Picture Gallery: 2008 Audi A5 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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Word on the street is this car is so hot that buying one means waiting lists of 12 months. Worldwide demand is well beyond Audi’s initial expectations. With a base price of $51,850 for a car that certainly does not need many upgrades, and of course the sleek lines that invoke sensual emotions, this writer can relate to the buying public’s lust for this machine.
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For once, my tester is not fully loaded with options, but has only an upgraded set of wheels — from 18-inch to 19-inch — that are absolutely, without a shadow of the doubt, the coolest and most visually-striking rims I have ever seen in person ($1,200 well spent) and an $800 charge for the Sahara Silver Metallic paint that looks silver from some angles and beige from other angles and had my co-workers arguing whether the car was beige or silver for a good five minutes.
There are a few available options if you wanted to spice up your A5 including: the S line package to make your A5 look very much like an S5 ($3,900); the technology package for $1,600 which adds adaptive headlights; advanced key and homelink, a navigation package for $3,500 or a Bang and Olufsen premium sound system for a cool $1,100. Also available separately are Audi side assist (blind spot monitoring system for $650), and reverse sensors for a reasonable $450.
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For those not in the know, all A5s come in Coupe form, all A5s come with a 6-speed manual transmission and all of them are powered by a 3.2litre FSI V-6 engine that produces 265hp. And of course all A5s come with the sexiest daytime running lights available on the market — taken right from the Audi R8 supercar.
On that note on my way home this evening I encountered a lovely orange Lamborghini Gallardo traveling in the opposite direction. I’m not sure who was checking out whose car in this situation. It was a pretty close battle of the sex machines.
2008 Audi A5
MSRP as tested (including destination): $53,850
For more information on Audi and the A5 visit Audi Canada
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The rest of the interior is typical Audi. It almost seems like if you have been in one Audi, you have been in them all. However, there are some improvements to the controls for the A5. The HVAC control system is less complicated than in other Audi’s I have driven, and there are fewer buttons in the A5. The seat heater adjustment uses the same knob as the climate control adjustment — with six settings so you can toast your bottom just right.
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The parking brake is one of the most annoying electronic gadgets I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealing with as well. It takes me a fraction of a second to yank a mechanical hand brake. But every time I try to set the electronic brake in the A5 I fumble with the button. “Is it up, or down? Remember to hold the brakes on, it is suppose to disengage automatically when I leave my parking spot.” It never seems to work right for me.
But enough with the niggles. The rest of the interior is gorgeous; it looks and feels great. It is a large car with fairly low seating and large doors, which could be an issue in tight spaces. Forget sitting anyone tall in the back seats. My hair was touching the rear roof liner. Even if the rear passenger is short, unless your driver or front passenger is 5′5″ or shorter, with the hard backed front seats you wouldn’t want them to sit back there very long if they have legs.
The trunk, on the other hand, is massive and with the 60/40 split seats that fold almost perfectly flat, cargo capacity is surprising for this vehicle type. I am sure Audi has done their research: rear leg room has been compromised in order to ensure there is enough room for two large sets of golf clubs and perhaps even those small hand carts.
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When your goal is just to cruise quietly the A5 does that superbly as well, with the motor turning over 1,800 rpm at 80km/h and 2,600 rpm at 120km/h, and there is next to zero noise intrusion into the cabin. Wind noise is kept to a bare minimum as well; I’m sure the airflow of this gorgeous car has been optimized extensively in wind tunnel testing. Road noise is also extremely low, as one expects from an Audi I suppose.
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How does it handle? Well, you would have to drive somewhat recklessly on public roads to detect much understeer in the A5, as it seems to hug corners extremely well. Perhaps on a race track you could push it to the edge, but on public roads only the bravest of drivers will be able to explore its limits.
Turn-in is crisp and quick and the variable speed steering tightens up beautifully at higher speeds while in parking lots, it stays light and easy to use. Exiting a corner is where most of the fun happens. Downshift with the slick six-speed shifter and the all-wheel drive system launches you off the apex with authority.
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My only real complaints about the A5 are the rather useless moonroof that only opens an inch and the complex electronics used for simple things like the parking brake. Gas mileage, though, was exceptional for the amount of performance delivered by the 3.2-litre engine.
I averaged 10.2L/100km while ripping around my daily route in the A5. Although it does require premium fuel, an average of 10.2L/100km in a combination of city and highway mileage is very reasonable and better than some vehicles I have driven with much less horsepower, no all-wheel drive system and reduced weight.
Correction: The Audi A5 is available with an automatic 6-speed tip-tronic transmission as a $1500 option.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2008 Audi A5
MSRP as tested (including destination): $53,850
For more information on Audi and the A5 visit Audi Canada
May 15, 2008, 06:48:31 am "The Audi A5 is not available with an automatic transmission, which is rather odd in this day and age of the automobile"
Ahhaa...that's why we've not seen more of these on the road.
Railton
May 15, 2008, 10:14:17 am I saw one in black the other day. My eyes were transfixed, head turning. Luckily I wasn't driving the car. Its simlply gorgeous.
May 15, 2008, 10:48:26 am
Ahhaa...that's why we've not seen more of these on the road.
Railton
That's bizarre. It's available with either a six-speed or an automatic ("tiptronic," which I think is their conventional automatic) in the States. I wonder why they don't offer the Tiptronic A5 in Canada?
May 15, 2008, 10:52:35 am I was looking at Audi's site this morning and nada. Then I found some info somewhere else saying the auto would come later -- but that was for the US so perhaps US only -- not sure. Unfortunately I'm in the dark and can only go by audi.ca on this one -- but you are correct the US offers the tiptronic 6-speed auto.
