Hi guys. Nice to meet you all.

I'm currently located in North Carolina but I am moving to Chicago next week! (Got a great job!!)

So I have to get a new apt and a new car... and I am having trouble picking my very first car that I would pay it independently.

Of course. It has to be all-wheel drive sedan since the winter over there would be so bad..

These were my lists:

2011 C300 4Matic (Dropped - I believe this car will have highest maintain costs out of all four. and I have heard that if mercedes once break, there is only chaos)

2010 328xi (Dropped - I have researched and many people said if I have choice to buy cars, buy something else.. not BMW. BMW also have one of the highest maintain costs and unexpected fix will be superrr expensive. They told me if you want to ride BMW get it leased and I do not want to do that.. )

So I came up with final two.. both have similar price tag (A4 is 2k cheaper)

2011 IS250 AWD full options
- 55k mileage
- clean carfax with good maintenance history


2011 A4 Quatro full options
- 63k mileage
- clean carfax with good maintenance histroy

Both car have similar MPG.. IS have a 6 cylinder underpower engine while a4 has turbocharged 4 cylinder engine which I like.

Lexus IS250's are known as better re-sell value cars with very reliable and cheap to maintain. but the car is 2k expensive and it is SLOW!!
While Audi A4's are known as not reliable car(it tends to break a lot; many people reported that it starts with small fix and it gets bigger-----> however they said this is all up to my 'luck') and not very cheap to maintain (cheaper then bmw/mercedes I believe) However it looks nice and turbo will make me happy as I drive

So I couldn't decide.. I really can't...so I'm asking for some help from you guys.

I would much appreciate if you could give me some advice buying A4 (such as you do you hate the most about 2011 A4?) or direct answer to my question .. BUY A4!! / IS250!!

I will post simliar to this on IS forum as I get my answer.

Thank you so much for your time!
JT

 

Can't speak to the 2011 model. I am glad (no thrilled, estatic, over joyed) I bought my 2008 A4. I really haven't seen the more expensive to fix issue people refer to. I do admit using full synthtic oil cost a lot more than traditional oil. I would probably use full synthetic even if it wasn't required so the added cost doesn't bother me.

I bought my A4 for it's looks, fuel economy, performance, interior, and quatro. The IS250 is a nice car in it's own right. I rather like my Germany car.

Buy the Audi, take the $2000 you save in purchase price and put it away for any repairs or for when the timing belt needs to be changed (about $1k at an independent shop).

One thing you have right is the AWD. I live in St. Louis and get the use out of mine a few times a year. In Chicago you will greatly benefit from AWD.

UPDATE: I have 142k miles on my 2008 and go through about a quart of oil every 2500 miles. I have read others post they have to put oil in more often (although the post below is the first sub 1k miles I have seen) and there are others who don't have to put any in. I figure at the miles I have my turbo is starting wear and that is where my oil is being used.

Best of luck.

 

Go with Lexus previous reply hit it right on the head Audi using too much oil. My 2008 a4 was going through a quart for every 400-600 miles of driving.