So I apologize if this gets long. I'm an engineer, and I've been driving a 2002 Focus SVT for the past 6 years. Love the car. I purchased a 2007 Pontiac Vibe to run up miles for work on and this has proven profitable. The problem is I hate the Vibe. The SVT Focus is better on all aspects, but I expect the SVT to not last long.

I'm looking for "My next car". I've driven the BMV 3.35, and the G37. It's all in my price range. My biggest problem is the jump to the price tag, which I am sure will easily become more comfortable once I drive the car every day. The A5 has caught my attention because of it's looks, AWD, and amenities. Power is not so much a concern, I value handling and finesse.

I'm concerned about driving a forced induction car. I have no experience in these and want a car that requires little maintenance and therefore value the 3.2L V6. I want to drive the car for the next 6-7 years, and the turbo scares me. Is this a proper assertion?

I'm also concerned about the automatic transmission. I've driven manual for the past 10 years, and it concerns me that I can only purchase V6 w/ manual used. I'm just not used to taking care of them and coupled with the 6-7 years owning puts me outside the warranty when I do not want the burden of repairs. I understand replacing a clutch.

Other than that I like sport suspension and am wondering if the S-line has better handling than sport. My other question is that I have an Itouch first generation and am wondering if the MMI has any advantages over the AMI other than the nifty controls. Same for bluetooth with a blackberry.

I'm sold on the B&O however.

Any thoughts?

-Purdue Thumbs

 

I think the 2.0T with 6-speed manual would not disappoint you. Audi has been doing turbos for a long time and they are reliable. Most reviewers who have driven both the V6 and the 2.0T reccomend the 2.0T. I've driven both and prefer the 2.0T partially due to better low end torque, and that the price difference here in Canada is about 6K. That pays for the S-Line package, the Technology Package, and then some. The B&O is a good choice too.

Give the C&D reviews a read:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

http://blog.caranddriver.com/10best-...-audi-a5-2-0t/

 

I wouldn't say most prefer the 2.0t, I think some don't see the cost for the 3.2L as worth it, as the performance of 2.0t isn't that far behind the 3.2L but it is behind. But, some like the gas mileage they get with the 2.0t. From a purely engine standpoint the 3.2L is better, from cost and fuel economy standpoint the 2.0t wins, as for the turbo, Audi's turbo are fairly reliable. I owned a 1.8t A4 , for 140,000 miles, no problem.

 

Of those three, I would go for the A5 or BMW 335. Having owned a BMW and now an A5, I can tell you that they are both incredible cars and you will love whichever you get. I've never driven the G37, but I'm sure there's a reason why I wasn't compelled to even test drive it.

As far as driving, BMW has a very raw feel to them, you really feel very engaged as you drive. Audi offer a lot of assistance with your driving, it almost feels like the Audi is helping you drive. For some people this is a positive, for some it isn't. I really can't tell which one I like better, they're just different, but both great, you'll have to judge for yourself.

As far as stying, you are not going to find a better looking car than an A5 right now for this price range. However, Audi's change their style so often and use fairly contemporary styling, so the sexy Audi you're driving now, may look dated within 3-4 years. BMW uses more classic styling, they really don't change their cars all that much over the years. This is a good thing if you keep your car for 5+ years because your BMW is probably still going to look great towards the end, while the Audi is not. However in the short term, you may find the BMW styling slightly boring. It's a trade off between having a car that turns heads now, and one that doesn't, but is going to look generally very nice over the entire life of the car.

As far as reliability. I can't speak for Audi, but my BMW was pretty trouble free until it started to get old. However, with either car you choose, they are far more expensive to repair than an American car. So even if they cause you no major problems, over time any car is going to need fixing due to wear and tear, and when that time comes, it's going to cost a fortune. If you plan to keep the car that long, you are no doubt going to spend a lot on repairs once things start breaking, probably 4-5 years into it. That's why I'm leasing my Audi. I wouldn't suggest keeping these cars far past their warranty's.

Overall I would say that the biggest advantage of the A5 over the others is it's looks, it's stunning. If you really love the look of the A5, then go for that, otherwise you're going to regret it every time you see one on the road. If looks aren't as important, I would go for the 335. It may not turn heads, but still looks great, drives incredible, has a very classy interior that is going to look great over the life of the car. IMHO it's the best car in it's class, but not for everyone. I'm confident that you'll be happy with either one of those cars, just go test drive them multiple times and see which one you like better.

 

All of your considerations are good ones, and the 3 series, G37, and A5 are all great cars.

I don't think that the 2.0T engine is forced-induction will impact its reliability. Audi has been doing FI for a long time now and when there have been occasional engine issues on Audis they have tended to be as much with unrelated components as much as anything with the turbo (and engine issues are pretty infrequent to boot as well).

