Audi panned again on TopGear!

[vwawudi]

Watching the latest episode of TopGear on the iPlayer. Good fun as usual.
They've done a comparison between the latest M3 an the new RS5.

Seemed that the BMW beat the Audi in every respect in spite of all the fancy gadgets.

I agree with one thing though, it seems Audi overengineer the big things and ignore the little things.

[Crasher]

I like the program but really, how relevant is the type of testing they do in the real world? 99.99% of the time the cars will never be driven like that.

[theskyfox]

It does make me laugh. Everyone raves about how "amazing" BMW are...but put it this way...I can't count on two hands how many times I've had to tow my sisters 1 series out of the snow in the bout of bad weather we had.

Put a bit of the real british cold/wet weather onto the track and redo the tests...

AUDI FOREVER! :D

-Andrew

[Ardy]

And also shouldn't they be pitching it against the rs4 not the 5?, im sure the rs4 handles better than the 5 appears too. Bit smaller but more agile and they have been refining it for years where as the rs5 is fairly new concept - also bigger? Just a thought.

I always have and will love Topgear but have to admit the last 2 have been a bit lame - all due to the telling off's i suppose. Plus that woman they interviewed last night did not have much of any interest to say and interview + lap seemed to last agggges. Plus worst dry time yet! - Needs more on cars and less on Snowbine harvesters and such like - although amusing at times just think it took to much of the show.

[94jdh]

And also shouldn't they be pitching it against the rs4 not the 5?, im sure the rs4 handles better than the 5 appears too. Bit smaller but more agile and they have been refining it for years where as the rs5 is fairly new concept - also bigger? Just a thought.

I always have and will love Topgear but have to admit the last 2 have been a bit lame - all due to the telling off's i suppose. Plus that woman they interviewed last night did not have much of any interest to say and interview + lap seemed to last agggges. Plus worst dry time yet! - Needs more on cars and less on Snowbine harvesters and such like - although amusing at times just think it took to much of the show.

Probably because the RS4 isn't out yet (if coming at all) and this will be the current nearest audi comparison as the RS3 is probably too small and will be run against the new Bmw M 1 series. Not watch it yet, but they seem to be getting a bit long on the tooth slagging everything off, if there not careful they may turn into the Max Power of the TV world!

[Ardy]

Aha okies ill let them off then! - i cant keep up :D - and with regards to my ref to RS4 handling im still sure the B7 model would still have had more chance than that rs5. Just didn't look comfy being thrown around.

[eno394]

I recall Clarkson racing two climbers up a mountain in a red B7 RS4 and he couldn't speak highly enough about it. A fantastic review for Audi. Did he say the best engine ever made?

[eno394]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article647458.ece

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/rs4-v-climbers-2

[fourringsrus]

My words exactly

[legendamongus]

Honestly though, nobody watches Top Gear for concise consumer advice. It's all just a bit of a laugh because very few people who buy cars like that will actually drive them in that way. On a B road, the RS5 is probably perfectly capable as a drivers car.

I'd have the RS5 over the M3 any day of the week, whether it understeers at Hammerhead or not. It looks fantastic.

[Guest 2]

Honestly though, nobody watches Top Gear for concise consumer advice. It's all just a bit of a laugh because very few people who buy cars like that will actually drive them in that way.

Can't wait till Fifth Gear starts again, if ever. Thats what I like about Fifth Gear, more down to earth tests like Vickis good/not good test ,even though it's rubbish it still provides some real life information. Topgear is all about entertainment/comedy, Fifth Gear is more informative.

[vwawudi]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article647458.ece

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/rs4-v-climbers-2

Wow! So much Clarkson love for the RS4!!!

[vwawudi]

Honestly though, nobody watches Top Gear for concise consumer advice. It's all just a bit of a laugh because very few people who buy cars like that will actually drive them in that way. On a B road, the RS5 is probably perfectly capable as a drivers car.

