Dilemma - S5 or A5 3.0 TDI

25652 Views 130 Replies 32 Participants Last post by S5mons, Aug 9, 2014

mart2011

Discussion Starter · Jun 19, 2011

I have been researching for a number of weeks comparing the S5 to the A5 TDI, I really would like to get other peoples opinions particularly from owners. I have test driven the 3.0TDI manual, very impressed with the torque, effortless pull and comfort level. For me manual is pointless 1st gear is used up too quickly, so it would be an auto with the TDI.

I have around 25k to spend +/-3k, my heart says S5 but the head is saying TDI. I only do 6k a year so this is really a toy, occasional trips to cornwall etc. Used only 6mths a year...
Questions:
Fuel – on paper the S5 does 23mpg combined, compared to 40mpg with the TDI, what are peoples real life figures? Is the sound of the V8 to hard to resist putting the footdown?
Tyres – how many miles do you get out of a set? Average Price per corner?
Servicing – my budget will get me an S5 with around 50k, how much will servicing be?
Anything to look out for with the S5 – heard some like the taste of oil?
Comments are welcome...

41 - 60 of 131 Posts

joegals

· #41 · Jun 22, 2011

danjwilson said:
@joegals - Hear what you're saying Joe, but I think the line's far more blurred than you paint... With my mileage as a daily driver vehicle, I'm saving over £2100 a year on fuel and VED alone set against the S5 V8 (assuming avg 35mpg for me and 20mpg for S5). Add to this the fact that (on paper and assuming stock) the S5 is only 0.8 sec quicker to 62mph and limited to the same top end (neither of which my driving exploits), it makes the TDI an attractive proposition, not just a tractor.
There is one but... that V8 noise! But, to me at least, that just wasn't worth an extra £2100 per year to run.
Each side of this discussion will always have it's advocates, and mostly for very valid (but sometimes emotive) reasons. Personally, I don't think anyone is wrong or right, just different!:cheers:

Your point is fair and well-made Dan and indeed, each to their own - my distaste where diesels are concerned is indeed that - mine - and I make the choice, at some expense (although my employment contract fortunately mitigates fuel costs), to allocate a proportion of my readies towards fulfilling something I enjoy, namely a relatively performant petrol car.

One thing I forgot to mention (which bhk1004 touched on) is the noise element which a number have raised - yes, the noise of a modern V8, particularly when freed and enhanced through a sports exhaust, can be pretty intoxicating. But it's not the clincher - what sways it for me, every time, is the immediacy and responsiveness of petrol vs. diesel. No compromise, just what God intended when he invented the (petrol-engined) motor car.

By the way - I don't use the word 'tractor' once - although now you've mentioned it, it does emphasise my point that that's where diesel engines belong.

danjwilson

· #42 · Jun 22, 2011

joegals said:
Your point is fair and well-made Dan and indeed, each to their own - my distaste where diesels are concerned is indeed that - mine - and I make the choice, at some expense (although my employment contract fortunately mitigates fuel costs), to allocate a proportion of my readies towards fulfilling something I enjoy, namely a relatively performant petrol car.

One thing I forgot to mention (which bhk1004 touched on) is the noise element which a number have raised - yes, the noise of a modern V8, particularly when freed and enhanced through a sports exhaust, can be pretty intoxicating. But it's not the clincher - what sways it for me, every time, is the immediacy and responsiveness of petrol vs. diesel. No compromise, just what God intended when he invented the (petrol-engined) motor car.

By the way - I don't use the word 'tractor' once - although now you've mentioned it, it does emphasise my point that that's where diesel engines belong.

Can't fault you Joe, in your situation I'd have made the same choice, and I'd be a liar if I said otherwise. However, I'm still on the right horse for my course buddy...! :cheers:

RGBArgee

· #43 · Jun 22, 2011

Joes situation seems rare these days, an Employment Contract that encourages what many consider to be gas guzzling cars. But given that I'd have one too. Got any jobs ;-0....but as I don't believe in God I probably don't have a hope...and also not sure he (or she) or LGBT (another post grimree) invented any engine.

