Five Years With My Audi S5

"Audi For Life" (audiforlife)
08/27/2015 at 12:31 • Filed to: Audi, S5

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , on Friday, August 27th, 2010, I stopped by Sunset Audi Beaverton to sign the last set of papers and to get the keys to my 2011 Sprint Blue Audi S5.

Each day that I see my Audi S5, be it as I look out of the window in the morning, walking out to it after work, or driving it around the Pacific Northwest, I crack a smile and my heart skips a beat. Even though there are the Audi fans that strongly fall into the Nogaro Blue camp or the Sepang Blue camp, neither of them stir the same emotions as seeing Sprint Blue on a pre-facelift S5 like my own.

I have racked up over 41,000 miles and have enjoyed nearly all of them while in the driver’s seat, all snuggled into the “panda” themed black leather and “silver” Alcantara seats and rowing through each of the gears. Between having a heavy right foot, a tendency to hand on to gears a little longer than optimal for fuel economy and the thirsty V8, the average fuel economy is at around 16.5 MPG. Also, having a city-like driving pattern for my commute does not help.

Over the five years, the S5 has had a couple of things that have come up and needed to be replaced, all but one were covered by service bulletins or by warranty. The one that was outside of the normal warranty, which was a cam position sensor that caused the EPC light to come on either when getting within 1500 RPM of red line or if I didn’t downshift a gear when going up a hill. The sensor was replaced and most of the cost was covered by the Audi extended warranty packages that I purchased soon after getting the S5.

The S5 has gone through not only the original set of Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, but also a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The latter wasn’t due to wear and tear, but rather a combination of a puncture repair failing and one of the other tires had some tread damage due to road debris. Since I had purchased the set of Michelin tires through America’s Tire (now Discount Tire), the set of four were replaced and a portion of the cost covered by the mileage warranty that came with them. In addition to the Michelin tires, I have a set of winter tires and wheels that I try not to use due to their poor grip and wear during mild winters; and, not to mention, the horrible ride they have due to the tires being (sigh) run-flats.

Never again. Even though it is always fun to look at new cars and dreaming about owning an Audi with an RS badge, or even a sleek S7, I will be hanging on to my S5 for a few more years. It will be interesting to see what the B9 generation brings to the A4 and A5 family, not to mention what may come with the next generation SQ5 (that was some hesitation and resistance in typing that).

Until then, I will continue to love and drive my Sprint Blue Audi S5.

A version of this has also been !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on my blog at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (41)

misfitmascots > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:37

Beautiful car

Audi For Life > misfitmascots
08/27/2015 at 12:39

Thanks!

FazeRacer > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:41

Wow, I’d love to get one of those, but I don’t think I make enough money....

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:42

That license plate is awesome. You sir are my hero.

DoctorNine > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:48

Have to agree with you about the blue.

Cé hé sin > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:50

How did you manage to buy a 2011 car in 2010?

MLGCarGuy > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:50

Your S5 is the exact color combo I would have picked. Good choice, sir.

Firewrx234 > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:51

I have always thought that style was beautiful and the color only helps!

JR1 > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:51

One of Audis best designs.

Audi For Life > FazeRacer
08/27/2015 at 12:51

There’s always the option of getting an earlier model year S5, or if that’s still a little rich, there’s always the option of a Stage 2 or 3 A5 2.0T :)

LongbowMkII > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:53

Beautiful color. I’ve always wanted an A/S5 just genuinely good looking cars.

Audi For Life > Cé hé sin
08/27/2015 at 12:53

In the US, the model year tends to be one ahead of the current calendar year. Orders for the 2011 model year S5 started late April/early May of 2010. Yes, it can be confusing and doesn’t always make sense when you have things like: 2004 model year, 2004.5 model year and 2005 model year.

qbeezy > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:54

I hear they are amazing. Congrats on 5 years! I forward to having my own one day!

