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Yes and no. RS and S models bought from new and maintained as per manufacturing guidelines will still be excellent examples if serviced properly. The trouble is, as these cars have changed hands to new owners over the years, some of whom have potentially bought them on tight budget drawn by their performance, the servicing may have slipped and corners have been cut. Some will have had performance upgrades, aftermarket parts fitted, or been used for track days, etc. It’s a minefield, which is why it’s critical to have history. In addition, chain stretch, camshaft sprocket wear, premature rocker needle bearing wear and carbon build up are real issues that surface, primarily because of the tolerance these cars are built too, but also because VAG group have been steadily economising in the face of competition from other manufacturers to save costs. I’m sure regular oil changes will keep a lot of these issues in check, but it’s best to be aware. These are performance cars, so I think you need to be practical regards it being a daily runner based on its intended use. At the end of the day, if you have the budget, go for it. Ultimately this is a forum. We only offer insights, to avoid potential issues issues down the line based on our own experiences.

Thank you Gareth for your advice. CHERISHED NUMBER PLATE - A7 GON Would look great on an Audi A7 or S7. Suited to a tuned Audi, especially as you race away from the lights "A7 GON" On retention certificate, it has been in my ownership for over 34 years, always got lots of attention and comments from enthusiasts whenever I was parked up. The plate is worth between £2,500 to £3,500 based on the format and the 3 letter word. I am open to offers in that range for a quick sale :)

Thanks for the reply , if its covered on warranty which I hope so, no probs . Strange thing is I had an S7 a few years ago and the same thing happened with that car , but the repair was done whilst the car was in for service. I will see what they say when I take it in Friday morning .

No idea on warranty, but I’d like to think so. If you’re spanner handy, these jobs are not difficult. Water reservoir normally accessed by removing road wheel, then inner wheel arch liner. Normally a series of Torx screws and a couple of 10mm hex nylon nuts. If the reservoir has a crack, replace. Pump usually attaches with 12v supply, with rubber pipes. It could be leaking at a pipe attachment. Main Audi dealer is £200 an hour, not including parts. This is bread and butter work for an independent garage you trust.

Getting a car to operating temperature is important for a number of reasons. Efficient fuel combustion in petrol (helps reduce carbon on intake valves and sparks), oil pressure and viscosity to lubricate engine components as oil heats up, battery health as alternator recharging battery. B9 battery health comes up a lot on the forum, and cars very susceptible to electronic issues if battery on the way out. New AGM battery probably £250-300 or so and needs coded to the car. Short runs can potentially lead to water vapour as it’s not evaporating in engine and turns to sludge. Regular oil changes can help combat this. Battery drain, as alternator hasn’t fully recharged battery. Engine heat can help burn off carbon to a degree, but the car will always generate carbon. I’d recommend at least 30 mins to an hour on a motorway or A class road once a week to help. Short runs over time are going to introduce issues. As Stevey has suggested, check out VAG Technic YouTube. Few horror shows on poorly maintained engines, primarily S4, but also S5. I particularly remember this one. https://youtu.be/y-d0ymYi09o?si=0YcncBnJxZvYvh2A There’s also an issue with rockers on some of these cars with needle bearings that disintegrate, as Audi subsequently revised the part. Regular oil changes can help.

I don't presume to know what you're looking for Alex, but buying an S5 will likely have a decent specification on even a base model, minus things such as sound package or panoramic sunroof. Incidentally, LED matrix isn't gimmicky lighting. Far from it, this will have been a very expensive extra from new, over and above standard LED lights with features such as full beam assist, cornering lighting, etc. This type of specification helps sell it down the line unless you're planning for this car to be a long term keeper. You asked if S5s are typical for lack of servicing. No, not necessarily, but its a 2017 plate, so a 9 year old performance car, so it pays to do your research. The original owner may have sold it, and it could have traded hands a few times or been run ragged on a track or indeed modified. Without some sort of service log, then you've absolutely no idea what the history is. In terms of history, especially on an older vehicle such as this, then if its been maintained meticulously, even by the main dealer on a database, they can give you a print out. If the previous owner(s) were old school, then a physical service record is better. Doesn't need to be garage stamps, but receipts in a folder from a VAT registered garage, or simply parts purchased, and service mileage, in some sort of chronological order. That speaks volumes. I've had quattros for years, so I understand tyre wear. Normally you replace tyres in pairs on the same axle. There's no dark science to it. A car failing on tyres tells you the owner isn't aware of condition, wear pattern or tread depth.