Nismo vs Audi S5
 

I'm always comparing the 370z against other sports cars and recently I've been wondering about the Audi S5. I am not familiar with Audi's at all but it seems to me that purchasing an S5 V8 for 68,000 and only getting 354 horsepower is not much. I understand the build and quality of the car (especially the interior ) is top of the line, but when I look at the Nismo and its 39k with 350hp!!! Obviously to many people its more than just horsepower, but a V8 with only 354hp come on, i feel like Audi could do better? I also wanted to know if a Nismo could hold its own against an S5?

audis are nice, however, they are really heavy. i wouldn't mind having an s5. i wouldn't take one over a touring sport/nav Z, but comparing it to a nismo is a big difference. the nismo is a spartan, track-esque car (that can't actually be tracked without mods). the audi s5 is a grand tourer, and i think it does its job well. Now, the fact that you can get a used GTR for as much as a new S5, then theres no comparison, s5 loses.

I too own a 40th. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Haven't seen another one around where I live yet so the exclusivity of it feels nice. I've seen a bujch of s5's though... whethrr the nismo can hold its own vs an s5? Id say that's in the drivers hands, but leaning toward the nismo just because I'm biased.

:iagree:
:tup:

My boss is getting an S5. I think it's more about luxury and style than it is about actual performance.

I think S5's are more of a dressup car than a nismo. Shows off more of the lifestyle of the person rather than just for pure fun.

if wanted ppurely a sporty car, i'd take a nismo.

if i wanted a luxury sporty car i'd take the S5.

but i have the best of both with a touring/sport/nav 370z :) the interior of the touring/nav Z is really nice.one of the nicest in any nissan car i've seen.

I would NOT buy any Audi or VW. Yes, they are nice looking inside and out with a great balance of performance. However they have major reliability issues. I have family members who currently work with Audis and VWs. They tell me all the time how poorly they are built and how many issues they have. Just my :twocents: Flame away!

It's true about the reliability of Audis... Also the maintenance costs are pretty high for little things. My friend has an S8 and it cost him like $800 just to replace the starter because of it's location requires like 7 hours of labor... But they are great cars in general, so if you don't really care about value or maintenance costs, the S5 is good. Personally I like the audi styling a lot and would get an S5 over an M3 just simply for looks alone and of course the RS5 hehe

I owned an Audi A6. Loved it until she broke down at 60K miles. I'll never buy another German car again. Under Powered no mechanic wants to work on them even for a fkn oil change. Everything has to go thru the dealer. Ended up rebuilding the motor and trading it in for a Nissan Maxima.

So yeah... As nice as they are, they look just as nice in the showroom and not my driveway.

I would own one, but only as long as it was under warranty.

:iagree: that's why I went from M3 to my car now lol. Was nice always getting a BMW loaner and all.

Coming from always having JDM machines and being an enthusiast I wasn't feeling the aftermartket. Very little value to me. Either everything was made in China and super expensive because it's for an M3 or it's super duper expensive because it's decent and from Europe. With Japanese cars you seem to get more range from cheap $hit to awesome stuff and everything in the middle. Not sure but I'd guess Audi stuff is similar.

See that's the problem. Even if it's under warrantee it's still frustrating taking the Fing thing in all the time. Not to mention dealing with a service manager who just wants to get your warrantee work out the door.

Audi's, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes...etc...all technically should be higher horsepower from the factor especially for displacement.....however alot of the luxury models in my opinion are detuned for competitiveness in the market, longevity/reliability and fuel economy.....Just my 1/2 a cent :P

---In regards to the above threads on Audi/VW reliability issues......that is why some aren't pushing out the HP numbers for their displacement from the factory cuz if they did they would break down even sooner LMAO :P

You guys sell the S5 incredibly short. I did a half-day Audi driving school and tracked an RS4, S5, and R8 at the end of the day. The professional drivers (and these were race drivers) all preferred and raved about the S5 over the RS4. The balance and chassis of the S5 is far superior to the RS4 engine-in-front-of-the-front-axle design. When it came to the R8s, no students in the school could even pressure the instructors in the S5s. Yes, there was an experience disparity, but the S5 is still a well-balanced and formidable sportscar. And that is a de-tuned version of the R8/RS4 V8...lots of potential to turn it into a beast.

