Should you buy a USED Audi RS5? - What goes WRONG?

[@SimianWonder]

I've owned a 2014 RS5 for 12 months and absolutely nothing has gone wrong. It's a joy to look at, a fantastic daily driver and a privilege to own.

[@ajk4605]

I’m buying 2014 RS5 on Monday I hope my experience is the same as yours

[@SimianWonder]

​@ajk4605 Best of luck! The first time you wind that engine up to 8300rpm will put a smile on your face that will make it ache for a week!

[@A-Negative]

What goes wrong? 21 min video. Sounds about right.

[@Tacos_orsomething]

lol😂😂😂

[@StevenOyston]

Hahahaha so true

[@davescott5506]

You probably could not cover every issue in an hour video Lol Still I love mine

[@MrInternFTL]

I mean the Camry is about 19 minutes, Toyotas been on the decline lately but I doubt that’s affected by the decline

[@jadesmith6823]

Does dribble...

[@hellothere4342]

Before I watch this. I'm going to assume Jim's segment will be longer than the Camry you've reviewed.

[@Mexxx65]

...yep....much, much. ....much longer. Timing chains nightmare!!!!

[@brainsmatter7067]

War and Peace compared to the Camry 😊

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

To be fair you could say the same about any car. Unfair to compare it to a Camry.

[@PieterBreda]

Safe bet

[@enessou]

Very much agreed with your points about the driving dynamics. Its front isn't light, but this thing has so much bloody traction that I can easily chuck it into a mountain road corner here in Switzerland at impressive speeds and it will just turn like on rails. I wouldn't track it since I have the convertible, but it's amazing for twisty mountain roads. I love mine to bits. Truly a lovely sendoff for the era of NA V8s in German cars.

[@Cliff_Booth-wd3nm]

Owned one for 3 years until last year. Broke my heart and my bank balance. Diff, mechatronic, brakes are insanely expensive, control arms per the video are expensive, fuel pump sensor, never ending oil leaks. Such potential, but just so brutal to own.

[@Orvieta]

Still, many think Audi's are top quality and better than many brands Audifans consider to be inferior and obviously wrong. I'm not saying you think that way, but in general that's the idea.

[@biafo4541]

Brutal to own, that can be said for almost any high performance German car. At least u owned it for 3 years, others can only dream...

[@esthetics4512]

You took your car to Audi ryt?

[@kcho6064]

Can never understand why people buy euro cars except a porsche

[@Orvieta]

@@kcho6064 And what makes Porsche so special then?

[@jakethemuss5350]

I bought a 2015 with 39k on the clock 18 months ago. To date all it's cost me are the services. Enquire with Audi and a standard service is $1500! Went to a local mechanic that I've seen service 2 R8's and got the service for $550. It's a great car, I previously had a GT Mustang and the Audi is another level. Just make sure any car you buy has a full service history! Oh yeah you'll need some extra cash for fuel because you'll never drive in anything but dynamic mode and you can watch the fuel needle move.

[@jakethemuss5350]

Update: Audi Australia are now offering cap priced servicing on Audi's over 8 years old. $399 for standard service, including RS models as well!

[@DudeThedudesky]

​​@@jakethemuss5350 yeah these problems the video stated are practically non existent. These motors and trans are bulletproof. You can find loads of these drivetrains with hundreds of thousands of km running perfectly like my friends rs5 eith 360k km driven everyday to work on the autobahn at 250 kmh. I've driven it a few times and now I'm searching for one

[@jakethemuss5350]

@@DudeThedudesky good luck!

[@bojangles9094]

This 4.2 is different to previous 4.2 v8 from b7 previous, Timing chain and guides aren’t a big issue and rectified on this 4.2 as compared to the b7 engine. This is essentially a v8 from the V10 Lamborghini/Audi engine minus two cylinders, common misconception. It’s pretty robust if serviced correctly and not after a few owners later who skip servicing but that goes for most euros. Brake rotors are another well known common issue, carbon build up 60k plus and water pump after 70k it’s a pretty solid car when you compare it to the pre 2012 c63 amg with head bolt issues and the m3 potential rod bearing disaster. Pair it with Aftermarket non resonated exhaust makes this sound like an animal or resonator delete. AWD,8250rpm V8 with the 7speed stronic (which is light years in changes compared to the c63) and the downshift. wrapped in a coupe ticks the boxes. Service it and complete major services and it’s a solid future classic (went down the rabbit hole on this car to search all issues before buying) P.s sunglasses holder is in front of the interior lights took me awhile to figure that 😂

[@nicholasgreenwood8281]

Think you hit on what matters - it's more solid than the equivalent C63 and M3. That's why I bought it

[@73clementines]

@@nicholasgreenwood8281how has ownership treated you so far?

[@nicholasgreenwood8281]

@73clementines ngl, expensive but rewarding. Aftermarket exhaust was a bit more than I thought when all was said and done (~$6k), but I've done full major maintenance services and replaced the PCV valve for ~$3k. This thing will chew through tires bc its heavy too. Only "unexpected" thing that's happened was the windshield wiper transmission (like the part with the motor) went out, which was like $750 + another $750 in labor. I've only put 8k miles on so far, hopefully 10s of Ks left.

