New S5 (B8.5 - 3.0 V6)

[DanoS4]

Hi All,
I put this in the Readers Cars, and I thought it would get more interest, but I guess Audis don't get the same draw as exotica these days LOL!!

Anyhoo, here's the post I put up -

So, my car history is somewhat minimal - the last car was a Porsche 996 Carrera 4.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/jooQH5To[/url

I had this for nearly 10 years. As whole it was brilliant, used as a daliy-driver, no expense spared, including a trip to Hartech

But I found myself after lockdown, looking elsewhere. I looked at a few things tbh - 997, Boxster, C63, M4, S/RS4, S/RS5.
I discounted the Porsches simply due to wanting a break after 10 years - I will hopefully return to them one day, but time for a break.

The C63 is a toughy - such a great engine and sound, but in the countryside as a daily driver (and dodgy winters), I don't know how it will cope. (also tbh, I've driven so many AWD/4WD cars, the premise of RWD is a little daunting as a daily).
But it was a great thing to test out
The M4 - tbh, I just didn't gel with it. At all. Big sense of occasion, and sensitive/precise steering, but I didn't like it, or boring interior.

So coming on to the S and RS cars. I tried the S5 V8 auto, and loved it. Even in auto. So easy to drive, so comfy but the gear changes under flappy-paddle were a little stifled.
The S5 V8 also seems to be a little bit of a vehicular pariah due to its expensive running costs (primarily tax) - despite the sound when you free up it's exhaust.
I also drove the V6 3.0 with DSG/S-tronic........ and fell in love. The seats were harder than the V8 too, which was strange.
The gear-changes were shocking - my brain was playing catchup with the changes AFTER they'd taken place (in both manual and auto).

The only other choice was one of Sportback (the sensible route) or a coupe..... I'm not confident enough to have a convertible

I did look at RSs as well, BUT...... the ride is quite harsh in comparison (imho), expensive to run, and tbh, with the a few choice mods, ths S5 is as potent.
Granted: the styling is meaner

Flip-flopping between the 2 choices while the Porsche was selling gave me chance to really think about what I wanted..... and it was a coupe.

The headache - I decided to sell JUST at the time the country fell off the cliff with the cost-of-living crisis. Typcial. So I eventually sold the Porsche during the Jubilee B/Holilday.

It left me with a challenge as I didn't have any transport to make it to work on the Monday
So I got my BH drinking out of the way, and while Wifey went to work on the Saturday, I started doing homework the specs, and availability of various cars.

I chanced upon a Facebook forum and posted about the different stereo-systems, and someone PM'd me about a car he had for sale....... It simply POPPED off the screen!
Cue a 350+ mile round trip to see it. And buy it.







Some details - Audi S5 Coupe in Nogaro Blue, with 19" wheels. Only 49k on the clock (FASH). Pretty much all the options ticked aside from sunroof.

Very happy with it tbh. It's bordering on frugal too - 30mpg+ on a good run.

The only plans are to initially drive it. Then probably a few tasteful light mods - exhaust and a trip to MRC. Possbily Apple Carplay too. Maybe some paddleshift extenders. Nothing too OTT (I'm too old for all that lol! )

How does it compare to the Porsche? Well, it's quicker. And tbh, the handling isn't far off - but that's coming from someone who's talent runs out way before the car's does

MODS started: with an update to the firmware for the MMI etc - was still running the original maps and firmware!! LOL!!
Then I put on some new badges - got the v6T and S5 badges turning up this week





Hope you like it

[ninjag]

Nice car and a good read. Have you got a photo of the engine bay?

[DanoS4]

Thanks. Yeh, really happy with it tbh.



Here's the bay

Dan

Edited by DanoS4 on Thursday 1st September 19:14

[ninjag]

Nice clean engine bay, planning any mods?

[DanoS4]

Looking at exhaust initially, then we’ll see what rabbit hole that takes me down!!

[ninjag]

DanoS4 said:

Looking at exhaust initially, then we’ll see what rabbit hole that takes me down!!

A remap perhaps to reduce/remove the 1.9 bar restriction? Although I just looked into this today (almost same engine) and it's a hell of a price at £800 for a reputable one. They also recommended the transmission map, so that could be another £600 for what they said would take me to about 400bhp. I'm not sure that's enough gain for me to be worth the money, especially as a lot of my driving is local with few opportunities to really use it.

I kick in some man maths and for £800 I can do another oil and filter service, a another whole set of Bembo discs and pads and do my DSG fluid and filter again, brake fluid and a tank of petrol lol Hell, I even uprated my whole front suspension for almost half that price (£438).

[silentbrown]

Nice colour! I see it's got B&O speakers. (chrome rings...) Does it have Drive Select,etc...?

Worth having a peruse of the S4 B8 thread. Lots of knowledge there, and they're nearly identical under the skin. (B8.5 S4 Avant here...)

Check that the required DSG oilchange has been done - that's probably the most important maintenance item.

[DanoS4]

Yeh, I’ve looked at the (MRC) tune. It’s “big” money and we’ll, I’ll see if it’s worth it next year tbh.

The car has FASH and has had the important DSG/S-tronic service. Previous owner was an Audi nerd/nut/fan, so the has wanted for nothing.
It doesn’t have the dynamic ride, seems to be the unicorn option in the V6 especially. Although I’ve test-driven with it, I’m not missing the functionality if I’m being honest.

As a previous S4 Avant owner (hence the username) I’m still getting used to the platform similarities too.

Servicing is due around the end of October, as is the MOT, so we’ll see what that brings up.

But enjoying it

Dan

[Dr G]

They're good cars, and that looks a nice one.

When it comes to tuning I'm an absolute bore and a stuck record, but will stress this.

When tuning cars pick any TWO of the below:
Reliable
Powerful
Cheap

You can't have all 3, and a s*** map is a recipe for headaches.

[AI1601]

These have aged so well, peak Audi design IMO. The supercharged V6 is a cracker of an engine, dont see many about either.

[chazwozza]

Weird, looking at these (sportback though) this morning to replace my Octavia VRS. Interested to see how you get on

Chaz

[silentbrown]

Forgot to ask, is it the later CREC engine?

Mine's still running standard tune. I keep toying with the idea of a map, then remember just how rarely (and briefly) you can actually use all the power of the standard car...

I think without a DSG map it's still going to change gear way before the tacho redline.

[ninjag]

silentbrown said:

Forgot to ask, is it the later CREC engine?

Mine's still running standard tune. I keep toying with the idea of a map, then remember just how rarely (and briefly) you can actually use all the power of the standard car...

I think without a DSG map it's still going to change gear way before the tacho redline.

Doesn't look like the CREC engine, was interested myself hence the engine bay photo request. I feel similar re. remap and power, how often will I get to really use and enjoy it for that money?

I do find that the auto transmission can often negate the benefits of instant power delivery with a supercharger as it's always wanting to get into as high a gear as possible, presumably for economy, so the kickdown delay will be there. So I'm finding myself using the flappy paddles more often now and holding a gear for some mild fun lol

[ninjag]

DanoS4 said:

Yeh, I’ve looked at the (MRC) tune. It’s “big” money and we’ll, I’ll see if it’s worth it next year tbh.

The car has FASH and has had the important DSG/S-tronic service. Previous owner was an Audi nerd/nut/fan, so the has wanted for nothing.
It doesn’t have the dynamic ride, seems to be the unicorn option in the V6 especially. Although I’ve test-driven with it, I’m not missing the functionality if I’m being honest.

As a previous S4 Avant owner (hence the username) I’m still getting used to the platform similarities too.

Servicing is due around the end of October, as is the MOT, so we’ll see what that brings up.

But enjoying it

Dan

Aye, pretty crazy prices even if it does include a dyno run. Good to hear the DSG service was done, Audi screwed me on that. What gen S4 did you previously have?

[tomsugden]

I had a 2014 S5 convertible. I took it to VRS in Northampton who put a stage 1 APR remap on, and also remapped the gearbox. I had to run it on VPower but a rolling road showed it went from 329bhp to ~450bhp. It really was a weapon.

[DanoS4]

Yeh, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going the MRC route next year for a stage 1. I want to have a play with the exhaust first, although tbh I’ve not been left wanting from the standard system in terms of noise when it gets going.

The box I feel is something to learn rather than just drive: I too use the paddles a lot. Sport mode is fun and rapid, but a bit boring. I find myself switching between D,S and paddles on most journeys just to get a more dynamic input while driving.
But I also just leave it in D, mood depending. So it’s versatile imho.

My S4 was a lightly modded b5 (the old 2.7 bi-turbo) in avant form. Practical, quick but I found it quite uninvolving, and I eventually moved it on to get into a mk5 Golf Gti. But I did enjoy the q-car vibe: especially when the Labrador in the back eyes up boybracers as we overtook them

[ninjag]

DanoS4 said:

Yeh, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going the MRC route next year for a stage 1. I want to have a play with the exhaust first, although tbh I’ve not been left wanting from the standard system in terms of noise when it gets going.

The box I feel is something to learn rather than just drive: I too use the paddles a lot. Sport mode is fun and rapid, but a bit boring. I find myself switching between D,S and paddles on most journeys just to get a more dynamic input while driving.
But I also just leave it in D, mood depending. So it’s versatile imho.

My S4 was a lightly modded b5 (the old 2.7 bi-turbo) in avant form. Practical, quick but I found it quite uninvolving, and I eventually moved it on to get into a mk5 Golf Gti. But I did enjoy the q-car vibe: especially when the Labrador in the back eyes up boybracers as we overtook them

Will be interested to know how you find the car after a remap.

[catso]

ninjag said:

Doesn't look like the CREC engine, was interested myself hence the engine bay photo request. I feel similar re. remap and power, how often will I get to really use and enjoy it for that money?

As discussed on the S4 thread a while back, I wasn't aware they were visually so different., CREC engine;



Vs. previous model;



Though, removing the plastic cover probably makes them look more alike?

[DanoS4]

So what's the difference between the two engines? (not that I'm going to sell the car on! )

Dan

[catso]

DanoS4 said:

So what's the difference between the two engines? (not that I'm going to sell the car on! )

Dan

I think the block is basically the same and any major differences were brought in to improve emissions? These being a clutch on the supercharger pulley, presumably to allow it to 'freewheel' or similar and dual fuel injection - being both direct and port injection?

If so then port injection should help with intake carbon buildup by washing the intake valves with fuel (like an old-school engine) and I assume the clutch on the charger is to save fuel?

I could be talking bks though so if anyone knows better then please feel free to correct.