2008 Audi S5 Review
8 Feb, 2008
36 Comments 
When you come into a corner with speed, it doesn’t feel like you are going all that quick. When you get back onto the throttle, you ease on throttle pressure and it never lets go, it simply feels like it has endless amounts of grip. The feeling is truly dumbfounding and needs to be experienced to be believed. The feeling is then amplified in the wet when the front end doesn’t run wide, it simply drills down and feels absolutely astounding.
The S5’s steering is complete perfection. Although the steering wheel was a bit big for my liking, the steering feel was spectacular. Every singly abrasion in the road was felt through the wheel and there were no points of play in the steering, it was always dead accurate.
The speed limit on the road was 80km/h and went up to 100km/h in parts. Throughout 35km/h+ recommended corner speeds, only fourth gear was required to push the S5 along with the needed pace. The V8 motor pulls effortlessly from 2500RPM, all the way through to the redline which sits north of 7000RPM.
It would be the understatement of the year to call me impressed with the S5’s cornering abilities, it literally felt like a smaller version of the RS 4. A colleague of mine – also using the test circuit at the same time – was left in the distance after the first two corners. Although I won’t mention exactly what he was driving, his 6.0-litre V8 was neck and neck through the straights, but was left in the distance come the bends.
Straight line acceleration is somewhat misleading. Audi quotes a 0-100km/h time of just 5.1-seconds. If you play with the throttle throughout the gears, it doesn’t feel all that ‘torquey’ like a normal V8. It’s only when you introduce 100% throttle pressure that the engine starts pulling. Normally a ~5000RPM shift is required with a V8. The Audi unit on the other hand doesn’t need any shifting forethought until well into 7000RPM.
In a 0-100km/h run with the G-tech timing unit, I was able to record two 5.11-second runs. I was unable to finish a third as the clutch started slipping – due to the dodgy treatment of drivers before me. Even though, I am almost certain that if you were to try hard enough, you could obtain a sub 5-second 0-100 time, very impressive for a low-capacity V8.
Location: Home / Audi, Behind the Wheel / ...
Rate Post: 
(20 votes, average: 4.85 out of 5)
Loading ...
-
Print it:
February 8th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
S for sublime
what’s it like under heavy braking?
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
SWEET AND WORKS WELL!
Only gripe….so all Audis have same frontal snout? Like Puegeot, VW, etc. Tends to be safety in numbers and I look it as >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>BORING
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Possibly the best looking coupe in the world at this moment, and at $131,000 - a dead set steal!
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
oh yes Anthony - an absolute steal - because sooooo many ppl spend 130K on a car every day of the year… get a grip….
otherwise sounds like the vehicle was exciting for the test drive - let us know if you ever need any spare drivers to take these things for reviewing purposes :-)
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I’m a bit of an Audi fan having owned an A6 in the past. Its a pity Audi insist on all their cars looking the same. I wouldn’t say it was dull but if you owned a S5 you be a bit peeved the A4 looks the same.
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
As a S5 it is a bit expensive for me but it does bode well for the new A4. The A5 is a A4 Coupe after all !
Dash and most of the front end will be common I expect…
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
NICE 3 SERIES COUPE BUM…….hahaha where is Tonyn…ohhhh Melbourne.Cool.
BMW is still the original…..hahaha……come on babe where is ya!
Oh and I think the 3 series Coupes bum looks old…..so there you go!!!!
(Report)
February 8th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Yes, flying high, an absolute steal in this category, you dope. Go price the BM coupe of the same power, which by the way, is no where near as roomy as the S5 or price an equivalent size and powered Merc coupe!
None of us at car Advice can afford to spend 130 grand on a car either, but its still a steal in terms of value for money.
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 8:39 am
“NOT ANOTHER AUDI REVIEW”…..
Cheers
F-0
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Anthony… yeah yeah…. ;-)
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I will be happy when the team can start to get their hands on BMW stuff to test drive !
BMWs 335Ci, which has a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder good for 225kW and 400Nm of torque. It sells from $108,500, plus on-road costs. I don’t think that’s bad value! Next step up is M3………and we know who wins that one!hehehe
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
It looks expensive (thanks to headlights and the shiny black paint), but imo that doesn’t mean it is a styling masterpiece, it is far too conservative.
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hi Bavarian, we too will be happy when BMW grant us access to their press fleet. They have some interesting cars and SUV’s in their stable. And you’re right, the 335Ci is a whole lot of value!
(Report)
February 9th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
at least Audi are starting to style some great cars.
i cant help but feel they have invested in the same styling hand book that BMW have been using for years.
i suppose they would have had plenty of coin after selling holden their “old” styling book
seriously this thing looks great. maybe just a little too much grill on a few of their models though
(Report)
February 10th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
saw one of these on the roads the other day and all I can say is.. FAT (wide). I personally don’t really like the look, then again I never did for any Audi unfortunately.
(Report)
February 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Great review & pics… this car looks astonishing in the flesh, you really do have to see it to appreciate it. Although I’m not the biggest fan of Audi’s styling generally, this car is very sweet.
(Report)
February 10th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
One nice GERMAN car! Is it me or the curvy dash design looks old (example, Saab)
(Report)
February 10th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Great review! And I agree we can all dream.
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
…..I have seen the new A4 in europe last month…the 5 is not a A4 coupe, the a/s5 sits on its own as it was intended
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 3:48 am
somehow i feel this car is like a cayman s, or more like a bmw m6.
its just a better buy getting the s4. similarly why you would buy an m5 over an m6. u pay less to get more.