[@73clementines]

@@nicholasgreenwood8281 I understand. One of the best looking coupes ever imo. And also rare, even in SoCal you never see them. Especially convertibles.

[@nicholasgreenwood8281]

@@73clementines Agreed

[@andrewd7586]

I think Jim got more air time than you Adam.😱🤣👍🏼

[@chubbsmasterson]

I’ve owned one for almost five years with relatively few issues. Brakes are same as the R8s so oem waveys are very pricey. Tyres, fuel and regular maintenance all will cost you. But with a resonator delete, very little sounds as good for the money. One issue I had was a flex plate, an annoying job which is it breaks apart while driving can cause catastrophic damage. Luckily mine broke during start up.

[@dylancraver6960]

What year if you don’t mind me asking?

[@chubbsmasterson]

@@dylancraver6960mine is 2012, facelift model, same as per video.

[@RS5Fanatic]

Awesome video and thank you for the shout out, it was very kind of you!

[@ofentsetsipa1578]

That engine is the star of the show.

[@nickyang1143]

Exploding supernovae more like it

[@ryanhouck2794]

@@nickyang1143the engine is actually pretty reliable , more like the trans and cats that are definitely flawed

[@DudeThedudesky]

​@@ryanhouck2794 the transmission along with the engine are BULLETPROOF

[@ryanhouck2794]

@@DudeThedudesky idk😂 13-14’s always have transmission problems , 15’s are less likely to have those mech issues as well at internal sensors and other electronics going bad. Mostly bc of heat

[@JohnE5-dz9ip]

I had a second hand one 2011 for 3 years it had a full service history and only had the leveling sensor replaced before I got it. Great car no major issue other than that. I did about 8,000km no issues at all

[@lordcarnorjax8599]

"Some people have complained there's too many buttons, they're wrong, buttons are better than touch screens." Amen to that. I hate captive touch buttons or touch sliders etc. For volume & temperature a dial is the only way to go.

[@intellips]

I’m adamant that this will be a future classic.

[@nougan_gamer]

10:15 I have the 2013 A5, there's indeed a sunglasses holder at the front end of the top roof console, in front of the adjustable lights, just press on the long silver strip. It's however not a big holder (that's why easy to miss), will only fit some smaller/thinner sunglasses (I put my backup sunglasses there), not something like a pair of aviators. I'm quite sure I see that in your video also at 10:45 - at the very top middle of your video.

[@grossclothes7525]

I owned one for 3 year and the car was only a year or so old when I bought it, to be honest it took me a few months to be able to go fast enough in town to have it understeer, You are going ridiculously fast to make this happen. Once you learn that it will self correct and the computer will adjust brake and power biases to make it turn in anyway, It's like heaven. Good fuel economy is available, but only if you don't touch the accelerator. I could drive to cricket training which was highway driving to the Gold coast from Brisbane and achieve 8.5L/100km but only if I drove in comfort mode and literally only on cruise. If you touch the accelerator this type of fuel efficiency disappears. You also have to be prepared to have every boy racer want to drag race you in their SKYLINE et al. I was fortunate enough to own one that was basically new and had no issues whatsoever. Oh that V8 is the most beautiful sound you'll ever hear. Dynamic mode is too easy to find and too difficult to turn off. The exhaust is valved and the raw animal noise that comes when you turn on dynamic mode is exhilarating, plus the entire car just squats and tells you its ready to go. simply amazing everyone should drive this car at least once. The AWD system gives you a confidence that other performance cars I have owned never gives you. I am still an Audi owner and this car gave me a love for the brand that I have not lost.

[@joelr22]

When I got my first gen RS5 absolutly love @ first sight. Then it went downhill on day 1. Owned it for just over a year, spent atleast 8-9 months in the Workshop of my ownership. Traded it in after that then it shortly blew the engine on the next owner. Never again.

[@nighthawkviper6791]

"First Gen RS5" Now you think you're an expert on Audi quality 🤣 clown

[@DudeThedudesky]

Your got fooled mate. Someone sold you it with a broken engine 😂. The 4.2 v8 and the trans are bulletproof. It's the last thing that will fail. They are built to last. My friends rs5 has 360k km on stock engine and trans with basic maintenance bought brand new. It still rips through gears with no problem and he daily drove it at 250 kmh to work. I drove it a few times and I was amazed. Handled and felt and sounded perfect. Of course it's not light but still was very good

[@joelr22]

@DudeThedudesky you say that but it had full history from brand new from the Audi dealer 😆. Just a lemon.

[@DudeThedudesky]

@joelr22 yeah. That doesn't just happen to a car. Doesn't matter what car it won't blow up that quickly. The engines are literally bulletproof. There are loads of audi rs5 with tonnes of mileage with no problems.

[@joelr22]

@@DudeThedudesky just a dud from factory.

