mhblaw

Been driving Audi's since my 1980 5000T, and 10 more between that and the current '18 S5, including a '12 S5 and a '13 RS5. And now an '18 RS5 to be built first week of June. I'm kinda with Chris. Here in fly over country it is doubtful I will ever see another RS5, maybe if I get to MSP, but not around here. That is worth something to me, even if it seems snobbish. I also like driving and commute to MN lake country quite often and these coupes are great cruisers. Three "officers" that stopped me in the RS5 in MT and MN over the years always said as they handed me the ticket, "Nice car".

Nikon1

NoMoreBMWs

The trouble here in Ontario is the insurance companies: they're mad at the government for limiting rates and taking it out on drivers. I used to go north of North Bay (4 hours) to really let the M3 or bike go, but these days one accident and a ticket or two in two or three years and you find yourself in the high risk insurance pool.

superswiss

That's certainly true and I'm not much interested in those cars. An irrational car for me still has to be an experience that I look forward to having every day. I've been stuck in an A5 SB for the last 3.5 weeks. My 2013 RS5 originally went in the shop to replace the drive position sensor. While in the shop some moron scratched the front fender, so it had to go to the body shop, and then once they had taken the transmission apart, they found a cracked clutch cover. We are now waiting for a new clutch cover from Germany. The moral of the story is, I can't wait to get my car back. I'm bored out of my mind in this A5. It's not the performance really. The car is pretty zippy in every day driving, but it's just such a dull experience.

Compared to its current competitors, I'm kinda with you. The new RS5 still has me interested somewhat. Its competitors don't check all my boxes, either. Quattro is a big reason. Even BWM M and AMG have now realized that a rear biased AWD drivetrain is the way to go in these kinds of cars, unfortunately that hasn't trickled down to this segment yet. I'm very intrigued by the new M5 and the E63.

NoMoreBMWs

It seems to me that the new M340i (due to be launched at the Paris show) and the current C43 are a direct answer to the S4/S5 and one expects that the upcoming G80/G82 M3/M4 will be smaller and lighter versions of the M5. My money is on BMW to get it right in terms of bringing back the sports car feel which appears to be the missing ingredient.

adg44

I think it's important to look at the RS 5 and its competitors for what they are. The M4 is great for track purposes. The C63 is a muscle car. The RS 5 is a grand tourer. The goal of the RS 5 was to take the ability to go to the track, hit the canyon roads, have amazing acceleration, and combine it with everyday usability and comfort. If you had to choose a car to live with every day, the RS 5 is the clear choice, as the other cars beat you up a little bit. If you go to buy an RS 5 and think it's a track toy, then you will be disappointed (go for a TT RS). If you want to do big smokey burnouts like you can with a C63 and you choose the RS 5, then you will be disappointed. It's all about understanding the purpose of the vehicle, and I think that was well reflected in the US automotive media reviews: 2018 Audi RS 5 Coupe U.S. Spec First Drive Review | Automobile Magazine

superswiss

So goes the theory. However, I have driven all these cars and they are all GTs. The old RS5 is also a GT. A very good GT at that. The one missing ingredient in the USA was the lack of an adaptive suspension, so you could argue that the fixed RS suspension beats you up a bit more, however it was available with an adaptive suspension in other parts of the world and having lived with it personally for over 5 years now, it's an excellent GT. My favorite road trip car so far. The suspension, even though is fixed does not beat me up on long trips at all. The C63 is also a GT. In comfort mode it's an equally purring cat. The coupe is actually even more comfortable than the sedan. AMG deliberately made the coupe to be more comfortable in comfort mode to not compromise the GT aspect. The M4 while the best track weapon of the bunch is still a very comfortable GT with all the systems dialed down. However, if you look at the old RS5 and the C63 if you turn them up, they are a beast providing all the sensory experience of a supercar, but you can quiet it all down if you just wanna cross the continent in comfort. The old RS5 was not lacking in the GT department. That's the part I have a hard time understanding with the new positioning of the new RS5. You could argue it was lacking in the driving dynamics department given the weight and such, but I don't think anyone ever criticized it for not being GT enough.

Totally agree. The current head of BMW M is the former head of Quattro Gmbh. Looking at what's happened with the M5, I get the feeling that he is doing at BMW M, what he couldn't do at Quattro Gmbh/Audi Sport. I have a feeling that Audi management wanted to go a different direction with the RS models.

WillieFlo

Having driven a NASCAR stock car a few times as well as a shifter Kart, I'm not looking to do that kind of driving on public roads,
but I personally find value in buying my RS5 Sportback(when it's released) because I know it is a great platform and canvas to start with;
and know, that just like every other vehicle I've ever owned, I will be modifying it.

The RS5 is a base line to improve on by changing an exhaust, to a lighter wheel/tire setup, and eventually tuning the engine to push
the RS5 well over 500 hp with more boost like others at ABT and Manhart have done already, and remove the limiter. After doing that,
then I just may take it to a drag strip and show those other guys with AMG and BMW M on their tails where to stick it.

NoMoreBMWs

BMW had fallen behind, owned up to it and decided to make changes. Audi is currently on a roll, and to my mind both the S5s and RS5s reflect a bit of a "parts bin" philosophy with the serious R&D going to the A6, A7 and A8.

WillieFlo

I think the new BMW M5 is a very capable car and has great performance numbers, but it just doesn't seem to have as sporty of an appeal as it used to.....looks more luxury than sport....