fasteddy91

iTrader: (5)

If you are looking for performance from an Audi. You needed the drive the S5 instead of the A5. Add the APR stage1/2 flash on an A5 and some suspension upgrades and you'll have a more competitive car. The A5 is a GT car with just enough power and good looks. The S or RS5 are the cars for performance.

dseag2

Amen, bro.

LRCSALES

iTrader: (1)

Well for me the audi is not exciting nor comfortable

dseag2

That's probably a good thing for you since you're a Lexus salesman and just picked up an RC350. You, of all people in this forum, should defend the brand.

And anyone that has driven an S5 and says it's not exciting or comfortable hasn't truly driven an S5. I'm in sales and I make sure I know everything about the competition before I dog them.

Booster

I was at a Lexus dealership yesterday and sat in a few RC 350 F Sports. I don't know if the Ultra White uses the same process as what you outline here, but I can say without a doubt that it was the most strikingly awesome white paint I've seen on a car yet. It was supremely rich and deep and at some angles you could see the tiny reflections which looked like very soft goldish blueish metallic flecks. It was pure sex.

This is a great reply. Audi S5 is near the top of my list for shopping right now. I've never owned an Audi, but have read up on the S3, S4, and S5 and watched soooooooo many video reviews on all of them that I almost felt like I already owned them all. lol.

That is, of course, until I went to the Audi dealer yesterday and sat in all 3 of them. And I'm here to say, that there is nothing boring at all about the Audi S cars. They are smooth as butter and look like road toys made for rich people. Very top end refinement in the design inside and out.

Right now, RC and S5 are among my top desires. I may go S3 for the more "practical factor", but I really don't like that they only offer their gorgeous super sport seats only in full black for the S3 with no other lighter color options. That may be a deal breaker for me.

This thread title should have been titled RC350 vs S5. That's a more correct comparison. Sure the S5 would whoop up on the RC on a track, but for street driving like 99.9% of the time any buyer will spend in the car, they are very comparable as far as sport capabilities. If a good friend comes over for dinner and you want to show off your new ride for a quick hoon around town, nobody is gonna sit in the passenger seat of an RC350 F Sport and be disappointed. Same is true of the beastly S5.

tfischer

Lexus has had a very impressive white for a few years now - the best I have ever seen. It's a metallic paint with lots of reflective gold and silver bits in it. But right now, I'm pretty sure that only the Infrared and the "UltraSonic Blue Mica 2.0" are done with the two layer process, and I think only the RC has them. Here's how to tell: look at the brochure or the Lexus web page - if the paint color you want is a $595.00 option, like Infrared, then it's this new process (I guess they charge extra because they have to paint the car twice). All others, even that orange color, come at no extra charge.

dseag2

Thanks for bringing an objective point of view into the conversation, and you're right... you can't go wrong with either car!

fasteddy91

iTrader: (5)

I second that. The A5 and the new RC200t would be a better comparison... Curious what the OP went with.

FleeingFox

1) The RC350 does NOT compete with the S5.

2) An S5 with similar options as the RC350 will come in at about $60,000 - at that point you're in RC-F territory.

3) The RC is a brand new car in its first model year, the S5 is in the end of its life and will be replace in ~ 1 -1.5 years (we are expecting the new reveal shortly after the new A4 lands in dealers).

4) If you're buying and planning to keep - the S5 will be a nightmare once the warranty runs out, the RC will be relatively smooth sailing.

5) If you're leasing then Audi will be at least 2x more expensive than the Lexus, Audi FS does not subsidize at all and their interest rates are terrible, even for the best qualified people.

6) Not sure about the discounts, but if you're in LA - I can EASILY find you $5000-6000 off the RC350. Feel free to PM me about that if you like. Especially at this time of year, the Lexus deals are GOOD and any dealer not wanting to play ball is either trying to strong arm you into a bad deal, or is just a strung up sales manager.

jowsleyyy

iTrader: (1)

I agree with FleeingFox. Audi's are nightmares after the warranty goes up. I came from an 08 A3 and it basically was costing me more per month to keep that car than it is to put payments on my current car.

AussieRC

I don't know what the pricing of Audi is like in the U.S. but I'm astounded that the "S5 is only a few thousand more". Really??? In Oz a similarly equipped A5 with the 6 cylinder engine is over $30k more than the F Sport, the S5 is over $45k more and in the same price league as the RC F. The choice here is simple - RC350!

cjschober

Sorry. Had to comment on this one. I just came from a 2015 Honda Accord Coupe V6 to my current RC 350 F Sport (perks of wife working for Honda Corporate then working for Lexus Corporate). While I enjoyed the 2015 Accord (I drove all 3 refreshes starting from 2013), you can't compare it to the RC. The one thing I do miss is the engine in the Accord. It had some great low end torque and a great sound for what it was. But I definitely don't miss the front wheel drive. Even though the RC weighs about 200 pounds more, it's still more nimble than the Accord. I respect the Accord for what it was, but it's no RC. And honestly, the acceleration is about the same on both of them, you just felt that torque more on the Accord. Besides, the design of the RC is light years away from the Accord. And while Honda was on a good path with the Accord design, they're already screwing it up with the 2016 refresh. Which looks horrendous and makes it look like a cheap aftermarket tuner.

tfischer

I have always thought that the RC and the Accord are in different categories and different price ranges, and are not aimed at the same demographic. By the way, for a guy who started out with "you can't compare" these two cars, you did a good job later in your note of comparing the two cars.

radcoupe

To me it came down to the exterior looks and the RC in my opinion killed it! That's why I went with it. It's a unique blend that can't be compared. I had my eyes set on an RC for a long time. When the opportunity showed itself, I did it with no hesitation. How many A5's do you see compared to an RC on the roads while driving. Here in my town I've only seen 2 RC 350's while I see a handful of boring looking A5's. I enjoy standing out on the road with an RC compared to an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes. Those are just so generic nowadays. The RC is a game changer compared to a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi. There have been countless times I've been in a gas station and I get so much love compared to a Audi, BMW, or Mercedes owner (unless you have the very high-end models, ex: R8, i8, or AMG GT ).

PeterLegen

The RC is definitely striking, whether or not you like it is up to the consumer. So far it seems they aren't selling very well, I live in SoCal too and have only seen no more than 5 on the road this year...

I would personally take the S5 but for it to be price comparable it would be CPO or used.