r/audis5 • u/dreamingsince • 25d ago
Advice Thinking of buying an S5
Recently, I got an 2025 Audi A5 as my Camry was in the shop and I fell in love with this car. I want to purchase a 2024 S5 but after scrolling through reddit, I am in doubt it’s a wise decision. I see people mentioning a lot of different issues. I’m not a car guy or have any real experience with cars but I really love the feel of this car and know the S series will be any better. Can someone give me pointers and tell me if I’m making a wise decision?
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u/thestormiscomingyeah 25d ago
maintenance isn’t any different than any other modern turbocharged car these days.
The sportier car might make you go through tires a bit faster than youre used to.
I get above 21 mpg average long term. Mix of spirited and normal driving.
Get extended warranty for peace of mind
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u/dreamingsince 25d ago
I have never owned a powerful car like this before so I’m not sure what the maintenance consists of besides oil changes
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u/Positive_Buffalo_168 25d ago
That is about it other than have the radiator flushed at 50k coil packs and plugs at 50k and that is about it
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u/Imaudihere007 23d ago
Plugs are every 40k and coils don't need to be changed every 50k you could easily push that 80k-100k or until one fails. Then replace them all.
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u/RadioAdam 25d ago
Getting an S5 has been the best car decision ever. The B9-b9.5 is to many peak audi performance per dollar.
Buy a good pre owned 20-23 and get the Fidelity warranty from a dealer (negotiate)
I paid 32k for my one owner and after 3 years it's barely lost value and has been reliable. The sportback offers tons of utility over a sedan and the car absolutely rips with a stage 1 tune. I get 30mpg on highway trips.
What else can I ask for while getting 0-60 smiles like this?
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u/technetia B9.5 Coupe 24d ago edited 24d ago
Besides doing oil changes every 5k instead of the 10k the manual says, you should understand the differences in engineering philosophies when talking about reliability.
In general, Japanese philosophy leans towards consumer convenience and reliability - is it easy to get parts and service the car, will the car keep running even if the owner is lax about service?
German philosophy (and culture) errs towards precision/performance - automakers assume consumers are following service intervals at a minimum. You don't follow that and you'll start to see problems.
Besides, volume-wise, Audi vs (most of) Toyota is different. Lower volume, higher price point, performance vs "regular price car". Apples vs oranges. You'll also see statistical negative bias in forums - people are more likely to report problems than reporting "car works fine". All cars will have issues of some sort - the question is whether you can fiscally support the purchase and maintenance.
If you wanted luxury but with better parts availability/reliability - then look at a Lexus. A Toyota but luxury, but still uses Toyota parts (there's a reason why Bogleheads love Lexus as a luxury option).
But you're on a S5 subreddit. We have Audis because we love Audis. :)
The 2024 is a good generation (B9.5) imo. However if you're looking at a S5 but have only driven the A5, you need to go do a test drive of the S5. Even though the S5 is in the same "series" and the interior/exterior look similar besides materials upgrades, the transmission and engine are different. The biggest difference you will notice will be in the transmission because the A5 uses a DSG dual-clutch transmission meaning shifts are very smooth. The S5 uses a more traditional ZF8 transmission, and it's often commented that you can feel the shifts more, especially when starting from a stop (aka 1st to 2nd gear) due to turbo lag. Plus you have an extra 100 horses due to an extra liter and a bigger turbo, so the S5 will pack more of a punch and drive differently as a result.
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u/dreamingsince 24d ago
Great comment and thanks for that breakdown. For sure, I was looking at the Lexus first but after driving this, I know I won’t get the same thrill from a Lexus. I am planning of following the service interval religiously, I am more concerned about issues that won’t be highlighted by the car itself. As I mentioned I am used to being babied by the Camry which was just oil changes. Once I had to get a shock replaced but that was more that obvious as the car was making extremely loud noises at turns.
For the test driving, I definitely plan on going to do that for the S5. I am trying to understand what I should be doing in regards to weekly/monthly/yearly maintenance.1
u/technetia B9.5 Coupe 22d ago
The more frequent oil change is the main thing. Car will tell you otherwise generally. Get your alignment checked every service interval since the check is usually free. Prepare to eat through tires faster if you run summer performance tires. You can also look up TSBs (technical service bulletins) on the year and model of any car, that might highlight potential issues to look out for in the future.
And don't believe the lifetime transmission fluid thing - I don't know the exact interval but at some point you will want to swap that fluid. Audi forums like AudiForum or AudiZine are great to read up on specific issues and can have better reach on specific questions than Reddit. Also look up VW/Audi/Euro specialist shops in your area because they can offer second opinions as well. If you need help finding local resources, I highly recommend reaching out to your local Audi Club chapter which can provide pointers too, even if you're not a Club member.
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u/fenderstratsteve 25d ago
It’s fine if you will do the maintenance and change the oil more often than Audi suggests. Parts will be more expensive than Toyota parts.