Cheers

RG

PS Boom Boom is the Tractor fan I hear but he's gone all quiet these days..

joegals

· #44 · Jun 22, 2011

- welcome to the Private sector RG, where companies have to compete to retain and attract skilled staff. To correct you, the policy (which is far from unique in my sector/industry) is not designed to encourage profligacy or environmental vandalism, merely as an extension to an employment benefits package. Were I to choose to purchase and run a 1.2 A1, or even.......a diesel, the fuel benefit would be proportionally identical, although of course numerically diminished.

Since I got the S, my employer, noted for its green credentials has in fact bought in 'guidelines' for fuel consumption and emissions for private vehicles involved in their benefit schemes, which I wholeheartedly applaud.

Anyway, enough of that and back on topic - the OP's situation in term's of annual mileage translates into fuel costs not being a major consideration - so my other points stand.

RGBArgee

· #45 · Jun 22, 2011 (Edited)

As I work cross sector I don't get the point. The Public pay for Private sector excess and the Private Pay for the Public Sector... Your point is lost on me! Any one else understand?

Dan, Howdi??

Cheers

RG

Howdi Audi

· #46 · Jun 22, 2011

rg my input at this time of night, especially after a hard day, generally consists of a burp ! And tonight, a curry one at that !

joegals

· #47 · Jun 23, 2011

LOL @ Howdi - hope the curry didn't repeat on you overnight - sorry RG, looks like you're on your own to wrestle with that one. Anyway, out of deference to the OP, probably best to keep his thread on topic.

mart2011

Discussion Starter · #48 · Jul 17, 2011

Well, I bought a 57 Plate - Black S5 from Audi....took it out and immediately loved the V8... that start up and engine roar is great..thanks for everyones input, I will have to just bite the bullet and forget about petrol prices....

joegals

· #49 · Jul 17, 2011

Great to hear mart, congratulations! I'm sure to two of you will be very happy together - and keep us posted on how the relationship develops......

bremnero

· #50 · Jul 22, 2011

Congratulations Mart

I love my black S5 and I am sure you will as well. Put the windows and your foot down and forget about the mpg.

Cheers

scratch113

· #51 · Jul 22, 2011

If it's the V8 growl you like particularly, I feel a call to Milltek is required!

Alejandro

· #52 · Jul 22, 2011

mart2011 said:
Well, I bought a 57 Plate - Black S5 from Audi....took it out and immediately loved the V8... that start up and engine roar is great..thanks for everyones input, I will have to just bite the bullet and forget about petrol prices....

Well done! :thumbsup:

sandjstickney

· #53 · Jul 22, 2011

One day it will not be uncommon to hear: "You remember the days when you could get a V8 in a private passenger car?"

Get 'em while you still can fellas.

kotafey

· #54 · Jan 6, 2012

danjwilson said:
Absolutely. An easy choice for me. More power than an old fart like me can usefully use, and the best mpg I've ever had! Where's the choice to be made RG?!

@joegals - Hear what you're saying Joe, but I think the line's far more blurred than you paint... With my mileage as a daily driver vehicle, I'm saving over £2100 a year on fuel and VED alone set against the S5 V8 (assuming avg 35mpg for me and 20mpg for S5). Add to this the fact that (on paper and assuming stock) the S5 is only 0.8 sec quicker to 62mph and limited to the same top end (neither of which my driving exploits), it makes the TDI an attractive proposition, not just a tractor.
There is one but... that V8 noise! But, to me at least, that just wasn't worth an extra £2100 per year to run.
Each side of this discussion will always have it's advocates, and mostly for very valid (but sometimes emotive) reasons. Personally, I don't think anyone is wrong or right, just different!
:cheers:

Sorry for the slight thread resurrect, but I currently find myself in pretty much exactly the same position as the OP. I was going to type my own reply, but I think the above quote summarises my point of view quite well.

I drove the S5 and was very impressed. Have a 3.0 tdi test drive booked in tomorrow, following which I will make the final decision.

On paper I agree that, despite being a wannabe petrolhead, I can't justify paying £2,000 per year (+ the initial price difference for cars of a similar age) for a better soundtrack and 0.6 second faster acceleration to 60.

