A5/S5/RS5 Audi RS5 - First Drives and Driving Impressions (Autocar, Edmunds,…)

[DOMINUS]

Hey Footie, where are the articles? What is your contact saying? Surely something has to be on the presses by now no?

 

[footie]

Hey Footie, where are the articles? What is your contact saying? Surely something has to be on the presses by now no?

Be patient, the UK ones are coming soon.

 

[DOMINUS]

Be patient, the UK ones are coming soon.

I'm trying Footie but it's hard.

 

[Sunny]

Dede posted one here.

 

[Iamnotme]

Bump!

Another member of RS6.com had test-driven the RS5. You can read his feedback in here.

 

[footie]

Bump!

Another member of RS6.com had test-driven the RS5. You can read his feedback in here.

It appears that for the most part he felt the RS5 and M3 are quite even, if ever so slightly the RS5 edged ahead on things like traction (not surprising), engine dynamics and noise, plus steering which is a surprise, or is it.

I'm annoyed that they couldn't get the DRC ready for the launch because regardless of what you might heard on some forums it is the one option along with sportdiff that is a must have when speccing your RS5.

 

[Mr Robert]

So, it has better traction and is a more modern car and this at a higher price?

 

[footie]

So, it has better traction and is a more modern car and this at a higher price?

I seem to be getting the feeling that you were expecting something else, possibly a car that was miles quicker, cornered 30% better and felt like a F1 car to drive?

OK, that was a joke but it does seem that being being a little better in handling, steering, braking, economy, emissions and speed isn't good enough for some, especially if it comes at extra cost. Everyone has their own expectations as to what makes a better car and how much it should cost. If you happen to want an Audi that a little quicker than the M3 and cost less than go buy the TT-RS with DSG, otherwise the RS5 will basically do the same thing only cost a bit more.

Does either of these cars make the M3 less than it was before they came along? No because the M3 can play the 'involvement / entertainment / rwd' card which many consider as the most important thing of all and for them nothing Audi will bring to the table will make them switch brands, this is something I admire and can fully understand.

 

[DOMINUS]

I seem to be getting the feeling that you were expecting something else, possibly a car that was miles quicker, cornered 30% better and felt like a F1 car to drive?

OK, that was a joke but it does seem that being being a little better in handling, steering, braking, economy, emissions and speed isn't good enough for some, especially if it comes at extra cost. Everyone has their own expectations as to what makes a better car and how much it should cost. If you happen to want an Audi that a little quicker than the M3 and cost less than go buy the TT-RS with DSG, otherwise the RS5 will basically do the same thing only cost a bit more.

Does either of these cars make the M3 less than it was before they came along? No because the M3 can play the 'involvement / entertainment / rwd' card which many consider as the most important thing of all and for them nothing Audi will bring to the table will make them switch brands, this is something I admire and can fully understand.

Yep I agree. Different strokes for different folks. The M3 will always be the benchmark by which the cars in this class will be measured. The gap is definitely closing though but it is still preferred by most journalists.

RWD will always be more fun than AWD by default. AWD is essentially anti-RWD. People who are wanting the RS5 to behave like the M3 are looking at the wrong car. Even Audi acknowledges the RWD fun factor by giving it a rear biased AWD system but it's still a Quattro system that focuses more on stability, control and traction rather than tail out antics. It is harder to drift an AWD car and if you can do it at will then more power to you.

 

[footie]

RWD will always be more fun than AWD by default. AWD is essentially anti-RWD. People who are wanting the RS5 to behave like the M3 are looking at the wrong car. Even Audi acknowledges the RWD fun factor by giving it a rear biased AWD system but it's still a Quattro system that focuses more on stability, control and traction rather than tail out antics. It is harder to drift an AWD car and if you can do it at will then more power to you.

Drifting AWD is relatively easy when the surface is slippy like with ice, snow or gravel but were traction is good the system will always try to pull the car out of the slid, unless the AWD system in question doesn't shift too much torque forward.

Though I can't understand why anyone would openly want their car to be tail happy on public roads? It's the kind of behaviour we all did when we were immature and hadn't grown up nor seen what happens when fun like this went wrong.

