[zapd0s]

I dunno, I just traded a '12 WRX and drove A3 and A4s while deciding what to replace it with. I must say I think the Audis have a more luxurious/refined? feel to the interior but really lacked in performance and driver engagement compared to the e9x BMWs. They're fine cars (and my wife's drooling over the All-Road) but... there was just something I felt they were missing vs. the BMWs I drove.

[buildbright]

Audi makes some great cars. The S4/S5, RS4/RS5, and R8 are winners in my book. I am not a fan of the A6/S6 or A8/S8 better choices out there for the money. The A7/S7 is beautiful as well.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by buildbright

Audi makes some great cars. The S4/S5, RS4/RS5, and R8 are winners in my book. I am not a fan of the A6/S6 or A8/S8 better choices out there for the money. The A7/S7 is beautiful as well.

S6 is probably the best performance value out of their entire lineup.

[buildbright]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

S6 is probably the best performance value out of their entire lineup.

I disagree but that is only my opinion, having drove it on the track and on the street the RS5 and S4/S5 are better values. If I wanted a car that size I would spend the Extra on the M5 or CLS63 AMG.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by buildbright

I disagree but that is only my opinion, having drove it on the track and on the street the RS5 and S4/S5 are better values. If I wanted a car that size I would spend the Extra on the M5 or CLS63 AMG.

I have test driven S6, it is definitely a bargain. S4 is a good value as well. But the RS5 is definitely not. I like the RS5, but its performance per dollar blows.

When a car like the S6 which is almost $20k less, is winning mag comparos against the M5 and E63. I would call it a bargain.

One of the nicest interiors I have seen in a long time. Tuning potential is just being tapped as well.

[buildbright]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

I have test driven S6, it is definitely a bargain. S4 is a good value as well. But the RS5 is definitely not. I like the RS5, but its performance per dollar blows.

When a car like the S6 which is almost $20k less, is winning mag comparos against the M5 and E63. I would call it a bargain.

One of the nicest interiors I have seen in a long time. Tuning potential is just being tapped as well.

The RS5 is cheaper and a better performance car from handling to throttle response. I have drove all the S cars and the M5 on a track. the RS5 and M5 kill the S6 sorry that is just a fact.

I don't buy into magazines as it is entertainment and advertising. *The same magazine that praised the S6 completely did a 36o on the lighting lap and tore it apart.*

"Here is cruel proof of what a track can do to an otherwise estimable sports sedan." "The result was a wince-inducing horror show of understeer and lap times that didn't come close to the M5's."

If you still want to go by magazines instead of driving for yourself then look up the laptimes.

[KingOfJericho]

Got a letter in the mail yesterday from Audi stating that the carbon buildup is now covered under warranty for 10yrs or 120k miles. Pretty damn nice!!!

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

In that they have four wheels?

No, the fact that they look like econoboxes aside from the R8. I have see and test drove them all.

If thats your style, then so be it. It's just not mine.

[Derek8819]

Originally Posted by Endless619

No, the fact that they look like econoboxes aside from the R8. I have see and test drove them all.

If thats your style, then so be it. It's just not mine.

I mean I agree some of their bottom line cars are blah, but come on they are making some of the best looking stuff on the market right now.

[Derek8819]

There is things like this too, they make sense.

[P1]

I really wanted a Q7 S Line as I think they are the most gorgeous SUVs on the road. Sadly, the ones I wanted were out of my price range so I had to settle for an X5 M Sport. I'm not complaining, but the Audi was my preferred choice. Perhaps one day...

[Garduna]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

I own a 335i and recently bought an A6. Hands down, there is no comparison between the interior quality. The 335i rattles are well known. The leather in the 335i is spartan. With the A6, the material quality just feels and looks better. I don't have the rattles but admittedly the car is newer.

I also crossed shopped the F10 535i and A6, and still preferred the A6 interior quality.

