Considering buying an Audi A4, help!
If you look at your post, you have answered your own question. You state that the AWD and luxury aspect of the Audi are its selling points. Well the BMW has RWD (as you mentioned you are not a fan of) and is probably less well appointed than the Audi. Audi interiors are top notch.
Arguing the sportiness between an Audi and a BMW is kinda moot as RWD cars tend to be have better "feel" when driven hard and are typically more fun to push on the road. Its an understeer/oversteer issue really. But unless you track or race your car everyday, or always drive like a dick on the roads, this won't matter much as you will never really push you car that hard.
As far as modifying the car, Audis have a huge aftermarket following (unless you opt for the 2.8). Truth be told, I have yet to see an ugly beater B5 Audi (Im sure they are out there), but for every nice looking B5 I see, I see TONS of beaten E36's, faded paint, rust, most are all made to look like an M3.
I have a feeling you will have better ownership with the Audi than the BMW, at least that is my $.02
Arguing the sportiness between an Audi and a BMW is kinda moot as RWD cars tend to be have better "feel" when driven hard and are typically more fun to push on the road. Its an understeer/oversteer issue really. But unless you track or race your car everyday, or always drive like a dick on the roads, this won't matter much as you will never really push you car that hard.
As far as modifying the car, Audis have a huge aftermarket following (unless you opt for the 2.8). Truth be told, I have yet to see an ugly beater B5 Audi (Im sure they are out there), but for every nice looking B5 I see, I see TONS of beaten E36's, faded paint, rust, most are all made to look like an M3.
I have a feeling you will have better ownership with the Audi than the BMW, at least that is my $.02
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 107
From: Connecticut
Go for the Audi!!! (an unbiased non-owner-of-either speaking)
Hi Guys,
I don't have either car, so all things considered I am unbiased.
Go for the Audi! Seriously theres nothing to be argued here. If we were talking brand new cars it'd be different maybe, since they would be under warranty, but since you are buying used a Bimmer will break waaay more. Also they are almost impossible to find in non-beaten form.
The average one has had a couple to a few owners, a kid or two in there most likely, and has been thrashed. Audis on the other hand, are remarkably easy to find stock, owned all by one or two nice families or adults making their commute. This bit is remarkably important, as how cared for the car is virtually defines how reliable it will be in the future.
When I set out about a year ago to buy my first car I went through the same sort of decision. I wanted a fast, fun, stylish, and luxurious car. I considered Bimmers, Benzes, Audis too. The Audi was going to be my decision because they are the only ones that are cared for, and also because they don't break as much. Instead I got a Volvo, because I found they are even more cared for (one owner, family, dealer maintained, the whole lot) and they break even less. I digress, the discussion is between BMW and Audi, and I would say the Audi is easily ten times more likely to be a cared for car that will break less than a Bimmer.
Finally Quattro. I learned to drive on the A4 with Quattro. Stick shift too. I never so much as slipped a wheel no matter what I did. Even with a slight bit of throttle, on steep hills in the wet my FWD will slip. The first time I drove a RWD car hard, a Porsche 928 which has very similar weight distribution to the BMW, I slipped the rear tires a lot. There is no comparison to being able to floor it in the wet and know it'll just go. That there is enough reason to pick the Audi alone, and with reliability included there is no contest.
I don't have either car, so all things considered I am unbiased.
Go for the Audi! Seriously theres nothing to be argued here. If we were talking brand new cars it'd be different maybe, since they would be under warranty, but since you are buying used a Bimmer will break waaay more. Also they are almost impossible to find in non-beaten form.
The average one has had a couple to a few owners, a kid or two in there most likely, and has been thrashed. Audis on the other hand, are remarkably easy to find stock, owned all by one or two nice families or adults making their commute. This bit is remarkably important, as how cared for the car is virtually defines how reliable it will be in the future.
When I set out about a year ago to buy my first car I went through the same sort of decision. I wanted a fast, fun, stylish, and luxurious car. I considered Bimmers, Benzes, Audis too. The Audi was going to be my decision because they are the only ones that are cared for, and also because they don't break as much. Instead I got a Volvo, because I found they are even more cared for (one owner, family, dealer maintained, the whole lot) and they break even less. I digress, the discussion is between BMW and Audi, and I would say the Audi is easily ten times more likely to be a cared for car that will break less than a Bimmer.
Finally Quattro. I learned to drive on the A4 with Quattro. Stick shift too. I never so much as slipped a wheel no matter what I did. Even with a slight bit of throttle, on steep hills in the wet my FWD will slip. The first time I drove a RWD car hard, a Porsche 928 which has very similar weight distribution to the BMW, I slipped the rear tires a lot. There is no comparison to being able to floor it in the wet and know it'll just go. That there is enough reason to pick the Audi alone, and with reliability included there is no contest.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 630
From: Upstate, NY
Most of the other aspects have been touched on already so I just want to talk about the body style. When I see an E36 they just seem old to me, they can be made to look nice dont get me wrong but I just dont like the boxy body style.
The b5 body style is almost timeless in my eyes, the body lines are just so smooth and flow so well, I've had mine mistaken for a 2004+ a couple times. Of course I'm biased, but theyre just so easy on the eyes.
The a4 is Lazer Viking's back when he had his fat fives and im not sure about the bmw, but just for comparison....
The b5 body style is almost timeless in my eyes, the body lines are just so smooth and flow so well, I've had mine mistaken for a 2004+ a couple times. Of course I'm biased, but theyre just so easy on the eyes.
The a4 is Lazer Viking's back when he had his fat fives and im not sure about the bmw, but just for comparison....
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Zeeborg
New Member Welcome Area
0
Apr 8, 2011 11:06 PM
