I would typically say that an Audi S vehicle is a man’s car with all that horsepower and torque under the hood, but the all-new 2008 S5 is so elegant and refined that there’s plenty for both genders to enjoy.
Besides, as those new Cadillac commercials point out, not all women are interested only in cup holders.
2008 Audi S5
The cherry on top
Engine: V-8 gasoline direct injection DOHC
Horsepower: 354
Peak torque: 325 pound-feet @ 3,500
Seating capacity: 4
Length: 182.5 inches
Wheelbase: 108.3 inches
Width: 78 inches
Height: 53.9 inches
Cargo volume: 16.1 cubic-feet
MPG (city/highway): 14/21
Base price: $52,575 (with destination and gas guzzler tax)
As tested: $59,015
The four-passenger S5 has the 4.2-liter V-8 engine that delivers 354 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. So, sliding behind the wheel and starting the engine was pure joy during the test week. Luckily, my commute typically occurs during off-traffic hours, so once I got out of my neighborhood, I had tremendous fun flying up the on-ramp and onto the highway.
The test vehicle came equipped with the six-speed manual transmission with syncromesh on all gears, and the clutch was a hydraulic single-disc with dual mass flywheel. All of this combined for smooth and fluid shifting, even in stop-and-go traffic. It was easy and fun to upshift quickly during hard acceleration, and it was with a definite smile that I landed in my parking space at work each day.
Even with a weight of 3,593.5 pounds, the S5 was able to hug curves and corners, making sweeping onramps fun. From heading out to the South Side to visit a friend to driving up to Montrose Harbor to spend time at the park playing catch, I was looking for any reason to get behind the wheel of the S5 and drive.
The 0-to-60 mph time for the S5 is a neat 4.9 seconds. Though the speedometer shows 200 mph, the top speed for the United States is electronically limited to 155 mph.
Because there are so many numbers on the speedometer, a curious thing continually happened during the test week. I’d be driving along on the highway, and my peripheral vision would show the needle only edging halfway toward the top. Usually this indicates a speed in the 30 to 45 mph range. So, I’d accelerate and end up passing pretty much everyone else on the road. When I finally took closer look at the gauges, I realized that halfway up is actually around 65 mph on the S5. Oops.
With power comes responsibility … and a price. The S5, as you may have guessed, is no gas sipper. EPA fuel estimates ring in at a paltry 14 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. When I was stuck in stop-and-go traffic, I averaged around 8 mpg, and when I was at my best highway cruising, I went up as high as 18 mpg. However, 16.6 gallons of premium fuel isn’t the only price of owning an S5. You’ll also be tacking a $1,300 gas guzzler tax onto the $51,275 price tag.
The smooth speed and driving delirium may draw a potential customer into the showroom, but it’s going to be the classic looks of this refined coupe that will close the sale. The 19-inch five twin-spoke alloy wheels, the aluminum-look exterior mirror housings, chrome trim and even the oversized grille combine to create a very pretty package. The coupe lines create a sleek profile that is only enhanced by the elegant taillights and headlights. My particularly favorite exterior feature, however, is the headlights. I love the individual LED bulbs surrounding the headlights. They look downright mean in the dark of night.
The test vehicle had Phantom Black Pearl paint that perfectly complimented the black leather interior. The interior finishes were standard Audi right down to the irascible Multi Media Interface (MMI). I have friends who own Audis, and they say they have no problems with the MMI. They think everything is intuitive and easy to use. Granted I am only in the vehicle for a short amount of time, but still, the idea of working everything from your HVAC to your radio through the MMI is a bit frustrating. Even the volume button has disappeared off the center stack, and the only way you can adjust the sound on your radio is through a dial on the steering wheel. The upside: Your passengers can’t fiddle with the radio as easily, and if you don’t want to listen to them, you can just crank up the volume.
I thought the sport seats were incredibly comfortable, and the side bolsters were supportive without being overwhelming. The rear seats are just as comfortable, but most adults will have a tight squeeze to get back there. While not all women buy cars based on cup holders, I do have to point out the ingeniously placed rear-seat holders by the outboard knee of the rear passengers.
Overall, the S5 is a hot new entry into the luxury performance segment. I like that it’s a coupe. I really like that it’s smooth and fast. Other than the MMI, there wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this car. Well, there is the fact that I had to hand over the keys at the end of the test period. I hated that part.
DriveLive around Chicago in a VW Eos