[@durindragonsbane5548]

Wow heaps of ‘interesting’ comments here, I owned one for 5 years without any issues, you have to realise he’s talking about every issue that anybody ever had. I bought with 50,000 k’s and maintained fastidiously, I owned an RS4 80,000 k’s before that also no issues, anyone who’s thinking of buying a near super car and having it cheap to run are kidding themselves but you get an amazing car. I did spend about $5k on mods which took it to another level, exhaust, tune and intake, 510hp and 0-100 in 3.6 sec awesome GT car and the sound, I’m telling you one of the best N/A V8’s of all time at 8,300 rpm incredible. Sounds like quite a few people commenting here should buy a Corolla LOL

[@esthetics4512]

Agreed💯💯

[@bondmcnugget]

It is a review, of course he has to speak what everyone goes through and all the issues one will potentially get, that's what makes a good review. If you didn't have any issues that's good for you.

[@20vtechnik]

I tried to convince my wife we needed an a5 sport back or (even better) an rs5. It didn't work. She bought a new VW Tiguan......... Even with us owning an ultimately reliable 91 200 20v quattro (almost 300k miles) and a very, very reliable 14 allroad at 163k. I now realize I need to work on my debate skills. Rs5.....it should have been.

[@peterreeks1918]

ReDriven have a lot to answer for. The SPC (Small Pretentious Coffee) is now part of my daily routine.

[@bdon_kn]

Owner here.. I’ve made so many memories with it and fall in love again every time I go for a drive. Thanks again ReDriven for such a memorable and amazing day!

[@Dipshtnick92]

"Fall in love with it every time I go for a drive" I had that same feeling in my E55. However, nearing 200,000kms I had a looming feeling that one day something big was going to go. I've since sold it and miss it with mixed emotions. Nice car BTW.

[@craigdavid6519]

try making memories with a woman...its different to a car

[@olik9388]

Love the car! They look gorgeous in white.

[@olik9388]

@@craigdavid6519 I can tell you that you will remember the centre consul is a tad too high, so she will just about break her ribs to get her head down. The bonnet gets too hot, so she will burn her ass. The back seat… well, that ballet or gymnastics training she did will be useful.

[@NickDaqqers]

This is one of my dream cars. One day I hope to buy one and love it and completely recondition it. It's such a beautiful car. Great video! I'll definitely come back in the future.

[@Damo-np7ul]

@13:42 "people complain that this engine lacks torque low in the range and you've got to rev it" Yes it needs a rev, its not an Aussie style V8 with more bottom end but that's completely missing the point, and exactly why I want one. The exhaust and engine delivers one of the the most engaging and delicious screams in the motoring world, changing up at 8000 + rpm on that special Sunday morning run, with that loud, piercing cry echoing out across the landscape still crisp from over night frost as you're thrust out of the corner and spearing down the straight, lining up the next bend, before downshifting and flicking it in. Yes please, maintenance costs be damned. At least depreciation has almost if not already bottomed out. Reckon these things could actually start to appreciate in value, once the world realises the beige cardigan EV experience is the future of driving. Not too worried about reliability, hopefully not famous last words on the matter that come back to bit me. I've owned half a dozen cars from the VAG stable over the years most tuned & moded. People say I'm lucky but all have given great service and been reliable, any issues being easily resolved at reasonable cost. Mind you had a great independent VAG workshop back then, where the owner & mechanics all had similar cars & liked track days etc. Always received good service at an honest price and perhaps even more important if you want to tune & mod, great advice.

[@stevenharrison2808]

Great car. I’ve had mine for 3 years now. Never had any major issues. Just be proactive with maintenance.👍🏻

[@brainsmatter7067]

At 5:29 i thought you were about to say “If you see any signs of Audi on these things, just walk away….” 😂

[@R1CH8888]

I have owned a 2016 RS3 since new, done 80k, it have no single issue till today 👍

[@supermagicblackhole]

Please keep us updated on the issue and repairs!

[@RollingShutter]

that piece about the drainage issue is so god damn real. I had an 2014 Allroad and my god that was annoying. Imagine you are buying a fairly expensive car and having said car smell like wet dog after every heavy rain...

[@mikehagmaier3949]

Test drove a 2013 a couple years ago and yeah, it was riotous. Ended up getting a 2015 AMG C63s instead. Just liked it better but I still think about that RS5 every once in a while 🎉

[@michaelplevan]

100k miles (!) 2015 B8.5 RS5 owner. I read a lot of Schadenfreude in the comments here. It's not that bad. She never failed me. Speaking of repairs: Audi offers an amazing set of original repair guidelines, covering literally everything from electric wire plan over engine assembly to aluminum welding. Read, learn, rent a DIY garage, and pay $32 to fix a faulty N80 instead of $2600 with the Audi dealer. If you brake your fingernails when opening the hood (no problem): put 5k-10k per year aside for maintenance and repair. That's her price and she's worth it.

