2007 Audi A6 3.0 TDi Quattro S vs. 2004 BMW 535d
Discussion
Since writing off my 330d I need a new car. I'm looking at either a BMW 535d, or this 2007 Audi A6 3.0 TDi Quattro S.
Both cars would have about 100k on them, and I'll be doing about 25-30k of motorway miles per year.
The Audi has the more modern interior etc, but I like the styling of the BMW. The 535d is also faster, but thirstier (I think) and higher insurance group, plus the twin turbo setup is scary-complex in case it breaks.
I don't know much about the Audi's. Is this a good engine? I assume it's single not twin turbo (even though it's a V6)? Anything I should know?
All advice greatfully recieved!
Both cars would have about 100k on them, and I'll be doing about 25-30k of motorway miles per year.
The Audi has the more modern interior etc, but I like the styling of the BMW. The 535d is also faster, but thirstier (I think) and higher insurance group, plus the twin turbo setup is scary-complex in case it breaks.
I don't know much about the Audi's. Is this a good engine? I assume it's single not twin turbo (even though it's a V6)? Anything I should know?
All advice greatfully recieved!
OK, experience limited but IMO:
MPG similar
535 steering feel much better
535 has another 30ish bhp
535 has less turbo lag (sequential vs. single on the A6)
A6 4WD traction much better in poor conditions
A6 gearbox appears smarter
A6 has folding rear seats as standard
A6 S-line ride is very hard
A6 gearbox appears smarter
Either could land you with a big bill unexpectedly, so a war-chest of 2/3k stashed away is wise - especially as you will be on 160k in a couple of years (gearbox/turbos/injectors etc..).
How much are they asking? As a comparison I nearly PX'd my 56reg/50k A6 3.0TDi Quat LeMans (with 1 year Audi warranty left) for £12500 but decided to keep it over the winter at least.
MPG similar
535 steering feel much better
535 has another 30ish bhp
535 has less turbo lag (sequential vs. single on the A6)
A6 4WD traction much better in poor conditions
A6 gearbox appears smarter
A6 has folding rear seats as standard
A6 S-line ride is very hard
A6 gearbox appears smarter
Either could land you with a big bill unexpectedly, so a war-chest of 2/3k stashed away is wise - especially as you will be on 160k in a couple of years (gearbox/turbos/injectors etc..).
How much are they asking? As a comparison I nearly PX'd my 56reg/50k A6 3.0TDi Quat LeMans (with 1 year Audi warranty left) for £12500 but decided to keep it over the winter at least.
The Audi, because the BMW is 7 years old and in the right ballpark to start going wrong in spectacular fashion. This coupled with the crap interior on the pre LCI (Not only does it look wacky it has the same sort of build quality as one of those Mr Kipling pie trays, everything flakes off, etc etc) and the fact the early 535d offered the noise and clatter of a diesel yet the fuel economy of a petrol and.. well.. just get the Audi.
And I dont like Audis. It just makes more sense here.
And I dont like Audis. It just makes more sense here.
As someone who does lots of motorway miles, I went for the SE rather than the S-Line, I test drive both, and I found the S-Line to be a little crashy over the bumps.
No doubt the S-line will be great for driving when your hairs on fire, but for 90% of the time, the softer suspension suits me perfectly.
I also had the decision of BMW 5 series of Audi A6, and I'm glad I chose the A6, last December in Glasgow, the roads were gridlock with snow, and the A6 Q with summer tyres was leaving alot of cars behind, I have no doubt that that car got me home that day (all 7 hours of trying) A BMW would've left me stranded, as many were.
No doubt the S-line will be great for driving when your hairs on fire, but for 90% of the time, the softer suspension suits me perfectly.
I also had the decision of BMW 5 series of Audi A6, and I'm glad I chose the A6, last December in Glasgow, the roads were gridlock with snow, and the A6 Q with summer tyres was leaving alot of cars behind, I have no doubt that that car got me home that day (all 7 hours of trying) A BMW would've left me stranded, as many were.
Fox- said:
The Audi, because the BMW is 7 years old and in the right ballpark to start going wrong in spectacular fashion. This coupled with the crap interior on the pre LCI (Not only does it look wacky it has the same sort of build quality as one of those Mr Kipling pie trays, everything flakes off, etc etc) and the fact the early 535d offered the noise and clatter of a diesel yet the fuel economy of a petrol and.. well.. just get the Audi.
And I dont like Audis. It just makes more sense here.
