AUDI A5 Sportback

RedorDead

kikel wrote: »

I like it. But they should of named it the A4 hatchback.

Why - when everything about it is lifted from the A5?

Zube

RedorDead wrote: »

Why - when everything about it is lifted from the A5?

They should've named that the A4 coupé.

Sonnenblumen

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Looking forward to my test drive on Sat of this super looking car. New pricing is very attractive too!

Any driver feedback from anyone?

Is it possible to stay on topic, I mean can the 'non driver related negativity' (shape, model lookalikes, brand etc etc be posted elsewhere?

Although this car is very new in Ireland, I was hoping that there might be some experience from UK/elsewhere?

It goes without saying, but I'll say it again, if I like the shape, I'm very interested in the brand/model and that's why I'm doing a test drive.

Tks for the few relevant posts.

Victor_M

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Is it possible to stay on topic, I mean can the 'non driver related negativity' (shape, model lookalikes, brand etc etc be posted elsewhere?

Although this car is very new in Ireland, I was hoping that there might be some experience from UK/elsewhere?

It goes without saying, but I'll say it again, if I like the shape, I'm very interested in the brand/model and that's why I'm doing a test drive.

Tks for the few relevant posts.

Will our opinions make a difference to you? MickDW has already given a fairly damning indictment of the A5 ride quality and handling, not just in this thread but since he bought the car, also a lot of the reviews seem to be in agreement, it stands to reason since this is an A5 too that unless there have been some dramatic chassis and handling modifications for this incarnation of the A5, it's going to suffer from the same woes too unless it's the quattro version. I would not buy a car if it drove terribly, no matter how much I liked it cosmetically.

It sounds like you don't want to hear anything negative about the car, and will purchase it regardless of the drive if you like the look of it, particularly if you are a life long VAG fan too who has progressed up through the ranks of Golf > Passat > A4, nothing we say will prevent you from buying it.

-Chris-

And Mick's comments need to be balanced against the customers I sold A5s to who had no issues with their handling and the A5s I drove that I thought drove fine (except the traction control is a bit kack-handed, but I find that with all VAGs).

I don't want to drag this into a "he said, she said" thread though, the only thing I'd say about buying a car is that you should drive it yourself and if you're happy with it, the it doesn't matter a damn what other people thing!

mickdw

-Chris- wrote: »

And Mick's comments need to be balanced against the customers I sold A5s to who had no issues with their handling and the A5s I drove that I thought drove fine (except the traction control is a bit kack-handed, but I find that with all VAGs).

I don't want to drag this into a "he said, she said" thread though, the only thing I'd say about buying a car is that you should drive it yourself and if you're happy with it, the it doesn't matter a damn what other people thing!

Yes he should drive it himself and make up his mind however as Ive said before, if he is thinking of buying it, it would be a great idea to insist on a 3 day test drive. The reason I suggest this is when I contacted the audi warranty guys about my concerns, they trotted out the usual characteristic of the car stuff and he told me I should have had a 3 day test drive if I was that concerned about how my new car was going to drive! I dont know what the dealers would think of all the customers coming in looking to take the cars away for the weekend. Thats Audi Irelands suggestion though.
In relation to some people finding it fine to drive, I dont doubt that. Cars that do mainly motorway driving or city driving wouldnt be too much of a problem. It just that it handles uneven roads worse than any other car Ive ever experienced. Even cars with same or bigger tyres. (Ive driven 5 or 6 A5s now to compare and all the same but to varying degrees)I do drive it fairly hard although the way it goes down the road limits that a fair bit and I do come home rather annoyed usually and with sore arms after 1 hour+ journeys. If the OP lives in a country area, be sure to take the car to the roads you will be using it on and drive it for a reasonable length on those roads. Its great on flat smooth surfaces although at times can move around as if it windy when its perfectly calm.
Also, My car has needed repairs to drivers seat back due to partial collapse and also a new ignition switch fitted due to fault.

The Guvnor

Not to rain on the parade BUT I think the A5 is a cracking car looks wise and that they have well and truly butchered it with the sportback.

I personally see very little reason to consider it over say an A6.

