A5 Cab 1st impressions from a B7 A4 Cab

[cosmicblue]

After 18 weeks of waiting my A5 Cab S-Line has arrived. I actually ordered the 2.0TDI without having driven one - the nearest I could find was a 2.0T petrol.

I let my 2007 S-Line 3.0TDI Tip Quattro Cab go back at the beginning of August and have missed it a great deal ever since.

So what's the difference between an A4 and A5 cab then? Well that's easy - simply everything! Don't get me wrong the B7 Cab was a magnificent car, the A5 has just raised the bar.

The A5 Cab S-Line has -20mm Sport suspension as standard, and -30mm S-Line suspension as a no-cost option. Based on A4 S-Line on 18" wheels experience (a bit too firm) I opted for std 'Sport'. The ride quality is refined, smooth, tight and together through the corners without a hint of harshness - very impressive.

The build quality seems superb, masses of attention to detail, the individually switched, roof mounted LED reading lights over the rear seats being a good example.

The driving position is good - it is probably my imagination but it seems less off-set than in the coupe and thus very comfortable, I opted for the Servotronic steering upgrade (std on the more powerful cars) and that is precise, accurate and quite 'darty' when it needs to be.

The BOSE set up in the A4 Cab was very good, the B&O in the A5 is better still - seems incredibly sharp and accurate. I ordered the technology pack and got cruise, the 3G MMI sat Nav and the Audi Music Interface (AMI). The Satnav is just superb - having had 4 2G RNS-E equipped cars already the the 3G version is very familiar - and so much more polished to use - subtle, nice enhancements.

The AMI does what it says on the tin - I have an old 30Gb iPod hooked up and have complete access to its entire contents (about 27Gb of music), all from the steering wheel - perfect.

Lastly the level of control of the car's internal systems via Satnav controls is, frankly, staggering. Things that needed a trip to the dealer to get working the way one wanted - i.e. unlocking the drivers door and the boot together - you can do for yourself.

Just like the B7 Cab, every journey makes you smile - it can't get much better than that!

[Booster]

Saw the the rest of your pics on the A5 board. Looks great! Colour and wheels really set it off+++

[Cupramax]

Looking good Cosmic, must admit hadn't thought about Aruba but that has somewhat changed my mind...

[cosmicblue]

Thanks guys.

Aruba is one of those strange Audi colours that looks very different according to how much/type of light falling on it - see the attachment, it almost looks like Sprint Blue under a bright flash...

And yet sat in the garage now it looks much more subtle...

[max_b]

Any thoughts on how 'spacious' the a5 is compared to the a4, expecially in the rear? Is the space about the same,more or less?

[max_b]

Oh and congrats btw

[cosmicblue]

Any thoughts on how 'spacious' the a5 is compared to the a4, expecially in the rear? Is the space about the same,more or less?

It feels like there is a little bit more legroom and it is wider both in the back and in the front (very noticeable in the front) for sure, it could be that now I have a manual (as opposed to the Tip' in the last two Cabs) I'm sat a little further forward so as to get the clutch pedal to the floor.

The rear seat now as a compartment in the centre of the seat cushion with a sliding cover over two cup holders. The split/fold rear seat backs are neat - pull a lever near the rear lights inside the boot and one half of the seat drops down. A lot easier than faffing around with the ski bag effort in the B7 Cab - I shoot (clays) so being able to get a gun slip into the boot easily is a great step forward.