Ok guys... Just posted same thing on a BMW site I regulary visit.
I owned a BMW E36 328i and sold it. I then purchased a VW Golf TDI and I hate it. I'm now looking towards going back to a nicer sedan and was at first going to go towards a 5 series BMW but really like the looks of the A6 and the thought of AWD. My last bimmer sat all winter while I drove my truck. I really like the thought of having a car I can drive in several inches of snow with now problem.
I used to get 28mpg with my 328 and was hoping to be close with an A6 but while reading I see that is more than optomistic. I am looking for decent mpg (~25) as I drive 30-40k miles per year. I like luxury and options and would like to know how the Audis compare.
If you have that choice I would def go for the 5 series!
1. Much more reliable 2. Much less maintanance required for it 3. Resell value stays up. In other words, you'll be able to sell say a BMW 5 series with 50,000 miles for much more than an Audi A6 with 50,000 4. 5 series handling is better then the A6. The steering wheel is more accurate and tougher if you like that. 5. iDrive and lots of other amazing features. 6. You can get an all wheel drive 5 series too 7. In my opinion looks better then the A6 in terms of exterior, but ye the Audi does have better interior 8. Both are great cars, both great companies, its a matter of taste.
I agree with Fallout in that it is a matter to taste. We also own a 3 series BMW and both of us agree that the A6 is a far more enjoyable car to drive overall. Now, when it comes to real sporty driving, the 3 series shines. My A6 Avant Quat 2.8l gets about 22-23mpg hwy, I drive 65miles a day to and from work and drive on average 65mph. There are 5 stoplights each way. The original window sticker says avg. 24mpg hwy for my 2000.
The 6 beat the 5 series in Car and Driver comparisons more times than not, but, resale of a BMW would be better. Cost of to maintain would be about the same, the A6 a little more because of the timing belt vs chain.
But in the end, preference. I prefer the interior of an Audi, but again preference.
Just for the record I was looking at about an '02 in each model. While I understand that the bimmer would hold its value more, it would also be more expensive now. I am definitely leaning towards the 5er.
I am suprised to hear that the bimmer would handle better. Would a 530 compete speed wise with an A6 TT?
Money is an option, that's why I'm looking at an 02 : ) But you can pick up a 02 bimmer for a good price if you are patient. If money was not an option I'd buy the new BMW diesel that I read about in my Diesel Power magazine. 530d or something like that.
I'm very surprised at everyone's response. I really thought I'd be hearing a lot more pushing me towards the A6.
Just for the record I was looking at about an '02 in each model. While I understand that the bimmer would hold its value more, it would also be more expensive now. I am definitely leaning towards the 5er.
I am suprised to hear that the bimmer would handle better. Would a 530 compete speed wise with an A6 TT?
Thanks Jared
oh lol, think completely turns everything around now that ur getting a used 02 model cuz lol
1. Audi will be cheaper for you 2. 02 A6 looks better than the 02 5 seires and has MUCH better interior 3. and i dont thing the 02 5 series have idrive and all that good stuff. However, the 7 series does have idrive i know for sure cuz my bro has it
lol
< Message edited by Fall0ut -- 12/18/2006 10:37:47 PM >
well i was in the market 1st for a 2002 bmw 540 but since i commute everyday its not tha best at mpg i chose my a4 for tha size an its features which i thot were better but here compare:
Posts: 164
Joined: 12/12/2005 From: New York Status: offline
a bit of topic, but just an FYI: I've been thinking about switching to a different car lately, and the best on the used car market is the A8, that is if you don't factor in the exotics. So if I HAD to pick a car to drive a lot every day, I'd get a 2004 A8L. But for now, I drive a 2001 A6 2.7T Quattro... which coincidentally, blows by 330's, 530s' and even 540s' on a daily basis. Especially when the road gets slippery and the bimmers' asses get to sliding around. Yes, I too love the way the bimmer looks and handles, but you can make the A6 do all the tricks of a 540. You cannot - no matter how much money you got - get the 540 to do what an A6 was born to do. and oh yeah, shame on you people for even bringing this up!
My .02 says buy a 4.2 liter A6 Sport..Better equipped than the 540, better handling (AWD with ESP) than the 540, better styling than the 540, and cheaper than the 540. Yes, I do like 540's and considered one but for the price and what you get for the $$, A6 was the obvious choice. MPG will be 15-22. Maintenance will be the same dough over time. Re-Sale will also compare. Now the A6 2.7t and the 525,528,530 class..Well, I don't know the pro's and con's. Just from my point of view, if you are concerned about MPG, price and reliablity and want 0 problems...Start looking at Acura and Lexus in those years. This will prolly get flamed but we all now the reliability and bang for your buck is a pro with those manufacturers. I have owned cars throughout those mentioned and they all are different. Depends on what your after.