I like the R8 but until I move to the UK it can remain aspirational!:D

buzzard

Put it like this, I have gone to the pub, drank 12 pints and brought home Cindy Crawford, woke up the next morning and chewwed my arm off. The A5 sportback is an A4 with Arse

galwaytt

The Guvnor wrote: »

Not to rain on the parade BUT I think the A5 is a cracking car looks wise and that they have well and truly butchered it with the sportback.

I personally see very little reason to consider it over say an A6.

No comparison with an A5, so don't see why they used the name at all - should have said A4. It'd be like Porsche calling their new 4-door the 911 Sportback. Completely arse-about marketing dept imho.

When I saw it about a month ago, it reminded me of my 1985 Mazda 626...I happen to think there is a market for a big hatch, actually.

I like the R8 but until I move to the UK it can remain aspirational!:D

...oh yeah........about that......

R.O.R

I popped in to my local Audi dealer on the way home last night to have a look, and it does look much better in the flesh, but I'm still not taken with it.

It's not the 4 door coupe that the CLS or Passat CC is. It's a 5 door hatchback.

Audi haven't even gone to the trouble of making it a true 4 seater. The bench in the rear looks just like most 5 seat cars, without a lap belt for the middle.

Not such a bad looking car, but poor value for money when compared to the larger A6, or marginally smaller A4. The 2 that this dealer had were both 2.0Tdi 143bhp SE multitronics - both with nice upgraded wheels.

copacetic

Had a good look at this over the weekend. Dissapointed is the word. I'm a big audi fan but the A4/A5 was ruled out for me pretty much straight away with the ridiculous driving position and offset pedals. I was hoping they might have done something about it but it's the exact same. Can't understand how a company like audi could get the right hand drive cars so wrong, they really don't seem to have cared at all. The left hand drive A4 I drove didn't have the issue at all.

Basically my impressions of the A5 sportback were that it's a great looking, really practical 4 seater. If I was looking at an A4 I'd jump to this in a heartbeat. However all it has going for it over the A4 is the looks, it's pretty much identical inside and personally I couldn't tell any difference in handling.

I didn't think it was as bad as whatcar have made out in their review (putting it 4th in a comparison test with a 3 series M sport, a C class and the Passat CC), but it was a bit of a let down apart from the looks.

Lex Luthor

If I was buying an Audi, this would not be in my preferred list.

For a 4/5 door, I'd have the A4 Avant any day unless I could afford the A6 Avant and why would you want a 4 door equivalent of the A5? Beggers belief..!!!

VolvoMan

I think Audi are doing far too much BMW chasing these days. Granted, they may shifting more volume these days than the Bavarian brand, but gone are the days of classy, understated and high quality cars like the B6 A4 with niche monstrosities like this in their place.

Seth Brundle

Alright, alright, we get it!
You have a problem with Audis! Get over it!

bazzachazza

Another day another anti Audi rant.:eek:

Drummerboy08

I took a quick look at one of the demo's in Belgard motors on Friday. It looks better in the flesh, but I wasnt too pushed on the big upgraded wheels that came with, or the colour.

Sonnenblumen

Having seen and driven both the A5 Sportback and Coupe, I can honestly say the Sportback is a stunning looking car and what a drive! Yes the A6 is bigger (and IMO blander) and the A4 is probably similar styling but smaller.

The A5 is really distinctive and yes we're going for metal black. Another test drive on Sat and then it's decision time!! Would be hard to come off the Sportback at this point.

Roll on 2010!!

CivilServant

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Having seen and driven both the A5 Sportback and Coupe, I can honestly say the Sportback is a stunning looking car and what a drive! Yes the A6 is bigger (and IMO blander) and the A4 is probably similar styling but smaller.

The A5 is really distinctive and yes we're going for metal black. Another test drive on Sat and then it's decision time!! Would be hard to come off the Sportback at this point.

Roll on 2010!!

Thought so.

Any updates Sonnen?

Drummerboy08

Actually, we delivered a 2.0TDi 170bhp Multitronic on Friday, and I must say it drives nicer than the equivilent A6. Looks nicer too - the sportback shape has really grown on me.

AugustusMaximus

For the life of me, I can't understand how people could prefer the Sportsback to the A5.

A5 is much better proportioned.