S7 to S5 SB

[BCT]

I currently drive a '14 S7 Prestige. It has 67K on it and I am thinking of going to a '19 S5 SB. I've owned a S5 in the past, supercharged V6. I want something with a bit more agility than the S7 and with current technology. I do love the V8 and the power, but I miss the handling of the S5.
Will I be "giving too much up" moving to the SB? How's the handling and agility? Does the S5 SB still have enough kick to it to satisfy my power lust?
I know these questions are subjective, and I haven't gotten around to test driving the SB which I know I need to do.
But I would like some opinions please!

[Alister]

I too prefer the sizing of the A4/A5 segment cars from an agility perspective. Like all cars, the current gen has gotten a little bit bigger over time whereby you can seat a family of 4 fairly comfortably in them (couldn't really say the same with the B5 generation A4 based models).

My advice is to test drive it and you will know for sure pretty quickly. The 3.0T in the S5 is likely enough for most people and I think the S5 SB is a pretty good all round proposition.

[davepjr71]

Based on numbers the 19 S5 is just as quick as the S7 due to lighter weight and strong 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque 3.0. The '19 doesn't really have much tech upgrades compared to your S7. The '20 does have the newer tech layout. You could always get the RS5 if you don't want to lose any power.

My wife misses our A7 and I'm planting the seed for the '20 S5 when we buy another car.

[gk1]

If it were me I'd feel I'd want at least an RS5 SB for the power which may swing too much the other way. The S7 being more "balanced" the RS5 being too "track focused". Not to mention with options the RS5 can cost as much or more than an S7. So no savings there. I understand the S5 would be different.
In stock form the S7 air suspension might be considered too soft by some, but lower it a bit and get some sway bars and I think it is the best of both worlds. Stiff and flat in dynamic when you want it and still plush in comfort when you need it.
As for tech, personally I am a bit old school. I have zero desire for touchscreens or carplay. The virtual cockpit I think is pretty neat, but the analog gauges do the job too and with hud I barely need to look at them anyway.
I see your previous 5's were manual that may be some of what you miss about the platform. Not an option any more. Do you drive around the S7 in manual mode? While it doesn't make the 7 handle any better it does make it feel different and being in the right gear in manual mode while accelerating with the sport diff around a corner is a different feeling that just driving around the same corner. I get the appeal of the slightly smaller platform but only you will be able to tell if it is what you truly want.

Some numbers if interested:
Based on APR's measured stock output with 93 octane.
S5SB 397HP 395 ft-lbs @3925 lbs or .101HP/lb (9.89lbs/HP)
S7 480HP 451 ft-lbs @4508 lbs or .100HP/lb (9.99lbs/HP) Almost the same.

RS5SB 458HP 469 ft-lbs @4057 lbs or .112HP/lb (8.86lbs/HP)
just for fun...
'17 R8 553HP 398 ft-lbs @3700 lbs or .149HP/lb (6.69lbs/HP)
'17 R8 @6500 ft. elevation 445HP @3700 lbs or .120HP/lb (8.31lbs/HP)
S7 Stage I 563HP 627 ft-lbs @4508 lbs or .125HP/lb (8.00lbs/HP) Better than an R8 at high elevation. (Irrelevant I know.)

[zcd2.7t]

I currently drive a '14 S7 Prestige. It has 67K on it and I am thinking of going to a '19 S5 SB. I've owned a S5 in the past, supercharged V6. I want something with a bit more agility than the S7 and with current technology. I do love the V8 and the power, but I miss the handling of the S5.
Will I be "giving too much up" moving to the SB? How's the handling and agility? Does the S5 SB still have enough kick to it to satisfy my power lust?
I know these questions are subjective, and I haven't gotten around to test driving the SB which I know I need to do.
But I would like some opinions please!

S5 certainly has an agility advantage, but to me the real question mark is whether you'll be happy with the engine/transmission and power delivery.

I wasn't satisfied with those aspects when I drove an S5 SB back-to-back with my C7 S6. There's more turbo lag, and power-to-weight ratio similarities notwithstanding, the S5 just plain isn't as fast as the C7 S models.

The B9 S models' powertrain is nothing like as fun or responsive as the B8's, IMO.

[jrhgto]

Yeah, thats what I am afraid of..the dreaded turbo lag. I am Looking for my next car....will probably be 18S5SB vs 18A6 vs 17S6
I havent driven the S5 yet, but guys are getting into the upper 11's with simple JB4's and intakes, so they are pretty damn fast. But I am sure the power delivery will feel way different than my "instant on" Supercharged V6, so we will see

[delz05]

My most recent experience, going from a 2017 SQ5 (Stage 2 with Milltek exhaust)... I wanted back into a sedan, need the 4 door accessibility, and wanted to maximize the HP numbers...