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 8:04 am
“I was love struck at first glance, I haven’t felt the same first glance impression since my first steer in the Chrysler 300C”
Sorry Paul. You lost me at that point. The 300C is as ugly and obnoxious as the makers of the whilst the Audi is a work of art…
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Another nice product in the VAG line up. They’re sending some nice cars to Australia now and it was pretty cool that the S5 made it here before the regular A5. Our local dealer has a Sprint Blue S5 and a white A5 in stock and both look very good. I was initially unsure about the swooping lines of the A5 shape after seeing photos, but in the flesh, they look much better.
I’ve not driven an S5, but have had a good trundle in an RS4 and would very much like one of those! I think, based on looks, I’d still prefer the RS4 over the S5. It’s just great to see Audi getting lots of good reviews.
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
So they have fixed their suspension issues? All I used to hear about Audis were how they were constantly let down by terrible ride quality.
I’m a BMW fanatic but I can appreciate just how far Audi have come, and the new S5 really looks like something special. The performance is quite good too - 0-100 in near enough to 5.0 sec.
The 335i Coupe would still run it close for my money, and I prefer the exterior of the BMW coupe (my personal preference), but the Audi interior looks a little classier and more expensive than the Bimmer. Surely an enviable purchase decision.
Would easily have one of the two over an equivalent CLK.
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Fifth gear track tested the S5(v8) & 335i, the beemer was just quicker by 1/100th sec (it is on youtube)
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Really well that’s interesting Lcat…….does make the 335i look real good now then….
(Report)
February 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
^yeah a comparative bargain! never been a complete bimmer fan but i know when respect is due & there are some real jewels in the line up.
(Report)
March 7th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
from the moment that I first saw spy shots online I said to myself I have to get one of those… Sep 07′ can along and I had the first one on road in Brisbane and your right the styling is truely sublime, my car turns so many heads and I get a big smile on my face everytime I walk up to it in the car park.
Its on track performance on QR was impressive. A little too comfortable for my liking. Like speeding in a leather lounge.
My biggest critisism is the clutch and clunking gears. I hear this can be fixed and I’m taking it back to the shop next week.
(Report)
April 29th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I own the Audi A5 and to tell you the truth, in person it looks nothing like an A4. the running daytime headlights stun people driving the opposite way and keep attention off of the some what bland looking grille, the way the front merges into the roof then the trunk is gorgeous and when you see a black on black with tinted windows….your jaw will drop
IT IS DROP DEAD BEAUTIFUL!!
(Report)
April 29th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Bavairan is just upset that Audi has come out with the most beautiful coupe of the year under 80,000 US dollars. Bimmers are nice and I looked at the 335xi coupe and yes it is beautiful as well…but! it is not original. the A5 is the first of its kind from audi and the amount of people that turn their heads when I drive by in it is astounding, ive driven in a bimmer 2007 335xi that my aunt has and by far more peoples heads turn for the Audi than the BMW
(Report)
April 30th, 2008 at 12:08 am
From ymy comments above yu’d see I agree Vinny. I recently followed a black A5 along the M25 couldn’t keep my eyes off it, raced a bit to see catch it up and just stare. The latest 3 coupe has lost its charm and racer styling IMO.
(Report)
April 30th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I agree RJL I was the first to own one in my town, had to wait 3.5 months just to get it after ordering it and every single time i see it in a parking lot or when i wake up in the morning and turn it on to warm it up, a big smile comes over my face. its a beautiful car and Audi imo has really outsone themselves in style and comfort this time…altough yesterday at school the kid parking next to me hit my car and i cant drive it for 5 days while its at the shop =(
(Report)
April 30th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I would have to say the A5 is gorgeous. I own a 2007 BMW M3 Black with a dark redish interior and when i drove by it i was amazed.
those individual LED daytime running lights are amazing and they really do take attention away from the grille as vinny said before.
when I parked by him in the local shopping center the next day I asked if i could see the interior and sit in the car and it is comfortable!
the S line sport seats really hold you in for performance driving and after i sat in it i went to the local Audi Dealership and placed my order.
unfortunatly the wait time is over 4 months and i wont get in until late august early september.
Audi S5 Black on Black with the MMI
(Report)
May 1st, 2008 at 12:05 am
I agree Steve the A5 doesnt look anything like the S4, S6, S8, RS4 or any other Audi for that matter. it is its own car and its a whole lot of it. The only similarity between the A5 and the rest of the Audis is the grille and as I said before. turn those daytime runnning lights on and no one will focus on the grille!
(Report)
July 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Bought my first Audi (S5) after contstant hounding by my three boys that “this is the best car ever Dad”.
I can’t say its the best car ever - but I can say that I have not driven a better vehicle ever. It’s fast all around - but you make up so much ground round the corners and roundabouts -its amazing.
Its not cheap but nor are really great looking women.You get what you pay for - exciting performance and great looks (I am biased).
(Report)
August 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I’ll take the 335 Coupe anytime.
S5 interior is nice, but you get tired of flash after 3 months.
BMW is something you grow into. I waited 3 months before deciding on these two cars and I am glad I did. The more I tested the S5, the more I find that the 335 was more agile and alive. The S5 did wow me at first but like a dumb blonde, it fizzles after a while.
(Report)
October 30th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
When my S3 grows up I hope it turns into an S5 :)
(Report)