Who here considered an RS5 and went with an S5 instead?

[Dutt1113]

Who here considered an RS5 and went with an S5 instead? and then possibly modified the S5 to be about as fast as RS5?

[Zed 2.0]

I did. Both great cars but the RS5 didn't feel enough "extra" for the price difference. There are other threads on this where I've explained more and am not going to re-post the same thoughts here. Probably would have gone for the RS if Audi had decided to bring the RS4 avant here as an exclusive. Don't feel any real need to chase the RS in performance as the S5 kicks plenty hard in daily driving and EVs have completely warped my sense of acceleration anyhow.

[2Times]

I did... I wanted a convertible though.

[wwhan]

I considered a S4 or S5, but decided I wanted more power on the stock engine with a warranty, rather than ECU tuning it, so I got a RS5.

[303 Spartan]

An S5 is absolutely nothing to scoff at. It has plenty of punch and with some minor visual tweaks, it can look quite aggressive. It really is a great performance sedan for most. In fact, I gave it a serious look with multiple test drives, prior to buying the RS5.

With that said, if you're considering an S5 with the notion that you'll make it "about as fast as an RS5", I highly suggest spending the money up front and going straight to the RS5. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll never truly be happy with the car.

This is coming from someone who has a previous track record of buying the lower tier vehicle to save some money up front, just to end up spending a lot of time/money trying to 'transform' it into the car I really wanted from the get-go. From my experience, even after you spend the extra money to make it quicker, you'll still find yourself constantly feeling the need to explain/prove that it's more than a regular S5. To make matters worse, in most cases, when you consider your true cost in performance/appearance mods, you may realize that it would have been more cost effective to get the RS5 in the first place.

This isn't even considering that after tuning the S5, if you find yourself next to a tuned RS5, you''ll inevitably be left wanting much more.

Again, an S5 is a great car that is very quick. If you plan on purchasing it to enjoy it for what it is, or even mod it to get some extra "go juice", I think it's an excellent value. But if you plan to buy one, knowing that you'll be modding with the intention of trying to get it on par with an RS5, I'd advise you to reconsider.

[doady22]

I couldn’t justify the price difference between the 2 so I went with the S5. I’m very into modding and figured the S5 would have more tuning potential due to having 1 turbo and being able to replace it with a larger one over having to replace 2 with the RS5 and might be limited to size. There are guys running JB4 piggyback with e30 fuel and intercooler running 11-6-11.8 which is on par for stock RS5 times. Now that the ecu is fully cracked it will be interesting to see how the 2 compare. I’ll tell you right now RS5 on full E85 tune is a monster according to APR’s numbers and will only get better. S5 tune has yet to be released.

[oc cc]

I made that choice! Believe it or not, I was just going to get an A5 sportback because I go camping a lot and needed a little more room but not enough for an SUV. Well, the only special color they had was Ascari blue, which I didn't like in person. Well, I saw an S5 in Quantum Grey w/ black optics and loved it. Buttttt is it worth it for a marginal upgrade in performance? Ehhh, not so much since the A5s are plenty for me. Then I sat in it and LOVED the diamond stitched seats along with the Carbon Fiber. That alone made me want to pay the upgrade.

Well, they also had a Nogaro Blue RS5. Beautiful exclusive color? Check. So I sat inside and saw it had the same carbon fiber interior as the S5, and the stitching while cool wasn't as much of a leap in upgrade as the A5 vs S5. Exterior-wise I actually prefer the S5 as well. So I drove both back to back and while the RS5 was definitely faster, the S5 was still fast enough and had the 'goldilocks' amount of power where I could still rev it out without getting into trouble. RS also didn't fix some of my gripes on a sporty level with the car - numb steering, weak turn in, ugly OEM wheels with meh tires, quiet sound, etc. So I got the S5, upgraded wheels/tires, added an exhaust, full 034 suspension/chassis upgrades (which I would've done on the RS5 anyways). I got the RS grill for $230 on Ebay and it looks great and matches the honey comb in the front bumper. And considering APR+ gives a warranty, I will soon be doing stage 1 and intercooler upgrade for better throttle input and driving characteristics more so than speed. Considering the S5 was around $62 MSRP and the RS5 was $82, I will end up still spending around $12 closing the gap but have a total custom car. The only way I would pony up for the RS5 are the following reasons:

- Absolutely NEED the power (track or fun)
- Prefer the more aggressive looks
- RS trans shifting felt a little more crisp and might be a little 'sharper' but it's not nearly the gap that something like an M3 is vs a 340i


Those are the only reasons to get the RS in my opinion. Some might argue the 2.9TT V6 sounds better than the 3.0, but I honestly thought both sounded mediocre (unlike the RS3 which sounded amazing on the same test drive). Just my 2 cents.

[303 Spartan]

... Considering the S5 was around $62 MSRP and the RS5 was $82, I will end up still spending around $12 closing the gap but have a total custom car. ...

But let me ask... did you pay the $62k MSRP for the S5? If so, you've proven the point I was making earlier.

Dealers are currently offering deep discounts to get the few remaining '19 RS5's off their lots. I got mine for 11% under MSRP, just 2 weeks ago. Others have recently reported getting upwards of 17% off. When you factor that into the equation, in an instance where you paid $62k for the S5 and $12k for mods, you've now spent $3k+ more than you would have had you just got an RS5 right off the bat. You said you'd still want to upgrade the suspension bits and wheels on the RS5. But that $3k+ in savings would have gone a long way towards covering that.

I don't mean to start a big back and forth. But I wanted to provide a bit of clarity for those still on the fence to help show that, at the moment, the gap in cost is nowhere near what the MSRP would suggest. Now, if you can get a similar discount off S5 MSRP, then my point is moot and I'll slowly back out of this thread in silence. However, from what I've seen around my area is that the discounts on the S5 are nowhere near as prominent.

[doady22]

I got my S5 for $11k off so I paid $55k vs 7k off an RS5 which brought it to 81k. So 26k difference plus another $2k in taxes. I always change suspension and wheels on all my cars so modding the 2 is a wash. I installed RS grille and painted my side skirts which wouldn’t of needed done to the RS5 besides those 2 things everything I’ve done to my S5 I would of done to the RS5. At the end of the day it’s all about what you value and I do value performance but couldn’t justify the difference in price knowing what I could do with the extra money with the S5. I wasn’t overly impressed with the RS5 performance for the extra money I expected a lot more performance leap from the S5 and it wasn’t.

[mgert31907]

17% off a new RS5? Please point me in that direction.

[stanfna]

17% off a new RS5? Please point me in that direction.

I see you are in GA. I purchased min for 15% off at Audi Gwinnett back in December.

[303 Spartan]

I got my S5 for $11k off so I paid $55k vs 7k off an RS5 which brought it to 81k. So 26k difference plus another $2k in taxes.....

^ Got it. Considering your cost, even with 11% off an RS5, you're still coming out ahead by a good margin with the S5. And I imagine that at the time of buying, the RS5 discounts weren't as significant as they are now.

In terms of the performance leap, I drove an A5 then the S5 and to me they felt too similar to each other and nowhere near as fast as the M3 I was trading in for it. The RS5, on the other hand, felt significantly faster than the A5/S5 and on par with the M3. Especially with 60 - 100 highway pulls. I'm curious, did you drive long enough to allow the engine to fully warm up? I ask because when we initially set out on the RS5 test drive, I too was quite underwhelmed by the performance compared to the S5 (which was fully warmed up before flogging it). However, after driving about 5 miles to let the RS5 fully warm up, the second full throttle run was a completely different story. It felt as if between the first go and the second, another 100HP was unleashed.

Anyway, performance margin for dollar is pretty subjective so just splitting hairs there.

Regardless, an S5 and RS5 are both great options in their own right. If you love modding and tinkering, than an S5 with upgrades is going to be plenty of fun. For me, the price difference to get into the RS5 was small enough to justify the leap. And the idea of having the desired power right off the bat, without any risk of warranty denial, was a big selling point. But I know many don't give much thought to power train warranties after the first couple thousand miles. I sure didn't with my last S4.

17% off a new RS5? Please point me in that direction.