And please don't forget that Nismos are slower than simple Sport 370Zs.

No offense, but a lot of you guys are stuck in the past. I have a 2005 A6 4.2 (current gen) and it hasn't given me many problems at all. I have a warranty on it until 100k miles. It has 62k miles now. The car is beastly with the V8, has a superb ride, handles well, has a great interior, and it looks classy and never gaudy like many other luxury vehicles in its class.

I considered an S5 before buying a fully loaded 370Z. Like Jeff said, a fully loaded 370Z has a truly splendid interior that looks and feels terrific - rivaling some of the luxury automakes out there. I decided against the S5 because it's essentially a 2-door version of my A6 (similar interiors, similar power, motor, drivetrain). They're great cars and they have very nice gearboxes too. The newer ones handle notably better than the original 2008-2009 cars thanks to the optional torque vectoring.

Though I must say, it's weird to compare a spartan Nismo Z to a luxo grand tourer like the S5. Again, a fully loaded 370Z makes a lot more sense.

S5s are nice, but Audi/VW reliability is terrible.

I wouldn't put much stock in that. Straight lines about the same, but a Nismo will out perform a regular 370Z around a track.

Wrong. The differences between the two cars are so minimal that the additional weight of the Nismo handicaps it.

Just one of many examples:
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ismo-370z.html

I've personally witnessed a bone stock Nismo 370Z run 13.0s back to back in the 1/4 mile. I know their at least as quick in a straight line stock vs. stock to a 370Z sport, and I know they have a better suspension and better aero. Around a track i'd definetly put my money on the Nismo with equal drivers.

well, neither of them would make it around the track without an oil cooler. and considering the Nismo is the track'd out looking one, that shouldn't be the case.

These are two different cars. A better comparision has been the M3 and the S5....the M3 won in performance. While the Audi is a nice vehicle, it is a german vehicle...costly to operate and costly to maintain.

For those people who would want performance(strictly), an S5 should not be a first choice, as there are better options out there, especially for the money.

Prior to buying my Z, I test drove and considered the A5, but after researching the vehicle....I did not like the depreciation rates and the cost of ownership (a lot of Audi owners tend to trade up/out of their vehicle before the 60,000 mile service or expiration of the warranty).

When visiting the Audi Service Department to obtain service/maintenance estimates, the Service Manager did not/could not provide a written maintenance schedule showing the cost of the services, but he could give me approximate numbers/cost based on his memory. I guess if you have to ask.....don't bother about the cost.

When researching the Z, it was shown to have a slower rate of depreciation and was really not expensive to maintain, and of course reliable. A vehicle that can be driven routinely.

In the end, it comes down to practicality and reliability verses prestige and cost. "I chose practicality and reliability"

This is just my opinion/experience

My age old complaint of the Nismo is that there should be absolutely no question about the 'track' model being quicker than the lesser sibling. No stock A5 can touch an S5. Nissan $hit the bed with the Nismo. If the S5 is within budget and a consideration, I'd buy it over a Nismo without ever looking back.

My buddies s5 had major issues at 30k miles. Love my Nismo, but the s5 id a waste of money imho.

:iagree:

I generally drive an S5 almost each day. No one has mentioned torque! HP is only part of the equation. The S5 is hands down faster the the Z with more then double the torque. Our cars are great for the price point!! Bang for the buck!
We don't have Quattro, Servotronic steering, Lane Assit, Parktronic, Self leveling Bi-Xenons, Bang & Olufsen, MMI, LED DRL, Nappa leather, Infotainment, Battery energy management, Electro-mechanical parking brake, Voice Control, etc, etc...different beast!
Also if you can't afford to own a German or Italian high end vehicle, which is indeed costly to up keep, then stay away!
I have a ton of customers that can and do! This allows me to own my 370Z!! ;)
Audi's are awesome to drive at their limits! They make bad drivers look good! It takes a ton of control modules, heavy engineered powertrain, and tank like structure to give the driver that confidence. Of course these things need to be maintained!! $$
These vehicles shouldn't be compared!