Audi For Life > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/27/2015 at 12:55

Thanks! It was something that I considered ever since the A5 was first announced for the US. I even considered “DALEK4” if I had picked up a B8 S4 instead of the S5.

Audi For Life > Firewrx234
08/27/2015 at 12:57

The A5/S5 coupes really deserve a color that pops, be it Sprint Blue, Glut Orange, Misano Red, etc. Although it still looks gorgeous in Ibis White, Meteor Gray and the various blacks, those tend to mute the lines a little too much for me.

Jcarr > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:57

This and the RS5 are so painfully gorgeous. I am ultimate jelly.

Audi For Life > MLGCarGuy
08/27/2015 at 12:59

Thanks! I knew that I had to go with Sprint Blue after seeing one in person a year or two before ordering mine. What I wasn’t sure of back then was the black/silver seats; but, seeing it all in person for the first time dashed away any doubt.

FazeRacer > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 12:59

I’ll just wait til I get a SO that lives with me, that cut down on my living expenses alot, at least enough to afford one of those.

Audi For Life > qbeezy
08/27/2015 at 13:00

The only think to make the S5, especially with the V8, sound more exciting is to add an exhaust to it. That said, I’m actually pretty cool with it being OEM+.

Saracen > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:00

Pictures of your Audi make me miss mine :)

And while I am a manual elitist I find myself lusting after the DSG-only RS5. I could give up a manual for one of those. Or for a 2012- S6.

Tripper > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:01

Sweet car man! I picked up a blue Audi of my own just under a month ago!

Audi For Life > Tripper
08/27/2015 at 13:13

How are you liking your S3? I got to drive two of them for a ltitle bit and love how light and peppy it is. Since I’m a big boned guy, it’s a wee bit snug for me, but not so much that I wouldn’t pass up the RS 3 when it comes over to the US :D

Audi For Life > Saracen
08/27/2015 at 13:16

I was a little sore that the RS 5 was DSG-only until I got an extended “test” drive in one. The super fast shifting seemed perfectly maded with the fast revving V8.

I’ve considered getting a C7 S6 as my next Audi, but it would probably have to be CPO or owned by someone that I know that has taken good care of it. Right now, I’m holding out to see what the B9 S4 and S5 bring, along with the upcoming RS 3 and next-gen Q5.

Saracen > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:17

Yeah, the RS3 will be especially interesting.

marshknute > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:24

I didn’t even know about Sprint Blue. Good God that’s gorgeous!

I’ve always felt Nogaro Blue was too flat and blurple for my tastes, and Sepang Blue was an unsuccessful compromise between midnight blue and Subi’s World Rally Blue.

Damn it, now I’m going to have to waste time at work searching for used Sprint Blue Audi’s!

Audi For Life > marshknute
08/27/2015 at 13:31

Sprint Blue was an RS 4 exclusive color for a short while before becoming available on the S4 and S5. I think it was only available on the B8 S4 from 2010 and 2011 model years. I’m not sure if the S5 debuted with Sprint Blue (my gut says yes, but my mind is questioning that), but it was definitely available with ones produced from 2008 through the end of the 2011 model year.

Nogaro Blue worked best on the B5 S4 as it did make the rather conservative/Bauhaus design stand out. It worked okay on the B8.5 S4, but I still think Sprint Blue works better on the newer Audis.

Sepang Blue has only grown on me when worn on the R8 with a contrasting side blade (Oxygen Silver being my preference) and on the S3 and the larger cars like the SQ5, S6 and S7. I would prefer the deeper and darker, and short lived, Estoril Blue (not to be confused with BMW’s Estoril Blue).

I’m glad that Audi has brought back a vibrant Blue in the form of Ara and Hainan Blues (Ara is available on the new R8 and Hainan has made its first appearnce, in the US, on the facelifted Q3). I think Hainan Blue is the spiritual successor to Sprint and Ara being a good mix of Sprint and Sepang.

