Audi A4 or 3 series

Audi A4 or 3 series

Author
Discussion

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Saturday 19th January 2008
quotequote all
Wife has made up her mind & says the 5 is to big so its either 320 (what is best engine size diesl or petrol for value as we are not high milers & diesel has got really dear!) oe audi a4?
I know it could be a bit bias on this site but i am sure some of you guys have had this & will be honest!!!
We have 3 kids so room is important (we have another chelsea tractor so it wont be for long journeys)
3 belts in back is, I like the look of audi i must admit , but with my budget £22k I relly dont like front wheel drive & dont know if i can afford the quattro (4 wheel ) At least the bm is rear wheel .
Cheers guys

forsure

2,121 posts

269 months

Saturday 19th January 2008
quotequote all
You've answered your own question really.
A4s are fine cars - but fwd.
I've driven hundreds of BMW 3s and dozens of A4s.
I'd choose the BM every time.

The steering is a bit weighty in the current '3' - you soon get used to it, but might be worth making sure that you both have a decent test drive.

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Sunday 20th January 2008
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Thanks again, i just cant push her int the 5 series, I have tried & i would prefer one , but she looked at one in carpark & said no. What 3 series is the 6 cylinder engine on the 2006 onward ?
Thanks for help on this

pgilc1

35,848 posts

198 months

Sunday 20th January 2008
quotequote all
Personally, avoid the 320i, its a horrible four pot that sounds like it should be in a mondeo. Plus its hard on fuel and feels slow. Opt for the 320d, then stick a tuning box or remap it. You might not need the economy, but the improved driveability of the 320d over the 320i is well worth it.

Also opt for m sport trim. (a) its more popular come resale time and (b) it rides better (or so i'm overwhelmingly told) on the runflats than the SE or ES.

Drive both, they are both great cars. See which you prefer. I very very nearly bought an a6 3.0td quattro le mans, then drove a 535d and bought it instead. Then nearly bought a Q7, but bought an x5. One will stand out for you over the other. Personally for me it was the BMW.

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Sunday 20th January 2008
quotequote all
iaiin said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Thanks again, i just cant push her int the 5 series, I have tried & i would prefer one , but she looked at one in carpark & said no. What 3 series is the 6 cylinder engine on the 2006 onward ?
Thanks for help on this
Hurrah
Just told her to stfu, after she hit me , we had a look at another one, did not look so big (cause it wasnt in parking bay i think!) So i will start looking for a 535d i think! One sold on e bay £22k with 60k on clock! What are specs on them , do get sport/se/ whatever?

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

225 months

Sunday 20th January 2008
quotequote all
Don't buy the 535d for economy!!

I managed to get 25.9mpg from mine, but I do alot of miles, 9,000 in the first 6 weeks and even then it was only showing 28mpg. I bought the car with 18k miles on it so it was well run in.
Expect high teens when having fun and 22/23mpg round town.

Nice car, but get the sport, try and get comfort seats as the sport seats in the 5er are horrible and try and get as many toys as possible, HUD is great, panoramic roof is nice but noisy, Nav and bluetooth a must, as is upgraded stereo, the stock stereo is awful.

In comparison a 335d will return 35 mpg all day long, is more comfortable, better handling and feels a lot quicker, but you will be paying more as they are all newer.

I went to a 335i from the 535d and the only reason you would buy a 5 is if you need more space round your head or if you prefer the design, oh, or if you worry about image and need a 5 series on the drive to impress the neighbors.


I have now gone to a 320d, I was getting sick of putting £70 in the tank every 3 days to be honest, so nice to get 50mpg (it is the efficient dynamics auto model). And have to say I have not once found it lacking performance wise, it will be 210bhp next week and with the low consumption this suits me right now. It was a close call between a nice 335d sport touring at £34k or the 320d sport touring at £25k, but decided on the 320d for everyday and something fun with the money saved.

