Electromechanical Steering Review - 2013 S5

[kooltechie]

It's been almost 4 weeks since I took delivery of a 2013 S5 and I'm quite impressed with most of the features and the aesthetic of the car.
However, there's one thing that I just can't seem to get used to, at least not yet, is the electromechanical steering.
It may be much more efficient than the hydraulic power steering and effortlessly easy to turn especially in comfort mode, but it's not precise and doesn't provide feedback.
With the steering wheel center-positioned, the car doesn't stay straight on course but feels nervous and twitchy, more apparent at higher speeds, i.e. on freeway.
Dynamic mode seems to be tiny bit better, but no matter what mode is selected, it feels quite twitchy, disconnected, uninspiring, unpredictable....I'm never relaxed and make frequent adjustments.
I went back to the dealer to test drive another 2013 S5 a few days ago and it was pretty much the same.
This behavior makes the car feel much bigger than it is....not good at all.
My girl friend's 2011 535 without the sport pkg provides much better steering and confidence in driving....way more feedback, connected, direct, precise, predictable, stable....making the car feel much smaller and nimble to handle.

I'm seriously considering to install Alu Kreuz, hoping it'd improve the overall steering, but I doubt it'll completely change.

I'd love to hear from other 2013 S5 owners in regards to their experience and opinions on the new electromechanical steering.

[TayTay]

I have a 2013 S5 and am having the exact same problems. It almost feels as if the car is always out of alignment. I also feel like there is no dead center, its either a little left or a little right. I don't think it makes the car feel bigger though, however in in comfort mode and especially in dynamic mode there seems to be a little more artificial push or resistance that I would like.

[Brick Oven]

Agree on all points. Eurocode says the new Alu kreuz has an even bigger effect on the new rack than the old, so I'll be among the first names on that group buy list once that deal is on.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Dang, that sounds terrible. This on all B8.5's? I do not like all the driver assist/training wheels that come on cars these days. I'd rather start with a simple drivers car and make improvements myself as I learn the car.

[PaperishPlastic]

I've driven a b8.5 S5 and S4 with and without the Alu Kreuz and I can tell you that the Alu Kreuz almost completely if not completely gets rid of the twitchiness on the freeway. It makes a huge difference on this new chasis.

[kooltechie]

Agree on all points. Eurocode says the new Alu kreuz has an even bigger effect on the new rack than the old, so I'll be among the first names on that group buy list once that deal is on.

I didn't see a GB for 2013 models
Would you please post the link so I can join it?
Thanks!!!

[DinB]

I don't feel this on the RS5. In daynamic mode the car feels like a sled on the highway. Also, I don't get something, you say that the car feels big but is also twitchy... wouldn't a car that feels twitchy also feel smaller and more agile while a larger car would feel more rigid?

[kooltechie]

I have a 2013 S5 and am having the exact same problems. It almost feels as if the car is always out of alignment. I also feel like there is no dead center, its either a little left or a little right. I don't think it makes the car feel bigger though, however in in comfort mode and especially in dynamic mode there seems to be a little more artificial push or resistance that I would like.

It's hard to believe most of the reviews done on B8.5 by the magazines and blogs have been positive on the new steering.
They do say fake feel and no feedback, but precise and better overall?
Not agreeing with them at all

[DinB]

It's hard to believe most of the reviews done on B8.5 by the magazines and blogs have been positive on the new steering.
They do say fake feel and no feedback, but precise and better overall?
Not agreeing with them at all

Do you have dynamic steering? On the RS5 this is standard and on the S5 (at least in Canada) it came as part of the package with the dynamic dampers. Maybe this is the issue. I am sure that all the review S5 cars were fully loaded.

[kooltechie]

I've driven a b8.5 S5 and S4 with and without the Alu Kreuz and I can tell you that the Alu Kreuz almost completely if not completely gets rid of the twitchiness on the freeway. It makes a huge difference on this new chasis.

Audi should buy Alu Kreuz from Eurocode and install it on ALL sold B8.5's for free and make it a standard equipment on the future builds.

[kooltechie]

Do you have dynamic steering? On the RS5 this is standard and on the S5 (at least in Canada) it came as part of the package with the dynamic dampers. Maybe this is the issue. I am sure that all the review S5 cars were fully loaded.

I thought dynamic steering was standard on B8.5 S5...at least in US?

[kooltechie]

Dang, that sounds terrible. This on all B8.5's? I do not like all the driver assist/training wheels that come on cars these days. I'd rather start with a simple drivers car and make improvements myself as I learn the car.

this is probably true on most of the new models, if not all, equipped with the electromechanical steering.
I'm sure this technology will improve over time, but for now, it's quite disappointing.
hopefully Alu Kreuz will remedy most of its shortfalls.

[PaperishPlastic]

Audi should buy Alu Kreuz from Eurocode and install it on ALL sold B8.5's for free and make it a standard equipment on the future builds.

Im with you on that one.

[iinviktus]

I don't feel this on the RS5. In daynamic mode the car feels like a sled on the highway. Also, I don't get something, you say that the car feels big but is also twitchy... wouldn't a car that feels twitchy also feel smaller and more agile while a larger car would feel more rigid?

I don't feel this on my RS5 either and am delighted at how much the steering is improved over my '98 S5.

[Mops@Nemesis]

I don't feel this on my RS5 either and am delighted at how much the steering is improved over my '98 S5.

B5 S5, how did I miss that car

[oc cc]

Alu Kreuz will fix this, just be patient.

[Brick Oven]

I didn't see a GB for 2013 models
Would you please post the link so I can join it?
Thanks!!!

