[krassanova]

I wouldn't buy an Audi because of the nightmare stories I've heard about getting dealerships and Audi Corporate to own up to warranty issues. They are priced too high too, but you can't diss them based on looks.

[BMWeber]

I don't know about you guys but listening to a chick giggle as she power slides through a corner does something for me :biggrin:

[asv]

The S5 looks like a G37. It will look dated in 3 years. Because I tend to keep cars for 7-10 years, I want something that doesn't date quickly, the design of the E92 will still look good 7 years from now, just like my e46.

[S62PWR]

Cool!

Glad everyone is chiming in on another company's best effort to dethrone the king! :roundel:

[C4talyst]

I love them both.

[Maximus Decimus]

Originally Posted by asv

The S5 looks like a G37. It will look dated in 3 years. Because I tend to keep cars for 7-10 years, I want something that doesn't date quickly, the design of the E92 will still look good 7 years from now, just like my e46.

Beauty is obviously in the eye of the beholder, but have you seen this A5/S5 in person? I don't see how it could be compared to the G?????

As far as bm vs audi styling goes. Some bm models are better than their audi counterparts and vice versa imo. I certainly think the A8 is more tastefully designed and better appointed as compared to the 7. In contrast, the 5 catches my eye more than the A6. But I can promise you this from 1st hand experience the S5 turns waaaaay more heads than the E92 on the road here (Germany). This is coming from a die hard e92 lover!!!! The e92 is clean and subdued, almost understated, whereas the S5 is more stimulating, less sterile, less clinical. All this stuff is subjective of course.

[MrRoboto]

I was in an S5 today. It is a beautiful car...too beautiful if you ask me. A nice highway cruiser but just doesnt feel right thrashing it in the twisties. That is the job of the 135.

[chemhalo]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

The new S4 is to have a 3.0 TT powerplant developing 330HP. Too bad it will be far too expensive.

Exactly! The A4 should sport the 3.0TT and replace the current V6 at the same price. The S4 should match the M3 (current RS4 engine) and the RS4 should trump it (4.2 biturbo maybe ? :smile.

[Nixon]

Originally Posted by S62PWR

...the new Audi 5 platform is the first to move to 50/50 weight distribution. All future Audi's will be striving for this new (ha!) balance. Wonder what took them so long?

Audi had to redesign their front trans-axle/transmission configuration. They swapped the location of the transmission and the diff in order to put the engine behind the front wheels instead of right on top of them. Now that they have gone through this re-design, it just has to be spread throughout their entire line-up of engines and transmissions.

That moved the wheels forward compared to the front bumper, and pushed the weight distribution way back. This is going to get rid of the biggest gripe most Audi drivers have, which is the massive front wheel plow at WOT if you don't wait until well after the apex of a corner before flooring it.

[Joop!]

A5/S5 is a very beautiful car, but the 335i is the better driving-car.

Although I have to say the A5 3.0TDi Quattro is very lovely drive too, but more 'clinical' in terms of driving fun compared to the Bimmer.

[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

The new S4 is to have a 3.0 TT powerplant developing 330HP. Too bad it will be far too expensive.

Can you point us to any info on that engine MrRoboto? Is it a V6? Thanks!!

[Khobin~]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Can you point us to any info on that engine MrRoboto? Is it a V6? Thanks!!

...not sure if it's a small V6 or big I4, but...

"We have confirmed with inside sources that the B8 S4 will debut with a brand new 3.0-liter TFSI bi-turbo producing 330-hp. With this powerplant Audi can nearly match the B7's 340-hp output while providing even better performance figures. Manufacturer published (conservative) 0-60mph drops from 5.4 seconds to very low 5's, while the accompanying combined fuel economy rises from 17 mpg to over 20 mpg. More importantly, at least from the enthusiast point of view, a return to bi-turbos means that modifying the B8 S4 to enhance its stock performance capabilities will be a more historically straightforward (and less expensive) endeavor. And lest we forget the all important marketing perspective, the 3.0-liter bi-turbo will also best a similar offering in BMW's 335i which weighs in at only 300-hp. "

http://www.audiworld.com/news/07/b8-...usive-preview/

[imported_Will_325i]

Had a chance to drive the S5 in Homestead track. A far different Audi from all the other front-heavy plow monsters. This car has great feel on steering, stick, clutch, and has good power. Of course the unit I was driving was up around $60k but still.

Another positive of their mechanical's rearrangment to move the front axle forward is how it affects styling. RWD cars not only handle better, they LOOK like they handle better, thanks to their short front overhang and long DtoA (dash to axle) distance. The S5, while not RWD, manages to at least somewhat mitigate the long overhang/short DtoA styling issue.

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by Nixon

Audi had to redesign their front trans-axle/transmission configuration. They swapped the location of the transmission and the diff in order to put the engine behind the front wheels instead of right on top of them. Now that they have gone through this re-design, it just has to be spread throughout their entire line-up of engines and transmissions.

Let me add one more thing to your post. Actually the engine used to be completely IN FRONT OF the front axle, and with the new A5 and A4 it has been moved to the top of the front axle like most transverse mounted FWD cars. It's not quite behind the front axle though, as the longitudinal engine still has to drive the front wheels, and Audi is not using the secondary shaft like BMW xi's do.

This is a pic I took in Frankfurt autoshow of the new A4 or A5 (I forgot) and hopefully it demonstrates where the engine is located at in the new MLB platform



So in this regard BMW still has a clear upper hand.

[manj]

The way i see it Audis are just amazing cars but for the price BMW is the way i would go due to quality and build including engine. Audi and its electrical problems.... forget it

[imported_Will_325i]

Originally Posted by spinzero

Let me add one more thing to your post. Actually the engine used to be completely IN FRONT OF the front axle, and with the new A5 and A4 it has been moved to the top of the front axle like most transverse mounted FWD cars. It's not quite behind the front axle though, as the longitudinal engine still has to drive the front wheels, and Audi is not using the secondary shaft like BMW xi's do.

This is a pic I took in Frankfurt autoshow of the new A4 or A5 (I forgot) and hopefully it demonstrates where the engine is located at in the new MLB platform



So in this regard BMW still has a clear upper hand.

WOW, thanks for posing this pic. I'm not sure HOW the S5 I drove managed to not feel front heavy when looking at a pic like this. It seems like almost the entire engine is in front of the strut tower....and this is AFTER the 're-design"

I wonder what a similar pic from a BMW looks like. I seem to recall that in my own 325, the inline 6 is jammed up as far as possible rearward; don't know what percentage of the block is in front of the strut tower.

[atr_hugo]

FWIW, it would appear, that on the 135i, the first three cylinders will be forward of the axle centerline.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by BMWeber

I don't know about you guys but listening to a chick giggle as she power slides through a corner does something for me :biggrin:

I know what you mean!

[GreenMonster]

What does this have to do with the 1-series ?? Sounds like a cartalk thread to me...

[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by GreenMonster

What does this have to do with the 1-series ?? Sounds like a cartalk thread to me...

Agreed (and guilty). It has been moved . . .

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

FWIW, it would appear, that on the 135i, the first three cylinders will be forward of the axle centerline.

Yeah, when BMW says the engine is behind the front axle, what they mean is that the center of the mass of the engine is behind the front axle.