats RS4. mmm, that is a sick ride. doesn't look like much on the outside but we all know it's what's on the inside that counts ;)

steering wheel in the GC sucks. doesn't telescope, feels cheap, button placement is nice but i expected a much more tactile feel for a car like this. that, the plethora of plastic that rattles in the cockpit when you're playing tunes, and the 5th gear grind are the worst things about this car IMO. still, i'm not complaining, for the price how can you beat this car.
 
#3 ·
Nice review, but you can't really compare the two. It's like saying my Lambo is better then my Camaro SS. broad example, but still.
 
#4 ·
No offense, but why do we keep having these threads? There was a thread a few weeks ago about the IS 350/F series Lexus.. WHY? The whole point of the GC is the bang for your buck. Comparing cars that are 15-40k more makes no sense.. STOP the comparison threads.. post your Audi review on a Audi board..
 
#7 ·
We all drive the same car, so the best way to explain our feeling of a car is to compare it to the Genesis, so that everyone can understand.

Both car are coupe, at least there is a similarity:rofl:
 
#6 ·
S5 > Genesis Coupe.

In every way possible.
Ever.
 
#8 ·
I know man. Its a wonderfull car, but serisouly its not night and day. Its not like A Corvette Z06 (same price tag as the S5).

The S5 is not a supercar. The Z06 is one.

But yeah i will take ans S5 over a Gen,but not a 50,000$ difference. Even if a have the money unless you are a Volks/Audi Hardcore Fan, ill take the M3, Is-F before the S5.
 
#9 ·
I'd take an M3 over the S5 too. But I'd take the S5 over the IS-F. And hell, while we're at it, I'd take a CTS-V over all of them. :rofl:

In terms of fit and finish though I have to disagree. It is definitely night and day compared to a Hyundai. Then again, in the USA the S5 is only 20 grand more. To be honest though, I like the interior of the Genesis Coupe, but I was more impressed by the interior and feel of my 07 GTI.

I wouldn't even really say the Z06 is a supercar. Close, but not quite. The ZR1 now.. that is a supercar.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I use to be a huge Audi fan, and still am.

An Audi S5 is MUCH MUCH more then a majority of the best cars out there. Simply the advanced Quattro AWD system will destroy anything Subaru or Mitsubishi has ever produced period. Subaru is about 1-2 generations of AWD behind Audi.

Interior, it's a luxury sports coupe. It will have more gizmo's then the GC, technologies that are about 5-8 years ahead of anything Hyundai has. Innovation comes at a price. Interior is of the highest grade. Something as simple as in my 2001 Audi had much nicer leather on the seats then the GC, but I will admit the comfort of the GC is top notch. Comfort is an age old study vs premium leather has always had it's price as well. Ergonomically speaking, an Audi will always be #1, Hyundai has done a fantastic job hence why I love the cockpits of Hyundai's. Everything is placed where they make sense. Fit and finish? Audi again. The GC is full of cheap plastic.

Finally stick on the name plate, and that adds prestige.

It's $69,100 for a fully loaded including NAV S5 6-speed coupe. $38,295 for a GT Genesis Coupe, so a difference of around $31,000 Canadian. Your friend got ripped off BADLY if he paid $85,000 for the car...I got a deal on some land for him though...

Now if Audi stuck the supercharged 3.0L in the S5 to match the S4, it will be one blast down the highway I am sure of it. Instant linear torque + AWD + 6-speed.
 
#16 ·
The V8 is nice, a bit quiet though. I imagine is because the car is sound proof.

He said to me fully load+taxes+interest+all other crap = close to 85,000$

His car was a Loan, it cost him 1400$/month :eek:(9% interest ouch!)
 
#19 ·
The Quattro system isn't nearly as advanced as as Mitsubishi's S-AWC, it still lacks torque vectoring. Also, it's really not far off of Subaru's differential system for the STi, it can only proportion torque between the front and rear wheels, not each individual one.
 
#35 · (Edited)
They are all FWD bias which blows already (S-AWC / SH-AWD). I have only found information on the net stating that the systems only distribute to the rears, but not including the front. Same system, Honda Prelude had it in '97 likely same time as the EVO got it. It's the same concepts as 4-Motion used in VW's.

Torque Vectoring: The Hyper-Smart, Fuel-Efficient Future of All-Wheel Drive - Popular Mechanics

It's funny you bring up the S-AWC system, the S5 has the more advanced version of S-AWC controlling all 4 tires instead of 2 as well as being RWD bias...along with all the stuff the Subaru does (had it in my '01 Audi with 40/60 rear).
 
#28 ·
Shhh! Here's some popcorn. Sit and enjoy. :D

BMW for less money? I think the S5 and M3 are about equal in starting price, no?
 
#30 ·
Yeah, that's true. Forgot about the RS models since there isn't an RS5 yet.
 
#31 ·
Having owned Audis since the 1980's

I'm no longer overly impressed with European engineering vs everybody else. And reliability and maintenance costs suck on those cars. Quattro used to be the draw for Audi but now everyone has similar offerings. At least that part of the car appears bullet-proof. The rest: not so much. Timing belt replacement at 60-70K miles is $1000+. My V6 has leaked oil for years in spite of two expensive efforts to fix it. Expensive radiator replacement, control arm component disintegration, multiple replacement of the same coolant temp sensor - all within 80K miles.
 
#32 ·
First off, I will say both are nice cars, but both in two completely different leagues. I'd like to know how their is a 50k price difference. I know here in America the S5 is around 52k stock, and the gen is around 27k for the base 3.8. I'd recommend test driving the new 2010 Audi S4. It went back to the supercharged 3.0 v6, and is pumping out 333hp with 325 pounds of torque. Definitely a sporty car. Something I wouldn't mind having because with little tuning and bolt on's, that car is easily a 450-500hp monster.
 
#33 ·
In canada the 2009 S5 fully load with navy = 70,000$+ handling/preparation + taxes = close to 85,000$CAD

The Genesis 3.8 Base = 33,000$CAD +handling/preparation + taxes = close to 38,000$ CAD

85,000-38,000 = 47,000$CAD (that is a lot)

Canadien car price are ridiculous:mad2:
 
#37 ·
in regards to an AWD system I'm not a big fan of Mitsubishi's setup...not a proponent of a horizontal mount engine married to an AWD setup. Sure the fact that you can supply torque to ONE wheel is great but there's no real world application for it...and i could be wrong but I don't even think it's applicable in rally racing...don't know why they don't just go back to the lateral mounts...almost as stupid as getting a FWD SUV, or worse yet, eliminating the 4WD/AWD combo as opposed to one or the other...and if you don't know that there's a difference...there's a HUGE difference.
 
#38 ·
in regards to an AWD system I'm not a big fan of Mitsubishi's setup...not a proponent of a horizontal mount engine married to an AWD setup.
You should review your position. Mitsubishi's layout is currently one of the best on the market, especially when it comes to pavement cornering.

Evo's are kicking ass in autoX and Time Attack event all over the place. They are spot on in the handling department and the engine is just bulletproof amazing. It also appears so much easier to service a Mitsubishi engine then let's say, a Subi or Audi. Subaru appears to have retired from racing quite a lot and want to make their image more like Toyota. They are lucky they have Ken Block...