They'll post a link in here once it's goin down don't worry

[kooltechie]

Alu Kreuz will fix this, just be patient.

if this is true, then it's the drivetrain stabilizer that causes this disappointing behavior?
it's hard to believe that Audi put an inadequate and extremely under-performing drivetrain stabilizer to $60k cars
I'd be more than happy to have paid a couple hundred more for a part like Alu Kreuz already installed at the factory as a standard equipment.
can't believe Audi produces "performance" cars like this....very disappointing

[kooltechie]

They'll post a link in here once it's goin down don't worry

oh, I see....thought there was one already

[DannyDeez]

B5 S5, how did I miss that car

Lmao...I was thinking the same thing.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[oc cc]

if this is true, then it's the drivetrain stabilizer that causes this disappointing behavior?
it's hard to believe that Audi put an inadequate and extremely under-performing drivetrain stabilizer to $60k cars
I'd be more than happy to have paid a couple hundred more for a part like Alu Kreuz already installed at the factory as a standard equipment.
can't believe Audi produces "performance" cars like this....very disappointing

Keep in mind that Audi (like ALL car companies) caters to the masses, and builds their cars as such. I am sure that 90% of S5 drivers probably wouldn't care. However, we can thank our lucky stars that a company like Eurocode has stepped up and filled the void in the market with an amazing product. I installed mine about a month ago and can honestly say it makes a huge difference. It will make an even BIGGER difference on your car. Read my review here if you want an idea of what it is like:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...u-Kreuz-Review

Now don't get me wrong, I want to set expectations straight. This will not fix the overly boosted feeling from the new steering setup- resistance will be the exact same. However, it DOES change how the car REACTS to your steering input, which I believe is something you are looking for.

[a5sport]

Dang, that sounds terrible. This on all B8.5's? I do not like all the driver assist/training wheels that come on cars these days. I'd rather start with a simple drivers car and make improvements myself as I learn the car.

Have this on the 2013 A4, and don't feel much difference from my 2010 A5 with "old" hydraulic steering.

Just came back from a 1700 mile drive with the A4, lots of Interstate driving, and the car never wanted to wander in the lane. Rock steady.

Now...I do have 19" wheels on the A4 with the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tires, and they do track straight, so maybe that's why. When the S5 arrives...guess I'll have to pay close attention to the steering & let you know.

[Sickk]

I test drove a 2013 S5 yesterday and I didn't really like the feedback when steering..
Felt like I was playing a video game while driving.

[Mops@Nemesis]

^Meh, I am not going to like that at all....
That's a deal breaker and shame.

[cynicaL]

i'm not fond of the electromechanical steering in the s5 but i can live with it. comfort is nice and easy but i prefer a more responsive feel so i just leave it in dynamic mode. i'm not sure what this 'twitching' or 'alignment' issue you guys are having. my car is always stays dead straight and is smooth as butter. it's not as precise as i would prefer and i can feel the 'electromechanics' at work when going around a slight curve at higher speeds. i only have the sports differential on my car and that's it. everything is stock and no mods.

[Got No Game]

i'm not fond of the electromechanical steering in the s5 but i can live with it. comfort is nice and easy but i prefer a more responsive feel so i just leave it in dynamic mode. i'm not sure what this 'twitching' or 'alignment' issue you guys are having. my car is always stays dead straight and is smooth as butter. it's not as precise as i would prefer and i can feel the 'electromechanics' at work when going around a slight curve at higher speeds. i only have the sports differential on my car and that's it. everything is stock and no mods.

Thus far, it seems like all the comments are from S5 owners. I'm curious as to whether the same problems/observations exist from RS5 drivers as well. It has the new electromechanical steering as well.

[endless5]

I've never used this "steering" feature on my RS, I just go straight.

[Got No Game]

^Toonces...LOOK OUT!!

[Got No Game]

A good video example of the electromechanical steering phenomenon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQkL9LpvKl0&noredirect=1

[MonzaA5]

Have this on the 2013 A4, and don't feel much difference from my 2010 A5 with "old" hydraulic steering.

I will second this. I drove a 2012 A6 (electromechanical) and 2012 Q5 (hydraulic) back to back and could tell no difference in steering feel. Both were very precise yet slightly disconnected, in a typical Audi fashion. Interestingly, both felt lighter at higher speeds than my 2011 A5 S-line (I wonder if S-line and S-cars get different servotronic tuning).

[rocksnjewels]

Do you have dynamic steering? On the RS5 this is standard and on the S5 (at least in Canada) it came as part of the package with the dynamic dampers. Maybe this is the issue. I am sure that all the review S5 cars were fully loaded.

The RS5 does not come standard with dynamic steering in the USA. You have to order the driver assist package. Just an FYI since I ordered it.

[Marshall_Placid]

I've never used this "steering" feature on my RS, I just go straight.

LOL. Nice animated GIF.

[Marshall_Placid]

I have a 2012 A6 S-line and got the RS5 3 weeks ago. Both have 20'' wheels. The A6 has the 255 tires and the RS5 has the 275 tires.

The width of the tire, I believe, affects the performance.

The A6 provides a more nimble feeling. Both cars weigh around the same but the A6 is about 100 lbs lighter.

For some reason, the A6 feels much lighter than the RS5.

The steering on the RS5 is heavier... and noticeably so.

Both uses electromechanical steering (to the best of my knowledge).

Maybe, the V6 engine on the A6 is lighter than the V8 engine of the RS5, so this contributes to the heavy steering phenomenon of the RS5.