2014 A5 or S5

[Vanguardx]

Looking for a new car and the 2014 A5 line is a strong candidate...as is the 4 series.

Thing is, when I price out an A5 with premium plus, manual, S line, Sport, MMI it comes within less than 5K of a premium plus manual S5 with mmi and rear Diff

The difference in price isnt as stark as a 428 versus a 435.

Over a 5 year period, that 5K really is worth the 3 liter motor and sport diff. Basically you pay 4K for the motor and 1K for the sports diff.

Decisions decisions

[Vicarious]

I'd go for the S5 without too much thinking! But, it's more than 5k if your consider the gas consumption, the insurance price, taxes, ...
Better pleasure and fun on the road with the S5!
Decision, decision!!! Have fun!

[bknewtype]

if power isnt ur concern, stick with the a5. better gas, insurance, etc. they are both great cars. but once u start thinking i could pay x amount more to get this, its going to be a never ending battle.

in the end just get what you want the first time around.

back in 2011 i was suppose to get a a5. but instead paid a bit more and got an s5. sold it cause ic ouldnt deal with the gas and now in a a5. much happier. coulda saved a lot of money.

[Digglo]

I got the A5 SLine for all those reasons. Insurance, gas and plus I live in LA I wouldn't be able to truly enjoy the V6 anyways. If I was going to lean the "S" way I would have gotten a pre-owned V8 version. I love my A5!

[kooltechie]

OP, you should test drive the cars before making decisions.
Good luck!

[DinB]

Lol the A5 is not that much better on gas if you don't baby it. If you gun it yoi will use as much gas as soneone with an S5 that drives evonomically. I find it funny how people buying expensive car are worried about $50 more in gas per month.

[Digglo]

Lol the A5 is not that much better on gas if you don't baby it. If you gun it yoi will use as much gas as soneone with an S5 that drives evonomically. I find it funny how people buying expensive car are worried about $50 more in gas per month.

Coming from the guy with an 80k car. $50 is $50 in my world. #sorryballa

[aLTTP]

never knew a fully loaded A was not that much less than a S. just get the S. don't like it, downgrade.

[Vanguardx]

Ughh, so the BMW 4 series configurator just went live on BMWUSA. the 328i is pretty damn temping and about the same price as a A5 with same options (Xdrive, Tech package, Prem, Cold Weather) for its performance but I just dont think I can live with that fender slot behind the front wheels...why would you do this BMW...

Its literally is pushing me to the A5.

[Vanguardx]

428i Xdrive is 52.5K with Sport line Cold Weather, Prem, Tech and Drivers Assist NO MANUAL AVAILABLE on 428

VS.

A5 prem plus with Sport, Black optic package, MMI with only 48.3K MSRP MANUAL

4.2K difference in price for a new body and more performance.

Comes down to $$$ and performance vs. class

[Mops@Nemesis]

I got the A5 SLine for all those reasons. Insurance, gas and plus I live in LA I wouldn't be able to truly enjoy the V6 anyways. If I was going to lean the "S" way I would have gotten a pre-owned V8 version. I love my A5!

Wow, you sir are a rare breed around these parts. You realize you could have gained a good 3/4 car length traffic light to traffic light with the 3.0?

[JimWB]

I've had three people with the Audi 2.0 say it consumes about a quart of oil every 5k. Anyone else have an issue with the 2.0 using oil like this? One person had a rebuild done around 45k under warranty (even with the issue she still loves the car). They were all A4s ranging from a 2008 - 2012.

[DinB]

428i Xdrive is 52.5K with Sport line Cold Weather, Prem, Tech and Drivers Assist NO MANUAL AVAILABLE on 428

VS.

A5 prem plus with Sport, Black optic package, MMI with only 48.3K MSRP MANUAL

4.2K difference in price for a new body and more performance.

Comes down to $$$ and performance vs. class

Well in that case add about $1500 to A5 to give it an auto transmission to make it more apple to apple comparison.

[jtanenbaum]

I had a cap on my spend and had to choose between an s5 or an a5 cabrio. S5 cab was just too much....I chose the cabrio. While that 3.0 screams, I couldn't resist the open sky option. It's plenty for me......

[Beast]

s5

[kooltechie]

Wow, you sir are a rare breed around these parts. You realize you could have gained a good 3/4 car length traffic light to traffic light with the 3.0?

Worth every dollar spent!

I had to, Mops....a lotta your comments are just too classic

[MJM]

FYI for what it's worth, I had a 2013 Sline A5 and went to a premium plus 2013 s5, you won't regret and depreciation will be more kind with the S5.

Also, local taxes will be marginally more since the NADA book values an Sline A5 only $700 approx less than a S5 premium plus. Taxes therefore shouldn't be a big consideration.

[DannyDeez]

s5

This.

[Dallas_A5]

I was in your same situation when I bought my A5. I was deciding between and A5 vs S5, the difference in price wasn't really what was holding me back. I drive 50 miles/day and I felt like gas was going to be a big issue for me so I decided to be more practical and I went with the A5.

I semi-sorta regret it. I love my a5, i've done an intake, exhaust, rs5 grill, and ECU on it (aka dropped some money into) and I still wish it was a little faster and more aggressive and still thinking about a k04. It would be nice to have a more aggressive stock car and just throw an exhaust on it and call it done.

