[Doctor///M]

What's up with Audi of America? They are giving their fans to sound off on the quote “The Audi is clearly the BMW’s better when it comes to handling” from Inside Line's review of the new euro sport sedans, but is the only point given to the A4 in the review because of the S-Line package. Also, I was given a brand new 2012 2.0T quattro A4 loaner from my previous Audi experience which drove like crap (compared to the E90 328).


This is Inside Line's comparison of the the A4, C250 and the F30 328:

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/3-seri...ison-test.html

Audi's FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5976469&type=1

[GammaZeta]

I think they are trying to make a profit at their business by saying they offer a better product than their main competitor???

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

I think they are trying to make a profit at their business by saying they offer a better product than their main competitor???

...would be perfectly legitimate if they did have some ground for making it appear as if they created a masterpiece, but about half of the comments show that people recognized it from the get go.

[Rodzilla]

Didn't the F30 328 blow everyone out of the water?

[Year's_End]

Audi USA's marketing is aggressive in the most childish of ways.

[ptack]

Audi is the US sells just one serious performance car - the R8. For whatever reason they refuse to sell the R versions of their other cars in the US so I'll take them seriously when they take us seriously.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by ptack

Audi is the US sells just one serious performance car - the R8. For whatever reason they refuse to sell the R versions of their other cars in the US so I'll take them seriously when they take us seriously.

I thought the TT-RS and RS4 are pretty serious driving cars as well.

[ptack]

You're right, you can get the TT-RS in the US, but it and the RS3 (not available in the US) are the most underwhelming Rs they make. You can not buy an 450 hp RS4 or RS5 in the US so we can't enjoy those.

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by ptack

You're right, you can get the TT-RS in the US, but it and the RS3 (not available in the US) are the most underwhelming Rs they make. You can not buy an 450 hp RS4 or RS5 in the US so we can't enjoy those.

Yup, even the "underwhelming" lineup of their high performance cars available in the US is an understatement. Their focus is clearly different, especially since their 2013 RS4 is most likely only going to be available in the avant, and it's quite unlikely that it'll make it across the pond.

[Raine]

Audi is basically built on hype / clean designs + good interiors / Quattro.

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by ptack

You're right, you can get the TT-RS in the US, but it and the RS3 (not available in the US) are the most underwhelming Rs they make. You can not buy an 450 hp RS4 or RS5 in the US so we can't enjoy those.

The RS5 is actually coming to the US along with the new redesigned version.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/c...spyder-priced/

[Ratherhavemygti]

Audi wins styling BMW wins performance.

[sanf]

the new A6 does NOT win over the F10 in styling. but thats just my opinion.

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by sanf

the new A6 does NOT win over the F10 in styling. but thats just my opinion.

I would agree if you compare base models. If you see an optioned out A6 w/ the 20" spot package though... whole other ballgame from the 5 in the styling department. However, in the performance department, Audi's "decked out" 3.0 supercharged is a bit measley compared to the 4.4L V8 of the F10 - that's for sure.

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by SERI335

I would agree if you compare base models. If you see an optioned out A6 w/ the 20" spot package though... whole other ballgame from the 5 in the styling department.

But if you're going to compare it to the A6 with sport package, then you need the M5 which looks much better than the base model 5-series too.

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by rfx45

But if you're going to compare it to the A6 with sport package, then you need the M5 which looks much better than the base model 5-series too.

Well, I was implying an A6 Prestige w/ S-Line vs. the 550 sport. The S-Line A6 isn't quite close to the caliber of the M5 for much comparison. We'll see if there's an RS6 to come?

[bmwcoupeftw]

Watch Top Gear S18 when they test the new F10 M5 I think, and they driv in a Audi infront of it and such :P
So funny

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by SERI335

Well, I was implying an A6 Prestige w/ S-Line vs. the 550 sport. The S-Line A6 isn't quite close to the caliber of the M5 for much comparison. We'll see if there's an RS6 to come?

I was just comparing look-wise since an upgraded A6 in looks to make it sportier seems unfair in comparison to a base 5-series unless the 5-series has an M-Sport package as well that only upgrades the look and not the engine?

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by bmwcoupeftw

Watch Top Gear S18 when they test the new F10 M5 I think, and they driv in a Audi infront of it and such :P
So funny

haha, I'll download it this evening and have a look. We don't get BBC UK here, so we resort to the non-hd version on our computers

Originally Posted by rfx45

I was just comparing look-wise since an upgraded A6 in looks to make it sportier seems unfair in comparison to a base 5-series unless the 5-series has an M-Sport package as well that only upgrades the look and not the engine?

I apologize for the omissions that led to the misinterpretation of my post. I wasn't comparing the S-Line A6 to the base F10. I was comparing it to a 550 sport (which is not base). I did say the F10 had the bases covered performance wise, but the S-Line A6 is still better looking than the 550. To compare the A6 S-Line with the M5 though, that's like comparing an S4 with an M3. The S4 just doesn't win. Period.

[KingOfJericho]

Audi is doing it all wrong lately. They've axed the manual S4 for Europe and are no longer sending manual avants to the US. I saw a recent RS6 Avant yesterday in Milan and fell in love all over again. Just an amazing car that I knew nothing of as the US isn't offered anything palatable. Audi just plain stinks lately and are driving people into the open arms of BMW.

[ptack]

Originally Posted by rfx45

The RS5 is actually coming to the US along with the new redesigned version.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/c...spyder-priced/

Well that's good news, though pricing could make it more symbolic. I wouldn't be surprised at M6 levels (~$90+k).

[SCOTT26]

The problem with Audi is that what I have seen in marketing in the US and in Europe is that they aim to imitate the BMW image in their marketing but it completely falls flat when you get behind the wheel.

The BMW AG CEO Norbert Reithofer made this comment - "We know exactly what they will do because we will do it first!" And that sums up Audi.

Most opinions not only of the media but of others too give each Audi an average rating.
One example is the Audi A1 quattro - ltd edition but at a price. The media reviews verge on Average and too expensive for what it offers. The upcoming MINI GP will not have AWD nor the astronomical price of the Audi , but it will be much better to drive! and be more fun.

In Germany for example the media are very much unified that the F30 is years ahead of the A4 and C-Klasse respectively.
I have a 320d Sportline and there is more dynamic excitement and responsive steering than any Audi which is not the R8.

Another issue with Audi is that they have limits and most of that is determined by VAG vast resources to provide greater economies of scale.
Therefore they are handicapped in some ways , BMW do not have such limitations. But with any parent with a reluctant stepchild , VAG have their own in the shape of Porsche. Porsche deemed the Boxster was more than adequate for the entry Porsche therefore killed Audi's plans for an R4. By not giving VW a business case for a shared family.