"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
09/02/2015 at 12:06 • Filed to: test drive, audi s5, rants and raves, review
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5|
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
09/02/2015 at 12:06 • Filed to: test drive, audi s5, rants and raves, review | 3
| 5 |
2015 Audi S5. Although it was an automatic, it was a blast. The thing had ~1000 miles on it. In Sport Mode, the exhaust makes an amazing crackle when it shifts at high RPM, accentuated by having the top down. The paddle shifters were a novelty more than anything, but they worked well and were responsive. The car also rev-match downshifted as you slowed down all by itself; it actually downshifted fairly early - again, only in Sport Mode - and the exhaust again makes nice noises as you decelerate. I got to pass one car on a two-lane road and the car shifted up just as a I passed the driver’s window, giving him a nice loud crackle as I ripped by. He could probably see my smile even though it was dark.
And coming from a 3 series as a DD, the cornering was excellent of course, but nothing unexpectedly amazing. Grip is pretty incredible with quattro and new tires and all, so really it was just a nice step up from my DD in the corners.
On the downside, the various controls were almost unintelligible for someone just hopping into the car for a quick spin. Like, turning down the music because I didn’t want anything playing - it wasn’t simple to do even that. There are a LOT of buttons in this car. And there is a LOT of information in the gauge cluster. On the other hand, the top goes down and up with one button touch.
And lastly, I felt like I was in a bathtub - not in terms of handling, but like I was trying to look out at the world from inside a deep bathtub. The door was up around my neck height, and I couldn’t see the pavement 15 feet in front of the car. Raising the seat up helped of course, but then I was kinda looking down at the dash and wheel, not in the low driving position relative to the controls that I wanted to be in.
Whatever, it was fun as hell and the nicest/fastest car I’ve driven or will drive for quite some time. Oh, that exhaust.
That is all.
jjhats
> functionoverfashion
09/02/2015 at 12:09 |
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all modern convertibles tend to feel like bathtubs. I haven’t sat in a new Miata yet though
Party-vi
> functionoverfashion
09/02/2015 at 12:09 |
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Nice. I blasted around for a quick drive in an RS5 once - it was probably the most fun I’ve had driving just about anything, and the ability to lay the hammer down coming off an on-ramp up to super-highway speeds was exhilarating.
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functionoverfashion
> Party-vi
09/02/2015 at 13:09 |
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Yeah, it felt like I could do just about anything I wanted within my limits of “this probably won’t get me arrested.” I was so excited when I came up a slow car in the beginning of a passing lane, going around the speed limit. But I was going 30 over by the time I got past him. oops? The brakes are good too, did I mention that?
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functionoverfashion
> jjhats
09/02/2015 at 13:20 |
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Yeah, I wonder how different it really is from the older ones. I’ve driven the NB but that’s it. My mother in law has a Volvo C70 but I kind of expected high doors from that. Still, front visibility was better, maybe because the engine is transverse and thus the hood can slope lower? It’s also not supercharged like the Audi. Really, the hood line might make all the difference there.
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jjhats
> functionoverfashion
09/02/2015 at 13:49 |
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my dad had an NB as well and currently has a c2 vette. for me the biggest difference is the slope that modern windshields have. they aren’t upright anymore so your head is inches from the top of the windshield leading to it not feeling very open. beyond that, the decklid of modern convertibles are very high up so rearward visibility is awful except on the old miatas and corvettes who still had squat rear ends