Anyone go from a G37s to a B8.5 S5?

[Dabozo]

Hi all, I've been shopping for a new (used) car and have narrowed it down to an S5. I drive a 2009 G37s coupe and while I have been generally satisfied with the car, I am displeased with its manual gear box and lack of low end torque.
If I proceed, I would be getting a S5 with a auto tranny (practicality reasons).
While I have test driven the S5, my time behind the wheel has obviously been limited.
I'm was hoping that perhaps someone reading this has come from a G37 coupe and could comment on the following:
-steering feel (feedback)
-handling
-most importantly, the "fun factor"

I have an opportunity to close the deal on a 2013 s5 with sport diff tomorrow but am now getting nervous that a month or so in I may regret my decision based on the aforementioned 'factors'

Thanks in advance!

[Brozee]

I drove a G37s before purchasing my S5. The G37s felt like a heavy boat, got terrible gas mileage, and also wasn't very good looking IMO. So you'll have a tighter car with less float, quicker initially with less bloat.

[RVJ]

I'm coming from a 04 G35 6MT (stock with Brembos if you can believe it) and was very happy with the car. After test driving the S5 it was very hard to drive mine back home.

Steering on the S5 is a little "lighter"...less feel / feedback. In every other way though the S5 is flat out superior. Makes my G feel like a bit of a pig and I really loved that car.

Short answer...I didn't hesitate to dump the G for the S5.

[doug97gxe]

had a 350zTT ... driven my buddies G37cS ... S5 wins in every category hands down .. looks... performance... transmission.. interior... suspension... handling.. everything ... next Q/G will be twin turbo 4 litre though

[Dabozo]

Interesting the boat analogy cause I've read many (non professional) reviews that describe the S5 as 'boaty ". Which would concern me.
I don't think I would describe my experience with the G37 as being Floaty though. (Mine is lowered though)

[doug97gxe]

I'm coming from a 04 G35 6MT (stock with Brembos if you can believe it) and was very happy with the car. After test driving the S5 it was very hard to drive mine back home.

Steering on the S5 is a little "lighter"...less feel / feedback. In every other way though the S5 is flat out superior. Makes my G feel like a bit of a pig and I really loved that car.

Short answer...I didn't hesitate to dump the G for the S5.

did the S5 have ADS and sports diff? steering much tighter and accurate

[doug97gxe]

Interesting the boat analogy cause I've read many (non professional) reviews that describe the S5 as 'boaty ". Which would concern me.
I don't think I would describe my experience with the G37 as being Floaty though. (Mine is lowered though)

my 350z was on coilovers... my s5 on h&r sports feels just as planted

[Dabozo]

my 350z was on coilovers... my s5 on h&r sports feels just as planted

Good to know. This would prob be my first mod.

[Nbawla]

I went from a 04' g35 coupe to a 11' g37 coupe to an 11' B8 S5. I won't speak to the engine as you're considering the facelift but overall, I've never really regretted my decision. The S5 is a bit pricier to maintain, a little more delicate too (pot holes feel like death) but overall, the body feels more like 1 piece, the seats are a little more sporty, and IMO the car looks a lot nicer and much less common. I've auto crossed both and the s4 out handles the g37 all day, much more composed and predictable.

[4RingRook]

My wife has a G37S so I drive it from time to time. It's not an apples to apples comparison and each is good in their own right (6mt w/rwd vs dsg w/quattro).

Would I give her car up for mine? No question. Do the deal.

[bknewtype]

have a g35 coupe and a g37 sedan. stock for stock the steering on the G felt better imo. after doing some vag com mods to have dynamic steering enabled ( I don't have ADs ) its a lot better. everything else, the S trumps over the g

I have a friend who is currently interested in an s5. shes returning her g37x lease. she test drove the car without ADS. her first comment was she loved the car but hated the light steering feel

imo both cars are fun. I play around with my buddies 37xs coupe all the time

[Dabozo]

Great feedback everyone! Much appreciated.

[milesed]

I went from 05 G35 sedan lowered on 350z suspension to B8 S5. The G was lighter and felt more nimble on the track, was RWD so lots of fun on the track and tended to oversteer when pushed out of corners. It was very easy to find DIY on web, parts are common and much cheaper for it (wiper blades were $5 compared to $20).

The S5 understeers when pushed. Power was lower in the G and it did not look, sound or feel nearly as nice/sexy as the S5. Even the 6cyl Audi B8.5 siunds much better than the Nissan/Infiniti 6 cyl. RWD in winter was a pain too.

[JimWB]

I owned a 2005 G35 sedan and now own a 14 S5. The S5 feels more solid and once you drop it in sport mode it will make you forget about the G. Plus the interior and exterior are wayyyy better.

