The Motor Forum

gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject: A5 Sportback - being lazy...

Saw an A5 Sportback zoom past me in the dark last night....it looked good...though it was a bit brief.

What I'm too lazy to look up is -

1. What's the difference between an A4 and and A5?
2. How do Audi justify the price differential between the A4 Saloon and A5 Sportback?

My cynical side says they are just charging more for a "coupe" like profile, and the car could easily be called the A4 Hatchback....or am I wrong?
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Aint no substitute for cubic inches.

simonp · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

Dunno about your queries, but it reminded me of the ad on sniffpetrol!

http://www.sniffpetrol.com/wp-content/uploads/spad_audia5sportback.jpg

gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

So now I know...

From the Audi website:

"The new Audi A5 Sportback is a calling card for design talent, fusing emotive coupé styling with an unprecedented level of functionality. The car’s wide, low stance emphasises the A5 Sportback’s sporty front end. Elongated lines lead to its attractive and practical tailgate and the frameless doors increase the visual appeal. For a car modelled on a coupé concept, it offers a remarkable amount of interior space".

Translated

The new A5 Sportback looks good, and combines a swanky coupe style with the rear end of a 1976 Rover SD1. The lowered suspension makes the car look wide and it looks good, especially the frameless doors that are used to add to the coupe pretence. For a car with a low roofline the inside isn't too uncomfortable.

Damn it, I really like it though......how much is an 3500 Vitesse nowadays....

EDIT - the spec looks well ahead of the A4 so in fact not bad for the price - I'd take a 2.0TDI Sportback over a 320d SE should I have that choice to make.
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Aint no substitute for cubic inches.

Racing · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject:

Apparently the A5 Sportback is about £2k more than an equivalent A4 but you get free leather and parking sensors worth about £1.6k....
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Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject:

Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:

I don't disagree with them on this occasion, that would be the order I'd put them in!

Although the CC might pip the C Class if there was a strict cash limit that meant I couldn't have the Sport model.
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gonnabuildabuggy · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

It's annoying two cars that look mundane but handle/ride well and two cars that look the dogs but don't handle/ride.

Perhaps a Rover SD1 is the solution.
_________________
Aint no substitute for cubic inches.

Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:35 am Post subject:

It is frustrating. Despite knowing of its flaws from the driver's point of view, I find all versions of the A5 deeply desirable.

The solution, I suspect, will be the S and hopefully RS versions: Audi seem to make more of an effort with their high-end models, and the S4 has already been highly rated in road tests.

ALF · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject:

I want a sportback regardless - packaging-wise it's ideal for me and is finally the quality hatch I've wanted...

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

For the price of 1 ALF you could probably make it into the car it should always have been ....

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

Blarno · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

I'm still baffled as to the existence of both the A5 and Passat CC. Why not just make the A5 the A4 and the CC the normal Passat?

Aside from having their sticky fingers in a non-existent niche pie, what do they gain from building them?
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Boxer6 · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject:

Blarno · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject:

Aye, from people with more money than sense!
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.