S5 / RS5 physical differences (B8.5)

[hayasa]

Aside from the engine and related functions, of course. Correct my ignorance:

Same center dif, same instrumentation, basically same suspension (right? assuming the S5 does not have the adjustable), and same bodywork (minus the rear spoiler on the RS5).

Differences: Front brakes are upgraded, and I'd heard that the RS5 has air ducts. RS5 rear dif is different somehow and requires separate maintenance. RS5 has a different front end and different grill. RS5 exhaust is special and has flaps. No spare tire on RS5.

Other stuff? Oil pan / sump? Wheels?

Did I miss anything?

[bsqu9red]

The instrumentation is different. Leather perforations. Different rear valance. Diff wheels. And forget oil pan. The engine is completely diff

There's more that I'm sure others will chime in on.


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[GSS5]

rs5 has completely different body work. the only panels it shares with the s5 are the hood and doors.

[AofC_RR]

Fenders are flared front and rear so the car has a wider track. Different fuel door. Center diff is only the same if the S5 is S-tronic. Manual S5s use the Torsen diff, S-tronic cars are crown diffs. Front bumper, grill. Both the front and rear brakes are different. 20" wheels are available as an option.

[Zee Dgerman]

I also don't think suspension is the same. Is it?


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[superswiss]

Engine is obviously completely different, suspension is different, thicker sway bars, stronger drive train stabilizer (Alu Kreuz still better, though), the S-tronic is different, torque-vectoring is different (Same rear sport diff, but uses the brakes on all 4 wheels on top of the active torque vectoring of the sport diff, this is largely responsible for the much better handling), body panels are mostly different (already mentioned), wider track (already mentioned), many software tweaks (dynamic is truely for track along with the Sport mode for the transmission).

Quattro Gmbh basically gave the car a once over. The new center grown gear diff got introduced with the RS5 and is now found on other S-tronic cars as well, but none of them as far as I know employ the brake based torque-vectoring on top of the rear sport-diff. The S-tronic is significantly different from the S5, not only mechanically, but software as well. For example it has a true manual mode, meaning it never upshifts automatically even if you hit the rev limiter.

There's much more different about the RS5 than the eye reveals.

[rlarsen462]

meaning it never upshifts automatically even if you hit the rev limiter.

Tell me about it...it revs SO fast that I do this more times than I'm willing to admit.

[superswiss]

Tell me about it...it revs SO fast that I do this more times than I'm willing to admit.

Join the club :-). BTW, OP there is much more than what I listed above. I forgot to mention that the RS5 has much improved aerodynamics. Most of the underbody is clad for better downforce and it has air ducts to better manage airflow and cooling of the transmission and brakes. Also, about the extra maintenance, that's the S-tronic. Because of its much more hardcore nature it requires regular maintenance and fluid changes. This alone makes Audi Care a nobrainer by the way.

[dazed1]

Engine is obviously completely different, suspension is different, thicker sway bars, stronger drive train stabilizer (Alu Kreuz still better, though), the S-tronic is different, torque-vectoring is different (Same rear sport diff, but uses the brakes on all 4 wheels on top of the active torque vectoring of the sport diff, this is largely responsible for the much better handling), body panels are mostly different (already mentioned), wider track (already mentioned), many software tweaks (dynamic is truely for track along with the Sport mode for the transmission).

Quattro Gmbh basically gave the car a once over. The new center grown gear diff got introduced with the RS5 and is now found on other S-tronic cars as well, but none of them as far as I know employ the brake based torque-vectoring on top of the rear sport-diff. The S-tronic is significantly different from the S5, not only mechanically, but software as well. For example it has a true manual mode, meaning it never upshifts automatically even if you hit the rev limiter.

There's much more different about the RS5 than the eye reveals.

Join the club :-). BTW, OP there is much more than what I listed above. I forgot to mention that the RS5 has much improved aerodynamics. Most of the underbody is clad for better downforce and it has air ducts to better manage airflow and cooling of the transmission and brakes. Also, about the extra maintenance, that's the S-tronic. Because of its much more hardcore nature it requires regular maintenance and fluid changes. This alone makes Audi Care a nobrainer by the way.

Well said :)

And yes, reach the rev limited at times and forget to shift. I shit my pants a little due to it at times :o

[rlarsen462]

This alone makes Audi Care a nobrainer by the way.

It pissed me off greatly to find this out after the fact, when I'd already run the numbers not knowing about the tranny and figured it wasn't worth it for how many miles I was going to put on it.

[Sgibb16]

It pissed me off greatly to find this out after the fact, when I'd already run the numbers not knowing about the tranny and figured it wasn't worth it for how many miles I was going to put on it.

You can buy the Audi care after the fact IIRC...

[DinB]

You can buy the Audi care after the fact IIRC...

Yeah there is a limit on when you can buy it, but it doesn't have to be right away. I think that you have XX miles to drive the car before it's too late.

[superswiss]

Yeah there is a limit on when you can buy it, but it doesn't have to be right away. I think that you have XX miles to drive the car before it's too late.

In the US you can buy it as late as when you get the 15k service done. At that time you can either pay for the service or buy Audi Care when you pick up the car.

[dtronics]

Yeah there is a limit on when you can buy it, but it doesn't have to be right away. I think that you have XX miles to drive the car before it's too late.

With my last Audi I didn't purchase Audi care initially. When I took the car in for my 5K mile service they offered it to me and the service rep told me that I had up to 15K miles to purchase it.

[YelloJello]

I think when we had a comparison thread back then, it seemed to me that the RS5 has wider flared fenders, but not a wider track than the S5.

[M_What]

Th RS5 has a wide body. S5 does not

[Runge]

I think when we had a comparison thread back then, it seemed to me that the RS5 has wider flared fenders, but not a wider track than the S5.

here we go. assuming they didn't change anything from 2011

S5


RS5

[essfour]

so, with the following being completely different: suspension, sway bars, engine, transmission, body panels, rear trunk/spoiler, brakes, F/R track, F/R axles, under body paneling and protection (RS5's have stainless steel skid plates), rear diff, interior treatment (steering wheel, door handles, etc) i think your question should be answered?

[hayasa]

so, with the following being completely different: suspension, sway bars, engine, transmission, body panels, rear trunk/spoiler, brakes, F/R track, F/R axles, under body paneling and protection (RS5's have stainless steel skid plates), rear diff, interior treatment (steering wheel, door handles, etc) i think your question should be answered?

Hells yeah! Thanks for the help! I think Audi really downplays the secret sauce in the RS5 and just expects it to sell on reputation alone. I had hoped that more things would be interchangeable, though, since it would be nice if something goes wrong that it wouldn't have to be specially ordered and fitted to the RS vice a generic S part.