[bknewtype]

I owned a 2005 G35 sedan and now own a 14 S5. The S5 feels more solid and once you drop it in sport mode it will make you forget about the G. Plus the interior and exterior are wayyyy better.

cant really compare an 05 interior with a 37 interior. the 37 interior is really nice. I wouldn't say the S5 is way better

[Rys15s5]

I loved mine. I owned 4 G coupes before the S5

[JimWB]

cant really compare an 05 interior with a 37 interior. the 37 interior is really nice. I wouldn't say the S5 is way better

My friend has a G37 and I admit it's nicer than the g35 (I had the refresh interior - the 03-04 was horrid), but I still think the S5 interior is better. If my Audi doesn't hold up well I would be tempted to jump back into an Infiniti. They are a great car for the money, but I do think you can tell where they cut corners a bit to keep the price down. My G35 had 140k when I sold it and I had zero issues other than wear and tear items.

[Hatchman]

I've have an Audi S5 and the G35.

Quick comparison:

2010 Audi S5, 354 hp 4.2L V8 with Quattro and Prestige package.
S5 has better traction, seats, interior, paint, styling, wheels, engine sound, transmission, sound system (B&O), handling, power, brakes, exhaust, gauges, navigation, shifter, paddle shifters, headlights, tail lights, HVAC system, engine bay looks/layout, sunroof size, features, key less start, and pretty much everything about the car is better than the G35. Even the trunk will open up all the way, not just a crack when you hit the button. A thousand more compliments, comments, and looks compared to the G35. Even the Nappa Silk leather on the seats, made by Recaro, is much better quality and feel.. and no rip on the drivers seat like almost every G35 coupe (that hasn't been repaired).


Downside, the S5 gets a little less average mpg (21 compared to 23 in my G) and costs about 3 times as much as the G, so it should be a lot better at everything.
Parts are high, service is high, reliability is lower than the G, already had the transmission replace at less than 36K miles.


I love the G though. It's nice to have a spare car and I don't get as mad when I take a rock to the windshield driving down our busted interstates.

Driving them back to back, no doubt just about everything about the S5 is better... except the sunroof doesn't slide back. :)

[Hatchman]

"

I have an opportunity to close the deal on a 2013 s5 with sport diff tomorrow but am now getting nervous that a month or so in I may regret my decision based on the aforementioned 'factors'

Do it, you won't look back.

I drove a G37s before purchasing my S5. The G37s felt like a heavy boat, got terrible gas mileage, and also wasn't very good looking IMO. So you'll have a tighter car with less float, quicker initially with less bloat.

The G37 does get terrible gas mileage. I can't coax more than 24 mpg out of my G35 unless it's down hill with a tail wind.

I'm coming from a 04 G35 6MT (stock with Brembos if you can believe it) and was very happy with the car. After test driving the S5 it was very hard to drive mine back home.

Steering on the S5 is a little "lighter"...less feel / feedback. In every other way though the S5 is flat out superior. Makes my G feel like a bit of a pig and I really loved that car.

Short answer...I didn't hesitate to dump the G for the S5.

You can tighten up the steering using a VAG mod, put it in Sport steering mode, even if it's not enabled from the factory. Even without it, I think my S5 is tighter steering than the G35... might just be because it is older/more worn though.

had a 350zTT ... driven my buddies G37cS ... S5 wins in every category hands down .. looks... performance... transmission.. interior... suspension... handling.. everything ... next Q/G will be twin turbo 4 litre though

Agree, better in every category except for a few minor points... the 4.0TT will be nice though.

I went from a 04' g35 coupe to a 11' g37 coupe to an 11' B8 S5. I won't speak to the engine as you're considering the facelift but overall, I've never really regretted my decision. The S5 is a bit pricier to maintain, a little more delicate too (pot holes feel like death) but overall, the body feels more like 1 piece, the seats are a little more sporty, and IMO the car looks a lot nicer and much less common. I've auto crossed both and the s4 out handles the g37 all day, much more composed and predictable.

Agree, the S5 hits potholes harder... could be the thinner lower profile 19" tires over the thicker, higher profile 18"s on the G.

My wife has a G37S so I drive it from time to time. It's not an apples to apples comparison and each is good in their own right (6mt w/rwd vs dsg w/quattro).

Would I give her car up for mine? No question. Do the deal.

Agree

have a g35 coupe and a g37 sedan. stock for stock the steering on the G felt better imo. after doing some vag com mods to have dynamic steering enabled ( I don't have ADs ) its a lot better. everything else, the S trumps over the g

I have a friend who is currently interested in an s5. shes returning her g37x lease. she test drove the car without ADS. her first comment was she loved the car but hated the light steering feel

imo both cars are fun. I play around with my buddies 37xs coupe all the time

Weird, I have not done the VAG mod to get ADS Lite and the Sport steering, and my steering is still heavier on the S5... Maybe the steering pump is about to go out. Ha! They did have it full of the wrong fluid (brownish red, not the required green) when I bought it...

cant really compare an 05 interior with a 37 interior. the 37 interior is really nice. I wouldn't say the S5 is way better

I would say the S5 interior is definitely better. Not sure why Infiniti puts that cheap looking clock right in the center of the dash, along with the over prominent ash tray door. I like the way Audi kind of hides the ash tray tight against the dash, you can hardly see it, which is good because it is never going to get used. Also the MMI screen is nicely laid in with the rest of the dash, not sticking out like an afterthought. Flat bottom steering wheel is a clear winner. And in general, Infiniti plastics feel cheaper. Audi puts the MMI and other controls down by the gear shifter where you can easily reach it, while Infiniti puts them way up on the dash where you have to full arm stretch to reach it. Just MHO.

