This is my Car

"Dr Emilio Lizardo" (dremiliolizardo) 01/10/2014 at 19:54 • Filed to: Audi, S5

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Well, not that one in particular. But I drive a 2013 Estoril Blue S5 Cabriolet.

It currently is wearing 18" wheels with 245/40R18 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's as opposed to the 19" Pilot Sport 3 255/35ZR19's summer tires that came on it.

This is my wife's car.

Again, that's not her exact car, but you get the idea. Better ground clearance. Both 4WD.

So here in suburban Chicago, we have had a lot of snow and cold. Even after our driveway was plowed, the snow blew back on top of it and there was 8 or 10" of cover. One of us has been going in and out daily, every day this week without all that much difficulty. One of us got stuck in the driveway yesterday the only time they decided to leave the house. So which one handled the snow better? The little SUV? Or the littler convertible that looks like it should be put on blocks for the winter?

(hint: the winner has four rings on the grill and no kidneys)

I love this car. It's like a cross between a cheetah and a mountain goat.

Brian Silvestro > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 19:56

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I see much more cab's then I do coupes. What made you go for the Cab?

lone_liberal > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 19:59

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I love the S5 but I don't think I would ever consider the Cabriolet only because I think the roofline is so damn sexy. Well that, and the fact that an S5 coupe is already at the top of any new car budget that I'm likely to have.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Brian Silvestro 01/10/2014 at 20:00

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I just love driving with the top down. Before this I had a Mercedes CLK 320 cab, before that a Sebring convertible. before that I had a Cavalier Z24 and almost went with the convertible version of that.

I work one weekend out of four and it is slightly more palatable when I can drive from hospital to hospital with the top down.

The irish setter loves it too. Flying down the highway at ludicrous speed biting the wind. That's one happy 11 year old puppy. He makes everybody else happy too. We frequently see people smiling and pointing.

PS9 > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 20:01

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Wow, what do you guys do for a living? Doctor/lawyer? CEO/PT? Mad Scientist/Yet to be caught Embezzler? (Probably not that last combo, but no judgement at all if it is!)

Dr Emilio Lizardo > PS9 01/10/2014 at 20:04

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Aspiring mad scientist. Current medical oncologist. The cars are not cheap, but I keep them a long time. The X3 is about 8 years old and my previous car was a CLK320 that I kept 9 years and 110,000 miles.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > lone_liberal 01/10/2014 at 20:05

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But putting the top down is soooo nice. Not now, of course, but 9 months a year or so. If I couldn't afford an S5 cab, I would have gone for an A5.

Brian Silvestro > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 20:06

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I know the feeling. I DD'd an 'o5 Porsche Boxster, there's no other feeling like driving without a roof. It really is awesome. If you post pictures of the setter while in the car, oppo will fall in love.

Jayhawk Jake > PS9 01/10/2014 at 20:06

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As an aside, my uncle apparently owns an S5 cabriolet and he's an accountant

Jayhawk Jake > lone_liberal 01/10/2014 at 20:07

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You also can't get manual in the vert IIRC

Dunnik > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 20:09

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Didn't know the S5 came in a cab, neat.

Still somewhat surprised at how the 3-series Touring on Stilts got stuck and yet your convertible - hah - didn't.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 20:23

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So...does the X3 also have snow tires?

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2014 at 20:28

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Just all-seasons. Michelin Pilot HX MXM4. She has put less than 50,000 miles on it in 8 years. I'm not springing for two sets of wheels and tires for that car. I wouldn't have for the Audi except that I knew the summertime tires were a bad idea in the winter.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Dunnik 01/10/2014 at 20:30

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Me too. All week she kept saying I could take her car if I needed it but mine seemed to be fine in the snow and slop. Much better than my RWD CLK320. Last year I definitely would have been taking her car this week.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 20:41

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Well, makes sense that the car with winter tires did better in winter weather.

Might be worth researching some all-seasons for the X3 that do better in snow. With 50k miles on those Michelins they probably aren't long for this world, right?

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Textured Soy Protein 01/10/2014 at 20:46

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That's the second set. They probably have less than 10k on them. Everything is relative. Compared to the CLK320 cab with RWD and all-seasons I drove before, the X3 might as well have been a snow mobile.

The X3 is really good in the snow. I just find it amusing that a convertible can actually be better.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Brian Silvestro 01/10/2014 at 21:02

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Have to remember that come spring time. I really should have some for myself anyway.

Roberto G. > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 21:07

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I'll believe in you when I see your exact cars.

Btw, this is my Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

Well, not this one in particular. But I drive a 2013 Coupé Rosso Corsa.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 21:12

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Wilkommen and such: nice Auto Union. Also, though I don't generally lurk as much on io9 as I used to, props as a commentator.

Tom McParland > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 21:18

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Great car...best color too. OK don't take this the wrong way but your name sound like a Bond villain...an awesome Bond villain.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 01/10/2014 at 21:23

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Thanks. I don't know how I got posting privileges here, but I figured if somebody deemed me worthy, I might as well try to contribute.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Tom McParland 01/10/2014 at 21:25

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Bond villain?

They wish.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > Jayhawk Jake 01/10/2014 at 21:43

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Sadly, I must admit that I never learned how to drive a stick. Please don't ban me. Using the paddle shifters is as close as I can get.

Jayhawk Jake > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 22:59

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We wont judge, but you should learn. It's pretty great

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > Dr Emilio Lizardo 01/10/2014 at 23:30

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Nice! I've got one too! On my desk...

Dr Emilio Lizardo > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 14:02

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I kind of want one of those now.