Have a friend that bought a TT same time as I bought my Z it broke down in a parking garage and had to have it towed to the dealer for repair. Somthing to do with the starter. Best part was she was always talking about how much nicer her car was then mine (didn't say anything when I had to give her a ride home.)

My 2011 S4 is unbelieveable! So far so good

The new TT (8J chassis) starters do not fail! The last model TT (8N chassis)
has problems with the starter at higher mileage marks.

I have owned a 2008 VW GTI and lemon lawed it, then purchased a 2009 Audi A4 and traded it for my Z due to parablems... They are an electrical and sensor nightmare, if you get a good one you keep it.

Comparing a 370Z and an S5 is pretty silly. You don't buy an S5 to race people. You buy it because it's an awesome car that looks amazing, has a great interior and is extremely classy. If you've ever seen an S5 on the street and heard it's exhaust, you realize immediately why you want it.

If they weren't so expensive, I'd take an S5 over my 370Z every day and twice on Sunday.

I just cant justify the the 30k pricing difference. I didnt say anything about racing between the cars in my original posting. I understand that the S5 has all the luxury amenities ( even back seats! ) but only 354 hp? Look at what the M3 gives you. All i was trying to bring up was that Audi could have done a better job with the hp output.....

If you want performance you should have bought a c5z06.

If you want luxury you should have bought an S5.

If you wanted the middle of the road (for just about any car comparison) you should have picked the 370z.

Audi RS5

NO
http:
//www.roadandtrack.com/tests/updates/2010-nismo-370z
''Power for the 3.7-liter dohc V-6 has been increased to 350 bhp at 7400 rpm and 276 lb.-ft. of torque at 5200 rpm (up 18 bhp and 6 lb.-ft. over the base model). The extra power enables the flamboyantly styled Z to run to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and to the quarter-mile mark in 13.5. This is 0.2 sec. quicker than the base 370Z in both categories.
In overview, the Nismo feels — and looks — more like a race car than the stock 370Z, with sharper handling responses and better acceleration. At $39,540, the Nismo is the ideal vehicle for Z lovers who want just a little more in their daily sports car. ''

Yes, Audi could have given the car more horsepower, but they didn't. Nissan could have given the 370Z a better paint-job, but they didn't. Chevy could put coil-overs on the Z06 instead of leaf-springs, but they didn't. Ford could have kept the IRS idea from the 03/04 Terminators, but they didn't. Dodge could have evolved the Viper and made it lighter and more driver-friendly, but they didn't. BMW could have kept the V8 in the M3, and a manual transmission in their Z4 top-end model, but they aren't and they didn't.

There are lots of "why couldn't they's!?!" in the automotive world, I agree. We just have to pick the one that makes us sulk the least and go with it. Apparently the S5 has enough followers.

Drive an S5 and you probably won't care that it "only" has 354 hp anyways. It's still pretty quick and the car as a whole is just an awesome, stylish, luxury ride.

My boss at my former employer had an A5. It's very nice and luxurious...plus it has a back seat for 2. Sad though, because it wasn't but like two months when he started experiencing engine problems. Come to find out some poor schmuck left off a piston ring on one of the cylinders. His A5 was in the shop for about 3 months. They did at least ship over a brand new crate engine and replaced the whole engine instead of repairing the damaged one.

Sober German engineering, drunk German quality. :icon17:

i was talking to an s5 owner the other day at a meet. he said the wheels are like 29lbs, which is really heavy for a 19.

If they aren't forged aluminum then 29 lbs is kind of normal for a wide 19" rim. It's on the high end but I think most 19x9-19x10 cast wheels would come in around 26-30 lbs.