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2001 Audi A6 4.2 Sport - Silver 2004 Lexus IS 300 SD - Black
My .02 says buy a 4.2 liter A6 Sport..Better equipped than the 540, better handling (AWD with ESP) than the 540, better styling than the 540, and cheaper than the 540. Yes, I do like 540's and considered one but for the price and what you get for the $$, A6 was the obvious choice. MPG will be 15-22. Maintenance will be the same dough over time. Re-Sale will also compare. Now the A6 2.7t and the 525,528,530 class..Well, I don't know the pro's and con's. Just from my point of view, if you are concerned about MPG, price and reliablity and want 0 problems...Start looking at Acura and Lexus in those years. This will prolly get flamed but we all now the reliability and bang for your buck is a pro with those manufacturers. I have owned cars throughout those mentioned and they all are different. Depends on what your after.
Thanks.
I'm was originally staying away from the v8s cause I'd like to stay in the mid 20's for mpg. I drive a ton and don't want to suffer too bad. On the flip side I bought a TDI thinking I wanted mpg but now all of my other wants/needs are suffering. I felt considering the A6 2.7t and 530 put me somewhere between the ability of the v8s and the TDIs.
I'm not so sure if I'd be happy with an Acura or Lexus. I haven't considered all of the models but I don't see any on the road that catch my eye. I need to visit some lots and take a look at all of the models. Does lexus have a model that compares to a 530?
Well....the german cars, in my opinion, have better styling features. Lexus and Acura tend to be a bit boring in this category, as well as the luxury refinements and bells/whistles. So, not really man..I cant think of one that would compare to a 530...size wise would be the Acura TL or the Lexus IS350??...Ha..just buy an AUDI, you'll love it. Sounds like the 2.7t is what your after.
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2001 Audi A6 4.2 Sport - Silver 2004 Lexus IS 300 SD - Black
the audi is going to have more options. and for an 02 you're still going to get the older body style. if you're in a climate where there is snow like i am i could never be more happy to have the quattro system. the maintainence is going to be about the same. i work at the Sewickley Car Store (BMW PORSCHE AUDI) and i would recommend audi every day of the week.
definitely a A6 4.2 quattro. I just sold my 2005 SUV Tahoe for a A6 4.2 WOW what a car. I luv the handling, Blizzak wsa tires are awesome in the winter. I leased a 4x4 truck, forget it. I drive my A6 everyday and can not believe the handling, cornering and stop light holeshots. AWESOME car... jtv4.2
* Affordable Changes needed for awesome ride... tires, shift pattern changed, cold air K&N system, new dual exhaust and sway bars.
Thats an awesome video..I have seen it before. I wish there was a way to have it translsated, but the vid speaks for itself..Truly superior AWD technology..
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2001 Audi A6 4.2 Sport - Silver 2004 Lexus IS 300 SD - Black
That's a great video, and of course the Quattro technology is superior. But....the choice of tires is so important, I can't help but wonder how the other cars would have done with the same tires as the Audi.
Which reminds me of an A6 wagon I bought new in '94 (actually, it was still called a 100S at that point). Only FWD, it came with Goodyear tires that were so bad in the wet that I pulled them off and threw them away at 1,000 miles. Even today I carry some resentment towards Audi for putting those things on the car.
In '94, btw, Audi USA sold about 14,000 cars. They were still recovering from the hit they took on the unintended acceleration slander.
Posts: 669
Joined: 9/8/2006 From: Holland MI Status: offline
Jared -
I can't compare BMW to Audi, but I did choose my '03 A6 2.7T MT6 over an '03 330i, mostly on price and interior room. The BMW dealer would not budge on price - I bought the Audi through a private owner including an extra set of rims/summer tires for about $5k less than the BMW. The A6 has a rear seat that actually holds passengers and a large trunk, at least compared to the 330i.
I drive the Audi about 30k miles per year, mostly winter. (I drive an 05 Crossfire about 10k each summer.) If I drive conservatively at 60-65mph I get about 24-25mpg; 70-75 returns 22-23mpg (this is my usual highway cruising speed); and 80-90 returns about 20mpg.
Reliability has been average. I bought the car in March 04 with 34k miles and now have 86k. I had to replace a rear tranny seal (under warranty) and an alternator. And I face the dreaded timing belt replacement next summer for about $900.