If you're really in the market, it might be worthwhile to peruse THIS THREAD on AudiWorld. There are serious discounts to be had right now. When I was first looking, I saw the MSRP and marginal (at best) advertised dealer discounts being offered and didn't give the RS5 much deeper of a look. But thanks to that thread and some PMs from others in my area, giving insight on their deals, I went to my local dealer to play hard ball and left very pleased.

[abiley84]

I made that choice! Believe it or not, I was just going to get an A5 sportback because I go camping a lot and needed a little more room but not enough for an SUV. Well, the only special color they had was Ascari blue, which I didn't like in person. Well, I saw an S5 in Quantum Grey w/ black optics and loved it. Buttttt is it worth it for a marginal upgrade in performance? Ehhh, not so much since the A5s are plenty for me. Then I sat in it and LOVED the diamond stitched seats along with the Carbon Fiber. That alone made me want to pay the upgrade.

I did the opposite. Went in for a quantum grey or Navarra S5, saw Ascari A5 and fell in love with the color. Liked it enough to where I figured even though it isn't an S5, it was enough for me. Was able to negotiate 12% off MSRP at the time and with the extra savings I purchased aftermarket wheels.

[oc cc]

But let me ask... did you pay the $62k MSRP for the S5? If so, you've proven the point I was making earlier.

Dealers are currently offering deep discounts to get the few remaining '19 RS5's off their lots. I got mine for 11% under MSRP, just 2 weeks ago. Others have recently reported getting upwards of 17% off. When you factor that into the equation, in an instance where you paid $62k for the S5 and $12k for mods, you've now spent $3k+ more than you would have had you just got an RS5 right off the bat. You said you'd still want to upgrade the suspension bits and wheels on the RS5. But that $3k+ in savings would have gone a long way towards covering that.

I don't mean to start a big back and forth. But I wanted to provide a bit of clarity for those still on the fence to help show that, at the moment, the gap in cost is nowhere near what the MSRP would suggest. Now, if you can get a similar discount off S5 MSRP, then my point is moot and I'll slowly back out of this thread in silence. However, from what I've seen around my area is that the discounts on the S5 are nowhere near as prominent.

I got $5000 off the S5, funny part was they only had 2 S5s but 5 RS5s and still offered only $4500 off the RS. Also exclusive color inflated MSRP by a few thousand. This was back in July and every dealer seemed flooded with RS5s but I could barely find an S5! I had to drive from OC to LA to get my car.

[coolwater]

I’m sure there are some good discounts for 2019 RS5s. I just picked up a leftover 2019 S5 coupe. Only one in my area and it was a base car with convenience package. Was time to part ways with my S3 after 5 yrs, so went for it.

Basically got 10k off a 54k car and 2k extra towards trade. Worked out to 42k + tax and fees + audicare. I was considering a RS3 also, but not enough discount to make it worthwhile. The new daily driver....









-cW


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[TEKNIKA]

by T3KN1KA

Why not both? In all seriousness, both are stellar vehicles. I purchased an RS5 first, modified it heavily and went all in on Audi performance. So, when my wife's lease on her Q60S RS400 ended, we decided to get her in a 2019 Audi S5 Prestige now making us a #QuattroCoupeCouple.

Ultimately, the decision is yours and will obviously depend on what is important to you.

Owning both currently, and tracking with a friend who currently holds the B9 1/4 mile record in his S5, I can provide some insight that many rarely experience. Firstly, with enough invested towards modifications, both can be potent platforms for whatever you so choose. I track my RS5 alongside other S5 drivers both on the drag strip and road circuit. There are indeed advantages with regard to the RS sport differential on the RS5 that allows it to launch harder and thereby achieve better 0-60 and 60 foot times. The S5 on the other hand is a much easier platform to build power with easier cooling upgrade options due to its traditional air intercoolers, whereas the air-to-water coolers found on the RS5s, though space-saving are more challenging to upgrade. The brakes on the RS5 are obviously more capable due to its size, cross-drilled design and more capable calipers. In terms of luxury, both will satisfy with this regard, although, the RS5 does provide adjustable side bolsters and my wife and I have noticed that the sound system in the RS5 does sound better. Also, the RS5 does have the beautiful hexagonal stitching exclusive to the RS models. The RS will also include Direct TPMS, as well as Sport Gauges which display a G-Force meter, Power and Torque numbers, whereas the S5 do not. Aside from the navigation route data, traffic sign information, MPH, etc., the HUD display in the RS5 will also include sport-related data including: lap timers, colored RPM/shift meter, gear indicator, engine oil temp, whereas the S5 HUD will only display navigation route data, traffic sign information and MPH. In terms of OEM ride comfort, I will have to give this to the S5, as the RS5's Dynamic Mode is a firm ride for the majority of drivers.