Now, I USED to believe that driving feel was always in BMW's camp. How could it not? Quattro is a "FWD" all wheel system. But after comparing the 535i and A6, I can safely say that's no longer the case. The new F10 feels so damn numb. I don't know what BMW was thinking with the F10, but the driver feedback is almost non-existent, it feels like a Mercedes. I'm not expecting to feel every asphalt dimple like you would in a 997, or Cayman S, but the F10 is down right numb at both high and low speed. Both the A6 and F10 535i use electric steering, but with the A6 I feel the feedback a lot more than in the F10.

Performance wise, the A6 beats the 535i in pretty much every category. The V6 is gruntier, and has a torque band that goes on forever.

I never thought I'd say it, but with the F10, it seems like BMW is going more towards the same market segment that Mercedes attracts, while the A6 feels more like a true German sports sedan.

That's why Audi.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that. I helped my folks cross-shop and drive tested the E550, A6 and 535i last summer and instantly I only considered the A6 and E550. The 535i was just numb and soulless compared to the other 2.

Nothing in the 535i made me feel special at all. The other 2 just felt better. My folks ended up getting the E550 but something inside me wanted them to pickup the A6.

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by Garduna

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought that. I helped my folks cross-shop and drive tested the E550, A6 and 535i last summer and instantly I only considered the A6 and E550. The 535i was just numb and soulless compared to the other 2.

Nothing in the 535i made me feel special at all. The other 2 just felt better. My folks ended up getting the E550 but something inside me wanted them to pickup the A6.

The F10 in my opinion was a huge step in the wrong direction in terms of driver feel. I have a neighbor who has his 7 month old F10 M5 for sale because of his disappointment in the platform.

Maybe the F10 will sell more than the E60, because of this new market segment they are trying to appease. But for a company that calls its cars the "Ultimate Driving Machine", obviously the spirit of that statement has changed through the years.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

The F10 in my opinion was a huge step in the wrong direction in terms of driver feel. I have a neighbor who has his 7 month old F10 M5 for sale because of his disappointment in the platform.

Maybe the F10 will sell more than the E60, because of this new market segment they are trying to appease. But for a company that calls its cars the "Ultimate Driving Machine", obviously the spirit of that statement has changed through the years.

There are two guys in my office with F10s, neither of whom are car guys, and they both said the car feels very soft compared to their previous 5 and 7ers. What a shame.

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

There are two guys in my office with F10s, neither of whom are car guys, and they both said the car feels very soft compared to their previous 5 and 7ers. What a shame.

When my wife and I went shopping for another sedan, our first choice was the F10 535i. The test drive changed everything.

I don't know if they made the same changes to the F30/32 platform since I haven't spent much butt time in one, but let's hope not.

[derryck]

Originally Posted by SAM135iAM

I came from a 2001.5 Audi S4 to my 2011 135i. I miss the interior quality of my Audi, even though it was ten years older than my 135i. The all wheel drive was fantastic and has such a distinctive and fun feel when driving. The 6MT felt amazing, and the twin turbo V6 had such an amazing tone. The reliability was phenomenal as well. I bought the car with 60K+ miles on it and sold it with 150K+ miles. For every one of those miles it was only in the shop three times for minor things. I miss my Audi greatly and plan to go back to the VW Auto Group when the time is right. I seriously for see Porsche 911 or Audi RS5 in my future.

Let's be honest, that's not the norm. I had 2 01 S4's and they were wonderful cars when they weren't broken but that wasn't very often. Both were purchased new and I never had neither long enough to mod them heavily. That generation of S4's can be found these days almost for free because they're such maintenance nightmares. I thought my FD RX-7s were a pain but they had nothing on my Audi's.

[SAM135iAM]

Originally Posted by derryck

Let's be honest, that's not the norm. I had 2 01 S4's and they were wonderful cars when they weren't broken but that wasn't very often. Both were purchased new and I never had neither long enough to mod them heavily. That generation of S4's can be found these days almost for free because they're such maintenance nightmares. I thought my FD RX-7s were a pain but they had nothing on my Audi's.

