2008 Audi S5 Dacula GA
Martinez, GA
Roswell, GA
(912) 367-4487
Baxley, GA
(770) 466-7000
Loganville, GA
Atlanta, GA
Marietta, GA
(770) 338-1985
Dacula, GA
(706) 433-0374
Athens, GA
(478) 453-9451
Milledgeville, GA
2008 Audi S5
November 3, 2009 By Brian Alexander, Content Editor
2008 Audi S5
DriverSide Overview
If you’re buying a car based purely on style, look no farther than the 2008 Audi S5 . According to Audi, much like the Q7 SUV, the S5 was designed with the intention of invoking an aggressive and emotional style in buyers. With beauty being in the eye of the beholder, whether or not you buy into that philosophy is up to you; but there’s no doubting the S5’s ability to turn heads. The S5 experience is more than skin deep though; it’s got some attitude to it as well, with a V-8 powerplant that offers up brisk pace whenever you feel desire to move at a faster clip. With its sleek, contemporary lines, high-quality interior and powerband that taunts you to drive it as if you were trying to set a lap record at Road America, it’s difficult not to be won over by Audi’s performance coupe.
What's to Like
The S5 is built around a low displacement V-8 that loves to rev. Quattro all-wheel drive makes the S5 the sports coupe of choice in snow-laden locales.
What's Not to Like
The sloping rear end of the S5 makes for minimal rear headroom. Paying a Gas Guzzler Tax charge is no picnic.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Once behind the wheel of the S5, you’ll find if difficult not to mash the throttle, over and over again. Sudden acceleration is paired with a purposeful V-8 soundtrack that isn’t big bore guttural, but rather emits a powerful and sophisticated sound. The S5 doesn’t accelerate with rampant violence, but with a fluidity of power that’s perfectly balanced with the car’s dimensions and upscale demeanor. The clutch is well weighted and easily modulated, making stalls rare. Get the S5 out on a back road and the brakes quickly dispatch any straightaway acceleration, and the steering is direct and predictable, though there’s a minor delay between your turn-in and the car’s. Feedback at the helm is somewhat vague – likely due to a high curb weight of 3,891 lbs – though the prodigious grip offered by Quattro all-wheel drive makes the S5 an easy car to drive at speed.
Engine and Drivetrain
Audi’s flagship coupe is powered by a 4.2-liter DOHC FSI direct injection V-8, which makes 354 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque at low 3,500 rpm. Both a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic transmission are available, driving all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel drive.
Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
While the S5 comes standard with Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, navigation remains a recommended option at $2,390. The nav package offers a larger, 7-inch (6.5-inch is standard) color screen located at the top of the center stack, a 6-disc in-dash CD changer and glove box located iPod connection cable. The MMI system uses a scroll wheel interface, making iPod integration ver...