May 15, 2008, 11:00:07 am It makes no effing sense whatsoever to offer a luxury car as a manual transmission only, unless we're talking about the absolute fringe of high performance (M3). And an A5 3.2 certainly isn't at the razor's edge like the M3 is.
May 15, 2008, 11:01:34 am I've seen a white S5 in downtown Toronto here.. it had four people.. two in the back, both adults.
Simply beautiful.. but I just hope I won't see it as much as I see the 3 coupes.
There are just too many of those around!
Audi will probably offer auto/tiptronic very soon...it's hard to believe that they aren't offering the tiptronic initially.
But as soon as they do, there's going to be so many of these on the road and it won't be as beautiful as much......
May 15, 2008, 02:05:17 pm Audi wanted the A5/S5 to go to the enthusiasts first, no? I thought they had released the S5 manual first, then the S5 auto, now the A5 manual, and eventually an A5 automatic... makes sense to me. Not offering an automatic A5 would hurt sales in a big way, I highly doubt Audi would do that.
May 15, 2008, 05:38:15 pm Hopefully, Audi releases a DSG, twin clutch system instead of a conventional automatic/tiptronic system with torque converter with the A5/S5. Would be like the one on the TT. That would make a very big difference with performance close to or better than the manual.
May 15, 2008, 07:08:29 pm What a gorgeous car!
May 15, 2008, 08:20:15 pm
There's no pleasing you. You bitch when there is no stick on offer, and you bitch when it is offered...
May 15, 2008, 10:38:26 pm
There's no pleasing you. You bitch when there is no stick on offer, and you bitch when it is offered...
Every once in a while, a manufacturer does something TRULY CRAZY and offers consumers a CHOICE
May 16, 2008, 08:10:47 am Was this sexy machine waiting at the Terry Fox/Hazeldean lights this morning? Very nice!
May 16, 2008, 08:56:57 am Around 7:15 yeah that would be me.
May 16, 2008, 09:12:21 am '08 A5 6-spd Tiptronic is in the order guide priced at $53,350. But you're right, don't see it on Audi.ca... maybe hasn't arrived yet or is just now?
Gorgeous car. Plastic part covering the middle of the centre console (by the CD slot?) on some models (not yours) looks a little cheap, but that's about the only gripe. Oh, and wish the roof slid open instead of just venting up. To me overall, A/S5 looks far more upscale and elegant than a 3 Coupé, and I think I'd prefer touring coupe over sports coupe in my day-to-day driving, granted the 335i has oodles of power for less money. Still, the is one hot number, and much less of them littering the road.
Can you explain more about how the electronic parking brake works? Does it operate like the Passat's? I haven't used either, so if you (or a Passat owner) could chime in would appreciate... I think I'd prefer it over the regular hand brake (tho e-brake certainly is easy to grab) and does take up less space. Probably would take awhile to adjust to a button.
May 16, 2008, 09:55:05 am SAM.
In the passat the hand brake is just a button you hit.
In the A5, you have to pull a switch to set it and push it to take it off. It's just annoying because sometimes I'll push it instead of pull it etc. Also it is suppose to disengage when you just drive away but sometimes it doesn't for some odd reason.
May 16, 2008, 10:12:46 am The electronics are already breaking?
May 16, 2008, 10:25:25 am So James, which would you buy and why between the Audi A5 or G37 coupe?
Railton
May 16, 2008, 10:41:01 am Oh tough question that one there -- Nissan should send me a G37 Coupe to compare!
May 16, 2008, 11:31:37 am
In the passat the hand brake is just a button you hit.
In the A5, you have to pull a switch to set it and push it to take it off. It's just annoying because sometimes I'll push it instead of pull it etc. Also it is suppose to disengage when you just drive away but sometimes it doesn't for some odd reason.
I hadn't noticed the difference before. Was wondering because Tiguan has the switch (as seen here) which I guess is like the A5's you describe? Moves kind of like a power window switch up and down? I had incorrectly assumed for whatever reason you pulled up to engage (and the light would turn on) and up again to disengage.
Passat's button really would be much easier, although I don't like the placement of the button on the dash (no where near the shifter, long stretch of the finger).
Thanks!
May 16, 2008, 11:37:00 am Yeah that's the same, minus the autohold. Certainly in a better spot than the passat, I was stuck for like 10 min looking for that button
May 16, 2008, 12:59:37 pm Would like to see how the car handles against a BMW 335Xi Coupe
May 18, 2008, 01:14:40 am
Fifth Gear's test of a 335i versus an S5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHj0zbhjLZI
If all you care about is handling, get the BMW. But in my opinion, the Audi offers the better "total package"--interior materials, interior and exterior design, roomy trunk, good standard equipment, etc, with 90% of the sporty performance of the Bimmer. It all depends on whether you want a highly-focused driver's car or a stylish jack-of-all-trades.
May 19, 2008, 11:26:42 pm That fuel mileage sounds fantastic. I was on the Honda lot the other day, and I seem to recall the Civic Si got ~10l/100km too... and it's down 65hp, two cylinders, two drive wheels, and I should expect a fair bit of weight...
May 20, 2008, 08:01:57 am there was a correction at the end of the article. the a5 comes with either a manual or auto. i agree that this car is gorgeous. my buddy is shopping the 335 (which is also gorgeous) and mentioned he took it for a test drive but i had to stir the pot and ask if he had looked at the a5 yet.....test drive coming soon.
May 20, 2008, 01:32:08 pm Re Auto Box...
Here in Europe the S5 will shortly be available with Audi's revised 7 speed S-Tronic dual clutch gear box, I guess you guys in Canada will soon have that option too on the A5 range.
BTW, an A5 Sportback will be available next year - http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Audi-A5-Sportback2/?&R=EPI-5958 .
M.