[@Christian-gm4yl]

Luckily the HPFPs can be found from hitachi for around $350 USD for the pair and are a 30min DIY. For the PCV valves buy the JH Motorsports kit. Thank you for pointing out the water drainage issue. I’m currently chasing down 5 warning lights that go off in sequence(tpms, sport diff, traction stability, etc) and would not be surprised if these are related to water intrusion. Great cars. Pretty numb and bulky in feel that gives a portly feel vs an e92, but benefits from higher creature comforts and fit and finish that is a class above the e92. Ultimately, I bought it for the motor and the body style. The AWD and sport diff are a nice feature when you stab the gas and can feel the tq vectoring and provide a unique experience if you’ve always had red cars. Definitely a future classic and one of the finest traditional and understated coupe designs of modern cars.

[@olik9388]

@@Christian-gm4yl I had the exact codes on mine. It turned out to be the pins that connect to the throttle body (6 pin connector). They get loose over time. Audi wanted $4000 for new throttle bodies but issue was fixed for $120 with new pins wired into new connectors.

[@Christian-gm4yl]

@@olik9388 thanks for there reply! I’ll look into it!

[@Why_not_not]

Interesting and great video. I've got a 2014 RS 4 (same as this but in estate/wagon form) and from the UK. They are pretty highly regarded as pretty problem free in the UK. I've had mine over 2 years and had no issues at all (76k miles now) bar the one that happens to all of them - DRC suspension - it WILL go wrong. I replaced mine with Bilstein's but I knew that was coming so I'd prepared for it before I bought the car. Mine has a full service history and I look after it properly. Maintenance is expensive but really not catastrophic. A good independent specialists a normal inspection service is £270 odd (annual). You do have to account for the additional items (plugs, gearbox, diff, final drive) etc but they're about £1,500 total every 4 years (approx.). Tyres and brakes are pricey but that's performance cars for you. Next thing on my list is a carbon clean but it's not showing any signs of issues so will probably do that with my next service in 2025. Would strongly recommend these cars. They sound gorgeous (even with stock sports exhaust), hold their money and sit in that perfect sweet spot of being modern enough to daily drive but classic enough to give you the fizz with the n/a v8. Small tip, pull and plug the vacuum lines to the exhaust vales and them manually push them open. They stay like that and the noise is superb.

[@niwouackermann8517]

Agree 100% on the point of view on the handling / understeer. They handle really well. I've had these and E92 M3's on track and to my surprise the Audi felt way more at home on a race track.

[@olik9388]

They have consistently lapped tracks around the world, even the Nurburgring faster than the E92 M3 and the C63 AMG. Understeer and all, they are not slow around a track.

[@enessou]

I haven't tracked mine, but yeah it goes around the corners on our mountain roads like on rails. Just a ton of traction, handles like a dream.

[@dieselpwr782]

I’ve had over 250 Audi over the years, I have gm, Mercedes, bmw, Volvo…. I have my old b7 rs4, my b8.5 s4, and a b9 a4. The rs and s are both modded, both at right on 200k miles, the interiors are both excellent with the exception of repair to the b7 seat backs(common issue) neither has had any electrical or mechanical issues besides standard maintenance; tires, brakes, fluid and filter changes. Power steering lines on the rs more then once over the years. It is getting a small leak at pcv now as expected. I’ve always kept them clean and put the accelerator down often.

[@glencameron5454]

Have owned a 2015 B8.5 RS4 since 2020 and have put 35k on it. Have replaced pcv, water pump and thermostat along with rear discs and pads. Yes all very expensive but sooooo worth it. The orchestral engine and dsg combination being most notable along with the looks of the wagon. If anyone is thinking of getting one…do yourself a favour. If you’re prepared $$$ you definitely won’t be disappointed. Ps. Nothing under the seats? There’s a secret compartment at the front.

[@olik9388]

@@glencameron5454 What secret compartment? Where is it?

[@glencameron5454]

Reach down at the front of the seat towards the floor and feel for a handle and pull up. Probably should have mentioned I have the standard seats, not the ones in this RS5.

[@olik9388]

@@glencameron5454 Ah, I have the optional sports seats. I checked in any case and they don’t have a secret compartment. I got excited for a moment 😂

[@olik9388]

@@glencameron5454 Hey, if you ever need to do PCV valves again buy them from Mercedes. It’s the exact same party number for the C63, so you can just swap out the interns for 1/3 the price that Audi charge. The other option is the JHM aftermarket replacement, which is much cheaper.

[@glencameron5454]

@@olik9388 thanks for the tip.

[@Sprintonthehamsterwheel]

A S5 that our family owned ended up with 5 engines all under warranty. Three times they fitted the engine and then realized the gearbox didn’t fit. In the end the engine was hand built in Germany and flown to Australia. Then fitted after being off the road for a year. Q5 replacement while waiting for it back was fine…. D

[@rhodaborrocks-dy3fb]

Best looking and sounding car Audi have ever made. Future classic

[@elcasho]

So many haters who have never owned one. Owned once since covid and just service it once a year, done. Best car I've ever owned

[@anthonykiedis1765]

Owned many Audi's so definitely not a hater. That being said, my bank account feels differently. Suggesting that annual maintenance is all that's needed is very misleading and irresponsible.