These are just a few of the key differences I have noticed between the two models. I hope I was able to provide some insight and delineate some of the variations between the two with regard to achieving higher levels of aftermarket performance. Feel free to ask any questions.

[rdalal]

I also chose my S5 after initially going to the dealer to look at RS5's. My sales manager was willing to discount an S5 way more than an RS since "we have until next October to move our RS5's". So the lack of a 2020 RS5 was a major factor. I saved almost $30K and while I miss the more aggressive look of the RS and slighlty better acceleration I could not be happier.

[Zed 2.0]

Why not both? In all seriousness, both are stellar vehicles. I purchased an RS5 first, modified it heavily and went all in on Audi performance. So, when my wife's lease on her Q60S RS400 ended, we decided to get her in a 2019 Audi S5 Prestige now making us a #QuattroCoupeCouple.

Ultimately, the decision is yours and will obviously depend on what is important to you.

Owning both currently, and tracking with a friend who currently holds the B9 1/4 mile record in his S5, I can provide some insight that many rarely experience. Firstly, with enough invested towards modifications, both can be potent platforms for whatever you so choose. I track my RS5 alongside other S5 drivers both on the drag strip and road circuit. There are indeed advantages with regard to the RS sport differential on the RS5 that allows it to launch harder and thereby achieve better 0-60 and 60 foot times. The S5 on the other hand is a much easier platform to build power with easier cooling upgrade options due to its traditional air intercoolers, whereas the air-to-water coolers found on the RS5s, though space-saving are more challenging to upgrade. The brakes on the RS5 are obviously more capable due to its size, cross-drilled design and more capable calipers. In terms of luxury, both will satisfy with this regard, although, the RS5 does provide adjustable side bolsters and my wife and I have noticed that the sound system in the RS5 does sound better. Also, the RS5 does have the beautiful hexagonal stitching exclusive to the RS models. The RS will also include Direct TPMS, as well as Sport Gauges which display a G-Force meter, Power and Torque numbers, whereas the S5 do not. Aside from the navigation route data, traffic sign information, MPH, etc., the HUD display in the RS5 will also include sport-related data including: lap timers, colored RPM/shift meter, gear indicator, engine oil temp, whereas the S5 HUD will only display navigation route data, traffic sign information and MPH. In terms of OEM ride comfort, I will have to give this to the S5, as the RS5's Dynamic Mode is a firm ride for the majority of drivers.

These are just a few of the key differences I have noticed between the two models. I hope I was able to provide some insight and delineate some of the variations between the two with regard to achieving higher levels of aftermarket performance. Feel free to ask any questions.

It sounds like you probably have the cooled seats in the S5? Without that option the S5 has the same seats as the RS5 (save for an extra embossed "R" on the RS). S5 has the same sport diff as the RS if the no-brainer sport pack is optioned. Also same sound system.

[laakness]

I also chose my S5 after initially going to the dealer to look at RS5's. My sales manager was willing to discount an S5 way more than an RS since "we have until next October to move our RS5's". So the lack of a 2020 RS5 was a major factor. I saved almost $30K and while I miss the more aggressive look of the RS and slighlty better acceleration I could not be happier.

Both are great cars...but I think "slightly better acceleration" is an understatement.

[303 Spartan]

... while I miss the more aggressive look of the RS and slightly better acceleration I could not be happier.

