In the present day’s Good Value or No Cube scorching Audi has an efficient manufacturing facility theft deterrent—a handbook transmission. Let’s see if its worth makes it a steal anyway.
A sure solace is afforded at the moment—Boxing Day—as, with it, comes the calm realization that now we have a superb six-month respite from the indignation of too-early Christmas shows at retail shops. One other Boxing Day custom is regifting to the much less lucky. At $7,900, the 1983 Ford Mustang GLX convertible we checked out yesterday possible wouldn’t be amongst these pass-on presents. That worth and the automobile’s glorious situation earned a strong 70 p.c Good Value win in our voting, which means it’s most probably a keeper.
Apparently, at the moment’s 2015 Audi S5 coupe isn’t a keeper, a minimum of not for its current proprietor. In any other case, why would they’ve put it up on the market? Possibly they’re merely shifting on because the automobile’s presentation and significantly noteworthy six-speed handbook gearbox make this Audi an appropriate companion in crime.
Lengthy thought-about among the finest sport coupes on the market, the S5 performs Mama Bear to the A5’s Child Bear and the growling Papa Bear of the RS5. To make issues a bit complicated, this S5 wears the RS5’s egg-crate grille sans the standard quartet-of-rings Audi badge. Fortunately, it doesn’t go full fake RS, retaining the S5 badge in that grille.
Behind that eggless crate sits Audi’s candy, 3.0-liter DOHC V6, pumped as much as 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque by the twin-scroll supercharger that lives down within the valley, the valley so low. These are rev-happy engines, with that max horsepower approaching simply 300 rpm shy of the 6800 crimson line. They’re nonetheless completely tractable down decrease within the spin cycle, pulling like a freight prepare from bottom-end revs. The six-speed behind the engine feeds all 4 wheels by way of Audi’s vaunted Quattro all-the-time AWD.
The advert doesn’t word any modifications to the automobile, however we’ve already noticed that upgraded nostril, and the shot of the engine bay reveals an aftermarket carbon fiber air consumption within the in any other case unmolested bay. It’s a clean-looking set up and nothing bizarre or particularly regarding, although.
The remainder of the automobile seems simply as clear because the under-hood environs. The metallic gray paint seems with out flaw, and the one factor outstanding concerning the ninja-star manufacturing facility alloys is the truth that they look like carrying rubber bands quite than tires.
A peek within the cabin reveals nothing alarming or off-putting there both. The aggressively bolstered entrance buckets have the S5 badged embossed on their backrests, and the automobile seems to have been optioned with the carbon fiber trim. This can be a fashionable sufficient automobile to have a reasonably well-functioning infotainment system, so long as you may put up with Audi’s choice for a knob-based MMI interface.
This being a coupe, entry to the again seats is constrained however not impossibly so, and the dual buckets again there are moderately snug over brief hauls.
In accordance with the advert, this S5 has a mere 52,000 miles underneath its metal belts and comes with each a clear title and a passing grade on its smog take a look at. It’s touted as being freed from any mechanical, electrical, or visible points and might be backed up with service data for these with belief points. The asking worth is $16,000.
Now, the one main problem with both the S5 or RS5 is that, whereas every is considerably extra automobile underneath the hood, their seems are virtually precisely the identical because the milquetoast A5 from which they spawned. This S5 advantages in that differentiation division by having the gaping maw egg-crate grille and large, rubber-banded alloys, so it comes with a leg up. Plus, it has the super-rare stick shift, so who cares if others are unimpressed?
The query, in fact, is whether or not it’s value that $16,000 asking, and now it’s your flip to weigh in with that willpower. What do you suppose? Is that this S5 value that type of cash? Or, for that $16,000, would you bid this Audi adieu?
You resolve!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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