Final statement - the car flat out rides in snow like it is on rails. I live in western Michigan and regularly drive around the midwest and Canada (two kids play hockey) and it goes through the slush and packed snow like it wasn't there. We had a 10" dump earlier this year, and other than bouncing around the ruts and the snow hitting the plastic shield under the engine, I had to deliberately stamp on the gas to make it start to fishtail before the ESP brought it back. Even in the deep snow, I just turn the wheel and give it some gas and it goes where I point it. I've even had to stop on glare ice, and the ASB brings it down in control without sliding. All I worry about are the SUV drivers who have no sense and think 4WD=4Wstop.
Maybe I'm in a position to comment. I sold my 2003 BMW 540/6 Sport for a 2004 A6 Avant 3.0 because I needed a wagon for my business. I initially wanted a 540 Wagon. However, after test driving one, I came away unimpressed with the handling and feel of the car. A sport 540 is a different beast to a stock 540 altogether. After some research I drove the A6 and was impressed. Obviously the biggest thing lacking is the raw horsepower. 292 to 220 is a big difference but then who gets to really use that power in the US? Beyond that, the build quality, comfort, audio system (with factory XM) came across as far superior. I'm aware of the resell value, I picked up this Avant with 20k miles on it for 25k, this is almost impossible for a Bimmer. But then, I don't plan to sell this car for at least 6 years and the depreciation stabilizes after the first few years. Bimmers get alot of mechanical gremlins after 6 years/75k miles, some are expensive. My research shows Audis seem less prone to issues. Then there was Quattro. This was the last selling point for me.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my Bimmer but I needed a reliable, yet sporty, daily driver. I'm glad I made this move.
Posts: 2741
Joined: 1/3/2007 From: From the land of the ice and snow Status: offline
I went though the same decision almost two years ago. I was between the 540 and the A6. After numerous hours of research and driving both, the A6 4.2 had more horsepower, grip, low end and high end torque and the AWD allowed for taking the curviest of entrance ramps at 50+ miles per hour. Good luck in the BMW. Likewise, wet weather driving is never a white knuckle ride as it is in most others. The interior is tight and neat and ample for a lux car. Mine is a 2003, A6 4.2 with lux and sport packages. I put 18's on it with TSW Rims. I typically blow the BMW awayin any (few) head to head invitations. However the new 4.2 has 330 hp still while the 550 produces 360. Overall, I like the fact that there are less audis on the road. It just sems like every TD&H has a BMW.
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"Believe it if you need it, or leave it if you dare"
I owned a 2000 528i with sport and premium packages. I put on 90k miles when my son got rear-ended in it and the insurance company totaled it. After looking around at my Bimmer options I chose a 2002 A6 3.0 Quattro. Here's my 2 cents worth after driving the A6 for two days now.
1. Driving: Nothing drives like a Bimmer in terms of control. The car does EXACTLY what you tell it to do. The feedback to the driver is unmatched. Having said that, it became a bit too stiff for me. The M suspension and 17" low profile tires give you a lot of road feedback. It also sits lower which is sometimes a pain for getting in and out. I was looking for a good used 5-series without the sport package but could not find one. The A6 gives me better road feel than any Japanese car without the stiffness of the 5. The throttle is not as responsive as the Bimmer, but the steering and suspension are great.
2. Reliability- the BMW is expensive to maintain, but I expect the Audi will be too. Changing rotors everytime the pads need changing gets expensive. The Bosch ABS modules eventually go out ($1,100+), plastic radiators blow a hole in the top, causing a head gasket to blow (commonly known). Again, it's a German car, so it's going to be more expensive than a boring Japanese car.
3. Style: The interior of the A6 wins hands-down. The E39 Bimmer is looking dated while I still think the A6 looks good, but that's a matter of personal preference.
4. Value: A6 wins hands-down. Comparable used bimmer would have been about 2 years older and more miles than the A6 I just bought.
5. Safety: There's a lot of confusing reports about safety out there. From what I read the 5 might have an edge, but in the end German cars are designed to protect its occupants during a crash on the Autobahn so I feel safe in any German car. My son walked away from the accident without a scratch and that was worth the price of the car. I feel safe in the Audi.
6. Interior: The front passenger seat of the 5 feels cramped because of the way the dash curves in at the center. I'm a bit below average in height but even I had to move the seat back to avoid feeling like I was eating the dashboard. I had tall people sit in there and have to move the seat back and recline it, leaving no leg room in the back. The Audi has more style elements than BMW.
I knew I was giving up driving response when I bought the Audi, but value and ride quality was more important to me this time. Everyone here in the bay area drives Bimmers and Mercedes so the Audi was a bit more unique and I want to try the Quattro for awhile. If I like it I may be a loyal Audi owner for the next several cars I buy.
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A6 vs BMW 5 series - 
RE: A6 vs BMW 5 series - 
Sounds like the 2.7t is what your after.
