USED Audi A5 Coupe (07 - )

My car

Lovely car, but with only 1500 characters to write this review, I’ll just describe one serious design fault:

This is a potentially DANGEROUS car. With its electro-mechanical parking brake system, it is all too easy to park with no brake applied. Why? You never need to release the parking brake – it’s automatic. You don’t even need to apply the brake if you’ve been using Hill Start Assist – it’s automatic. When you use this feature, you can get out of the car without touching the parking brake switch - it’s already applied. The trouble is when you haven’t been using HSA. I’ve left my car a few times without the brake applied and so have Audi's service staff! Sooner or later an A5 (or other Audi with this braking system) will be left without the brake applied and it will roll down a hill and kill people.

Audi could so easily resolve this potentially dangerous situation with a simple software upgrade. The braking system knows when the vehicle is stationery and it knows when you turn off the ignition or open to driver’s door. With this information, it should ALWAYS apply the parking brake when these conditions are recognised.

Rant over – otherwise it’s a fabulous car to drive, admired by others, goes like a train, and is stuffed with loads of complicated-to-operate gizmos.

My car

I wanted this car pretty much from the first time I saw one on the road. It took me quite some time to find one in the price range that I wanted for my budget, and also with the spec that I wanted. There are not many of them around, even on the Audi stockmarket so you need to prepare to perserve.

I'm so glad that I did because this car is absolutely superb. It is a joy to drive and it looks absolutely awesome (mine is in Ice Silver). You need to get larger than the stock 17" alloys on as they just don't look right.

It's beautiful inside and feels totally quality and solid, but the best thing is the car is a real headturner and people actually look at you in it as you drive past. It makes you feel like you've chosen a really stylish car, which basically you have.

Please, please don't bother with a boring looking BMW and get one of these - you won't regret it.

My car

I drove my mate's 3.0 petrol.

I am looking to purchase a coupe. I want expensive feel and look, well buit, something that if I turned up outside the Ritz they would open the door and park it, but also something that when i'm at my son's football match does not make me look like i'm a tart. Yet again, if I go to Ascot races I will not look out of place.

These cars are not cheep, so i'm taking my time at the starting paddock and looking at the form in detail.

Audi A5 drove well. Yes I know what you all mean - it's not as hard a ride as the BMW. But then I don't mind a little comfort for my money. The ride is firm without being hard and I think that sums the car up and what Audi are aiming for in the market. It all looks very comfortable inside, with no suprises (but then I don`t like suprises).

It has two rear seats that are actually seats (no I would not put my kids in it every day). I would use these to carry others once in a while.

All in all it is an expensive treat of a car. It's very well put together and everything seemed like it would last. I think it's quite practical (for a coupe) and I rate this car. I think it ticks most of my boxes. For me this one is at the starter's gate.