I don't mean to knock your decision at all. It was a solid financial move and the S5 is a remarkable vehicle. But let's be realistic here. The RS5 is nearly a second faster from 0-60 and a full second faster in the 1/4 mile. The difference in acceleration between the two is far from "slight" and very noticeable in daily driving scenarios.

It takes upgraded cooling + E30 blend + tune to even get on par with a bone stock RS5 on standard pump gas. I get that not everyone needs the extra power and many want to save some $$$, which is understandable. But the theme of this thread continues to be downplaying the difference between the two cars much more than reality.

[JWreck]

Current RS5 SB, previous AMG C63S owner here. 1 second is objectively not slight on paper.

However, the “butt dyno” feels it as slight, for me at least. Coming from the AMG, that thing pulled...no matter what (so long as you had grip). When I first got my RS5 in December it felt quite a bit slower than the AMG. I know it’s not, but because of the character of each engine they felt vastly different.

I think the same feeling might apply between the S5 and RS5.

Offering a bit of perspective. Carry on. :)


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[Zed 2.0]

Current RS5 SB, previous AMG C63S owner here. 1 second is objectively not slight on paper.

However, the “butt dyno” feels it as slight, for me at least. Coming from the AMG, that thing pulled...no matter what (so long as you had grip). When I first got my RS5 in December it felt quite a bit slower than the AMG. I know it’s not, but because of the character of each engine they felt vastly different.

I think the same feeling might apply between the S5 and RS5.

Offering a bit of perspective. Carry on. :)


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This was my impression of the S5 vs RS5 quickness as well. I test drove two RS5 SBs against two S5 SBs and the RS5 just didn’t have a major seat-of-pants difference. I don’t doubt the numbers but the feel wasn’t there for me. I was also comparing to the TM3P and the Giulia QF, which both feel extremely quick in real-world driving.

[303 Spartan]

This was my impression of the S5 vs RS5 quickness as well. I test drove two RS5 SBs against two S5 SBs and the RS5 just didn’t have a major seat-of-pants difference. I don’t doubt the numbers but the feel wasn’t there for me. I was also comparing to the TM3P and the Giulia QF, which both feel extremely quick in real-world driving.

Yeah, the TM3P feels like a freaking rocket. I hate that car because it's ruined my sense of 0-60 acceleration. I would have considered it with this most recent purchase but I'm still just not a fan of the looks and don't feel that a fully electric vehicle is going to work as my daily driver, just yet.

[doady22]

I don't mean to knock your decision at all. It was a solid financial move and the S5 is a remarkable vehicle. But let's be realistic here. The RS5 is nearly a second faster from 0-60 and a full second faster in the 1/4 mile. The difference in acceleration between the two is far from "slight" and very noticeable in daily driving scenarios.

It takes upgraded cooling + E30 blend + tune to even get on par with a bone stock RS5 on standard pump gas. I get that not everyone needs the extra power and many want to save some $$$, which is understandable. But the theme of this thread continues to be downplaying the difference between the two cars much more than reality.

I don't think that's the theme of the thread I think what people are saying is exactly the point you hit on. Upgrade the intercooler and tune and your actually faster then an RS5 trapping roughly 2-3 more mph on an E30 blend. Sure there is more to the RS5 but for the price difference I expected a lot more from the RS5 performance wise. Tune and intercooler cost $2k for the S5 and then you get the straight line performance of the RS5. Have you done a dragy run with your RS5? I'd be curious what you run stock at our elevation here in CO. PS I'm one of those guys with upgraded intercooler and beta testing a E35 tune from EPL she boogies. By the way your RS5 looks killer.

[oc cc]

It's all relative. To me, the difference between A5 and S5 acceleration was huge, from S5 to RS5 was still noticeable but not as much as the former comparison. Don't get me wrong, really fast car but the S5 was still enough for me.

[doady22]

It's all relative. To me, the difference between A5 and S5 acceleration was huge, from S5 to RS5 was still noticeable but not as much as the former comparison. Don't get me wrong, really fast car but the S5 was still enough for me.

I totally agree.