[@jakethemuss5350]

Same here. Got mine 18 months ago. Amazing car.

[@johnpapastamatis3456]

Have had my B8 RS4 which is mechanically the same as the RS5 since 50k and now has 120k I have serviced on time every 10k , No Issues at all ,..Love it to Bits

[@CheapBastard1988]

Even a KIA should be like new under 160.000 km and under 12 years years old.

[@MCgangsterhans]

Nice! I had one rs5 b8 for 2 years. Other than 2x vvt solenoid, which I swapped myself, never had issues. Audi service is always expensive try to do things yourself or an independent garage.

[@Sean-if7rp]

@@MCgangsterhansDid you use a workshop manual to change the solenoids?

[@giorgikhabazashvili1354]

good review overall, and thank you for that. I'm driving my 2013 rs5 b8.5 since i made a christmas present to myself back in december 2018, car had 75k km mileage by then and i payed chf 45k for it (let us assume 1chf = 1usd = 1 eur) since then and till now - service in every 25k km = chf 1500 replacing front & rear break pads + support disks = chf 3000 replacing front shock absorbs / left & right (the passenger side appeared to be a bit wet) = chf 3000 and that is basically all from 75k till 175 k within almost 6 years / 100k km driven!!! great car for a daily drive, long cruising, under any weather conditions, great exterior / interior indeed i'm often thinking - what could be a replacement? newer rs5 v6? - nope, conti v12? - nope, etc., etc. perhaps the only one to be considered could be the cobra gt 350 - but there is a room on the back seats only for the cat and / or laptop and it is not a 4 wheel drive... conclusion: dear fellow rs5 owners and drivers - please keep on driving and appreciating the engineering & design brilliance of the rs5 b8.5.

[@enessou]

Heh, nice to see a fellow Swiss RS5 owner! And yeah, it's tricky finding a proper replacement once you factor in the whole package of design, engine, AWD, etc. There just isn't really anything like it anymore. Luckily, mine only has 105,000km, so hopefully, with diligent maintenance, she will last me a while yet.

[@giorgikhabazashvili1354]

@@enessou Good for you, in case of the diligent maintenance you might have another 150k km to go with no troubles... enjoy the best v8 naturally aspirated engine's sound & performance. i'm lucky enough bordering with germany and driving basel - rotterdam - basel frequently. driving 285 km/h on the no-speed restricted stretches in germany? - easy!!!

[@giorgikhabazashvili1354]

one might think 100k km in 6 years? yes, not much, but my private rs5 was paired with a company 2013 b8.5 rs4 and combined i drove over 300k km, and i experienced no problems / costs for rs4 either, except scheduled services + replacement of the front / rear break pads & support discs (but these were on a company expenses)

[@enessou]

@giorgikhabazashvili1354 Yeah, the previous owner of mine is rich (I bought it earlier this year), so it's been kept in good shape, and as long as I stay on top of things, I'm not too worried. Of course you can always have bad luck with something breaking, but if you live life expecting the worst, you shouldn't buy a fancy German sports car 😂 I haven't had a chance yet to take mine to the Autobahn, but I don't live too far from the border, so it's on the todo list for next year. 😁

[@giorgikhabazashvili1354]

@@enessou Good luck on German Autobahn, be prepared consuming 25+ liters per 100 km when pushing hard and also keep a spare 1L engine oil, the most important: maximum concentration when on the left line with 285 km/h

[@sheldonarkinstall2784]

I've had numerous Audi's over the past 16 years here in Qld (8 in fact, multiple at any given time) and done many kilometers in them. All but one (the Dual mass flywheel failed on my 6-speed A5) have been entirely reliable with only normal servicing requirements. I have never had any water leaks, even on cars 15+ years old that have spent considerable time outside. If they are properly serviced by an Audi specialist, I think they are just as reliable le as any other types of vehicle.

[@ДимаК-с7ю]

I had such a car. Audi rs 5 8T. My catalysts were removed. There is a lot of noise when you stand in traffic because of this, after 10 minutes it is not comfortable to sit in the car. The steering wheel is a bit heavy in the city. The worst thing is if you come across a pit on the road. the car is very low. Some spare parts may not be expensive, but replacement can be very expensive because a lot of parts need to be removed. Every 5,000 kilometers, I changed almost 10 liters of oil😁 But when you go on the highway or drive this car on vacation, it gives you the best emotions. Oh my God, how the engine sounds when the gears are down in sports mode. It's a song for the ears. I sold this car three years ago. And I remember her very often. I've driven a lot of things, but the sound of this v8 is just fanatical. I really want to buy an 8.5, since its engine is considered more reliable. But the biggest disadvantage of this car is that every time you start it, you think: please, at least there would be no mistakes 😂

[@mrnicktoyou]

I know it has 100s of issues but I still want one so badly!