I contemplated the RS5 sportback 2019 model... this one ( https://www.audibrookline.com/new/Au...c2261df005.htm )... biggest issues were lack of interior room and access... just too narrow, and most importantly, my hands could not access the front USB port, my coffee cup would not fit under the climate control panel without tipping it to an odd angle to place and remove, and the "push to start" button is recessed too deeply below the center stack as well. Two car seats take up all the rear seat room, and lastly, I kept hitting my fat head on the pillar or roof trying to twist my way in or out of the car. (5'10", 190lbs). But... with a 95K sticker price knocked down to 75k... I seriously considered "suffering" as the overall performance is addicting... I can only imagine what the tuning possibilities are...

Then I found a low mileage 2017 RS7 performance package... loved everything about it, except the color (black). Huge amount of room, everything fits (lower price than the RS5) and incredible hp (even crazier now that it has ECU and TCU tune)... I have yet to hit my head going in and out of the car! Unfortunately... I have to "suffer" with owning (and trying to keep clean) a Mythos Black RS7 (where are all the red ones???). Ceramic coating and paint correction helped... getting rid of the Pirelli runs flats was huge!!!

So... Moral of the story... a new 2019 RS5 Sportback can be had for 70K to 75K... a low mileage RS7 (2017) can be had for the same money... I chose the RS7... and have NO REGRETS!!!! (except for the color... but it's growing on me...)

[jakubx80]

Have you ever driven a 2016+ S7?

I believe I've seen somewhere a challenge to the point below but I test drove a 2014 S7 and 2017 S7 back to back and I swear the 2017 felt much more agile.
I believe in 2016 Audi uprated the engine power to advertised 450hp, not sure if they did anything else that could affect the agility.

That being said, also during the same session I test drove 2019 S5. Even though I was coming from WRX, the car felt small and "fragile" to me. I also felt the turbo lag I've not felt in S7.
S5 to me feels like an upgrade to a lower platform (think A4+), while S7 feels like it is on completely new level and with elements of higher branded cars.

I chose 2017 S7.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[zcd2.7t]

So... Moral of the story... a new 2019 RS5 Sportback can be had for 70K to 75K... a low mileage RS7 (2017) can be had for the same money... I chose the RS7...

I went through a similar process of elimination, though RS7s were still a bit more $$$$ than I really wanted to pay at that time (late 2018).

I ended up with a Tesla Model 3 Performance and have never looked back.

[jrhgto]

My most recent experience, going from a 2017 SQ5 (Stage 2 with Milltek exhaust)... I wanted back into a sedan, need the 4 door accessibility, and wanted to maximize the HP numbers...

I contemplated the RS5 sportback 2019 model... this one ( https://www.audibrookline.com/new/Au...c2261df005.htm )... biggest issues were lack of interior room and access... just too narrow, and most importantly, my hands could not access the front USB port, my coffee cup would not fit under the climate control panel without tipping it to an odd angle to place and remove, and the "push to start" button is recessed too deeply below the center stack as well. Two car seats take up all the rear seat room, and lastly, I kept hitting my fat head on the pillar or roof trying to twist my way in or out of the car. (5'10", 190lbs). But... with a 95K sticker price knocked down to 75k... I seriously considered "suffering" as the overall performance is addicting... I can only imagine what the tuning possibilities are...

Then I found a low mileage 2017 RS7 performance package... loved everything about it, except the color (black). Huge amount of room, everything fits (lower price than the RS5) and incredible hp (even crazier now that it has ECU and TCU tune)... I have yet to hit my head going in and out of the car! Unfortunately... I have to "suffer" with owning (and trying to keep clean) a Mythos Black RS7 (where are all the red ones???). Ceramic coating and paint correction helped... getting rid of the Pirelli runs flats was huge!!!

So... Moral of the story... a new 2019 RS5 Sportback can be had for 70K to 75K... a low mileage RS7 (2017) can be had for the same money... I chose the RS7... and have NO REGRETS!!!! (except for the color... but it's growing on me...)

Yeah I did notice that the side bolsters on the S5 look very intrusive also, and the damn cupholder placement looks like it will fail the Dunkins XL test. Hopefully the dealerships will open again soon, and I can test drive one to see where I stand. But if getting into the car at 5"11/190 sucks, then 6'3/250 doesnt sound promising.