So anywhoo just figure out what your main priority/desire is. If its gas mileage then get the A5. If its saving some money then get the a5. If its the engine then for sure get the s5. If a nice exhaust note makes you smile then get the s5. Etc

[a5sport]

Lol the A5 is not that much better on gas if you don't baby it. If you gun it yoi will use as much gas as soneone with an S5 that drives evonomically. I find it funny how people buying expensive car are worried about $50 more in gas per month.

And we all find it "funny" that someone with an "expensive car" would put a cheap-a$$ subwoofer speaker in it...held down with bungee cords.

[ATSR]

S5 hands down.

As far as considering the 4 series, just don't. Besides the fact that it has the hideous "bimmerang" (aka the Pep Boys side vent), numb electric steering and an ipad looking thing sticking out of the dashboard like a sore thumb (regardless if you have Nav or not), I would STRONGLY advice against buying an all new BMW model due to the very likely appalling reliability. Besides the very likely reliability issues the new model wil bring, it will also carry over the ones found in the F30: vibrating steering issue, corroding seats, etc.

[moondev]

The new 4 series is soooooo ugly. Even the msport version looks bad. The lines do not flow at all imo.

[J0E]

I wouldn't even hesitate myself: S5. I've driven A4's and 328i's plenty of times and they are underwhelming to say the least. If a little extra gas isn't a concern then I would go with the one that will put a smile on your face every time you push the gas pedal...

[Vanguardx]

Yeah, I pretty much wrote off the 4 series from seeing all the problems the F30's are having.

Does anyone know if the A5 platform will get a significant upgrade for 2015? Not just facelift like the 2013.

[lapisia]

Definitely the S5. I was in a similar predicament... A5 vs. S4 and went with the S4. The fully loaded A5 S-line was nice and stylistically beats the S4 in every way but the 3.0 engine is so much more fun. So if you are able to get the S5 for just 5k more I would say that's a no brainer.

I live in a large metro area where there are lots of traffic and high insurance rates but at the end of the day I'm still glad I paid extra for the engine and sport diff :)

[KrisReaz]

op, if your going to keep the car a long time after the warranty is up get the s5. I haven't heard people having nearly as many problems with the 3.0T or 4.2 then we've had with the 2.0T's. If your paying that much to begin with and the 4k doesn't bother you, get the S5 you'll be satisfied. The a5 seems like its enough when you first drive it but beware it gets boring and bland quickly. The car is beautiful and has you sold but you don't get to see the outside much when your sitting in it and driving it. I wish I had the extra 4k when I got my car.

[Vanguardx]

op, if your going to keep the car a long time after the warranty is up get the s5. I haven't heard people having nearly as many problems with the 3.0T or 4.2 then we've had with the 2.0T's. If your paying that much to begin with and the 4k doesn't bother you, get the S5 you'll be satisfied. The a5 seems like its enough when you first drive it but beware it gets boring and bland quickly. The car is beautiful and has you sold but you don't get to see the outside much when your sitting in it and driving it. I wish I had the extra 4k when I got my car.

What problems have you had with your 2.0? I read that besides the early oil consumptions they were pretty solid. As for the 4.2 I read that they were pretty hard to deal with sometimes.

The reason I'd get the 2.0T in manual is becuase it makes the car a completely different machine compared to the auto. Perhaps the auto bored you?

When I lived in europe I drove a 2.0T VW 6 MT for 5 years and it seemed great. Pulled hard too.

[dparm]

The older 2.0 was problematic. The new one is much improved, from what I've read (anecdotally).

[LINDW4LL]

Get the S5. $5k is nothing in the long run. You'll get bored of the 2.0 very quickly.

[Pilfer]

Plus, I have Progressive insurance and my new S4 doesn't cost any more to insure than my previous new Subaru Legacy. I know insurance prices are regional but I wouldn't let insurance dissuade you from buying a car. I have the maximum dollar amount coverage Progressive offers.

[DannyDeez]

OP maybe ive missed it, but is power important to you at all? That should make your decision pretty easy. S5 is very nice from the factory. With a pulley/tune it will put a smile on your face daily.

[Vanguardx]

Im more about going from point A to B and having a classy car. Power is secondary. Having both is good. Have the right combo is whats important to me really. If the A5 can pull to 60 in around 6 seconds, thats plenty fast for me.

I understand with some simple ecu tuning it can get there in the high 5's

But then again, 5K difference over the course of a 5 year loan isnt too much...

[muffinman]

I find this somewhat ironic coming from an Audi S5 owner

S5 hands down.

As far as considering the 4 series, just don't. Besides the fact that it has the hideous "bimmerang" (aka the Pep Boys side vent), numb electric steering and an ipad looking thing sticking out of the dashboard like a sore thumb (regardless if you have Nav or not), I would STRONGLY advice against buying an all new BMW model due to the very likely appalling reliability. Besides the very likely reliability issues the new model wil bring, it will also carry over the ones found in the F30: vibrating steering issue, corroding seats, etc.

[rmh]

I'd go with a used 4.2 6MT S5 over any 2014 A5 or S5 but that's just me.
Is there a reason you want to take the major depreciation hit (buying a new car) as opposed to a used one that's 2-4 years old and 30+% less money?
Do you keep your cars for 10 +/- years? or do you turn them every 3-5 years?
You can find virtually new 4.2V8 S5s (2010 m.y.+) for nearly 20K less than a brand new 3.0T S5 similarly optioned.
Truth be told the 3.0T isn't significantly more fuel efficient than the 4.2 according to the posts I've been reading.