Unless my test drive tomorrow is absolutely horrendous, which I suspect it won't be, I will be going for an almost-new tdi.

Evil Derboy

· #55 · Jan 6, 2012

I think an awful lot of A5 owners must have been in this dilemma at some point. I was the same. I did some fairly comprehensive calcs to give me an equivalent total month running cost, taking into account:

Purchase price (monthly loan payment)
Road Tax
Insurance
Fuel costs

In the end I felt that a well specc'd 3.0 TDI was the far cheaper and more sensible option. I have never owned a deisel before and I do miss the sound you get from a petrol engine. I do similar annual miles to the original OP (around 6k) and a lot of this is mixed urban and motorway. My average MPG according to the dash is circa 24mpg. That being the case I dread to think what I'd be getting from an S5.

I'd love that V8 sound but I'd be paying through the nose for it. I miss the S5-Sline kit but I will be putting this on my car. I also miss a high revving petrol engine but the torque on the car is immense. I've Bluefin'd it and lowered it by 20/25mm (Eibach springs) and this has made a big difference in how it feels to drive but I rarely get a chance to put the car through it's paces. For me having an S5 would really only be for the exterior kit and the cachet from my friends and family at having a car with an S badge. Those aren't enough to justify the extra couple of hundred quid a month that it would cost me to have one.

If money is not an option then S5 is the car to go for but if you want similar performance at a more civilised cost of ownership then the 3.0TDI is the way to go.

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RGBArgee

· #56 · Jan 6, 2012

A difficult decision indeed until you drive a 3.0Td Quattro and do the sums. I am on my second! The base S5 is not that much more fun IMHO.... Now RS5 well maybe....just maybe...

Cheers

RG

aliwtsnS5

· #57 · Jan 7, 2012

Have driven both when was in the same predicament as yourself, the noise of the roaring 4.2 V8 was enough to sell it to me. My S5 is a toy also I wouldn't be doing over 5k a year so similar to yourself. A fully spec'd S5 was far more appealing to me but like I said I don't do many miles, have never owned a diesel and as far as looks appeal goes the S5 for me won hands down as too does it attract alot of attention

MonzaA5

· #58 · Jan 8, 2012

RGBArgee said:
Why Auto Tdi and S5 Manual. I think I am correct in saying the 0-62 times for a Manual 3.0Tdi is actually slightly better or on a par with an S5 V8 Auto. Whatever there is not a lot in it.

I am afraid you are not correct. S5 auto is 5.1 seconds (0-60mph) while 3.0TDI is 6.1. One second quicker to 60 mph is a pretty big difference.

m33porsche

· #59 · Jan 8, 2012

RGBArgee said:
A difficult decision indeed until you drive a 3.0Td Quattro and do the sums. I am on my second! The base S5 is not that much more fun IMHO.... Now RS5 well maybe....just maybe...

Cheers

RG

Come on RGB - don't delay the inevitable any longer....you'e been pontificating on this far too long....:swordfight:

Evil Derboy

· #60 · Jan 8, 2012 (Edited)

MonzaA5 said:
I am afraid you are not correct. S5 auto is 5.1 seconds (0-60mph) while 3.0TDI is 6.1. One second quicker to 60 mph is a pretty big difference.

3.0 TDI Manual is 5.9 according to Audi's figures, with the new 3.0 TDI engine (S Tronic only) quoted at 5.8. Facelift S5 auto is 4.9 seconds.

So, if you're talking about current cars rather than facelift then the difference is only 0.8 of a second. Unless you are a track driver, 0.8secs at 0-60 is vistually meaningless in the real world.

No one is suggesting that the 3.0TDI is quicker, merely that it is comparable and unless you are racing S5s every day you wont notice much of a difference in pure acceleration times thanks to the torque. Obviously the overall driving experience is profoundly different with the S5 being the better of the two.

No one can reasonably say that for driving thrills they would take the TDI over the S5, but if you have other considerations as previously mentioned I think it's a damn good compromise.

41 - 60 of 131 Posts

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