[rdalal]

I don't mean to knock your decision at all. It was a solid financial move and the S5 is a remarkable vehicle. But let's be realistic here. The RS5 is nearly a second faster from 0-60 and a full second faster in the 1/4 mile. The difference in acceleration between the two is far from "slight" and very noticeable in daily driving scenarios.

It takes upgraded cooling + E30 blend + tune to even get on par with a bone stock RS5 on standard pump gas. I get that not everyone needs the extra power and many want to save some $$$, which is understandable. But the theme of this thread continues to be downplaying the difference between the two cars much more than reality.

Come on, 303 Spartan. Don't you realize that terms like "slightly, somewhat, etc" are what we say when trying to make ourselves feel better about buying the lesser model? I still longingly admire the RS5 everytime I'm back at the dealer and wonder if I made the right choice. But each time I make my lease payment, get at least 300 miles on a tank, or drive my wife around in it, I know for sure that, at least for me (for now), I did.

That being said as others posted I couldn't feel a one second difference when I test drove the RS. Don't most intrumented tests clock the RS at 3.7 seconds, or a half second faster than an S5 at about 4.2 or so? With the A5 taking 5.6 to get to 60, nearly 1.5 seconds longer, the greatest preformance improvement for the money is achieved in the middle of the line (also as noted above).

[303 Spartan]

All points taken.

One thing I will say with absolute certainty, is that I am very jealous of the S5's Air-To-Air cooling system. whether you stay stock or not, upgrading the cooling is a necessity, in my opinion. And upgrading the intercooler on the S5 would be a breeze. The Air-To-Water cooling system in the RS5, not so much. So I will give that +1 to the S5.

[wwhan]

If one does not mind losing the engine warranty and wishes to tune it, then the S5 is a fine choice choice for those that seek HP.

I specifically bought an RS5 SB ONLY because of the engine, otherwise I would have purchased a new S4 (which perfect except for lacking HP), since I do not want to tune the engine until warranty is gone (4 years).

[Motown_Dub]

I considered an RS5 and just couldn't justify the cost difference on the available models near me. When I bought in Aug of 2019, most RS5 Sportbacks in Central TX were going for more than 20K over S5 Sportbacks. I appreciate the RS5 but it's not 20K more car (to me) than the S5. I've spent 2K on performance mods and it's great for daily driving.

[coolwater]

If one does not mind losing the engine warranty and wishes to tune it, then the S5 is a fine choice choice for those that seek HP.

I specifically bought an RS5 SB ONLY because of the engine, otherwise I would have purchased a new S4 (which perfect except for lacking HP), since I do not want to tune the engine until warranty is gone (4 years).

So far JB4 has been safe against TD1. I also have 3rd party coverage just in case for mechanical breakdown. I am itching to tune my car, but only 300miles on the engine so must wait....

-cW


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[doady22]

If one does not mind losing the engine warranty and wishes to tune it, then the S5 is a fine choice choice for those that seek HP.

I specifically bought an RS5 SB ONLY because of the engine, otherwise I would have purchased a new S4 (which perfect except for lacking HP), since I do not want to tune the engine until warranty is gone (4 years).

With EPL you can flash your car back to stock. With a JB4 Piggyback you can disconnect it. I can attest with the JB4 that I had 0 issues when I brought my car in for warranty work and disconnected it. But get what your saying.

[wwhan]

With EPL you can flash your car back to stock. With a JB4 Piggyback you can disconnect it. I can attest with the JB4 that I had 0 issues when I brought my car in for warranty work and disconnected it. But get what your saying.

Audi can still detect a tune, even if you flash back to stock. The EPL tune does not reset the Flash counter, which is easy to see the number of Flashes with the VCDS or OBDeleven.

Audi advanced tests may also be able to tell that the JB4 was used. The engine ECU calculates & monitors maximum torque & RPM. The peak value may be stored in the ECU somewhere.

If you want an engine warranty while under the original warranty period, don't tune (Flash) the ECU or only get the APR plus ECU tune (Apr 3rd party powertrain warranty).

I had had an EPL tune on my C7.5 S6, every time it was Flashed, the Flash counter incremented, this would have meant a failed turbo or PCV valve (common failures on the 4.0T, even totally stock) would not be covered under warranty, it is now someone else's problem.