[@eponymous7910]

Peak Audi design language

[@cytherians]

I agree. I'm not very happy with how the design language has been changing lately. Same for BMW. Just doesn't look right. They've lost their strong elegance.

[@anonamas4261]

Walter De Silva

[@ThatAussieBloke1]

omg the bonnet and guard don't line up that's killing me

[@Chris0-58]

20:34, right?

[@Orvieta]

Audi build quality ;)

[@Jorgie000]

My mate has an Audi Q5 and its insane how expensive everything has been for him when stuff goes wrong. Being as careful with money as i am it would kill me.

[@10essee10titans]

Q5s are shit and nothing like an rs5 lmao

[@olik9388]

I broke an engine. Audi in Perth quoted me $90,000 + for a new engine. Currently have the water ingress issue, throttle body connection pins get loose and put car in limp mode, carbon trim glue on centre console deteriorated, eat through brake pads, eat through brake discs, eat through control arm bushings, PCV valves cost $600 each and die readily (buy from Mercedes, it’s the same part for $250 - replace internal) Audi service centres useless at diagnosing faults and charging a joke to repair anything… But then you start it up and all is forgiven.

[@raymadani270]

Jesus! what are you going to do now?

[@olik9388]

@@raymadani270 This happened two years ago. I bought a good bottom end with low km from a 2013 car from eBay for $15,000. It was a gamble but it turned out to be a solid engine. I took the opportunity to decat the headers while the engine was out - it’s the biggest performance gain in these but required engine to come out, which is a huge job. It was out anyway so that was my window. From there it could take on a more aggressive tune. The next option would be to have the engine rebuilt at around $30,000.

[@raymadani270]

@@olik9388 I'm so glad the gamble worked for you. Its an amazing car. Somehow reminds me of the movie, transporter. Sexy, V8, all wheel drive... Enjoy every minute of driving it bro.

[@olik9388]

@@raymadani270 Thank you. It definitely gets driven. My tune has the rev limiter extended to 8800 rpm, and we visit there often, haha

[@raymadani270]

@@olik9388 8800 RPM !!! That's where I can not often hit on my S1000RR. It's impressive to see a car revs that fast. I bet it is so addictive to drive your car, LOL.

[@dill6078]

beautiful car but for $40-60k I'll keep my IS F and zero maintenance worries

[@rl7586]

You are lucky because you got an older model The new Lexus stuff is bad news

[@3omab]

How is it bad news?​@@rl7586

[@Jdnicks00]

I’ve experienced three Audis, all had issues with burning engine oil. Really expensive to fix and maintain.

[@GOJMNY]

I have an Audi A4 1.8T and the amount of engine oil leaking and burning are killing me. I need to top up the oil very often. I always have a few cans of 5w30 in my garage 😂

[@darylferreras6241]

My 2013 Audi a5 does this too... is it an issue with the engine?

[@cytherians]

I've generally found that with Audi/VW/Porsche cars, you need to use physical electrics fairly often. So even if you're not an everyday sunroof user, open that thing fully and close it at least a couple of times a month. Roll down those windows, all around, fully down and up at least a few times each month. Letting those motors and actuators sit for very long periods without use seems to invite trouble.

[@rl7586]

Since Lexus and Toyota moved from their ancient technology to more modern, they suffer a lot of problems too. At the moment BMW is pretty much the most reliable brand I’m talking about newer models

[@AvenirRacing]

There are few things as sexy as this car. I'm not a huge Audi guy, but these just do something to me on a deep level lol

[@joshjoshspangler]

What goes wrong? Audi does. Period. Expensive to own and when they go wrong (frequently), they're costly to repair. They look great, they sound great, but they are poorly engineered and cost lots to own. Do yourself a favour and buy something else....ANYTHING else!

[@francistaylor1822]

Dont know, we have a A5 TDI in the family and its been pretty solid though the Mechatronic transmission needed some work ($5K for a partial rebuild by a good transmission place). A really really nice car. You just got to have a good service history and a good third party euro mechanic who know what they are doing. NB you can put in a pass through for the head unit so you have all the functions + andriod auto/carplay. Oh and from memory there were 42 buttons and they all lit up red at nighttime. Was awesome. And also the B&O stereo is beyond awesome!

[@joshjoshspangler]

@@francistaylor1822 Fair enough. Audi, more than any other brand to my knowledge, seem to be very hit and miss. I've had two and can confirm how expensive they are to maintain properly, and a friend of mine who thankfully had something covered under warranty that would have cost her around 3 thousand dollars to fix. Something about corrosion on something to do with her air-conditioning. It was only a few years old. That just shouldn't happen on any car, let alone one costing $70k, (mind you that was $70k 5 years ago, so close to $100k today). Seems to me the more expensive the car, the more trouble it is. Audi for me, would be at the top of that list.

[@skilgour44]

@@francistaylor1822 $5k on a transmission issue is not 'pretty solid'.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

Right. Range Rover it is!