 

[DOMINUS]

Drifting AWD is relatively easy when the surface is slippy like with ice, snow or gravel but were traction is good the system will always try to pull the car out of the slid, unless the AWD system in question doesn't shift too much torque forward.

Though I can't understand why anyone would openly want their car to be tail happy on public roads? It's the kind of behaviour we all did when we were immature and hadn't grown up nor seen what happens when fun like this went wrong.

I was referring more towards a dry surface. But I agree. Tail out antics has it's venue and on public roads anytime I see it I think "what a jacka$$". God forbid he loses it and hits something or someone. In the right arena it's the coolest thing.

 

[footie]

I was referring more towards a dry surface. But I agree. Tail out antics has it's venue and on public roads anytime I see it I think "what a jacka$$". God forbid he loses it and hits something or someone. In the right arena it's the coolest thing.

On gravel it's a hoot ,though considering the damage the stones can do may be best done in someone else's car. On a track with other cars around you is only slightly better than trying this out on the road, but on your own on a track I will agree it is a lot of fun.

But still immature.

 

[Mr Robert]

Does either of these cars make the M3 less than it was before they came along? No because the M3 can play the 'involvement / entertainment / rwd' card which many consider as the most important thing of all and for them nothing Audi will bring to the table will make them switch brands, this is something I admire and can fully understand.

I think I'm feeling that the underwhelmed reception is a bit unfair. It seems like the journalists were expecting the RS5 to take the M3 straight on... they seem to fail at reviewing the RS5 for what it is.

 

[Sunny]

I think I'm feeling that the underwhelmed reception is a bit unfair. It seems like the journalists were expecting the RS5 to take the M3 straight on... they seem to fail at reviewing the RS5 for what it is.

Or may be cause the RS4 actually did a better job at matching M3 on the subjective qualities than RS5 does.

 

[footie]

Or may be cause the RS4 actually did a better job at matching M3 on the subjective qualities than RS5 does.

The previous M3 was down a full 75hp on the RS4, I'm sure if the RS5 had a similar advantage over the current M3 then we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

We could debate whether or not Audi went with the right engine for years but there is no point, the engine was chosen and regardless of what we think it is without any doubt an exceptional power plant but the RS5 needed more to retain the same kind of advantage and reviews that the then RS4 enjoyed.

When compared side by side you will see just how much of an improvement the RS5 is over the RS4.

 

[Sunny]

The previous M3 was down a full 75hp on the RS4, I'm sure if the RS5 had a similar advantage over the current M3 then we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

We could debate whether or not Audi went with the right engine for years but there is no point, the engine was chosen and regardless of what we think it is without any doubt an exceptional power plant but the RS5 needed more to retain the same kind of advantage and reviews that the then RS4 enjoyed.

When compared side by side you will see just how much of an improvement the RS5 is over the RS4.

Power doesn't have anything to do with subjective qualities that I am talking about and I am sure Doc got it.

 

[Mr Robert]

Yes, I'm with you Sunny. The engine seems to be the least problem (or, rather no problem at all) for the RS5 if what we have seen this far is correct.

 

[DOMINUS]

I am still of the impression that the RS4 was not or shouldn't be compared with the E46 M3. Some may say that I'm dead wrong but the E9X is more or a comparison for it. The problems for the RS5 I see so far would be the gearing and the weight. If you want to throw steering feel and feedback in there as well then so be it. Other than that I can't see much else wrong with it.

 

[Mr Robert]

If you want to throw steering feel and feedback in there as well then so be it. Other than that I can't see much else wrong with it.

It is exactly those subjective things we are talking about. Driver involvemnet.

RS4 against E46, for sure. It was, as far as I know, almost only compared to the E46 M3.

 

[footie]

Power doesn't have anything to do with subjective qualities that I am talking about and I am sure Doc got it.

Then please enlighten me with your words of wisdom on what exactly is wrong with the RS5 compared to the RS4 and the E9?M3.

And please don't mention the weight and gearing, the weight is something that has affected both the RS4 and M3 as well and as for the gearing, well it is only the finally two gears that are economy gears and only effect it's acceleration if you have either removed or upped the limiter.