RE: Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo vs Audi S4 Avant

RE: Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo vs Audi S4 Avant

Author
Discussion

silentbrown

8,881 posts

117 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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PH said:
(the S4) ... is more than happy to snarl its way to 7,000rpm.
Really?? Later B8.5's refuse to rev over about 6200rpm, no matter what games you play with the flappy paddles. All the new S4 dyno plots imply it does pretty much the same.

Maybe it revs to 7K in neutral?

DoubleD

22,154 posts

109 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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IJB1959 said:
Agreed. Alpina is way ahead in terms of driveability than you average BMW. Strange comparison to start with though, two very different cars albeit similar engine size, price, and they are estates. Maybe I'm missing the reasoning behind the test??
Are they so different though? Like you said same size engines, price and they are both estates. They are also both German with posh badges.

crashley

1,568 posts

181 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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ZX10R NIN said:
Having driven both back to back they're not the same car even with the springs it doesn't get close to the Alpina's ride you really need to drive one because it's more than a parts bin car, it's the way it all ties together, The better cabin steering feel the way it rides bumps potholes etc all add up to an experience which my F80 M3 couldn't (unless I was fully on it) which was why the 335d Xdrive test drive lasted 2 miles, after driving the Alpina (smart salesman) it didn't even get close the fact it was loaded & a 19% discount was offered I didn't hesitate & bought the D3.

Yes I could have added a Map bigger intercooler ACS Springs with the difference in price but it wouldn't have rode as well (it would be better than standard) & it would have been seen as a modded car whereas the D3 is an Alpina & for me the fact it was the best car swung it for me, but I can understand that not having one to test drive is a problem at which point 22% off would sway most people to a 340i/335d.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 8th May 22:32
19% discount on a new D3 ?

ZX10R NIN

27,703 posts

126 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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crashley said:
19% discount on a new D3 ?
No 19% on the 335d

marmalise

5 posts

90 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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So tempted by the RWD D3 but went for the cheaper 335D Xdrive touring as the extra cost and the loss of 2 extra driven wheels seemed a bit unfair.. as I understand it the LHD Alpina version has Xdrive

Waitey

888 posts

223 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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I've just bought this old D3 Bi Turbo for work duties, replacing a 2016 Audi RS3 and its lovely. For enjoyment its far beyond the RS3 and my old 335d X drive.


IJB1959

2,140 posts

87 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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DoubleD said:
Are they so different though? Like you said same size engines, price and they are both estates. They are also both German with posh badges.
Steering, fuel, handling, suspension, drivetrain, gearbox....to name a few. That's a lot different already.

griffdude

1,826 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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Waitey said:
I've just bought this old D3 Bi Turbo for work duties, replacing a 2016 Audi RS3 and its lovely. For enjoyment its far beyond the RS3 and my old 335d X drive.

Very similar to mine, they really are very good.

TomScrut

2,546 posts

89 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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greenarrow said:
I'd agree with this. My commute is 140 miles round trip and I do it twice a week. My Insignia does two weeks of this plus weekend driving duties without needing to visit a fuel station. My old Mazda needed a refill every week. Not a big deal perhaps, but there's something satisfying about getting 700 miles on a tank.

Out of these two, Alpina every time. I remember reading EVO's long term review of their S4. I know it was an early example of the 3 litre S4 model, but the fuel economy was truly dreadful, scarcely better than the V8 S5 they ran. These 3 litre diesels have amazing economy for the performance really.
Having had an early B8 S4 and having a B9 S5 the mpg is waaay better in the new one (22 vs 28 in my use). But still not competing with the diesel.

TomScrut

2,546 posts

89 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
quotequote all
silentbrown said:
Really?? Later B8.5's refuse to rev over about 6200rpm, no matter what games you play with the flappy paddles. All the new S4 dyno plots imply it does pretty much the same.

Maybe it revs to 7K in neutral?
It's a completely different engine. And the one in my S5 goes to 7, but the one in my early B8 S4 did too (when in manual mode). But it revving round to 7 probably isn't the fastest way to make progress (it is the most fun though) as (like the B8) it feels a bit like its starting to run out of steam above 6k.

TomScrut

2,546 posts

89 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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JMF894 said:
Each to their own but you are wrong if you think they are turds. Obviously never going to be as good but.........I have one, albeit the saloon, already worked on and it cost me less than 6k with 61k on the clock. It'll do me for fun, pisses people off in their financed uber saloons and I can work on it myself.

Cost so little I just ordered a 40k beemer for the girlfriend. So yes, I do at least practice what I preach.

Peace.
Do people who own their uber saloons not get pissed off by it?

Pete W9

8 posts

196 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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The Alpina hands down for me, and I'm lucky to have just secured one, not new, but less than 18 months old. Fantastic I can't wait!
ps my Alpina D3 Lux 2 litre, is now for sale.
2012, low miles-20k, immaculate, super metallic black, half leather, best price/ mileage amongst those for sale at a similar age...including those at a famous dealers😜Have a look and call me.
( Hope this doesn't run foul of any rules)

DoubleD

22,154 posts

109 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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IJB1959 said:
DoubleD said:
Are they so different though? Like you said same size engines, price and they are both estates. They are also both German with posh badges.
Steering, fuel, handling, suspension, drivetrain, gearbox....to name a few. That's a lot different already.
They are comparing 2 different cars so obviously they arent exactly the same! If you want exactly the same then you would need to test an alpina against another alpina. But they are both performance estates that cost a similar amount so are easily similar enough to warrant a comparison.

Big GT

1,825 posts

93 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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D3 all the way.

Alpina taking an already good car and making better.

silentbrown

8,881 posts

117 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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TomScrut said:
It's a completely different engine. And the one in my S5 goes to 7, but the one in my early B8 S4 did too (when in manual mode).
Yup, aware it's a different engine and very different g'box, but all the vids I've found show the box changing up at 6500.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbzqsEMv2l0

TobyLerone

1,128 posts

145 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
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If I was in the market to do mega miles, or take a job with a stressful or long commute, I'd be inclined to sink my money in to one of these...



Or potentially on these if I had a sufficient stock of anti-bork pills / slush fund


TomScrut

2,546 posts

89 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
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silentbrown said:
Yup, aware it's a different engine and very different g'box, but all the vids I've found show the box changing up at 6500.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbzqsEMv2l0
I'll have to check mine then I'm sure I saw it go to 7! Might be wrong though

Nors

1,291 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
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Forgetting the Diesel v Petrol for a minute, This is a standard Audi versus a modified BMW (I know Alpina are 'supposed' to be a manufacturer in their own right - but it is just a modded BMW). Should this Audi not be an ABT version for example?

Or, a standard BMW?

DoubleD

22,154 posts

109 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
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Nors said:
Forgetting the Diesel v Petrol for a minute, This is a standard Audi versus a modified BMW (I know Alpina are 'supposed' to be a manufacturer in their own right - but it is just a modded BMW). Should this Audi not be an ABT version for example?

Or, a standard BMW?
It is just a modded BMW, but its available from the factory already modded. So its a fair test.

Nors

1,291 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th May 2017
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
It is just a modded BMW, but its available from the factory already modded. So its a fair test.
Available from the factory or not mate, it is a modded version as you agree, not standard like the Audi, so don't quite think it's a like for like comparison despite the obvious derv v petrol aspect.

Why not use the standard BMW anyway?