@westwardbound Congratulations on the new car. I've used drivethedeal twice before, first time as you say dealers couldn't get anywhere near the price, 2nd time I had quit out the agreement due to ongoing delays ( not dealers fault - manufacturer kept changing the build date ). I have nothing but praise for drivethedeal. If you ever get the chance to try, I have a couple of questions about the software setup on the new 2026 model with tech pack if that's ok? When you go in to sound settings, do you still have just Treble / Bass slide bars or have Audi finally got round to providing equaliser settings that can also control the mid-range? ( i.e. sound settings will now resemble a graphic equaliser ) Not sure if anyone with the 2025 software has the same sound issues, but when I'm using DAB radio, and I'm scrolling to the next station ( using arrow keys on steering wheel ), regardless of what volume setting I'm on, the next radio station will play at that volume for a few secs, then the sound starts to fade away. A minor issue, but it's soooooo annoying. I'm pretty sure it has to be a little software bug on my MY. Do you experience the same on MY2026? Does your car default to Android Auto every time you start the car? I believe the system should default to whatever media was last used when the engine is switched off ( that's how all my other VW and Skoda cars worked and it's how Audi says it should ), but each time I get in to the car, my 2025 system defaults to Android Auto. I've used every option under the sun not to auto fire up Android Auto but to no avail. When I switch the car off, it 's on the 'Home' screen, i.e. on my car it has Google photo map + built in Spotify app displayed. When the engine is started again, that built in Spotify app starts playing, but it the Android Auto app + Android Auto spotify app, (which is different from the built in Spotify app). In other words, the car ends up playing music whilst the MMi displays different music. I keep having to hit the home button every time I drive off. You'd think 'Home' would be the default! Meanwhile,the headup display is showing the correct music from the spotify app. I'm sure they made a right mess of MY2025 software. And speaking of Android auto... If I do use Android-Auto and I switch off the engine one of three things will happen at random - there's no consistency to this... a: Nothing. I just get out the car as normal and walk away. Or... b. Android Auto will continue playing music whisper quiet thru my phone speakers. It can be many hours before I realise the app is still running. Or... c. Android Auto will continue playing music at max volume thru my phone speakers, which almost gives me a heart attack. The major software bugs on MY2025 are well documented, but there's a whole list of minor software annoyances. Just wondering if MY2026 tackles any of this? It all worked perfectly in my previous Skodas. We also have a Toyota, It all works perfectly in the Toyota.

Hi, my renewal is next month & was just wondering if any companies offer a discount for being a premium member? Thanks.

With thanks to all on this thread for sharing their thoughts and experiences, but particularly to Frank for his engaging and descriptive posts, I have taken the plunge and bought a new S5. I collected it yesterday so this is a short note focused on my car history and the S5 buying process rather than a detailed review. My recent cars have been estates and SUVs: Skoda Octavia VRS (2L turbodiesel); Audi S4 Avant (3L petrol); Mercedes GLC AMG 43; and my current car a 2022 Subaru Outback. The GLC taught me that I prefer an estate to an SUV, and as much as I admire the Outback for its efficiency, ruggedness and sheer “go anywhere in any weather” nature, the performance is a little benign even for a very recent retiree. So my new car is an S5 Avant Black Edition with Tech Pack and red brake calipers in Mythos Black metallic with the black interior. As a post-Build Week 2/26 car it comes with the mid-model-year factory updates including the revised multifunction steering wheel with physical/tactile buttons and scroll wheel replacing the gloss-black haptic touch sliders; the updated chassis and software calibration featuring the rear-biased Dynamic+ Mode; and the updated driver assistance packages, including Adaptive Cruise Assist Pro with assisted lane changes. Happy to comment further on these changes if there is interest once I have fathomed them out! I bought the car brand new through the drivethedeal brokerage with a significant discount; it was listed on their website as a “Special Deal” which usually means there is only one car or a handful of cars available at the price. It clearly benefited not only from the Audi Finance contribution but also from favourable end Q2 support. Happy to share the price if anyone is interested (it was publically available on the drivethedeal website). I offered my local dealer the opportunity to match it to be told that they could not get within £8K. The car isn’t my ideal spec - I would have liked the clever glass roof and adaptive suspension but there were no Vorsprung available with similar financial incentives. And I know metallic black is a difficult colour to look after, but again that was the only colour available on an Avant with this discount. Beyond the initial contact, all my dealings including finance and payment were made direct with the supplying Audi main dealer. I don’t think I can name them, but they were extremely professional both before and during collection, and gave me the full handover experience including a reveal and detailed walkthrough of the car. I then drove 230 miles home on a range of roads. My very initial thoughts echo everything I have read here: very nice drive; feels like lots of power (I haven’t ventured there yet given a running in period), more compliant then expected ride; and lots and lots and lots (!) of tech to learn! Whilst significantly shorter than the Outback, with mirrors folded the S5 is slightly wider - which I will need to become comfortable with very quickly as my narrow allocated parking space is between two walls! I think the camera/parking aids will help here. So my Outback goes to its new owner on Friday and I will focus on learning and enjoying the S5. I plan to offer further thoughts on the forum as I gain more understanding of the car, and really look forward to reading your continued contributions.

As a new member does anyone know, and have experience of a B5 RS4 Specialist in the north east of England? I'm aware of Unit 20, but they are across near Liverpool and it would be useful if there is someone closer?

I think its going to be a long time untill its running, the new ecu has gone missing and demon tweeks are useless, i would never buy anything from them ever again. I was going to get everything needed to finish it off from them.