I'd have the RS5 over the M3 any day of the week, whether it understeers at Hammerhead or not. It looks fantastic.

Not sure I agree 100% I'm rather tired of the same dash running through several cars.

If I spend all that money on an RS5 I wouldn't want to sit in much the same cockpit as my A4!! Audi needs to spend time developing different interiors for the A4, the A5, the Q5 etc. And I would expect an out of this world dash and body for the S and RS series.

Just my 2p...

[legendamongus]

Not sure I agree 100% I'm rather tired of the same dash running through several cars.

If I spend all that money on an RS5 I wouldn't want to sit in much the same cockpit as my A4!! Audi needs to spend time developing different interiors for the A4, the A5, the Q5 etc. And I would expect an out of this world dash and body for the S and RS series.

Just my 2p...

I know what you mean, but I think it would be a bit daft for a car based on the A5 to have a radically different interior to the standard car. Although I do agree that it could be a bit more different to standard to warrant the extra cash though. Standard though, the A4 and A5 are fundamentally the same car, so I'm not surprised that the interior is the same...

I meant the stuff like the numberplate floating in the front grille, the flared arches, and the rear splitter and airbrake. I personally prefer the 'subtle' modifications as it keeps the car looking refined but aggressive at the same time. Take it too far and it looks like it's hit a branch of Halfords IMO.

A car like the R8 should have an extravagant design, but the S and RS cars should just be 'standard' cars with enough power to blow the competition away...

[kodkod.84]

It's hard for Audi to change the interior when they already have the best interiors in the business, even in the entry models.

I did notice the RS5 had the same steering wheel as the s-lines on Top Gear. I thought RS cars had flat bottom steering wheels?

[theskyfox]

Audis interiors are very good, no doubt about that. Im sure they do vary them though - in terms of take the 2007 A4. It had a black leather interior etc availabile...then the RS4 came along and they put the sports steering wheel, pedals, trim etc inside. So I think they do make the effort for the RS cars without overdoing it.

-Andrew

[Eshrules]

let's be honest, Rs4, 5 or M3 - not many of us would find fault with any - TG is a bit of lighthearted banter, you'd never rely soley on their advice when buying such a car anyway.

[ScottyUK]

Interiors - I was disappointed with the R8 .... not coz it's bad but coz it's the same as all the others.

M3 Vs RS4/5 etc

The RWD cars will always be more rewarding to drive .... if you can drive. The AWD cars will, for the majority of people, get you there faster. It's much easier to drive an AWD car at 9/10ths than a RWD car ... and many RWD cars aren't willing to push them.

When I had my B6 S4, Clarkson said "the M3 for one lap of the track and the S4 for the rest of the time".

It's probably still quite appropriate as most of the time we're driving on roads in all the UK's weather conditions.

We don't have the opportunity to go on track all the time. Oh and have you noticed they always spin out when on track. I don't know if that's meant to look good but everytime I see it I think that's it would be a real world crash.

[bruboy]

Not exactly an original comparison on TG. Here's Autocar's take on it:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/audi-rs5-vs-bmw-m3-video/

[JimC64]

Nice one:beerchug:

It would have been good to see a a lap with the Bmw In front and see how that went to though!

[eno394]

Had my car serviced today and there was a black RS5 in the car park being used. What a monster, the front grill, the rear air blade, the titainium look alloys, blows the M3 out of the water in the looks department all day long.

[C172s]

Hi all,

Ive posted several times on youtube on this subject. Audi has a different philosophy on cars than BMW. RWD vs AWD etc. Throw a merc in the line and the RS5 might take it.

No one likes change and Audi has ruffled feathers across merc and bmw supporters because the Audi is as Good..in some cases better and in others not so.

Overall the RS5 is a better and cooler car that is not 'as fun to drive' (which is what TG and others base the overall comparison on) - as Audi drivers we know the Audi is substantial and better built. Pure luxury.
:D