Dang man, I'm sorry to hear about your terrible experience with your S4's. I guess I'm a lucky one!

[EmArAsOnS]

had a 3 series back in 95 and it was a great car but when i bought the first audi A4 98 and then 00 (facelift) i was impressed by the interior look and feel in the begining but then i was shocked by how poor the interior looked after a couple of years . Bought an A3 99 (same interior story) after that the S4.
buy a new audi ... not sure tbh

Originally Posted by derryck

Let's be honest, that's not the norm. I had 2 01 S4's and they were wonderful cars when they weren't broken but that wasn't very often. Both were purchased new and I never had neither long enough to mod them heavily. That generation of S4's can be found these days almost for free because they're such maintenance nightmares. I thought my FD RX-7s were a pain but they had nothing on my Audi's.

agree...i had a B5 S4 01' and i loved it but the maintenance nightmare had to be stopped after all one wants to have a reliable car. now undecided between f11 lci and A6 c7 hate having those maintenace nightmares with the a6 and unsure if the interior quality is any better than the rest of the audis i owened before.

f11 it will be

[newoldbeemer]

To me the answer to "why audi" is Quattro

[intoflatlines]

becausequattro

[Тurbodieselcomby]

Originally Posted by P1et

I really wanted a Q7 S Line as I think they are the most gorgeous SUVs on the road. Sadly, the ones I wanted were out of my price range so I had to settle for an X5 M Sport. I'm not complaining, but the Audi was my preferred choice. Perhaps one day...

Hi, I had experience with Q7 S-line (3.0TDI with Stainbauer Power Box) for 5 years. Nice looking SUV, but too big for Europe - more than 5m. Also the 6AT automatic is not good enough like my current BMW F31 320d 8AT. The additional heater (standard for diesel engines in Q7) on board was badly realized - when I stop on the trafic lighter the blower input the exhaus gasses (from the heater) inside the car! Bad feelings in car for 80k EUR I think.

About Quattro - nice for high speed driving, but very bad for park in the snow areas. Front left and rear right wheels try to move (the others just waiting) and the result is car just go down (in the snow) and you need help. I'm not sure BMW X-drive is better.

The interior materials were like a new on 95k kilometers when I sold it last year.

For me all Audi's cars looks almost the same shape! A3, A4, A6, A8, A5 and A7. Hard to recognize them.

It is my first BMW, but now 9 months later and 25k kilometers I'm happy! Nice handling! Future car - maybe another BMW or Mercedes or ..., but AUDI - no, I'm not sure.

[ians]

Same as OP, I have been driving Honda (Civic Si, Prelude, TSX) & BMW (E36 328i, E46 328i, E92 335i)for the past 16 yr. I love both of them even BMW really have reliability issue when compare to Honda. And used to making fun to my friends that own Audi. I did test drive a A4 1.8T ~13 yr ago and feel very sluggish, especially I was driving the Prelude over to the Audi dealer. So from that day I told myself I won't even cross shop Audi anymore.

However, I ate my word! I just bought my wife an 13 S5 few month ago. First we were just attracted by its sexy looks but even though the brand new S5 got CEL the second day we took delivery, we still think it is the best car we ever own! The engine refinement, smoothest and the shifter feel is no way our 335 can even come close! I always thought Honda make the best MT feel! now I am wrong, Audi is way better! Even the steering feel & the handling aspect which BMW shine the most, I still don't feel Audi is lag behind on this area.

Now I have a 04 TSX, 08 335i & 13 S5. I find myself not feeling to drive the 335 as much as I can now! It is fast but rough, it handling good but rattle like a tin can. I rather drive the TSX that is reasonably fast & good handling and have no worry to drive it like stolen since it is a never broken piece of machine no matter how I abuse it! I am sure I have no gut to do that on my 335i.