B8.5 vs B9 Which is better

[workerONE]

Hi all, I put in an order for a 2023 RS5 sportback. I think it's going to be a long wait so I bought a 2014 RS5 which i plan to resell or trade. Mine has 65000 miles and is not a sportback which I want. I've been reading comparisons where the B8.5 seems to be favored. Is the B9 better? It's faster but doesn't have the engine sound - but does it handle better or worse? Is it balanced? I test drove a B9 in the twisties so i know it's good but i can't be sure in that short time.

[workerONE]

I guess this is one of those things you need to decide for yourself based on what is more important to you.

[Burrcold]

Better? The B9 RS5 is more capable in basically every performance metric. The engine in the B8 obviously has more character but I wouldn't consider it better. It sounds better that's for sure.

[Smac770]

Yeah, the B9 sounds like ass, coming after that 4.2L V8.
B9 https://youtu.be/GtIqf3l3eo8
B8 https://youtu.be/o96eBK9DK8c

And if by some miracle you've not found this video, https://youtu.be/_Kf-2D1vge8
I really don't think it's the factory sport exhaust, at least not completely stock.

But outside the superior sound in the B8 and the crappy touchscreen in the B9.5, the rest probably goes entirely to the B9. Accel and mpg for sure. And at least the sunroof actually opens in the B9.
On the handling question, both are steel springs same thing. Unless you're track centric and get the DRC on the B9. Why Audi can't offer a proper adaptable suspension on an RS, who knows.
Also, the B9 sportback is a 3% longer wheelbase than a B8.5 coupe, though the track is essentially the same.

[mspech]

I owned a B8.5 RS5 and currently own a B9 RS5 and as much as I enjoyed the B8.5. The B9 crushes it, I know everyone complains about it not being a V8, but the added torque down low more than makes up for it. Plus, I prefer the space in the SB. In my opinion, it doesn’t sound as bad as people say it does with the Sports Exhaust and you can always get an aftermarket if you wish.


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[Dan99]

Hi all, I put in an order for a 2023 RS5 sportback. I think it's going to be a long wait so I bought a 2014 RS5 which i plan to resell or trade. Mine has 65000 miles and is not a sportback which I want. I've been reading comparisons where the B8.5 seems to be favored. Is the B9 better? It's faster but doesn't have the engine sound - but does it handle better or worse? Is it balanced? I test drove a B9 in the twisties so i know it's good but i can't be sure in that short time.

When the B9 first came out, just about every review compared it to the B8.5. You might want to look up some of the early reviews of the B9 for more comparisons. You should be able to find magazine reviews and youtube videos.

My recollection is that every reviewer missed the soaring nature of the 4.2 V8 and the corresponding sound of the exhaust, but they also acknowledged that the B9 had much more low end torque and was faster. Other common complaints about the B8.5 were understeer and a rough ride. The B9 solved both of those issues to a large extent and became a much better daily driver while also being more competent in cornering.

The B9/9.5 RS5 is now one of the best handling Audis. And, if you have Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) on the new car and your tire pressures are correct, Comfort mode will give you slight understeer, Auto will give you neutral handling with the ability to induce some oversteer with the throttle, and Dynamic will lean toward oversteer which can be enhanced with the throttle. I don't believe the B8.5 can do this.

The transmissions are different as well. The B8.5 has a 7 speed Dual Clutch Transmission and the B9/9.5 has an 8 speed ZF automatic. Audi said they did that because the DCT could not handle the additional torque of the B9 engine. So the transmission experience will differ between the two cars. Generally speaking, the B8.5 has the immediacy of a manual transmission whereas the ZF has the immediacy of an automatic but with an additional gear. There are TCU tunes available to make the ZF more responsive, but you probably don't want to do that with a new car. The ZF is not bad, it's just different than the DCT, so don't be surprised about this difference when you climb into your new car after getting used to the B8.5.

