When I was 20, men used to whistle after me. Complete strangers of all ages made good or bad jokes. That was in the last century, when there was no politically incorrect behaviour. Now nobody whistles after me. Politically correct, but sad, fitting my age. But since I have the A5, I often have lively contacts with men. The A5 awakes longings!
Yesterday I parked in the shopping centre. I come back to my car, loaded with shopping bags and a middle-aged man is gazing with shining eyes at my black A5. “It’s beautiful!”, he said to me, as I opened the boot. “THAT’s what I wanted to buy!”, he continued his monologue. “But it’s awfully expensive”, he added. In his voice – unending sadness. He didn’t look at me for a single second. His eyes were fixed on the curves of my A5. “I’ve got a BMW” and pointed to the next car. “It’s not bad, but if I didn’t have a family, I would buy the A5”, he sighed. I can hear in his voice the regret, the daily commitment of a good father. He’s no Adonis and certainly not an egoist. Just a family man. “What’s it like to handle?”, he asked, not expecting an answer, because his monologue continues. “I had a test drive and that was a great feeling. Such a sensitive car, how quickly and obediently it reacts.” Finally he looks at me and for a second remains fully surprised and is quiet. Then he adds, “Your husband made a good choice, have a nice day!”, gets into his BMW and is gone.
Michaela Merz 
I love this blog, it’s brilliant … I agree that the A5 is like a magnet 🙂 elegant and classy specially the black ones …
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Hi Michaela
I read your blog about your carpark exploits and had a good laugh, but it does require a response… I wont even react to the blue and white stripes!
I almost bought a second hand A5 last year (the 3.0 TDI Quattro version which had been likened to the steam catapult on an aircraft carrier) as I object to paying for depreciation on a new car.
Unlike you, as you preferred the black version, the navy option was the one for me. A much rarer find in Switzerland though not as rare as the metallic chocolate brown variant which generates interest from both young and old. While I “ummed and ahhed” over this prospective purchase and all my colleagues were saying “go for it” and how they (if they didn’t have children) would definitely purchase one, my “inner accountant” (and being a lawyer I never know when this trait will arise other than when doling out wodges of cash) balked at entering the pin code to seal the transaction and instead plumped for the 4 wheel drive BMW sports touring car as being “almost as fun, more practical for skis and bikes”… but more pragmatically “half the price”…and sadly it is meteor grey…like most other BMW in Switzerland.
What is more, I wanted to put a towbar on the back of the A5 and upon enquiry with the dealer as to this possibility, the dealer visibly winced at this philistine suggestion. Had he been more positive in his response, the outcome may have been different.
Having bought the BMW, admittedly, I have had fun blasting up and down the various mountain passes these past few weeks in Switzerland driving the “ultimate driving machine” and enjoying the well balanced chassis, though the aesthete in me pines for the clarity of design that pervades Audi products (to prove the point, I still have my luxo barge Audi in the UK). It is a much more understated brand than those other Teutonic brands but unlike other countries, when you cast one’s eye over a carpark in Switzerland these days it is a tad disappointing that these German marques are so ubiquitous in black, grey or silver. Perhaps a red R8 is the next logical step, as 911s abound in Geneva let alone the alpine passes?
No doubt the A5 will continue to draw attention to itself, but to the oncoming motorist, what will be more intriguing?; the car or the expression on Michaela and her occupant’s faces? I would hope they would see mostly enjoyment, but if its an A5 S-Line with 19inch wheels – then it would be a grimace when travelling over potholes!!
A bientot
Andrew
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