[303 Spartan]

With EPL you can flash your car back to stock. With a JB4 Piggyback you can disconnect it. I can attest with the JB4 that I had 0 issues when I brought my car in for warranty work and disconnected it. But get what your saying.

EPL is amazing. I loved their flash-at-home capabilities in my B8.5 S4 days.

[coolwater]

Don’t want to turn this into a TD1 thread. I had Eurodyne on my S3 and no problem with warranty at all when flash back to stock due to flash counter reset.

APR Plus is good, but usually not their high power tune. IMHO you are well covered running JB4 and 3rd party insurance.


-cW


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[doady22]

Audi can still detect a tune, even if you flash back to stock. The EPL tune does not reset the Flash counter, which is easy to see the number of Flashes with the VCDS or OBDeleven.

Audi advanced tests may also be able to tell that the JB4 was used. The engine ECU calculates & monitors maximum torque & RPM. The peak value may be stored in the ECU somewhere.

If you want an engine warranty while under the original warranty period, don't tune (Flash) the ECU or only get the APR plus ECU tune (Apr 3rd party powertrain warranty).

I had had an EPL tune on my C7.5 S6, every time it was Flashed, the Flash counter incremented, this would have meant a failed turbo or PCV valve (common failures on the 4.0T, even totally stock) would not be covered under warranty, it is now someone else's problem.

Well just an FYI there are several different scans Audi will do. When it comes to common known failures there’s a checks and balance system in place and knowing what failed from a code that popped up. They aren’t going to do a deep scan into the motor for a common failure or TSB. However if it’s a huge repair is when like motor, transmission etc that is where they dive in deep. A Regional Corp rep will then show up and dive deeper into the scan to give it the thumbs up or if he/she sees something is off that’s when it can get tricky. Remember Audi Techs get paid on warranty work so they don’t want to deny warranty claims. Your basic scan won’t TD1 the vehicle if you flash back to stock, but an Audi Corp Rep can if they do a deep scan.

[doady22]

EPL is amazing. I loved their flash-at-home capabilities in my B8.5 S4 days.

They have been great so far! I’m curious to what an RS5 would run in the 1/4 up here at this elevation? This beta tune I’m testing for EPL almost has me in the 11’s on their stage 1 tune! Should hope crack into the 11’s with the latest revision I just uploaded!

[A4 Joe]

I took a quick look at the RS5 SB but did not fall in love with the looks. Very happy with the S5 SB, great looking car. The S5 is also a better fit with the traffic in WLA.

[303 Spartan]

They have been great so far! I’m curious to what an RS5 would run in the 1/4 up here at this elevation? This beta tune I’m testing for EPL almost has me in the 11’s on their stage 1 tune! Should hope crack into the 11’s with the latest revision I just uploaded!

Once I rack up some more miles (only at 750 on the odo, so far), I'll give a draggy run a go.

Naturally, when I bought this car I said I wasn't going to mess with tuning it. The reality is that once I get past the first 10k mile dealer check-up, I'll likely see what EPL or APR has going on and make a decision at that point. I don't love the idea of having to ship my ECU in to EPL or APR to get it unlocked. So I'm hoping they have a remote unlock available by the time I'm ready. At my current mileage rate, it will likely be a year from now.

The one major selling point APR offers is that powertrain warranty. It would be really nice to go that route and not lose sleep over potential warranty denial. Regardless, my #1 priority is figuring out an upgraded cooling solution, before anything else. It looks like there are some solutions for the RS5 becoming available.

Anyway, definitely sidetracking this thread. I'm glad to take the elevation/tuning discussion to PMs or another thread whenever you'd like!

[BrainDr]

I also chose my S5 after initially going to the dealer to look at RS5's. My sales manager was willing to discount an S5 way more than an RS since "we have until next October to move our RS5's". So the lack of a 2020 RS5 was a major factor. I saved almost $30K and while I miss the more aggressive look of the RS and slighlty better acceleration I could not be happier.

Exactly the same here. Rs5 was going to be a pain to maitai and as well. The difference in speed/accell was irrelevant to me. S5 SB and never looked back.

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