Update on my switch to Audi S5
#31
Good luck straying from the brand my friend, may it treat you well and if not, you know where to turn to in the future!
#32
#33
just this week. decided it might be time to retire the nsx (drive it less) so need another daily. considered few cars but gs lease deals are pretty attractive. only settled with premium though, fsport is a bit more and i mainly just need a car to drive to work, so missing some bells and whistles. i do like the atomic silver, nice refreshing color!
#35
I can understand the cause for the switch. The Lexus 4GS is truly an underwhelming vehicle. And by far the biggest culprit is the ultra bland and dare I say ugly exterior. The interior is also nothing special. It's so sad that the 4GS succeeded such an elegant, beautiful & technologically marvellous 3GS
I'm a huge fan of the S5. I hope it treats you well They definitely have a timeless design.
Last edited by sick21; 01-29-15 at 06:36 PM.
#36
I'm a Q-Ship guy: big motors in under-stated, mid-size lux sedans.
I recently drove a new S4 (closely aligned to the S5) and it was head and shoulders better than the 4GS when driven fast. Adui's Dynamic and Sport Diff were eye-opening. Plus, it was just plain faster. No quibbling. The S5 is a great looking car (better than the S4), but for my money at the Audi store it's the S6 (though I've only sat in one). The S4 is an understandable compromise, since it's built on their former entry level platform. Furthermore, Audi seems to keep some of its features out of its lower end platforms to entice buyers into their bigger, more expensive cars. The S6 and its TT V8 is an awesome Q-Ship.
I recently drove a new S4 (closely aligned to the S5) and it was head and shoulders better than the 4GS when driven fast. Adui's Dynamic and Sport Diff were eye-opening. Plus, it was just plain faster. No quibbling. The S5 is a great looking car (better than the S4), but for my money at the Audi store it's the S6 (though I've only sat in one). The S4 is an understandable compromise, since it's built on their former entry level platform. Furthermore, Audi seems to keep some of its features out of its lower end platforms to entice buyers into their bigger, more expensive cars. The S6 and its TT V8 is an awesome Q-Ship.
I test drove an Audi A6 3.0T and also the GS350 F-Sport with Rear Wheel Steering. The Audi A6 had better straightline acceleration and the sheer grip from its AWD was impressive. The GS in F-sport trim and RWS simply had better steering feel and felt so much lighter on its feet in the corners. Granted the A6 did not have the Sports differential.
I think it all comes down to individual preference : some like the AWD characteristics especially when accelerating out of a corner and the security of AWD in the wet. Some prefer the RWD characteristics and less understeer prone, less nose heavy character of the GS.
#37
I believe too many underrate how much of a difference the F-Sport package makes to the 4GS handling/steering/suspension abilities.
I test drove an Audi A6 3.0T and also the GS350 F-Sport with Rear Wheel Steering. The Audi A6 had better straightline acceleration and the sheer grip from its AWD was impressive. The GS in F-sport trim and RWS simply had better steering feel and felt so much lighter on its feet in the corners. Granted the A6 did not have the Sports differential.
I think it all comes down to individual preference : some like the AWD characteristics especially when accelerating out of a corner and the security of AWD in the wet. Some prefer the RWD characteristics and less understeer prone, less nose heavy character of the GS.
I test drove an Audi A6 3.0T and also the GS350 F-Sport with Rear Wheel Steering. The Audi A6 had better straightline acceleration and the sheer grip from its AWD was impressive. The GS in F-sport trim and RWS simply had better steering feel and felt so much lighter on its feet in the corners. Granted the A6 did not have the Sports differential.
I think it all comes down to individual preference : some like the AWD characteristics especially when accelerating out of a corner and the security of AWD in the wet. Some prefer the RWD characteristics and less understeer prone, less nose heavy character of the GS.
Now, if we could only get the best of the GS and the S5 in one car...
#38
The S5 is a beautiful car for sure. I would love to test drive one but I'm afraid of what might follow. Since I just purchased my 14 GS350 in July I'm going to enjoy it for a while. I'll be keepin an eye on the S5 in the future. Congrats on your purchase.
#39
Thanks! I'll be keeping an eye on the next gen GS and possible SC successor, plus the '17 S5. I was financing my GS, but I leased my S5 for 2 years so I won't be tempted to trade anytime soon. All the new models should be out when my lease is up.
Enjoy your GS. It is one of the best all-around cars I have ever owned!
Enjoy your GS. It is one of the best all-around cars I have ever owned!
#40
Thanks! I'll be keeping an eye on the next gen GS and possible SC successor, plus the '17 S5. I was financing my GS, but I leased my S5 for 2 years so I won't be tempted to trade anytime soon. All the new models should be out when my lease is up.
Enjoy your GS. It is one of the best all-around cars I have ever owned!
Enjoy your GS. It is one of the best all-around cars I have ever owned!
#42
I admit it is hard to ignore the appeal of the German cars (Audi, Mercedes, & BMW), but from my experience, they have all proven to be maintenance nightmares. They gained their tough reputation in the 50's, 60's & 70's. As soon as technology took over they became a problem. I owned Mercedes that would run forever that came out of those years, however, there is a reason why you can buy a 10yro, $100K Mercedes for $10K or BMW or Audi. I would probably lease, with a maintenance program, before I would own these days.
#44
I admit it is hard to ignore the appeal of the German cars (Audi, Mercedes, & BMW), but from my experience, they have all proven to be maintenance nightmares. They gained their tough reputation in the 50's, 60's & 70's. As soon as technology took over they became a problem. I owned Mercedes that would run forever that came out of those years, however, there is a reason why you can buy a 10yro, $100K Mercedes for $10K or BMW or Audi. I would probably lease, with a maintenance program, before I would own these days.
#45
I have to echo this sentiment as well. I don't want to crap all over the OP's thread; the S5 is a good looking car and the supercharged V6 is amazing. But I came from a '12 A4 that I owned only two years because the car was in the shop for something almost 3 months total out of that 2nd year.
Now, if OP would have said his S5 is better than the GS, he loves it so much that he plans to keep it forever... Then you could crap all over his thread