mrxkrap

I've been looking through many forums and I haven't found a thread relevant yet. I'm planning to purchase an audi, but I can't decide between the a4 and a5.

The 2011 a4 quattro would be premium plus with sports packaging and the Bang & Olufsen Sound System.

The 2011 a5 quattro would be premium plus with no options.

The price for the a4 is around 1.5k cheaper.
Is there anything different about the two with the exception of the interior and exterior?
Would getting the a4 with options be smarter?

TypeMRT

It's hard when you know that you can get a couple of more extras (Sport Package AND B&O Sound) for less money and equal performance. I'm looking at leasing and that price gap widens even more.

gunsmoker

I was looking at both of them too and I had my eyes on the A5 first. I went to see it and when I saw the back seat, that did it for me. It's unusable to me. I am a coupe guy and my wife was already giving me a hard time for not having a 4-door car and having to drive my kids around. Replacing that coupe with another that had even less space in the back was going to be a tough sell.
The A5 is 3.4 inches shorter and guess where the difference comes from - the rear leg room.

I have also grown to like the A4 better aesthetically, but it has to be a P+ with the sport package for me, which is what I got. There are two exterior design proportions in the a5 that I don't like, but that's subjective.

JD15

If the A4 and A5 were the same price, I would have probably have bought the A5. However, I don't think that slightly better exterior aesthetics are worth $3500, so I went with the A4. If it were me, I would take the A4 with options and save the $1500.

mrxkrap

Would you say the sport package and the B&O sound system is worth not getting a coupe for a coupe guy?

jdong

I'm not sure how we're expected to reach into your brain and answer this in a helpful way.

My 2c is I sat in an S5 in the showroom before test driving the A4 and S4. I found the view from the driver's perspective more or less the same between the A4 and S5 (minus the design differences because of apples-to-oranges comparison). But the rear room is really an afterthought, and unless I'm shuttling around 6 year olds I don't think they can actually be put to practical use. That was a dealbreaker for me -- but then again, I'm not a "coupe guy"


The B&O system is definitely a worthwhile upgrade, and it's relatively inexpensive amortized over the length of ownership so I'm not sure why you wouldn't get it unless you plan on ripping out the sound system and doing it yourself with superior aftermarket equipment.

From exterior design, I'll go off on a limb and say I actually like the A4 better than the A5. The curvy LED DRLs are more bold than the shape on the A5.

markinarch

Ditto JD15.

I wanted an A5 but at the price range I was looking at I wouldn't have been able to get the options I wanted. The options I have listed in my signature are exactly what I wanted, the A5 would have been basically bone stock. So I gave up form for function. A5 is a beautiful car and I still wish I could have got one but I'm young so I have lots of time for new cars. If you have the extra cash for the A5 and don't use backseats much, get it.

precinder2

The A5's sunroof only tilts, doesn't slide open. That was a deal breaker for me living in a warm sunny climate.

a4-bob

A4 with extras for sure. I'd be curious to see the replies if you asked the exact same question on the A5 forum.

NickZag

I was looking at A5's before I bought my A4, but in the grand scheme of things I didn't think the extra $4,000 for have 2 less doors was worth it. After that, I test drove my A4 and never looked back. I have ZERO regrets.