Ssfancyfresh > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:38

Beautiful car. Love the color.

Tripper > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:45

I love it! I was worried that I would miss a manual transmission, but the DSG is fantastic. I’ve just passed the break in period, so I’m all kinds of pumped to really put my foot into it. It’s funny how quickly things change, 3 months ago I was never going to own anything but an N/A M car with a manual transmission. 2 months after that I walked out of the dealer with a forced induction 4cyl “automatic” Audi! It’s great, and it felt really good to expand my automotive horizon.

Audi For Life > Tripper
08/27/2015 at 13:52

Back in 2010, I had considered getting an M6 that was a couple of years old (not CPO) but got frightfully scared at what the cost of maintenance was going to be on that V10 and the SMG. I did consider getting a 335xi, but it was not as comfortable as the S5 and I still preferred the styling of the S5 over the 3 series.

If I weren’t such a large guy, I would entertain the thought of owning an M235i or a Cayman S.

Tripper > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 13:59

I can understand that, everything was expensive on my E90. The dealer wanted $700 for a battery! I ended up doing it for $450 at an inde shop! The wear parts were also crazy expensive, and I was adding a $15 qt of oil every 3 fillups. I had 3 years to go on the loan and 3 months to go on the warranty so I said, seeya. I also considered the M235 and cayman, but I need 4 doors.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 14:09

What a phenomenal car. Hope it stays good to you for many more years.

Audi For Life > Tripper
08/27/2015 at 14:14

Oof, that’s definitely not cheap! Although I don’t need four doors, I do want something that I can haul some photography gear and stuff for work as needed (which basically rules out the Cayman).

Kind of hoping that we’ll get the B9 S5 Sportback in the US. Otherwise, the SQ5 is probably next on the list.

Audi For Life > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/27/2015 at 14:15

Thanks and I hope so too :)

Tripper > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 14:22

Wow, that S5 SB is a great looking car (I didn’t even know that there was such a car). There was a Sepang SQ5 at the dealer when I picked up the S3, I’m currently trying to con a good friend of mine into buying it as he is considering a Porsche Macan.

Audi For Life > Tripper
08/27/2015 at 14:28

The only time that I would choose a Macan over an SQ5 is if it’s a Macan Turbo. I prefer the interior of the SQ5 (especially with the contrasting seats and the layered dark wood and aluminum inlays), but wouldn’t mind the twin-turbo V6 power of the Macan Turbo. ;)

qbeezy > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 15:09

I will say I got to sit in an Audi TT a couple weeks ago and now every leather seat I sit in isn’t as hood any more! Is it hard to find aftermarket parts or are there plenty of suppliers?

Smalbany > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 15:10

I love that color.

Mine is meteor gray with magma red and carbon atlas.

I look forward to driving it everyday. It might not be the fastest car out there but it is an excellent GT car. I still haven’t gotten used to people attempting to drag race me at every stop light.

-fellow b8 S5 owner

Audi For Life > qbeezy
08/27/2015 at 15:26

There are a number of great suppliers of aftermarket swaps and parts, be it AWE, APR, etc. Since we tend to be 6-15 months behind the curve when it comes to getting new models compared to UK/EU, by the time it arrives here, you can start to find stuff for them for import. It’ll take a bit longer for guys like AWE and APR to get new products prototyped and produced.

Cé hé sin > Audi For Life
08/27/2015 at 15:33

(Adds to mental list of weird things about America)

Audi For Life > Cé hé sin
08/27/2015 at 15:34

You’ll want an infinite storage method for those mental notes ;)

Audi For Life > Smalbany
08/27/2015 at 16:03

Meteor Gray with Magma Red interior was my second choice for a while, but seeing Sprint Blue in person spoiled me.

I have had a couple of guys in Integras and WRXs try to race me, but I’ve chosen to ignore their requests. Just not my kind of thing as, like you, I got the S5 specifically because it’s such a great GT car.