A thread I saw yesterday stated an Audi A5 is a LOT like a GTI (or maybe it was a Golf R.. or R32. I forgot already but I think the A5 is a nice looking car).
Questions**:
Are A5 tall friendly (I'm 6'-5")
Are they available with a slicktop?
Are they available with the DSG that Tom Suddard has been talking about in his GTI project car?
Are any varieties more reliable than an 86 GTI? Because I swore off the VAG cars after owning one of those back around 1992.. but it might be time to take another chance.
**I realize that Google is a thing but I prefer the testimonials from the GRM dorks.
My comment was more around the mechanicals, as they both share common engines (VAG 2.0 turbo), the all wheel drive systems (at least the Golf R models) and the rest of the VAG pieces. A5 being much prettier and more luxurious. Yes, can get a manual transmission or a DSG. As far as more reliable, they are much more complicated than an 86 GTI, but they are very reliable but require regular maintenance much like any German car.
They are great looking cars, with good power, but the way Audi does their AWD, with a lot of the weight in front of the front axle, they are much more suited to being a GT car, rather than a sporty car.
What year it is matters a lot.
The B8's have terrible oil consumption from low tension rings and DSG gearboxes that are not aging well. B8.5 mitigated the oil a little with a heavily revised AOS system and has a completely different DSG. The MT6 is lovely in both but the dual-mass flywheel can be problematic.
B9's are superior in nearly every metric. If you can afford one, get it. MT6 was available through 2018 and is rare as hen's teeth. The DSG is very good though. Completely different 2.0T that's adding better than the B8's.
racerfink said:
They are great looking cars, with good power, but the way Audi does their AWD, with a lot of the weight in front of the front axle, they are much more suited to being a GT car, rather than a sporty car.
Yes and no. Get a Sport Diff car and it starts getting very sporty. The unicorn spec is factory adjustable suspension, variable ratio steering, Sport Diff, and MT6. The A4/5 is lighter by a significant amount from the S4/5 and all in the nose, so the regular car actually handles better than the sports version 
Mndsm
MegaDork
1/14/24 8:49 p.m.
It's just an a8 minus an a3.
In reply to Javelin :
Thanks. I will Google the year ranges. B9 sounds good and typical Audi heavy depreciation should be coming back this year.
In reply to OHSCrifle :
I owned a B8 A4 2.0/MT6, and still own a B8 S4/MT6 and a B9 Q5e. I love the B9 chassis.