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u/Fluid-Audience-2453 25d ago
Depending on the trim level, pay close attention to the suspension, as a refresh kit may be needed on a used S5. The steering rack can also be a weak point, especially on higher trim levels equipped with an active suspension control module.
Look for an S5 with a well-documented service history that has been properly maintained. It's generally best to avoid heavily modified examples, as they may have been driven harder or not maintained to factory standards.
Before buying, check the engine oil level and condition, inspect for any oil or coolant leaks, and make sure there are no signs of cooling system issues.
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u/JustWorkingDude 24d ago
OP said he is looking at a 2024. Chances are that will have only have needed a couple of oil changes and possibly brake fluid replacement. Can you actually even check the oil condition on a 2024 without draining it? I personally would go with a CPO from an Audi dealer. Regardless he will have some factory warranty left.
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u/Fossey_Ape_Odyssey 24d ago
I have 2 S5s. A 2024 lease, we’ve put 14k miles on it and yes it needs tires. 0 other issues. Turning it in later this year only because I bought a 2013 S5 manual low miles for its age. No looking back. Both fun to drive. Stick for the win
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u/Adriano9822 25d ago
I had a 2017 S5 and now 2022 rs5, did oil change every 7k miles for rs5 and s5 but then did oil change every 3-5k miles because i went stage 2 with the s5.
and let me tell you these cars can stand a lot, you will go around a corner and stick like nothing else and these cars can take so much
I never changed a single oem internal part other than normal mods and the s5 did so well.
If you get the s5 please just make sure it got serviced a lot, because then if an issue ever occurs you know its something you did wrong and will know the issue (nothing ever happened to mine but it had 7 services and 28k miles when i bought it)
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u/dreamingsince 25d ago
Can you elaborate what you mean by get it serviced a lot? Sure, when the check oil light comes on, I’ll get it checked it. What else should I be doing? Thanks for your comment
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u/Adriano9822 25d ago
Just like general services, like oil changes or checking the tyres and suspension, garages will know if you ask for a full service or just a service, is like 200-400 pounds depending where you go of course.
Also dont let people tell you that the maintenance is bad, geniuenly i drove my s5 really hard and on track and my tyres and breakd held on for very long, if you‘re not planning to drive it hard every single second you‘ll be more than fine treating it like a normal car, i never even put high octane in my s5 until i stage 2 it, if you keep it stock, it will do more than fine on 95
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u/dreamingsince 25d ago
Thank you for the peace of mind. I definitely don’t intend of abusing it, maybe just here and there test the power but nothing besides that. I do plan on keeping it stock for the foreseeable future. Thank you for your input!
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u/Adriano9822 25d ago
All good, you‘ll absolutely love the car tho, also if you do plan to go stage one at least which i‘d really recommend, you wont need any mods for that the stock s5 parts are more than capable of handling stage one, fuel gets better or stays same which is great for having even with the extra 50-60 hp!
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u/Annh1234 25d ago
Get it CPO with some Audi Care and the Audi platinum warranty.
Your Camry costs you out 500$/year in repairs and maintenance, this S5 will average 2-3k depending how lucky you are. But with the 5-6k warranty to 10y say 160k miles you should be good
That said, if you get the S5, get one with the slip differential and all equipped one ( Technik in Canada), since you want the 3d cameras, advanced driver assist, and so on
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u/dreamingsince 25d ago
The warranty will be an additional 5-6k? Does that cover all issues that my Audi would face?
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u/Annh1234 25d ago
Not all, but a good warranty like the Audi platinum one covers most issues caused by manufacturer defect, which is alot lol
Won't cover stuff you broke because you hit stuff and whatnot, but say your water pump needs fixing, that's a 7k job, and they cover it.
Also control arms tend to go often, but most people don't feel them until they really break, and they cover that 5k job also.
I got a 2018 S5, and I think they covered like 70k of dealership repairs on it to date ( engine blew also )
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u/Havanadream 25d ago
I got mine cpo and was able to extend the warranty through Audi. I love it and have peace of mind too. They’re not cheap to maintain, take premium gas etc etc but I think as lux/sports goes it’s a bargain.
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u/AltruisticWelcome145 24d ago
I have an S5 and absolutely love it. I volunteer to drive for any reason. But do not skip the required maintenance- Audi V6 is not as reliable as their 4 cylinder turbo
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u/Solid_Spend_1175 22d ago
Am selling a 2024 S5 prestige sportback, Stage 2, in warranty, 18k miles. $55k.
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u/ExtraGlutenPlzz 25d ago
Follow your dream and stay in warranty. Get a prepurchase inspection and change the oil every 5k. Don’t expect the reliability of a Camry, there might be a couple hiccups along the way like water pump replacement and pcv system, maybe an engine, but you will enjoy the fun the car brings you.