If you go for a 535d budget for dumping the run flats, they are awful and really ruin the car, also go with an M-Sport as the suspension is so much nicer than the suspension on the SE, much more compliant over rough surfaces and obviously alot nicer when pressing on. But, as I said, you need shot of the run flats.



pgilc1

35,848 posts

198 months

Sunday 20th January 2008
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Don't buy the 535d for economy!!

I managed to get 25.9mpg from mine, but I do alot of miles, 9,000 in the first 6 weeks and even then it was only showing 28mpg. I bought the car with 18k miles on it so it was well run in.
Expect high teens when having fun and 22/23mpg round town.

Nice car, but get the sport, try and get comfort seats as the sport seats in the 5er are horrible and try and get as many toys as possible, HUD is great, panoramic roof is nice but noisy, Nav and bluetooth a must, as is upgraded stereo, the stock stereo is awful.

In comparison a 335d will return 35 mpg all day long, is more comfortable, better handling and feels a lot quicker, but you will be paying more as they are all newer.

I went to a 335i from the 535d and the only reason you would buy a 5 is if you need more space round your head or if you prefer the design, oh, or if you worry about image and need a 5 series on the drive to impress the neighbors.


I have now gone to a 320d, I was getting sick of putting £70 in the tank every 3 days to be honest, so nice to get 50mpg (it is the efficient dynamics auto model). And have to say I have not once found it lacking performance wise, it will be 210bhp next week and with the low consumption this suits me right now. It was a close call between a nice 335d sport touring at £34k or the 320d sport touring at £25k, but decided on the 320d for everyday and something fun with the money saved.

If you go for a 535d budget for dumping the run flats, they are awful and really ruin the car, also go with an M-Sport as the suspension is so much nicer than the suspension on the SE, much more compliant over rough surfaces and obviously alot nicer when pressing on. But, as I said, you need shot of the run flats.
Was yours an LCI 535d? Mine was, ie, the same engine thats in the 335d. I never got below 28mpg even when pushing it hard, on average i easily got 35mpg all day long. On long runs, 40+ was achievable.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

225 months

Monday 21st January 2008
quotequote all
No mate, mine was an 05.

The new LCi has got it right with the economy, I would say that it is getting around 1/3rd more mpg wise.
It was really hard to get mine to 35mpg on a run, more like 30/32mpg.

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Monday 21st January 2008
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Don't buy the 535d for economy!!

I managed to get 25.9mpg from mine, but I do alot of miles, 9,000 in the first 6 weeks and even then it was only showing 28mpg. I bought the car with 18k miles on it so it was well run in.
Expect high teens when having fun and 22/23mpg round town.

Nice car, but get the sport, try and get comfort seats as the sport seats in the 5er are horrible and try and get as many toys as possible, HUD is great, panoramic roof is nice but noisy, Nav and bluetooth a must, as is upgraded stereo, the stock stereo is awful.

In comparison a 335d will return 35 mpg all day long, is more comfortable, better handling and feels a lot quicker, but you will be paying more as they are all newer.

I went to a 335i from the 535d and the only reason you would buy a 5 is if you need more space round your head or if you prefer the design, oh, or if you worry about image and need a 5 series on the drive to impress the neighbors.


I have now gone to a 320d, I was getting sick of putting £70 in the tank every 3 days to be honest, so nice to get 50mpg (it is the efficient dynamics auto model). And have to say I have not once found it lacking performance wise, it will be 210bhp next week and with the low consumption this suits me right now. It was a close call between a nice 335d sport touring at £34k or the 320d sport touring at £25k, but decided on the 320d for everyday and something fun with the money saved.

If you go for a 535d budget for dumping the run flats, they are awful and really ruin the car, also go with an M-Sport as the suspension is so much nicer than the suspension on the SE, much more compliant over rough surfaces and obviously alot nicer when pressing on. But, as I said, you need shot of the run flats.

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Monday 21st January 2008
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Don't buy the 535d for economy!!

