335d v C350cdi v A4 3.0Tdi
Discussion
Thinking about one of the above, all 3 are estate version, in fact A4 is the allroad and all are autos. They are 2009/2010 .
These will be replacing my Cayenne.
Anyone tested them back to back and what was you real world thoughts? Are there any major problems with any of f them?
Thanks guys
These will be replacing my Cayenne.
Anyone tested them back to back and what was you real world thoughts? Are there any major problems with any of f them?
Thanks guys
That's a tricky one. I've driven a few A4s and they probably have the nicest interior of the three, although one major problem was that when I had the seat on the lowest setting (as I liked it) I couldn't see the speedometer below 40mph. You could set up the centre screen to show you your speed digitally, provided you didn't have the sat nav showing (a Heisenbergian dilemma!). The A4 is out straight away though because it is the least economical, the slowest and the handling is easily the worst. That leaves it between the BMW and the Merc, but the trouble is I'm not sure you can get either with anything other than a torque converter slush box. Of the auto boxes I've tried, Mercedes have made the best, but I'm really not a fan so that's about as far as I can take my contribution to the thread I'm afraid!
I'm watching this with interest, recently bought a 330D Auto to see if I can live with a diesel auto and have decided to go for either a 335D or a C350 CDI next.
Very recently drove both of the above on the same day. The Merc impressed me, it felt quite nimble with a fairly nice but firm ride (Sport model). Changing gear with the paddles felt instant compared to my 330. It felt a little quicker than mine and power was nice & linear. Despite it being a very odd exterior/interior colour combination I was generally impressed.
The BMW was a great spec, M-Sport touring in black with panoramic roof and quite a few other options. The grunt was very impressive in a dieselly way but that was it, instant punch but tailed off quickly, changing gear with the paddles was a little sluggish. What put me off most was the comedy thick steering wheel which rotated about itself in your hand - silly thing but it did distract.
The Merc I drove was a pre-face lift, have been told the later model with 265hp is a nicer drive again, plus the dash is better.
I did also drive a 335i Manual, didn't feel perky fast but big numbers soon appeared on the dial - was very tempted with this but was put off with the N54(?) horror stories and this one did have an exhaust rattle when cold.
Sorry this isn't the most technical of review but I'm now saving for a facelift C350, hopefully with the new model about to be launched the prices should come down to meet my budget as I say.
I am still thinking though to get a £5k daily driver and a Cayman S for a few years first .....
Very recently drove both of the above on the same day. The Merc impressed me, it felt quite nimble with a fairly nice but firm ride (Sport model). Changing gear with the paddles felt instant compared to my 330. It felt a little quicker than mine and power was nice & linear. Despite it being a very odd exterior/interior colour combination I was generally impressed.
The BMW was a great spec, M-Sport touring in black with panoramic roof and quite a few other options. The grunt was very impressive in a dieselly way but that was it, instant punch but tailed off quickly, changing gear with the paddles was a little sluggish. What put me off most was the comedy thick steering wheel which rotated about itself in your hand - silly thing but it did distract.
The Merc I drove was a pre-face lift, have been told the later model with 265hp is a nicer drive again, plus the dash is better.
I did also drive a 335i Manual, didn't feel perky fast but big numbers soon appeared on the dial - was very tempted with this but was put off with the N54(?) horror stories and this one did have an exhaust rattle when cold.
Sorry this isn't the most technical of review but I'm now saving for a facelift C350, hopefully with the new model about to be launched the prices should come down to meet my budget as I say.
I am still thinking though to get a £5k daily driver and a Cayman S for a few years first .....
graham22 said:
I'm watching this with interest, recently bought a 330D Auto to see if I can live with a diesel auto and have decided to go for either a 335D or a C350 CDI next.
Very recently drove both of the above on the same day. The Merc impressed me, it felt quite nimble with a fairly nice but firm ride (Sport model). Changing gear with the paddles felt instant compared to my 330. It felt a little quicker than mine and power was nice & linear. Despite it being a very exterior/interior coluor combination I was generally impressed.
The BMW was a great spec, M-Sport touring in black with panoramic roof and quite a few other options. The grunt was very impressive in a dieselly way but that was it, instant punch but tailed off quickly, changing gear with the paddles was a little sluggish. What put me off most was the comedy thick steering wheel which rotated about itself in your hand - silly thing but it did distract.
The Merc I drove was a pre-face lift, have been told the later model with 265hp is a nicer drive again.
I did also drive a 335i Manual, didn't feel perky fast but big numbers soon appeared on the dial - was very tempted with this but was put off with the N54(?) horror stories and this one did have an exhaust rattle when cold.
Sorry this isn't the most technical of review but I'm now saving for a facelift C350, hopefully with the new model about to be launched the prices should come down to meet my budget as I say.
I am still thinking though to get a £5k daily driver and a Cayman S for a few years first .....
There's something wrong that 335d if the grunt "tailed off quickly". I'm on my second and I've never experienced that sort of behavior - from 1500 to the red line the acceleration is relentless with no let-up. Very recently drove both of the above on the same day. The Merc impressed me, it felt quite nimble with a fairly nice but firm ride (Sport model). Changing gear with the paddles felt instant compared to my 330. It felt a little quicker than mine and power was nice & linear. Despite it being a very exterior/interior coluor combination I was generally impressed.
The BMW was a great spec, M-Sport touring in black with panoramic roof and quite a few other options. The grunt was very impressive in a dieselly way but that was it, instant punch but tailed off quickly, changing gear with the paddles was a little sluggish. What put me off most was the comedy thick steering wheel which rotated about itself in your hand - silly thing but it did distract.
The Merc I drove was a pre-face lift, have been told the later model with 265hp is a nicer drive again.
I did also drive a 335i Manual, didn't feel perky fast but big numbers soon appeared on the dial - was very tempted with this but was put off with the N54(?) horror stories and this one did have an exhaust rattle when cold.
Sorry this isn't the most technical of review but I'm now saving for a facelift C350, hopefully with the new model about to be launched the prices should come down to meet my budget as I say.
I am still thinking though to get a £5k daily driver and a Cayman S for a few years first .....
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/3-series/f...
I had in fairly quick succession a 2007 335d Touring, a 2006 535d Touring, a 2007 Audi A6 3.0 TDI Avant, and then another 2006 535d Touring. A friend of mine had the A4 3.0Tdi on an 08 plate at the same time.
The long and the short of it, for me at least, was that the Audi's were shockingly bad compared the BMW's. Worse fuel economy, ride, handling, performance and in my opinion interior.
I looked for the A6 for ages before finding the one I wanted, the S Line, Le Mans edition, and was left deeply unimpressed. Even driving home from the garage I realised I'd made a big mistake. I think I advertised it about 2 weeks after buying it and went back to BMW.
If I had to live with one of them now the 335d Touring was lovely, and seriously rapid.
I've never driven the Merc so couldn't comment.
The long and the short of it, for me at least, was that the Audi's were shockingly bad compared the BMW's. Worse fuel economy, ride, handling, performance and in my opinion interior.
I looked for the A6 for ages before finding the one I wanted, the S Line, Le Mans edition, and was left deeply unimpressed. Even driving home from the garage I realised I'd made a big mistake. I think I advertised it about 2 weeks after buying it and went back to BMW.
If I had to live with one of them now the 335d Touring was lovely, and seriously rapid.
I've never driven the Merc so couldn't comment.
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