[bknewtype]

Do it, you won't look back.



The G37 does get terrible gas mileage. I can't coax more than 24 mpg out of my G35 unless it's down hill with a tail wind.



You can tighten up the steering using a VAG mod, put it in Sport steering mode, even if it's not enabled from the factory. Even without it, I think my S5 is tighter steering than the G35... might just be because it is older/more worn though.



Agree, better in every category except for a few minor points... the 4.0TT will be nice though.



Agree, the S5 hits potholes harder... could be the thinner lower profile 19" tires over the thicker, higher profile 18"s on the G.



Agree



Weird, I have not done the VAG mod to get ADS Lite and the Sport steering, and my steering is still heavier on the S5... Maybe the steering pump is about to go out. Ha! They did have it full of the wrong fluid (brownish red, not the required green) when I bought it...



I would say the S5 interior is definitely better. Not sure why Infiniti puts that cheap looking clock right in the center of the dash, along with the over prominent ash tray door. I like the way Audi kind of hides the ash tray tight against the dash, you can hardly see it, which is good because it is never going to get used. Also the MMI screen is nicely laid in with the rest of the dash, not sticking out like an afterthought. Flat bottom steering wheel is a clear winner. And in general, Infiniti plastics feel cheaper. Audi puts the MMI and other controls down by the gear shifter where you can easily reach it, while Infiniti puts them way up on the dash where you have to full arm stretch to reach it. Just MHO.

ur opinion is def valid and I agree, but I don't feel that its like its lightyears "better". i don't think they are in the same class at all either so that's why i wouldn't think its a 100% fair comparison. im just saying that infiniti has a great interior on its own and is by no means ugly.

ur last argument i agree, but a lot of non nav users loves that its empty there :P

i actually really like the clock. even though its cheap, i think it has some sort of luxury to it. def caught my attention when i had my coupe for the first time

[RVJ]

Interesting on the steering. At the time that I went for a couple of test drives I am now wondering if the steering was set to "comfort" mode. I was already impressed by Audi's electronics so I really didn't mess with them very much. I more wanted to feel the shifting, clutch, body roll, etc. Not being used to the ability to switch steering modes I don't think that I even messed with it. I'll know for sure in about another week when my car gets to the dealer. Either way though, (and I haven't even taken delivery yet) I don't feel any regrets on moving to the S5. I enjoyed my G but as someone said above, the S5 is a more expensive car and I do expect more from it.

[bknewtype]

Interesting on the steering. At the time that I went for a couple of test drives I am now wondering if the steering was set to "comfort" mode. I was already impressed by Audi's electronics so I really didn't mess with them very much. I more wanted to feel the shifting, clutch, body roll, etc. Not being used to the ability to switch steering modes I don't think that I even messed with it. I'll know for sure in about another week when my car gets to the dealer. Either way though, (and I haven't even taken delivery yet) I don't feel any regrets on moving to the S5. I enjoyed my G but as someone said above, the S5 is a more expensive car and I do expect more from it.

there should be 0 regret going from a g to an s5. both very different cars but the s5 does pretty much everything the g can do, and better ( except drifttttttt ).

[doug97gxe]

nvm.. ur comparison

[doug97gxe]

there should be 0 regret going from a g to an s5. both very different cars but the s5 does pretty much everything the g can do, and better ( except drifttttttt ).

says who

[dseag2]

I would say the S5 interior is definitely better. Not sure why Infiniti puts that cheap looking clock right in the center of the dash, along with the over prominent ash tray door. I like the way Audi kind of hides the ash tray tight against the dash, you can hardly see it, which is good because it is never going to get used. Also the MMI screen is nicely laid in with the rest of the dash, not sticking out like an afterthought. Flat bottom steering wheel is a clear winner. And in general, Infiniti plastics feel cheaper. Audi puts the MMI and other controls down by the gear shifter where you can easily reach it, while Infiniti puts them way up on the dash where you have to full arm stretch to reach it. Just MHO.

I agree on all counts. We have an S5 and a G37 Convertible. Granted, the G Coupe is a lot less expensive than the S5 (although the G Vert stickered at $56k), but Infiniti uses harder, grained plastics in many places and you can see from the pics that the console looks pretty cheap compared to the console in the S5. Also, you're absolutely right about having to raise your hand close to the nav screen to use the MMI system. Very old school. Our Vert certainly hits potholes harder than the S5 due to lack of structural rigidity that isn't present in the coupe, and there is a lot more road noise. I previously owned a G37 Coupe and that had more road noise than the S5 as well. I always take the Audi when I'm driving. I barely even ride in the G37 if I have options.