C43 or S5 - up to 7 years old, £25k, 40k miles - reliable?

[heisthegaffer]

Hi all

Coming out of a company car in a couple of weeks and was originally looking at an Octavia vRS but being a bit more adventurous, the above options have caught my eye.

Caveat being they must be saloon, estate or in the case of the Audi, sport back. No coupe or convertible as I have elderly parents I often take out.

Any view of reliability and cost of running?

Do they come with Android auto?

[Cessf]

I’ve had a 18 plate S5 Sportback for just over 3 years, done 42k in it. Has been rock solid and pretty cheap to run and maintain.

£25k will be more than enough to find the right car.

For reference I had the same choice when I moved away from CC to the allowance and looked at S3, S4, S5, C43, 335d, 435d and Guilia.

S5 perhaps isn’t as exciting as the Guilia for example, it is something you can use 365 days a year in all weathers and actually crack on in so covers the 1 car for all jobs purpose.

Servicing is every 9k if you’re doing it properly and as always a local Indy will be pretty cheap.

Fuel wise
Round town: 25-28
Stop start m’way: 32
Clean run m’way: 37 (not hanging around)
Easy run m’way have seen 42

Has plug in Android Auto and Apple Car Play, worth getting one of the little boxes which make it wireless.

Happy to answer any other questions.

Edited by Cessf on Wednesday 14th August 20:06

[heisthegaffer]

Cessf said:

I’ve had a 18 plate S5 Sportback for just over 3 years, done 42k in it. Has been rock solid and pretty cheap to run and maintain.

£25k will be more than enough to find the right car.

For reference I had the same choice when I moved away from CC to the allowance and looked at S3, S4, S5, C43, 335d, 435d and Guilia.

S5 perhaps isn’t as exciting as the Guilia for example, it is something you can use 365 days a year in all weathers and actually crack on in so covers the 1 car for all jobs purpose.

Servicing is every 9k if you’re doing it properly and as always a local Indy will be pretty cheap.

Fuel wise
Round town: 25-28
Stop start m’way: 32
Clean run m’way: 37 (not hanging around)
Easy run m’way have seen 42

Has plug in Android Auto and Apple Car Play, worth getting one of the little boxes which make it wireless.

Happy to answer any other questions.

Edited by Cessf on Wednesday 14th August 20:06

Thanks, really appreciate the response. I was considering a Giuilia but I'm very fussy. I would only have a 280 in grey with red leather (other than a quad) but they're so rare.

The C43 appeals with my heart but the S5 is my head choice due really to the hatchback if I want to get big things in it etc.

Happy with that servicing, may even tackle myself and the fuel Economy seems pretty good too.

[bobsavage789]

I found the C class (in saloon guise) had quite limited rear space; may be a consideration if you’re likely to have elderly passengers on a regular basis.

Obviously, try and gauge for yourself, however…

I test drove a 540i, Kia Stinger, S5 sportback and C43. I found the S5 very fast and competent, but ultimately a bit boring and disconnected in how it drove. Again, it’s all subjective.

[mattuk89]

I’ve had both, a 2017 s5 sport back, and a 2016 premium
Plus c43..

The over all package of the c43 was better having almost every option you could ever need being the premium plus, the s5 I had was basic spec apart from the digi dash which is a must, so it’s hard to compare it seemed more modern having car play etc, the s5 was comfier and easier to drive quick, the massage seats were a nice touch..

The c43 was awful on fuel, could never get anything better than low 20s even on a run. The s5 could easily get mid 30s..

The s5 felt quicker too, even though my c43 was mapped before I bought it too circa 400 bhp, the s5 felt quicker, preferred the sound of the s5 too although both sounded artificial..


If I had to pick one of them to have again I would probably pick… a bmw 340i

As I had both for less than 6 months each so they couldn’t of been that good

[66HFM]

How about the S5's sibling the S4 Avant or one of the hot Cupra Leons?

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks again for the responses people, really useful.

I'm very much swaying towards the S5 as based on the feedback here it's clearly more practical and cheaper to run albeit the C43 feels like it'd be more exciting.

I would have an S4 Avant but none for my age, mileage and price range sadly.

[heisthegaffer]

Frustratingly the S4s are just that bit out of budget for me, even £25k is probably going to be a stretch.

RE a Cupra etc, just looking for something a bit fancier - ideally with red leather.

[dunc69]

If you can test a C43 (2019-on so Facelift) with the AMG Performance Exhaust, I doubt you will go anywhere near the Audi S5.

Also, nonsense earlier, the C43 will easily clear 30mpg on a run.

Edited by dunc69 on Thursday 15th August 22:43

[Cessf]

Also worth pointing out rear seats of a C class Merc are fairly uncomfortable places to be for any length of time. S5 seats front and rear are very comfy, elderly parents have confirmed this.

[mattuk89]

dunc69 said:

If you can test a C43 (2019-on so Facelift) with the AMG Performance Exhaust, I doubt you will go anywhere near the Audi S5.

Also, nonsense earlier, the C43 will easily clear 30mpg on a run.

Edited by dunc69 on Thursday 15th August 22:43

Mine must of been broken then, I never saw above 30mpg in the 6 months I owned it..

My w204 c63 I owned before it was actually better on fuel driven carefully, different story when I put my foot down though..

For arguments sake, these are both the same journey on the way to the gym no traffic down a dual carriage way, I know it’s a short journey but shows my experience of both cars ..






But what do I know. I just spout nonsense..


Edit

I’m not saying the c43 is a bad car at all, and you don’t buy a 3.0 twin turbo v6 4wd car for fuel economy..

I thought about what one I would have back if I had too have one back ( would not be a bad decision to make, currently driving a boring bmw x5.. which is better on fuel than the c43 )

I would pick the c43, there’s just something about it, but I’ve always liked the look of them. Was toying with getting a w205 c63s recently until I saw how much my mortgage was going up at the end of the year..

Edited by mattuk89 on Friday 16th August 06:12

Edited by mattuk89 on Friday 16th August 06:13