Need help deciding: 2010 S5 Tiptronic V8 or 2011 S5 S-Tronic V6T (Coupe)?
 

Hi all-

Hoping to see if the board can give me some pro/cons of going ordering the 2010 S5 Coupe with V8 and Tiptronic versus waiting for the 2011 S5 Coupe V6 supercharged with S-Tronic. I'm completely torn right now: should I order the 2010 or wait for the 2011?

With the equal amount of torque (available earlier with the 3.0T), would I be right to figure that the 3.0T with S-Tronic would be noticeably faster than the V8 with Tip, especially since the Tiptronic would have greater drivetrain losses?

The V8 would clearly win in terms of exhaust note, but the MPG of the 3.0T is definitely a plus. Some previews of the S5 Cabriolet seem to say that the new 3.0T & S-Tronic combo is a winner.

Any thoughts? Also, getting the V8 Manual is not an option due to the wife.

Thanks!

I'm very happy with my V8 Tip. To be honest, I wouldn't have purchased by S5 it if were a 3.0T. There's something intoxicating about the V8.

Why not wait a few months and try to test drive an S5 and a new S4 with the S-tronic and V6T? That way you can assess both engines and transmissions and make the choice that's best for you.

No one in the US has experienced the new longitudinal DSG (except for the press) so it's hard to assess compared to the tip. I guess the same could be said about the V6T too.

hey listen you can still do an after market supercharger on the V8 and get up to 400 hp. the v6 is already supercharged. where can you go from there?

I'm going to stasis tune my car in the next couple weeks - waiting for parts.

When the supercharger from VF becomes available I'm going to do that too.

the 2011 engine will be aftermarket boredom.

The 2011 will have much better handling as there will be substantially less weight hanging over the front axle line. Less weight should also = better performance and better economy. And changing the pulley and chipping should be easier and less expensive than doing it on the V8.

It depends on what's important to you - better performance or nicer noise.

Thanks, all. Keep the comments coming! It's damn hard to decide.

I dont post on the forum often, but since im starting to research my next car, i have been all over the place trying to find something. I think if you would like to mod the car, waiting for the 2011 3.0T (s/c) is a better option. As we saw today on the main page, or on Autoblog, Audi got 408Hp out of the 3.0T, hopefully showing there will be some aftermarket support to unlock more power from that engine once it starts showing up in more cars than the A6. That is whats keeping me interested in the S5, the possibility of the aftermarket. If you arent interested as much in that, I think you would be just as happy with the V8. I agree with the other person that says theres nothing like it. I have one now and I love it. The way things are going with new fuel economy standards, this might be one of your last chances to enjoy one.

Not true the V6 SC and V8 , actually almost weigh the same.

True, but is is shorter. The center of mass on the V6 will be farther back in relation to the front axle. So, theoretically, handling should improve.

The V8 is an amazing engine, but allow patience to wait for the V6T. Audi's engines are normally state of the art, and I'm sure this one will be no different.

Pericles, I'm fairly certain the V8 in the S5 is detuned from the RS4, which handles more then 400hp. A supercharger for this V8 will give you 500+hp. MTM has one.

~Mason