Used 2008 Audi S5

The undeniably well-proportioned 2008 Audi S5 marks a late but bold entrance into the luxury performance coupe segment for Audi. A high-performance version of the company’s brand new A5, the S5 will actually beat the more "garden-variety" A5 to sale in North American markets. Like M is to BMW and AMG to Mercedes, Audi’s "S" cars are high performance versions of existing models. While the S5 is no exception to the rule, it is not as uncompromisingly geared toward performance as BMW’s M3, or as luxury oriented as the Mercedes-Benz CLK 550.

Easily the dominating element of the S5 driving experience is Audi’s ever-popular and wonderfully torquey 4.2-liter V8. In the S5, the eager V8 produces 354 horsepower, which fires the S5 off with authority at virtually any rpm. The manufacturer claims it will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and our seat-of-the pants evaluation gives us no reason to doubt this. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system allows more traction than most drivers will ever need to call upon during hard acceleration, and a revised torque split in all models sends 60 percent of torque rearward, allowing a neutral feel that mimics rear-wheel-drive cars. As we’ve come to expect of cars competing in this segment, the brakes are excellent and powerful.

Audi’s intuitive MMI (Multi-Media Interface) is one of the best central-control systems out there, providing easy access to everything from navigation to seat heating. The eight-way adjustable seats are quite comfortable and supportive, helping to add to the cocoon feeling inside the lavishly appointed cockpit. Despite the coupe’s sweeping lines, there is ample head and legroom in the rear seats, which feature well-placed cup holders.

Designer Walter de’Silva calls the S5 the most beautiful car he’s ever designed. From the aggressive front grille to the Aston Martin-esque roofline and sweeping rear fenders, the design is positively gorgeous. Audi has taken a cue from BMW’s angel-eye glowing headlight surrounds and incorporated its own LED arrangement, giving the S5 a futuristic look. The only cues to the S5’s performance intentions are quad exhaust pipes tucked into the rear valance and subtle "V8" badges on the front fenders.

Rear-View Camera with Guidance Lines
We were surprised to find the medium-sized coupe equipped with Audi’s rear-parking system, but once you adapt to backing up while using the monitor, you’ll never want to change. The system activates when reverse is selected and automatically shuts off once you’ve hit five miles per hour in a forward gear.

Electromechanical Parking Brake
With the console-mounted switch mounted right beside the shifter, operation of the parking brake is like that of a power window; pull up to set, and down to release. A red light indicates the brake is engaged. It’s something easily overlooked until you’ve lived with the convenience.

In addition to the bevy of high-tech features that are common to the category, the 2008 Audi S5 comes with a large tilting glass panel roof, a three-zone climate control system and speed-sensitive power steering. Unique sport seats, a suggested gear indicator for fuel economy and a 10-speaker sound system are also inside. Outside, 19-inch wheels with high-performance tires are standard, as are heated, power adjustable, power folding and auto-dimming exterior mirrors with memory and integrated side LED turn-signal indicators.

The S5 can be had with one of the better keyless start systems we’ve seen — leave the key in your pocket and touch anywhere on the door handle lightly to unlock and open the car, then press the engine start button. Similarly, touch the door to lock the car on the way out. An optional Bang & Olufsen premium sound system provides top-notch audio, with a total of 14 speakers. The premium audio includes surround sound reproduction and dynamic noise compensation.

The S5 comes equipped with a 354-horsepower version of the silky 4.2-liter V8 engine that powered the S4 in 2007. The nearly-effortless torque available in any gear makes the six available gear ratios of the manual transmission seem almost redundant. Using Audi’s gear suggestion display, it’s possible to shift at very low rpm to conserve fuel, but the EPA combined rating of 16 miles per gallon is the price you pay for having such reserves of power.

4.2-liter V8
354 horsepower @ 6800 rpm
325 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/21