After 1000 miles I thought I would post up my thoughts of the S5 compared to the S4 avant I had previously.

Couple of pics first:

Performance

Overall I prefer the S5 as it feels ever so slightly quicker and seems to pull harder, I guess this is because the S5 is lighter. The S5 does feel more planted as well and gives me a bit more confidence in the corners. The S5 is definitely louder with the windows open as well, its got more an aggressive rasp and a louder throttle blip on the up-shifts. I find myself driving with the windows open a lot at the moment. The kickdown feature is bloody awesome. It shifts down gears and pauses before molesting you in lovely torque and power, the S4 started to pull slowly whilst the kickdown was being engaged so there wasn't such a wallop of torque.

Looks

First week I had it i went and visited my Dad and parked it on the main road, within 10 minutes I had a group of lads pull over and started taking photos of it (which I didn't like to be honest, my step Mum soon cleared them off!). It is a bit more of a head turner than the S4, I've had a lot more 'nice car' comments. I really adore how it appears to have RS arches from the front, it doesn't but it's the way have Audi have designed the car that gives this appearance. It didn't look out of place when I placed it next to a B8 RS4 (from the front). I think this is just a spec thing but the wheels appear bigger against the black paint as opposed to the white. I also think the new DRLs look better than on the 4. The S4 did have that sleeper appeal and also was a bloody good looking motor. I love the black metallic paint but it is worse than the white to keep nice. It is also showing some minor swirls whereas the Ibis didn't on the S4. This is just spec comparison though.

Spec

Well I had a poverty(ish) spec S4 compared to the S5 and I hold my hands up and say you guys were right about getting tech pack, drive select etc. The S5 wins here but then so could the S4 if it had more spec.

Day to day

The S5 is perfect for me for during the week, general shopping and it is ok for a weekend away however it does fall short of the S4 when it comes to taking a lot of stuff around. The S5 can become a pain when putting my daughter in the back also as you have to lean over to do her seatbelt up. The Mrs does this normally so it's normally ok for me.

Costs

The S5 cost 48k whereas the S4 cost 43k so you would expect it to be better. The S5 is costing me more as that increased exhaust nose is causing me to use that right foot a lot. Generally the fuel economy is worse at the moment even on a run. The insurance cost is also higher.

Overall

I prefer the S5 overall however this is slightly down to the spec (tech pack high, audi connect high, drive select, auto dimming lights etc). The looks really do it for me as do the kickdown and exhaust note. There is something about owning an S4 that I miss, maybe it's the heritage, fast estate thing.

At the moment the S5 doesn't have annoying rattles or squeaky brakes so this has to be a result!

My mini review above may be biased as I did start to fall out of love with the S4 due to the issues however I thought I'd share anyway.

Id have your S4. I just prefer estates and have a dog. Something about fast audi estates though more than other manufacturers. If it was a BMW id have a coupe but for audis i just prefer the estates. Weird.

Being honest both are dream cars so its splitting hairs. You lucky bugger.

Out of interest Nick, and this isn't a criticism, but why the three door when you have a child?

The Sportback S5 is a good looking car. I nearly bought a white one.

When I saw you go for the three door I just assumed you didn't have any kids yet as it's your only/main car.

I think you picked the right one. Again i would be over the moon with either so being ever so slightly critical the Sportback is a nice car but the looks of the coupe just do it for me its my dream car. Nearly bought an A5 3.0tdi quatro instead of the Blackline but it was to much of a strech in the end. You are a lucky bugger.

It's a valid point.

Audi gave us an S5 cab for a month and the three of us went away in it. It was surprisingly good except for the room the roof took up in the back.

As our child is three, nearlly four she is on a booster type seat which is not a huge hassle. We just need to lean over to get her plugged in. Annoying but worth it.

Also I HATE the S5 sportback, give me an S4 avant over the S5 sportback.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Nicky boy

both lovely but would have the S4 over the S5

It's a valid point.

Audi gave us an S5 cab for a month and the three of us went away in it. It was surprisingly good except for the room the roof took up in the back.

As our child is three, nearlly four she is on a booster type seat which is not a huge hassle. We just need to lean over to get her plugged in. Annoying but worth it.

Also I HATE the S5 sportback, give me an S4 avant over the S5 sportback.

Cool, I looked only at the 5 door ones (hence I mentioned to you before being an S4 avant fan) before looking at the TT-RS in a moment of madness.

But then went bought a three door Nissan.

Although it's easy to "get away with" as I have the Yeti.

Sounds like our son is almost exactly the same age as your daughter.

