[fst twch]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/rev...ge-2/#commentshttp://http://www.thetruthaboutcars....ge-2/#comments

[Greeney]

That review was nearly unreadable...

[kenneth]

I think the reviewer writes well. His choice of words makes him likely a British chap!

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Greeney

That review was nearly unreadable...

only "nearly"? It was more jarring to read than driving a Yugo.

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by Greeney

That review was nearly unreadable...

+1. Pretentious, over-written rubbish.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by kenneth

I think the reviewer writes well.

Any article should flow without being jarring to the reader.

This writer throws together words that don't mesh well together, most likely out of a need to show off to his audience that he knows more words than they do. Compare this dispatch to anything in one of the major car rags or the Roundel and you'll see that this piece is disjointed and just poorly crafted.

[hkkuf]

"proscriptus :
December 26th, 2007 at 3:41 pm

as intuitive as Bayesian Reasoning?

This is what got Dennis Miller fired from Monday Night Football."

Summed up my reaction to the article.
BTW I can't believe Dennis Miller still shows up on TV... Do people even understand half of the crap he's rambling on about?

[DTM_P0W3R]

was that written by Jeremy Clarkson?

[Mace]

His writing is pretentious and his "observations" regarding the S5 are seriously flawed. It certainly isn't a "luxobarge" either.

My brother picked up his S5 about three weeks ago and I had plenty of time to drive it over the holidays. There's hardly a negative comment the writer has that I can agree with.

Looks and style are more personal preference than a science but he complains of too many surfaces??? If this is his metric than he should be slamming the 3-series, not the S5. The 3-series has far more "surfaces" (not that I have a problem with that, I love the 3 coupe). Also, as much as I like the 3-series interior the S5 kicks it's ass.

Audi's MMI seems about as difficult to learn as the I-drive. While there are short cut buttons on the console I don't see how this is better than moving the I-drive knob to select functions or using voice command. I will say that Audi's screen graphics are much better than I-drives though. They are stylish and much easier to quickly understand than I-drive's.

I've been surprised at the number of people who think it's a big deal the sunroom doesn't slide. Get inside the car and you can see why. The sunroof is huge and interior space in the roof for it to retract would have seriously compromised rear headroom or required raising the roofline. It still cracks open for ventilation so this is really a minor issue.

He also claims the steering is too light but obviously didn't bother to notice that it has variable boost. It is quite light at slow speeds which is great in parking areas but firms up nicely at speed where it's fairly close to the 3-series feel. Maybe not as communicative and probably a little bit softer than the BMW but it's certainly not overboosted.

He also complains about the stick. Personnally, I think the transmission is very nice with good positive shifts. My complaint about the stick is its height not how the transmission operations. Chop off about 1.5 inches and it would be great. Regarding the lack of an automatic the writer should be more patient as the auto will be out the beginning of next year so he can give his limp wrist a rest.

Overall, the writer is probably just stirring the pot so he can appear to be someone who matters.

Oh, in case anyone is wondering I have a 335i coupe on order. The S5 is really a gorgous car but given Audi's ED lease program (actually more expensive than a US lease) and lack of any discounts at all for now I would have to fork over at additional $14k over my purchase price for the 335i coupe for similar performance. While I really liked the S5 it does feel larger than the 335 and the BMW still gets the nod on steering feel. Putting the cars side by side (which we did) the S5 seems more the size of a 6 series and, given the price points probably isn't really targeting the 3-series. I'm more than happy to be getting the 335.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by DTM_P0W3R

was that written by Jeremy Clarkson?

No, if Jeremy had written it, it would be much more comprehensible.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Mace

His writing is pretentious

an attempt at being pretentious, as his writing doesn't quite rise to that level

Originally Posted by Mace

Audi's MMI seems about as difficult to learn as the I-drive. While there are short cut buttons on the console I don't see how this is better than moving the I-drive knob to select functions or using voice command. I will say that Audi's screen graphics are much better than I-drives though. They are stylish and much easier to quickly understand than I-drive's.

Ja, I agree that the graphics are better but the split-screen that BMW uses (plus when you order HUD, you get 3 screens) makes it easier to provide information to the driver.

[Mace]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Ja, I agree that the graphics are better but the split-screen that BMW uses (plus when you order HUD, you get 3 screens) makes it easier to provide information to the driver.