[@Bruno-xb2mt]

5k on a partial rebuild is wayyy tooo much on a part that shouldn’t have gone wrong

[@wolverineauli7]

been waiting for this one to drop for sometime now. Thank you ReDriven

[@I999-g2s]

LOVED mine, but sold it a month before the extended warranty expired. Mine did rust behind the front wheels, and Audi were awful about covering it under warranty. At 3 years, I had to pay half of the rust repair costs.

[@niwouackermann8517]

I owned a B7 RS4 which uses very much the same engine and similar other components, it was eyewateringly expensive to maintain even without any major mechanical failures other than the clutch.

[@Leonardqh5kp]

Love your vids gents - purchased a Lexus instead of a 2nd hand Euro that I’m loving. You’re doing a community service! Love Adam’s anti smoking stance - it is indeed disgusting 😂

[@ravagerslb]

3:20 You won't have big calibration or alignment issues with the sunroof, because in the b8 generation coupes it doesn't open, it just tilts up a tiny bit. Same cannot be said about that pesky sunshade that's under it. All kinds of problems, from jamming to the fabric getting separated from the tracks, and it is stupid expensive for a part that fails so easily.

[@Brandon-v7j]

One thing missing, the catalytic converters are known to fail pretty early in their life. Of course they are insanely expensive to replace too

[@esthetics4512]

That’s why you buy race headers boom reliable and increase in power 🕺🏽🕺🏽

[@olik9388]

Been there. Requires engine and transmission to come out.

[@olik9388]

@@esthetics4512 That’s what I did when the cats died. It’s the best performance upgrade you can do to these. After that they can take on a more aggressive tune and the engine temps run cooler.

[@darkness4382]

Hey that is actually true. Mine failed during the warranty period though.

[@olik9388]

@@darkness4382 It’s a very poor design but they had to do it that way to meet emissions regulations. It seriously chokes the car and your biggest HP gains will be from getting rid of them

[@olivercarter5546]

One thing people might not consider is it doesnt really delreciate in value, what you spend on maintenance you might get back in what would otherwise be another car's depreciation

[@Shulcyo]

If you owned one as a first owner they are great if you maintain them, sadly most owner dont and when they sold them they are ticking bomb. Unless invest quite a bit of money to get it "fixed" when you buy it you will have neverending issues with it.

[@loukasantoniou8054]

i have a tdi b8.5 q5 for 8 years now, no problems whatsoever, any none. Its afully loaded model as well. And generally all european audis of this plattform, from to 2014 and after, are pretty soldi reliable vehicles, except for the 2.0tfsi models. Honestly i think different continents have different levels of quality in the models offered.

[@lash9400]

The first gen A/S/RS 5 coupe looks so handsome and classy.

[@goran2009]

Compared to cars made today, this RS5 was made with passion … Maintenance cost is so worth it!

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

One of my mates at work had one of these. He had an F10 M5 before it and he said the M5 got better fuel economy than the Audi. It was pretty bad!

[@Trench_j]

My 2020 S5 had that sunroof issue. I bought it brand new and got rid of it just 6 months later.

[@robertceroli3512]

ive gone t a great idea basically avoid any euro with a sunroof

[@anonamas4261]

Cheaper than a used gen 1 R8 even with maintainence. Name another car that is AWD, Italian designed and has a N/A V8 based on a V10 that revs out to 8300 rpm.

[@joshcutler6061]

I had the same generation S5 with the 4.2 manual, good LORD it was expensive to run. Clutch went immediately, which was £2600 to replace, then a week later the power steering pump went, it had an oil leak and also needed the walnut blasting doing. This was all in the space of about 4 months. God damn it was a good car to drive though

[@ajterry5626]

most aftermarket parts you can buy for quite cheap compared to audis prices. you can get the oem parts from the manufacturer that supplies audi for significantly less than the identical part that says audi on it. sites like fcp euro carry them, i just had control arms and axle assemblies put in and it costed less than half of what audi quoted.

[@davidemartorana4708]

I would take this over an equivalent M3/ M4 any day

[@justinbury7346]

I have a little bit of a trust problem when in the first 5 minutes he mentions that the sunroof will open and won't close like his A8 but the rs5 sunroof only pops up. Doesn't go back

[@g6et_wrx177]

The mechanic at the end told me everything I need to know to stay well clear.

[@JulianKapa]

The exhaust heats up the boot? Are the heat shields not very effective? That should be an easy fix by wrapping the heat shields in some more insulation.

[@flashkobalt]

Owned the limited black edition for 4 years...25k in bills to keep it going...could afford the maintenance ,but it was the worrying about reliability that made me sell it. Despite that, i still miss it neck breaking looks, loin stirring sound, comfy and rapid....

[@flashkobalt]

@TheRealCatof I'm talking about my opinion. Thanks for sharing yours.

[@fitguyraf5453]

Car prices in Australia are insane 👀

[@TimQwant]

Congrats Adam! You finally changed the perv's rainbowscreensaver to a semi-good one!