But he rides in the front and my wife sits in the back.

It's a LOT easier than getting a car seat in there!

both lovely but would have the S4 over the S5

Me too. Oh I have

Cool, I looked only at the 5 door ones (hence I mentioned to you before being an S4 avant fan) before looking at the TT-RS in a moment of madness.

But then went bought a three door Nissan.

Although it's easy to "get away with" as I have the Yeti.

Sounds like our son is almost exactly the same age as your daughter.

But he rides in the front and my wife sits in the back.

It's a LOT easier than getting a car seat in there!

Now, there's an idea!

Nicky, lovely motor. Its an S5 so its going to be nice!

With regards to performance & handling I believe (as you said) the S5 is slightly more spritely due it being a little lighter. However handling wise I have read most reviews claiming the S4 is a much better handling car. Do you reckon it may be more down to the additional drive select / dampers etc

I have to say looks wise I'm split. I love the S5, but the S4 is a great sleeper (& no pig)

Nicky, lovely motor. Its an S5 so its going to be nice!

With regards to performance & handling I believe (as you said) the S5 is slightly more spritely due it being a little lighter. However handling wise I have read most reviews claiming the S4 is a much better handling car. Do you reckon it may be more down to the additional drive select / dampers etc

I have to say looks wise I'm split. I love the S5, but the S4 is a great sleeper (& no pig)

Interesting you've read that the S4 handles better. Got any reviews you could send me as I'd be interested to read them.

Re: looks; on the way to pick it up I really didn't want to chop it in for the S5 based on the looks but when I saw the S5 those fears were relieved. It's the big bonnet and arse that set it apart from the 4. It's a personal thing though.

Traditionally I favour practical over styling, I prefer the profile of the S4 over a coupe.

But the S5 in the pics above does seem to have more road presence from the front.

Not sure why, but it does.

I didn't realise the S5 was lighter.

What is the difference?

Interesting you've read that the S4 handles better. Got any reviews you could send me as I'd be interested to read them.

Re: looks; on the way to pick it up I really didn't want to chop it in for the S5 based on the looks but when I saw the S5 those fears were relieved. It's the big bonnet and arse that set it apart from the 4. It's a personal thing though.

I'll try & find those reviews tonight Nicky. Don't think it said it was better than the S5 per se, but that the S4 was the best handling family car Audi makes

S5 isn't a family car though, it's a posers car.

Cheers for that, I look forward to having a read.

Traditionally I favour practical over styling, I prefer the profile of the S4 over a coupe.

But the S5 in the pics above does seem to have more road presence from the front.

Not sure why, but it does.

I didn't realise the S5 was lighter.

What is the difference?

S4 avant = 1750kg

S5 coupe = 1675kg

Interesting, about one average weight adult then.

They are both 150(ish)kg heavier than I was expecting though.

Both look nice and have their pros and cons I guess. For me it would be the estate, just much more practicable (in my situation) but the S5 looks equally as good.

I did borrow an A5 Quattro Sportback for a few days (did i little write up http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262341-audi-a5-tdi-s-line-quattro-sportback/) and although it does look very good, is very much compromised by the rear roofline. I think you would equally struggle to get a small child out of that too but obviously as they get older it does get much easier.

The S4 does stand out with the white paintwork but I think (imo) the S5 will just blend into the rest of the Audi clan with it being black.

As I said, both nice though.

That's what we thought regarding the black. However in the flesh this isn't true, unfortunately its got considerably more attention than the S4.

Probably because I'm very anal and it is nearlly always immaculate and shines like an onyx jewel.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Nicky boy

Like a lot of cars, the Black S5 probably looks great in the metal.

But in a pic it's a black Audi.

Look forward to seeing it in three weeks.

Yeah me too, do Macdonalds do diet breakfasts?

Like a lot of cars, the Black S5 probably looks great in the metal.

But in a pic it's a black Audi.

Mine looks like a grey Audi

Like a lot of cars, the Black S5 probably looks great in the metal.

But in a pic it's a black Audi.

Look forward to seeing it in three weeks.

Nail on the head.

Glad it's going we'll for you Nick,

I like the way the S5 feels, just seems a little more special than the S4.

Wow. Never expected them to be that heavy. I suppose they have a lot of mechanical gubbins and cabin toys though. Plus its not like they are struggling for grunt. For some reason id assumed they would be lighter due to the v6 rather than the old v8. Actually now i think about it what does a vrs diesel weigh?

Is weigh even a word as it looks wrong and four beers and two wines mean i cant be arsed checking?

Worth a watch.

Remapped S4 -vrs- RS4