As I said in my previous thread, I traded my 2011 S5 for a 2012 S4. I picked it up Tuesday night and wanted to share my impressions in comparison with my S5.

EXTERIOR:
The ibis white with magma/carbon interior and 19" wheels is just stunning to me in person. I wasn't so sure from pictures, but when I got it, I was totally convinced. The lines of the S5 still obviously have the advantage though. Both great looking cars. The S4's only bad angle is the back viewed straight on.

Advantage: S5

INTERIOR:
The S4 with magma and carbon interior has more of a wow factor now, compared to my S5's black interior. The S4's steering wheel feels a little thinner and the leather feels a little softer in the S5 (could be my imagination). My S4 has more features than my S5, like push button start, memory seats, auto dimming mirrors, and ADS lite. So the interior feels more exciting now. The S5's instrument cluster is more sunken in and looks better with the black trim in the nav area. I find the S4 much easier to get in and out of. Also the seats feel less deeply bolstered (could be my imagination again). Visibility in the S4 is much better as well (except for the giant backseat headrests in your rearview). When I discovered my car had no rearview camera I was pretty pissed. Thought navigation would give me that, but Audi decided to play more games with the 2012 model and make that a separate option.

Advantage: Tie

HANDLING:

Both these cars weigh roughly the same, but the S4 feels 500lbs lighter. I'm sure the sports differential helps a lot with this. The car just feels more nimble and responsive. No contest here.

Advantage: S4

TRANSMISSION:

S-tronic is simply incredible. Shifts are instantaneous. Probably my favorite part about the car so far. My only complaint is the driving in dynamic/S mode, that it still shifts too early. My S5 would hold the gear longer in S mode. When shifted with the paddle shifters though, it's incredible.

Advantage: S4!

ACCELERATION:

This is a tough one. The S4 is definitely faster. Very crisp and clinical feeling. More eager than the S5. The S5 had more drama though (V8 growl), which I miss a little. The S4 has more power in the low and mid range, but the S5 might have a tiny advantage way up in the rev's when driving at 9/10th's. I can't be sure though, it could just be the S5 sounded louder.

Advantage: S4

EXHAUST NOTE:

Obviously the S5 wins here. However, the S4 sounds nice to me too when winding up the gears. Sounds more exotic than muscle car. The little chuff's between gear changes are nice too.

Advantage: S5


Thanks for reading to my rambling review. Overall very happen with the S4 and don't regret the trade at all. I will post pictures soon. Also, can't wait to get APR exhaust and ECU upgrade.

 

Congrats on finishing the trade! Enjoy the car. Nice exterior color ;-)

 

Congrats, and great review. for the past 3 years i was set on a S5, but notice so many in L.A. the S4 took over in my heart the past year. It is good to see these reviews so i have no buyers remorse at all!

 

congrats on the trade! glad your happy with the car! great review....glad i made the right choice choosing the S4 over the S5 cuz i was considering both.

get some pics up when you get a chance!

 

Thanks guys. Definitely will take some pics this weekend. Going out to the country and it should be beautiful weather.

Also, just called the dealer and my car will get the backup camera in November. There is still a shortage of parts from the tsunami in Japan.

 

Great review, and most appropriate for me. I am trading in my 09 S5 for a 2012 S4 in Glacier white with black leather interior. Test drove the S4 and loved the ride and acceleration, also it seems there are now lots of A5's and S5's on the road. The S4 is a rarity in comparison, and I prefer to be in that minority.
Good luck with your new ride.

 

I'm interested to see a glacier white in person. Should look great. I agree, there are more A5/S5's on the road these days.

On a side note, when I brought the S4 home and was pulling into the parking garage, a brand new ibis S5 pulled up behind me. The valet guy was laughing.

 

If you have it in Dynamic (you said you had Sport Diff) don't put it in the manual gate, leave it in D and it will not short shift. This happens to some but not all DSG's when you leave them in "M" with short shifting.

 

I do set it to dynamic and leave it in D (says S on the information display). Do you think it needs to "learn" a little?

It seems like in Auto D, it shifts up at about 1500-1800 rpm and in Dynamic D it shifts between 2200-3500 depending on how aggressive I am with it. With the S5 it would shift between 4k and redline in S mode.

 

Ahh I see what you mean, this tranny will short shift no matter what due to the huge TQ availible. I assumed you meant under WOT it was shifting before redline, which they can do when in "M" mode. If you don't like how soon it's shifting you can wait to let it learn, or keep it in "M" and control it, or give it more pedal.

Any way you cut it, the short shifting saves a LOT of fuel, driving in dynamic all the time will yeild S5 like fuel consumption, not like what the sticker shows.