Haha, your 'kipling tray' comment made me chuckle. The Audi interior is much superior to the BMW in terms of original build quality/design and it's current condition.And I dont like Audis. It just makes more sense here.
Not sure why the 7 y/o BMW is more likely to go 'spectacularly wrong' than the Audi? The Audi is 3 years it's junior, but they have the same miles on? The kit/spec is about the same on both too. (BMW has Xenon/Tints/M Sport kit but the Audi has a phone and media pack, and they both have electric/auto/heated everything)
In a lot of ways the Audi is the more sensible choice, but the external styling on the BMW is better imo. (But I have to admit the interior of the Audi is better, and I do spent maybe 12mins a week walking to/from the car but more like 12 hours driving it, so I guess the inside should be more important to me than the outside!)
nsi said:
Not sure why the 7 y/o BMW is more likely to go 'spectacularly wrong' than the Audi?
It's an early 535d. The Audi is less complex - well, just.Plus age is on its side - its almost half the age of the BMW and IMHO age is more important than mileage.
I'm a huge BMW fan (Check my profile!) but I wouldn't be bothered with the faff of a 7 year old E60 535d with no warranty. You buy a diesel for fuel economy as well as performance and that fuel economy is worthless if a) it isnt very economical in the first place, which the pre LCI 535d never was and b) the fuel savings are eaten up by repair bills.
I know less about Audi but I cannot imagine it being as much of a pain as a twice the age 535d.
Personally I'd buy neither and have an E39 530 Sport and a pile of change but thats because with every passing month I become more of a nostalgic E39 fanboy, everything else just seems a bit crap really, including the E92 I ended up flogging 3 months after buying
Fox- said:
This coupled with the crap interior on the pre LCI (Not only does it look wacky it has the same sort of build quality as one of those Mr Kipling pie trays, everything flakes off, etc etc)
Are the early cars interiors really that much worse? The E60 is possbily my next car and to me always seemed to be one of those cars where it didn't matter too much if you got at earlier one, the M-Sport facelift was so small that I can't even tell them apart unless they are parked next to eachother! Maybe I need to change my thinking and save-up for a post LCI?The changes on the LCI were subtle but when added together make quite a big difference.
LED rear lights, LED indicators, revised headlights and in the interior they made improvements to switchgear, changed the centre console design and finally replaced those awful doorcards with something that looks more becoming of a 5 Series. There were also engine range revisions - new Efficient Dynamics petrol engines, a more economical 535d..
LED rear lights, LED indicators, revised headlights and in the interior they made improvements to switchgear, changed the centre console design and finally replaced those awful doorcards with something that looks more becoming of a 5 Series. There were also engine range revisions - new Efficient Dynamics petrol engines, a more economical 535d..
parapaul said:
Is the Audi anywhere near the BMW in terms of performance? I was looking at both when I was picking my 330d, and the equivalent Audis seemed to be worse off in terms of power and consumption, made worse by quattro and auto 'boxes.
The Audi is slower than the 535d, but lets be under no illusions - they are both fast, just the 535d is faster. The Audi got up to 0.9 leptons by the end of the sliproad, whereas the 535d was already at 1.0 lepton with about another 200 yards to go when I backed off.Looking into the performance and economy figures shows that the Audi is 2 insurance groups lower but it has a chunk less power and is 4wd so the fuel consumption I'd expect to be worse. However the official figures I saw for the fuel economy showed the Audi being slightly ahead on a motorway run, which did surprise me somewhat.
The Audi would be the more 'sensible' option, but it's not really the car that I want because the BMW looks better (IMO) and is faster, and these things are bigher up my list of priorities than routine running costs (so long as nothing really expensive breaks of course).
Both these cars will have worse economy than my old 330d manual, because the A6 and 5er are both larger and heavier than the 3er and plus they also have autoboxes rather than manual. However for comfort I've decided to go for the larger model with the auto, as I think they will suit the type of (very long motorway) driving I'm currently doing, better than the manual 330d. So I'm accepting the fuel economy hit as a trade off against the size/autobox.
Kong said:
Fox- said:
This coupled with the crap interior on the pre LCI (Not only does it look wacky it has the same sort of build quality as one of those Mr Kipling pie trays, everything flakes off, etc etc)
Are the early cars interiors really that much worse? The E60 is possbily my next car and to me always seemed to be one of those cars where it didn't matter too much if you got at earlier one, the M-Sport facelift was so small that I can't even tell them apart unless they are parked next to eachother! Maybe I need to change my thinking and save-up for a post LCI?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff