I was looking to replace the Z4 with a SUV thingy... X5 or RRS. But having looked further into it we cant justify the costs of buying such a large vehicle and running it for only us two.

We went to look at an A5 at the Audi Dealership and its pretty much a solid decision now. Quattro, decent engine and looks nice in the metal....

Does anyone have any experience here of A5's? I know they had a terrible reputation for reliability at one stage... I'm hoping they got better after a few years!

Have you driven one yet?

They are pretty good, quite car-like for a big 4x4, and the 2.0 Diesel is quite economical too while giving reasonable performance.

Have you driven one yet?

They are pretty good, quite car-like for a big 4x4, and the 2.0 Diesel is quite economical too while giving reasonable performance.

I think you may be thinking of the Q5 not the A5

My previous boss had a 2.7TDi Quattro and he had absolutely no probelms with his in the 18 months I worked for him. He was an MD for an accident repair centre and changed his cars as often as I change my underwear - in his words 'I wouldn't change this car for anything else'!!!

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by Jono76

Have you driven one yet?

They are pretty good, quite car-like for a big 4x4, and the 2.0 Diesel is quite economical too while giving reasonable performance.

A5, not Q5!

Check Kennny on here (think it's three Ns!) - he drives a 3.0TDi Quattro. I quite like them, but there's a lot round this area. And think overall, as a package if I had to have an Audi I'd have an A4 Avant, with Quattro and the 3.0TDI lump, with the Sport diff.

Steve

Oooops.

How are you going to get the baby in and out of the back seat?

How are you going to get the baby in and out of the back seat?

lol.....i know

But like the wife states "Fabia will do fine for the baby".....tbh the A5 is for her. I'm happy with the Fabia VRS....love it to bits...

However, she uses the VRS a lot more due to her ridiculous commute from Wolves to Nottingham..

What A5, the coupe or the fastback?

The 3.0 litre lump is quite good. Had problems with the chain tensioners in the early (224 and 232bhp) models, as they could have problems with the injectors.

But as the newer models have the newer 239 0r 240bhp engine, these problems should be history.

Fuel consumption wise the newer engines should be much more economic as the later ones. A difference from 0.5 to 1.0 litres every 100km (dont know what this is in MPG).

I love my 3.0 tdi, not as quick standard but with a little update it goes very well. Does use a bit more diesel than my previous VRS TDI though....

This thread is the first I've heard of A5 reliability problems. The B8 platform motors (A4, A5, Q5, A4 Allroad) have been bullet proof throughout there life span.

What A5, the coupe or the fastback?

The 3.0 litre lump is quite good. Had problems with the chain tensioners in the early (224 and 232bhp) models, as they could have problems with the injectors.

But as the newer models have the newer 239 0r 240bhp engine, these problems should be history.

Fuel consumption wise the newer engines should be much more economic as the later ones. A difference from 0.5 to 1.0 litres every 100km (dont know what this is in MPG).

I love my 3.0 tdi, not as quick standard but with a little update it goes very well. Does use a bit more diesel than my previous VRS TDI though....

Thanks for the advice mate.

I have looked at both the coupe and fastback. The fastback is a seriously sexy car, but I cant justify dropping serious wedge for a four door. I could get an A4 for half the price.

We are also going for the coupe due to there being no rugrats yet. And the Mrs prefers 2 doors to four...

I'll be going for a 240bhp model. I'm expecting 35-40mpg.....is this realistic????

I'll be remapping it at some point also.....goes like **** of a shovel once this is done I'm told. No 335D.....but its adequate...

I was categorically told by the dealer that they already had Z4's in stock and BMW nextdoor were refusing to accept anymore BMW's. Seems a lot of BMW drivers were getting rid due to snow/winter etc. Also he advised me to trade in the Z4 in Spring when convertibles tend to get more money.

So I am looking at March/April to buy one..

This thread is the first I've heard of A5 reliability problems. The B8 platform motors (A4, A5, Q5, A4 Allroad) have been bullet proof throughout there life span.

In 2009 the A5 came bottom in reliability

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/motoring/article.html?in_article_id=488819&in_page_id=53949

You could also ask Lady Eleanore, as she is driving a newer model A4 with the 240bhp 3.0tdi and the torque vectoring diffs.

35-40 should be realistic.

My dad had a A6 2.7tdi quattro, which is essentially the same engine with a shorter stroke. He gets about 38 cruising, Its bad around town and perticuarly short runs (28) as the engine takes forever to warm up, something to do with having 9 litres of oil.

This is my spritmonitor average. This is the link to the details: http://www.spritmonitor.de/en/detail/400834.html

Mind that the 240bhp version is more economic and I do drive a lot on autobahns at higher speeds.

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by magic62

Hurrooo. I have the sister car with the current 3.0tdi and the full ADS system. Actually I would have loved the Sportback A5 but it would hav cost another 5K or so if I put the same spec on it (and I don’t have the money either )

I test drove the 3.0 with and without the Sports Diff option and would recommend that you must try one with it fitted, it really does make a huge difference to the way the car handles. If fact the difference is much more apparent now that I am familiar with my car and chuck it about a bit more (the car, that is….. ). The ASD suspension is probably worth the money but the ADS steering probably isn’t as the Audis still have funny steering. It isn’t bad, but is nothing like as ‘feel-some’ as say a BMWs (at least, not as nice as my previous 123D’s). The ADS does sharpen up the engine response quite considerably, but it doesn’t give you any more power afaik. It feels like the accelerator has an exponential map to it, rather than a linear one, if that makes sense?

Another option that I think is easily worth the money is the B&O system, it really does sound pretty good for a car

As for mpg, I get around 35mpg in town (mostly done during the warming up phase) and on the motorway I get about 40-43mpg at a ‘decent’ cruising speed. Although if you rigorously stick to the speed limits (which of course I do…..) you should see around 45mpg and on one trip to London where I was in heavy slow moving traffic all the way from Manchester, I did just over 50mpg (an awful lot of the trip was at around 50mph though). I have since driven the A5 and find it to be pretty similar to the A4 to drive (as you would expect), so I think my experiences will be appropriate to the ones of A5 drivers.

One downside is the fact that the car is extremely heavy and I would guess with a full tank, me and my usual boot of junk, the car probably weighs nearly 2 tons!! It does help to make it a stunning motorway car and imho a match for bigger Jags and Mercs in comfort.

Oooh I should have added the engine makes a very nice growl, especially for a diesel

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by Lady Elanore

You're just bitter because you bought the wrong car and should have got the Fiat Barchetta instead

The growl of the 240bhp engines will even be better with a Milltek system on it

The growl of the 240bhp engines will even be better with a Milltek system on it

Ooooooooooooh that looks nice :)

Sound good too, especially for a derv drinker.

With the summer wheels on:

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by magic62

Sound good too, especially for a derv drinker.

I'd lose my warranty and don't think I could afford the insurance hike either

I love the smooth backside of your car. I deleted the badges too, but the B8 saloon is a lot more fiddly in the details than yours :(

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by Lady Elanore

You're just bitter because you bought the wrong car and should have got the Fiat Barchetta instead

Cant do this in a barchetta... or an audi

(mines the loud one of course!) - other MX is Tom_VRS

Is that soo bad in GB?

For me it cost me the system and the installation of it. Next to that it had to be listed in the car paperwork (typical German thing) and that (only a piece of paper) cost me 199 euros extra. (system inkl installation about 1200)

Doesnt affect my warranty (used car warranty as I bought mine 2nd hand) and my insurance though.

Smooth backside? We call that a fat a**e

I like the rounded look too.

Cant do this in a barchetta... or an audi

(mines the loud one of course!) - other MX is Tom_VRS

I’d have to get a set of tyres with a lot less grip first, but you might be surprised Diff set to dynamic and traction nannies minimised, I think I might be able to act like a loon too mind you if I got it wrong, it would take a bit more run-off area than in an MX5

Besides I got a date from a guy who fancied my car (I don't think I fared quite as well), but I guess you must know this feeling too with having an MX5