Here are my credentials:
Me: Regular guy - But one of the biggest Audi nerds.
Previous Cars
- 2014 B8.5 Audi A4 - APR Stage 1+. This car was a blast. It was flex fuel from the factory so ethanol tunes made it rip!
- 2018 B9 Audi S5 Sportback - Stayed stock
- Another 2018 B9 Audi S5 Sportback - 034 stage 2 tuned + Stage 1 TCU ( Intercooler, dp, etc)
- 2021 B9.5 Audi RS5 sportback - 034 and IE Stage 1/1+ (tested on 91 octane, 93 octane, E85)
Currently - 2023 B9.5 Audi RS5 Competition Sportback fully loaded with CC brakes
I first want to say that this post is in no way meant to put down the Standard RS5 or any other Audi models. All RS/S cars are very competent machines. This is me just sharing my thoughts on what I believe is the greatest driving Audi (aside from the R8 of course) and one of the most incredible all around 4 door sedans on sale today.
Thoughts on my previous 2021 Audi RS5
My non-comp 2021 Audi RS5 was awesome after I did some mods to the car. It was stage 1 tuned and I also tried stage 1+ with E85 and the car was a rocket. I also had a resonator delete, intake, and spacers. It was truly a wonderful car once modded but a tiny bit dull when stock.
In comparison, this new comp spec is absolutely incredible from the factory without any mods. I know the main things Audi talked about within their press release was the handling with the new coilovers, swaybars, and other stuff, but there are a ton of subtle changes they made that make the car so much more entertaining.
The transmission!
It's so aggressive during upshifts and downshifts yet too smooth and non-existent in comfort mode. It gives you a welcomed kick in your seat when you're pushing it and it’s very quick to upshift.
The power!
I can't emphasize enough how enjoyable the power is in this car stock. I don't know what magic tuning Audi did for this car but it feels way more visceral than my non comp 2021 RS5. I test drove an RS7 and BMW M3 before getting my RS5 Comp and I did not feel like the RS5 comp was lacking in power compared to both of those cars. I’ve done some preliminary testing with my dragy while I was on all season tires in the middle of winter here in Minnesota and managed to pull off a 3.3 second 0 to 60 w/ no roll out and an 11.5 quarter mile @118.43MPH. The car was spinning a ton but still managed to pull off a 3.3 to 60! Incredible results for a lackluster attempt. This thing is FAST and I love it.
The sound!
They removed 18 pounds of sound insulation and gave the car a new sport exhaust “plus” system. It's simply awesome. The pops are louder and there is more induction noise within the cabin. It's not obnoxious from the inside, but I've heard it from the outside and it kinda sounds like my non comp RS5 did when it had a resonator delete (maybe a tad bit quieter). One of the things that bothered the hell out of me when I test drove the new BMW M3 was the absurd amount of fake exhaust noise pumped in through the speakers. I get why BMW does it (and Audi too to some extent), but the volume that they do it at is a bit much in my opinion. The RS5 Comp has an aggressive authentic tone to it and I know the 2.9L motor in these cars can sound absolutely incredible with downpipes or a full AWE exhaust. I'm contemplating one of those options but for now, the sound is not a problem in this car.
The handling!
Firstly, my non-comp RS5 was in no way boring to drive. It cornered super flat, and was a lot more capable than my old B9 S5. But the competition package put this car in a different league. It’s not just the coilovers or the stiffer sway bars; It’s the new traction control system (ESP), the new differential, the significant reduction in unsprung mass from the lightweight competition wheels + the carbon ceramics, the new sport direct steering, and more. The car is so incredibly well put together that it’s genuinely FUN just moving over to another lane on the highway. Sounds crazy, I know. I’ve never driven a car where I thought to myself “there’s no way I can explore this car's full capabilities on the street, I need a track” until I drove this car and the BMW M3. Both those cars hint at their true potential when driving through a curvy on ramp or making quick steering adjustments. They give you the feeling that their chassis are set up for taking corners at high speeds.
I could type all day about this car but this “little review” has gotten a bit lengthy so I’ll end on this: This is the greatest driving production Audi aside from the R8. I’ve tested the RS3 (old and new) and I’ve tested the RS6 & 7 performance & non performance versions. I love those cars for different reasons but they do not drive like the RS5 Comp. This is Audi’s “sharpest tool in the shed” - An audi sport director on carwow. It’s a passion project by the brand and I 100% believe they either lost money developing this car, or at best broke even. I’ve done the research on the price for the upgraded parts alone and it totaled out to a number much much higher than the comp package cost. And yes, I know the prices we pay for parts are not the same prices manufacturers pay to add them into a car but you have to remember that engineers still have to develop, tune, and optimize all these new parts to work together and that costs $$$$. In my opinion, the $16k comp package (now $10k without the ceramics) is worth every single penny.
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Originally Posted by z06ontrack
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