I managed to get 25.9mpg from mine, but I do alot of miles, 9,000 in the first 6 weeks and even then it was only showing 28mpg. I bought the car with 18k miles on it so it was well run in.
Expect high teens when having fun and 22/23mpg round town.

Nice car, but get the sport, try and get comfort seats as the sport seats in the 5er are horrible and try and get as many toys as possible, HUD is great, panoramic roof is nice but noisy, Nav and bluetooth a must, as is upgraded stereo, the stock stereo is awful.

In comparison a 335d will return 35 mpg all day long, is more comfortable, better handling and feels a lot quicker, but you will be paying more as they are all newer.

I went to a 335i from the 535d and the only reason you would buy a 5 is if you need more space round your head or if you prefer the design, oh, or if you worry about image and need a 5 series on the drive to impress the neighbors.


I have now gone to a 320d, I was getting sick of putting £70 in the tank every 3 days to be honest, so nice to get 50mpg (it is the efficient dynamics auto model). And have to say I have not once found it lacking performance wise, it will be 210bhp next week and with the low consumption this suits me right now. It was a close call between a nice 335d sport touring at £34k or the 320d sport touring at £25k, but decided on the 320d for everyday and something fun with the money saved.

If you go for a 535d budget for dumping the run flats, they are awful and really ruin the car, also go with an M-Sport as the suspension is so much nicer than the suspension on the SE, much more compliant over rough surfaces and obviously alot nicer when pressing on. But, as I said, you need shot of the run flats.
I will only just be able to afford a 535d but that is interesting what you say about the 320d! I have been told by lots of people what a superp car /engine they have but was worried that it would be slow. Do you get these remapped or something or are they ok as standard only i have read a lot of old posts about the 535d being juicy which i understand as you get the performance, you cant have both!!! But we will be using it as a runabout so i dont think it is for me! back looking for a 320d!!
cheers

iaiin

Original Poster:

406 posts

250 months

Monday 21st January 2008
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
Don't buy the 535d for economy!!

I managed to get 25.9mpg from mine, but I do alot of miles, 9,000 in the first 6 weeks and even then it was only showing 28mpg. I bought the car with 18k miles on it so it was well run in.
Expect high teens when having fun and 22/23mpg round town.

Nice car, but get the sport, try and get comfort seats as the sport seats in the 5er are horrible and try and get as many toys as possible, HUD is great, panoramic roof is nice but noisy, Nav and bluetooth a must, as is upgraded stereo, the stock stereo is awful.

In comparison a 335d will return 35 mpg all day long, is more comfortable, better handling and feels a lot quicker, but you will be paying more as they are all newer.

I went to a 335i from the 535d and the only reason you would buy a 5 is if you need more space round your head or if you prefer the design, oh, or if you worry about image and need a 5 series on the drive to impress the neighbors.


I have now gone to a 320d, I was getting sick of putting £70 in the tank every 3 days to be honest, so nice to get 50mpg (it is the efficient dynamics auto model). And have to say I have not once found it lacking performance wise, it will be 210bhp next week and with the low consumption this suits me right now. It was a close call between a nice 335d sport touring at £34k or the 320d sport touring at £25k, but decided on the 320d for everyday and something fun with the money saved.

If you go for a 535d budget for dumping the run flats, they are awful and really ruin the car, also go with an M-Sport as the suspension is so much nicer than the suspension on the SE, much more compliant over rough surfaces and obviously alot nicer when pressing on. But, as I said, you need shot of the run flats.
I will only just be able to afford a 535d but that is interesting what you say about the 320d! I have been told by lots of people what a superp car /engine they have but was worried that it would be slow. Do you get these remapped or something or are they ok as standard only i have read a lot of old posts about the 535d being juicy which i understand as you get the performance, you cant have both!!! But we will be using it as a runabout so i dont think it is for me! back looking for a 320d!!
cheers