The 335i is forced-induction as well, of course, and it is nearly universally regarded as an excellent engine. I should mention though that BMW has had a number of issues with the high-pressure fuel pump used in the 335i and there have been some unlucky people who have had to get it replaced multiple times. This actually did put me off a bit from considering a 335i as I tend to keep my cars for 5+ years and I didn't want to be exposed to this risk after the warranty runs out.

The bigger question is whether an FI engine is right for your driving style - the torque comes on quicker but there tends to be less top-end HP than with a normally aspirated engine (especially with the 2.0T).

If ultimate performance isn't your top concern, the 2.0T as well as the 328i are definitely worth a look - and be aware that BMW is refreshing the 3-series coupe for MY2011 (with some design changes, so you may either prefer the current look or the new one).

If price is a concern, you should 100% look at the G37. It is by far the best value for the money of the 3, especially if you want things like nav (where the options on the German cars add up quickly). I seriously considered the G37 and while I decided the A5 was better for me in the end, it's still a great car.

To your specific questions about the A5, the suspension and handling characteristics should be exactly the same between the A5 sport package and S-line. S-line does get you the nicer exterior bits and the S-line interior (which I love), but it does require the Prestige package.

The MMI nav package does get you the controls relocated to the area around the shifter, which once you get used to it is a more convenient location. It also gets you the color driver info screen, which is very nice but does not add any functionality. It also gets you a slightly larger and higher-resolution screen. But the operation of the AMI and bluetooth (if so equipped) works the same with or without nav.

 

You can't go wrong with either one.. 2.0T or 3.2, what matters here is what you expect from the vehicle as far as cost, fuel efficiency, and/or performance.. and it's hard to match it all at once in any vehicle.

I've been driving a 3.2 for the last 15 months and I don't have a single complain except when my steering wheel started vibrating at 65mph and took me several visits to dealer, months, tons of crosswords with service personnel and Audi Care and $1900 worth of unnecessary parts just to get some freaking control arms and correct the problem. Other than that, vehicle is smooth and strong as expected!

I average 32 miles/gallon on my daily highway roundtrip commute to work at 65-75mph range. Last trip I made down to DC averaged 36.7 miles per gallon in same speed range. To me: D for fuel efficiency, S for fun, and manual mode for spirited driving, tiptronic is as fast or even faster than shifting a manual in time terms and DSG shifting in my neighborg 2008 GTI is even faster! It's just a transition state and if you had been driving manuals all your life, is a hard headed situation to comprehend than an auto will fulfill your needs or desires... but in the end is all in your head! I drive in manual mode as happy or even happier than with any manual, is physicaly effortless shifting!! Whatever you decission is.. make sure you get the S-Line or Sport package, suspension is firmer and looks and feels explendid. Ohh by the way.. do not buy a car thinking what you can do next.. meaning.. chipping etc.. be wise! 4.2 got all you need, 3.2 almost matches S5 performance with less displacement and a lower sticker price, and then the 2.0T is a more affordable trim package with specs almost matching the 3.2 so there are your ranges.

If you think about it, most if not all of our current road BEASTS out there including Lambo's, Ferrari's, Bugatti's and so on.. they have all gone into some sort of auto-mode.. call it sequential, tiptronics, DSG's, PDK's.. whatever.. they all seek the same... faster shifting! Formula 1 cars have these implemented several years ago. So has the world gone insane by replacing manual gearboxes or have they gone smarter??

 

The A5 3.2 doesn't come close to the S5's 4.2 peformance, I test drove both, and purchased the S5, the S5 0-60 is 4.9secs, the A5 3.2 is a second plus slower, at 5.9secs, they are totally different animals, the S5 has nearly 100 more HP, and the difference in engine rumble is huge. The v8 being one of the best non-pure sport car sounding v8's out there. They aren't remotely close in terms of performance. And the RS5 if it ever arrives , will seem like a rocket ship next to an S5.

In any vain, if you want a more engaged driving experience, ensure you get Drive - Select and the sport differential on what ever variant you purchase, the A5 or S5.

 

Sport diff is only available on the S5 - and it sounds like a nice option for $1k even if you don't get the ADS.

 

3.2 is 5.8sec to 60mph and the S5 does it in 5.1sec so a 0.7 difference is quite substantial if you take into account the S5 has 2 more cylinders, bigger displacement and 85hp on top the V6 and not to mention the $10K difference in price. I've driven both as well and yes the v8 sound is greater but you can always get that from an aftermarket exhaust system without resonance lids.

Check the S5 brochure specs and/or Audi website, you will find out that the 4.9sec to 60mph is unofficial. [ 0-60mph in *4.9sec - *unofficial ]

 

haha, so to sum it up, you will happy with going with any of the three. If you are going with Audi then get a fully loaded one. LOL, I'm jut putting everything I got from replies together.