[@servoss21sigg]

Love my ‘13 RS5, but my DSG Reverse gear did break, found myself a used transmission instead of paying $20k USD for a new one lol

[@jasonfields2793]

They are an absolutely beautiful car

[@delua6]

B8.5 Owner here Don't get a B8, and make sure the service history is good and you're set Maintenance expensive as hell but it's worth it (at least to me)

[@edwardgreaves344]

Another b8.5 owner here. I agree! Make sure the big services were all done. Allow a generous contingency and or get a warranty. And yes it’s expensive to service. But the depreciation from here on is unlikely to kill the bank balance.

[@joker3317]

awww, he missed the sunglass holder

[@SydneyReefing]

The timing chains were only an issue on the 4.2s in the previous gens.

[@fredwilliams7893]

Test drove one the other day and was disappointed by the preformance! Had to wind the rpms to the moon just to barely get going! My 16 S6 would absolutely anililate it!

[@NBASFAN]

So funny, every single problem never even happened to me and I had mine since 2016. People think the engine is the star, but the transmission "feels" just as fast as a PDK during downshifts (because it is very similar). I took care of mine, never do stupid stuff like every kid that got a new toy. Corner well, rev it to redline everyday. Maintenance done every recommended, on time, no fuss. However, I knew a couple of RS5 owners that reported issues with em. Mainly because they never owned a luxury sports car before this one. They treat them like a glorified subaru WRX. Run it to the ground, do the oil change cheaply, service their car with technicians that aren't trained for German cars. Lots of things that are overlooked can come back to bite you. Service can be expensive, but imo its well worth doing it then waiting for something wrong then complain about it.

[@thatpersiandude7386]

One the the best sounding cars ever

[@justz9435]

"Should you buy one?" "If you hate money... we think that you absolutely should!"

[@kington2311]

What’s up with the hood the alignment around the headlights looks funky

[@uszokrepper1]

Well after those all issues I would pick a LExus ISF anytime...also the sound is better imo and only oil changes yearly and thats all...

[@mbwindows7]

Great car and review, can’t beat a German V8! BTW, there is a sunglasses holder!😊

[@paulmonyai1269]

owned a 2014 S5 and i can say only had a problem with the mechatronic overall it was a fun car though I wanted a RS5 but my bank balance didn't agree with me😅

[@gnkVLCT]

They do sound amazing. Quality interior still..... But I'll have to ask again, B9 series PFL RS4 pretty please!

[@skilgour44]

It would be great to have some commentary here about which of these issues apply to the S5 as well given that, on the surface, they are very similar cars. It's great to see a video on this; thank you.

[@edwardgreaves344]

Don’t be fooled by engine configuration and size. They aren’t that similar

[@TwistedDonners]

This might be a nice looking car but for peace of mind but I think I'd stick with the Century or Giulia instead. Definitely not a good thing that the boot heats up that badly if you have cold foods. Definitely not the car that I was expecting too see today but a good video none the less. Good work guys and as always stay safe and look forward to Sunday's video as per usual 👍.

[@yanlok1484]

Nice video and now I'm looking forward to a C7 RS6 video.

[@nkosinathikazi3982]

This car has aged beautifully 😍❤

[@supermagicblackhole]

Thank you for this!!!!!

[@niwouackermann8517]

I'm pretty sure on this generation A5 Coupe the sunroof can only tilt, it does not slide open, thus will not have a wind deflector 🤔

[@anonamas4261]

Correct. Audi wanted a sunroof, but Walter De Silva insisted not as it would ruin the roof line of the car, they met in the middle and you get a full tilt moon roof. No compromise on design, such a beautiful itialian design.

[@stevenloynds3691]

This is my honest opinion from experience of owning an Audi and I only had an A4 I bought it to flex when I had nothing to spare and the thing broke my heart as in things were fixable but not having back up money it will take whatever you have my car was a little older and presented well but when one thing goes and it's usually expensive to fix something else will go...And definitely do not buy one with a sunroof that was my mistake the dreadful drainage channels 😢 once that come to play I had to put my hands in the air and admit when I was young and dumb that I was stupid...feel for damp carpet usually around the passenger side floor area anywhere for that matter around computers and electronics behind the dash the sunroof is a killer in all Audi cars....

[@HashDogg06]

A4 & flex don't go together, not sure why you would consider bottom of the barrel Audi as a flex, now if it was an RS then yeah fair enough.

[@benjaminstein1692]

I’d love to see a video of the W204 C63 AMG. I’m seriously thinking about buying one. This RS5 is awesome but the gremlins put me off a bit but ideally I want a 4 door car.

[@tyleraguilar2474]

1 years of ownership and less than 1 years I’ve had the fuel pump go bad (1800) and I’ve only drove 2k miles in that year. Getting rid of this thing. Beautiful car but it’s so nerve racking to own this vehicle even if you take care of it

[@interceptor7905]

Do review on Fairlane behind you in the workshop

[@pedroelcato]

I love these cars, but I’ll never own one because of the high cost of maintenance and what could go wrong it makes me sad