RE: Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo vs Audi S4 Avant
Discussion
Nors said:
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?
They are comparing a standard Alpina to a standard Audi. Why not use the standard BMW anyway?
Nors said:
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?
IJB1959 said:
ZX10R NIN said:
The possible tax costs won't be retrospective so if you buy one it's not a worry, people seem to be making this a petrol vs diesel thing it's not it's taking two 350bhp Estates & deciding what ones best so interior wise the Audi wins handling/ride then it goes Alpinas way & for me that was the thing that swung it for me.
The point I was making is that maybe not 'retrospective' (or otherwise) on VED, but on diesel fuel costs. I have no particular preference for petrol or diesel, and have owned both over many years for different reasons, but the government has to now act under current EU pollution legislation or be heavily fined, so slamming a higher tax on diesel fuel is the simplest way they will encourage more petrol buyers/users. Also some UK cities are considering adopting a new tariff on diesels, and central London LEZ increasing the charge for diesel users. If you are therefore considering buying one of the two estates tested, for some these possibilities also need bearing in mind over and above how they drive & handle.http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/business-news/b...
Had an early D3 - great car - superb feel on the road.
However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
HoraceM said:
Had an early D3 - great car - superb feel on the road.
However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
Yep - they all lose money faster than a fat man falling out a plane However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
At least on a 335d you usually get between 24%-25% off with drive the deal or coast2coast before taking finance - even so I think mine's only worth around £15k final payment after three years
marcg said:
I keep hearing this about numb steering. So what family cars out there have decent steering? Plenty of hatchback or estate cars with super-power acceleration and other stats, but how many that are actually a pleasure to thread through a B-road?
Funnily enough the last family car I drove with truly great steering was my old Alpina E30 Touring. Cars have come on an awful lot in the last 30 or so years, but not when it comes to steering feel IMO. The way that car talked to you through the Momo wheel was excellenttjlees said:
HoraceM said:
Had an early D3 - great car - superb feel on the road.
However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
Yep - they all lose money faster than a fat man falling out a plane However, I had thought it would be a car that wouldn't lose too much money - How wrong was I...... First off after two years the lady who sold it to me (at Sytner Sheffield) wouldn't even discuss a trade-in price unless I was in the office - I'm in Northampton - then when I eventually did get someone to talk money, I found that after two years of my three year deal, the car was now worth less that my final residual payment - £16,000 and £18,000 still to pay - and I still would be having to pay £5400 in the final year...........
Hence, they came and took it away the next month.
As I said great car but a standard 320d would have saved me an absolute stack. Shame.
Sytner weren't all that good either - great when you were in front of them with a bundle of cash in your hand, a bit quite two years down the line.
HoraceM
At least on a 335d you usually get between 24%-25% off with drive the deal or coast2coast before taking finance - even so I think mine's only worth around £15k final payment after three years
The back to back test on dry tarmac does not exploit any advantages or failings had test drives been on wet slippery surfaces. The Audi with 4WD would be in a different league had the road testing been conducted in a variety of weather conditions. Spending £50k on a family do everything sport estate you would expect a great deal of capability for your dosh. I've had older versions of the two cars featured here and from what I've experienced, the Audi is a more capable car and the interior design is far better than the BMW offering.
Maybe a back to back test featuring an S4 and a different version of BMW with XDrive would be more relevant.
Maybe a back to back test featuring an S4 and a different version of BMW with XDrive would be more relevant.
s10mph said:
The back to back test on dry tarmac does not exploit any advantages or failings had test drives been on wet slippery surfaces. The Audi with 4WD would be in a different league had the road testing been conducted in a variety of weather conditions. Spending £50k on a family do everything sport estate you would expect a great deal of capability for your dosh. I've had older versions of the two cars featured here and from what I've experienced, the Audi is a more capable car and the interior design is far better than the BMW offering.
Maybe a back to back test featuring an S4 and a different version of BMW with XDrive would be more relevant.
Definitely.Maybe a back to back test featuring an S4 and a different version of BMW with XDrive would be more relevant.
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