My advice is to drive both cars in Sport instead of Drive. Most people confuse Dynamic with Sport, but it is Sport (not Dynamic) that controls engine and transmission behavior. Just pull back on the shift lever to toggle between the modes. Sport keeps you in a more appropriate gear than Drive. You can shift manually, and many people do, but both transmissions shift very well on their own in Sport and keep the car responsive.

[Bezlar]

It took me awhile but I think our 9.5 sounds pretty dam good now. Coming from an rs3 I was underwhelmed with the sound of our rs5 but now think it sounds great. Mid pipes, valves open all the time and 034 tune.


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[workerONE]

I took the time to carefully read all your input and I appreciate it greatly. Thanks

[Lensch09]

I came from a B8.5 S4 that was dual-pulleyed and also a manual (no coupes for me).



Car was fun, I do miss the instant reaction of the supercharged 6 and also the manual input of shifting clutch when not stuck in traffic. The B8.5 had literally every mod you could put on the thing save for a ported blower. The B8.5 S4 and the B8.5 RS5 are very similar save for the engine and the typical RS treatment (wider fenders, bigger brakes, etc). One of my closest buddies works for JHM and we'd go back and forth driving my car then the shop RS5 - Very different attitudes, similar power levels, similar E/T (both ran mid-high 11s).

I've since moved on to a 2022 RS5 SB. Car has the RS Sport package, RS Driver Assistance, and a ton of mods. As mentioned, there's not as much soul with the B9.5 - That being stated, it's literally better at everything (comfort, usability, handling dynamics, looks, reliability, tech is awesome, and the sound system is significantly better).



In my opinion, B8.5 to B9.5 are VERY different cars driven by two major categories -#1 Engine (similar power levels, but that 4.2 screams) and #2 Next Gen Tech (technically 2 generations newer on B9.5).

For me, if the intent of the car is to daily drive, B9.5 RS5 100% of the time. If the intent of the car is track toy, I'd lean towards the B8.5... Who are we kidding, the B9.5 RS5 is pretty close to a $100k car all in, lots of cool stuff you can pick up as a track toy at that price point or less which would all but shit all over the B8.5 and the B9.5

Last thing to think about - The cars lost some soul moving from B8 > B9. We're probably in for another soul-neutering when we go from B9 > B10 with new power plants via 4 Cyl and likely a mild PHEV.

Good luck.

-DL

[SpeedyG]

Go Catless and the B9 growl will have cars moving out of the way when you step on it

[SHCKR]

There are very lengthy and detailed threads here on this exact comparison. Use the search function

[workerONE]

There are very lengthy and detailed threads here on this exact comparison. Use the search function

I did. I've been reading about the differences for a couple of weeks. The interesting thing is that in 2019 and before, many people said the B8.5 was better. The good threads were so old that I wanted to know what people think now. People's viewpoints change over time.

[Liquid Smoke]

The B9 is definitely the better car all around, the newer gen engines and transmissions will always be better and perform better. Only reason for the 2014 would be if you like the V8, the sound and feel, and the design of course. But the B9 would feel more comfortable being newer and more refined.

How long is that wait going to be? I guess it depends if you don't mind spending more now in this market and selling it later on when the 2023 arrives. The B9 to B9.5 is going to be pretty similar so you'd also get used to the platform I guess before getting the new one, or you might end up not as enthused about the 2023 if you ride the B9 for awhile? lol depends on what you like i guess. if you really need the Sportback in the meantime then trading in the 2014 for the B9 now makes sense I guess. Otherwise if the wait is within the year, and you don't really need the Sportback yet either i would just enjoy that B8.5 for now since you have it already, then you can get a fresh feel into the new gen once you get the brand new one.

[SHCKR]

I did. I've been reading about the differences for a couple of weeks. The interesting thing is that in 2019 and before, many people said the B8.5 was better. The good threads were so old that I wanted to know what people think now. People's viewpoints change over time.

I think the consensus in that thread was B8.5 felt faster, but in reality it wasn't. Everything else is much more refined and improved in the B9. I think your real decision should be based on whether you get a B9 or 9.5