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Speedy Audi S5 not for the faint of heart, or wallet

Tom Incantalupo | ROAD TEST

May 2, 2008

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The latest in toys from Germany for the price-is-no-object and global-warming-is-not-my-business crowd arrived in dealerships in November: the Audi S5 coupe - a continental version of an American muscle coupe.

The throaty growl of its 354-hp. V-8 engine is a sinful delight, as is its zero-to-60-mph time: 4.9 seconds. It's a hoot to drive and even more fun to drive hard.

Its fuel economy, though, is not delightful. The Environmental Protection Agency says it gets a sport utility vehicle-like 14 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway, and I never saw a trip average higher than 21.7 mpg on my driving computer. It's so bad that purchasers get socked with a $1,300 "gas guzzler" tax. And the S5 drinks only the best: premium.

The S5 begins at $50,500 and my tester stickered at $58,490 with freight and options, including a frustratingly difficult to operate navigation system.

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For those who would spend less, there's a tamer version of the S5: the $40,675 A5, with a 265-hp. V-6. Both versions are good lookers and apparently are instantly recognizable to every motor head in the metropolitan area. Mine attracted a lot of attention, especially from other Audi drivers.

The muscle coupe similarity doesn't end with the burbling V-8, the high-G launches or the long hood, short deck and low and wide proportions. It includes the inherent impracticality of heavy doors, compromised rear and rear-quarter visibility and a claustrophobic backseat that's difficult to enter and exit. But trunk space, for a sporty car, is ample. And the rear seat backs fold flat to accommodate larger items.

The A5 and S5 come with all-wheel drive, traction control and stability control to keep things from getting too exciting.

The S5's V-8 is so quiet and smooth at idle you have to check the tachometer to know it's still running.

Equally smooth was the tester's six-speed stick shift, coupled to a clutch that's easy to get used to and to modulate. With 325 pound-feet of torque, starts in second and even third gear can be done with almost no shudder. A six-speed automatic was to be available beginning this month for $1,300 more.

Equally sophisticated is the S5's suspension. The ride is firm, but the pavement has to be seriously potholed before it gets uncomfortable. Some drivers might wish the electrically assisted power steering had more weight to it.

My S5 tester's interior was richly trimmed in black with red upholstery with extra-cost wood inlays and just enough chrome for accenting.

Most controls are self-explanatory, but many for the stereo and navigation system are on the center console rather than on the dashboard - far from the driver's line of sight. Mixing the navigation and stereo displays into one screen has made operating both more complex than need be. Heater/vent/air-conditioning controls, while simple to use, are small and low on the dash.

The S5 comes with a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Neither Consumer Reports nor J.D. Power and Associates has published reliability ratings for the '08 S5, but, in general, Audis are highly regarded and often earn the Consumer Reports "recommended" designation. Their performance has been mixed in Power's surveys.

Neither the federal government nor the private Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published crash-test ratings for the '08 S5, but Audis generally do well in both such tests.

2008 Audi S5 coupe 4.2 Quattro MT6

Vehicle tested:

Engine: 4.2-liter V-8, 354 hp.

Fuel: Premium

Transmission: Six-speed manual, all-wheel drive

Safety: Dual front, seat-mounted side, driver and passenger knee and curtain air bags; anti-whiplash seatbacks /headrest; four-wheel disc brakes, enhanced for S5, with antilock and stability control; rear obstacle warning; rearview video; tire pressure monitoring system; swiveling headlamps; fog lamps.

Place of assembly: Ingolstadt, Germany

Trunk: 16.1 cubic feet

EPA fuel economy estimates: 14 mpg city; 21 highway

Price as driven: $58,490 including destination charge and $1,300 "gas guzzler" tax.