freshfrompacificrim

New Audi Enthusiast here. I'm in love with the way it looks! But I know it's a whole different story to figure out how a car is to live with, which you can't find out by reading reviews or test driving it.

I'm just deciding whether to buy an Audi A5 or keep my A4.
I don't have kids, so my back seat is hardly used, and I'm keeping my A6 for long distance cruising. I have driven an A5 2.0T, and it drives almost the same (without the annoying CVT gearbox) and somehow the steering on the A5 feels a bit more numb?

If I do buy I will go for the 2010 A5 2.0T Quattro Premium Plus, Manual.

Any former A4 owners? Any quirks you can't get over? Reliability I don't care too much about since I will be leasing it.

SFV A4

While the A5 is great, so is the B8 A4. I don't think it's worth taking a bath on your car just to gain some style with the A4. Maybe wait a few years and it might be more of a change and worthwhile.
My two cents.

robertp71

I made a similar move in going from a 2002 A4 3.0 M/T to my 2009 A5 3.2 M/T. For me, there isn't a single category in which the A5 isn't a vastly superior car. To name but a few, it rides better, handles better (steering may be slightly more numb, but the body roll isn't 2-phase like the older A4), is significantly quicker, gets better gas mileage, the interior and sound isolation are major improvements, and there is simply no comparing the old Bose to the new B&0 system.

The A5 3.2 could probably use a stiffer rear sway bar, but not something I have any plans to replace

questionlp

In a couple of months, I hope to be going from my 2004 A4 3.0 quattro 6AT to a 2011 S5 6MT. I have no kids (and not plans for any) and usually don't have a passenger, so the tiny rear seating isn't a problem for me.

Styling definitely dominates the decision to get an S5, but so does the additional performance and handling.

atombomb33

There really isn't that much of a difference between the B8 A4 you have and the A5...at least from a driving perspective. They're very close.

The A5 is perhaps a little sportier and you get a more stylish exterior (which is subjective based on your own opinions).

If you're going to lose more than $1000 on trading in the A4, I don't think it's worth it. The cars are just too close.

jimbo912

I own an 09 A4 auto and a 10 A5 standard. To me, the A5 feels more fun,and not just because of the stick. I enjoy the "ride " of the A5 much more. My wife drives the A4 and I drive the A5.

MonkeyMcBanana

Take a read of this thread. There are many many more like it on the internet, and Audi has no suggested fix for the problem. Thanks Audi!


http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-genera...tml#post241194

KarlFEvans

So MonkeyBanana, you have a 2.0T A5 with exhaust noises that you do not like?

The OP seems to prefer the 3.2.

MonkeyMcBanana

I made recordings of what my 2012 A5 2.0T sounds like at idle after driving approximately 15 minutes. I want to also mention that the car only has 1800 miles on it.



I've taken it in to the shop and had a few parts changed out. In the past three days since the "repair", the noises have not returned. But if you follow this forum, you will read that many have stated the fix is only temporary.

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-genera...exhaust-2.html

If I was you knowing what I know now, I would wait until Audi finds a permanent solution before purchasing the vehicle. It is quite disturbing that a $40k+ car makes these noises and has not yet been addressed by the company.

By the way, how many other Audi A4 and A5 owners have been experiencing this same problem? (Follow the A5OC thread to learn how to identify if your car also has the problem).