I was thinking this at first also but then noticed information similar to that in our assist window is presented between the tach and speedometer. You get turn arrows, distances, etc. right in front of you. Unfortunently I was more involved with gunning that V8 than looking at the nav system so can't tell you if that aspect is better or worse than I-drive.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Mace

I was thinking this at first also but then noticed information similar to that in our assist window is presented between the tach and speedometer. You get turn arrows, distances, etc. right in front of you. Unfortunently I was more involved with gunning that V8 than looking at the nav system so can't tell you if that aspect is better or worse than I-drive.

I'm not sure if that's standard in all Audis with nav (do you know?) - it struck me as a compensation for not having HUD.

In addition, the cluster display can't do all that the assist window does. for example, on the BMW you can have the radio in the main window and the map in the assist window. The map will be replaced by arrow instructions when the car provides guidance.

[equ]

As much as I like my 330xi, I assume the 335xi is very similar in steering/handling... If anything, the 330xi has the lighter front so it may have a small advantage...

Before the 330xi, I had an s4 avant (v8, yes nose heavy) as I my other drive. I prefer the 06 330xi to the s4 for reasons of
1. being a bmw
2. comfort/smoothness
3. fuel economy & range
4. features/stereo
5. finally and very importantly, it's a more "normal". I have a Cayman S and thought the s4 & that were too much.

But I have to say the following... Even the b6 s4 kicks ass over the 'xi' in the sporty handling department. So I'd be surprised if the 335xi kept up with the b8 s4 in the twisties. I'm not interested in their straight-line comparison that much as they'll both be more than good enough.

[adc]

Originally Posted by Mace

I've been surprised at the number of people who think it's a big deal the sunroom doesn't slide.

A sunroof that doesn't open completely defeats the idea of a sunroof. On the rare occasion I open it up, I want to be able to see the sun, clouds, or stars - and get some fresh, turbulence-free air.

Might as well call it a glass roof and loos the useless tilting mechanism.

[OverDrive]

Originally Posted by adc

A sunroof that doesn't open completely defeats the idea of a sunroof. On the rare occasion I open it up, I want to be able to see the sun, clouds, or stars - and get some fresh, turbulence-free air.

Might as well call it a glass roof and loos the useless tilting mechanism.

++1

[Mace]

Originally Posted by adc

A sunroof that doesn't open completely defeats the idea of a sunroof. On the rare occasion I open it up, I want to be able to see the sun, clouds, or stars - and get some fresh, turbulence-free air.

Might as well call it a glass roof and loos the useless tilting mechanism.

That's a valid point; however, I've had numerous sunroofs and never opened them. Personnally, if Mr Bangle had asked me, I'd have preferred that BMW eliminate the sliding roof (calling just a glass roof is fine for me) to preserve headroom while lowering the roofline a bit. I'd guess they could probably drop the roof an inch to inch and a half without the sliding mechanism. I think this is one of the nicest features of the S5, a very low roofline while retaining adequate rear-seat headroom.

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by Greeney

That review was nearly unreadable...

He obviously gets paid by the letter.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by Greeney

That review was nearly unreadable...

Shoemaker is so in love with cute metaphor... But yeah, the 335 comes across as the clear winner in this contest.

[OverDrive]

Originally Posted by Mace

That's a valid point; however, I've had numerous sunroofs and never opened them. Personnally, if Mr Bangle had asked me, I'd have preferred that BMW eliminate the sliding roof (calling just a glass roof is fine for me) to preserve headroom while lowering the roofline a bit. I'd guess they could probably drop the roof an inch to inch and a half without the sliding mechanism. I think this is one of the nicest features of the S5, a very low roofline while retaining adequate rear-seat headroom.

I would actually preffer the CF roof instead of having a sunroof, even though i use the sunroof quiet alot

[macd1995]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I'm not sure if that's standard in all Audis with nav (do you know?) - it struck me as a compensation for not having HUD.

In addition, the cluster display can't do all that the assist window does. for example, on the BMW you can have the radio in the main window and the map in the assist window. The map will be replaced by arrow instructions when the car provides guidance.

wait, Split Screen... Somehow I did not notice this on ED... or maybe... Do you mean how the directions pop up when you are in a separate screen? I only have 1 week of experience as I am waiting for redelivery..
Thanks,
DA