Audi A4 Avant (B6 model) vs. E46 Touring
Discussion
Completely biased (obviously) but the one thing I don't like about Audis is that they're FWD, even the quattro's are more or less frot wheel drive. I believe they've adressed this on newer ones but in my opinion, FWD is for hot hatches. The Audi is arguabley a better looking car though and the interior is nicer, if a little dark.
SJobson said:
The Quattro's not fwd - you're thinking of the Haldex-equipped VAG cars, which are Golf-platform. The A4 has a proper Torsen diff, and it is very nice not to have wheelspin. A BMW really needs an LSD to get near it for traction.
Well not entirely true....My 330i had a distinct lack of wheelspin in the dry for a 230bhp car (it 255's on the back). Only serious provocation in the dry got the rears to light up.In the wet a bit of a different story but wheelspin was not as big a problem as I thought it would be unless I was flooring the throttle very hard. I agree on the LSD but for different reasons-it makes it much easier,safer and fun to powerslide with a proper LSD.
4WD is great for pulling away fast in adverse conditions but what happens when you have to brake or go into a corner too fast for the conditions?
Edited by Dino D on Thursday 19th July 09:22
Dino D said:
SJobson said:
The Quattro's not fwd - you're thinking of the Haldex-equipped VAG cars, which are Golf-platform. The A4 has a proper Torsen diff, and it is very nice not to have wheelspin. A BMW really needs an LSD to get near it for traction.
Well not entirely true....My 330i had a distinct lack of wheelspin in the dry for a 230bhp car (it 255's on the back). Only serious provocation in the dry got the rears to light up.The BMW is bigger inside than the Audi.
I was very surprised how compact the Avant actually was.
For me, the key issue with Audis is that, once you get to the higher power versions, you are saddled with 4wd which, personally, I regard as being unnecessary
I was very surprised how compact the Avant actually was.
For me, the key issue with Audis is that, once you get to the higher power versions, you are saddled with 4wd which, personally, I regard as being unnecessary
Edited by alfaspiderman2 on Thursday 19th July 13:12
alfaspiderman2 said:
The BMW is bigger inside than the Audi.
Really-I always thought FWD packaging gave more room? Pretty silly chaps at Audi-They stick in dull to drivr FWD for space but end up with less room than their major competitor and have less traction to boot. If you going to use the estate to tow and lug lots of stuff then the RWD makes even more sense!
Imagine a fully loaded 2.0tdi A4 pulling away on a hill on wet day...
Olf said:
I love people who turn up - ask for some input and then FO never to be seen again.
True..these 'Discuss' threads are rather crap but I was bored when I first saw it. Besides, I hvae to keep up the 'I own/had a BMW' and they are better than your Audi-no what you say'. After all, BMW drivers are all w
rs you know.Personally i think this 'reputation' is great - possibly makes for poorer resale values and seeing as though I can only really buy used thats fine by me!
Dino D said:
Olf said:
I love people who turn up - ask for some input and then FO never to be seen again.
True..these 'Discuss' threads are rather crap but I was bored when I first saw it. Besides, I hvae to keep up the 'I own/had a BMW' and they are better than your Audi-no what you say'. After all, BMW drivers are all wrs you know.Personally i think this 'reputation' is great - possibly makes for poorer resale values and seeing as though I can only really buy used thats fine by me!
Buy the Audi. BM's suck.
Olf said:
I love people who turn up - ask for some input and then FO never to be seen again.
Well boocks to you cos here I am.The BMW Touring boot is smaller than the Avant as I transferred the Cannon mat from Avant to Touring and it was too big.
I am trying to justify keeping the Touring but am still swayed towards getting another Audi. So far, the only things I can see going in BMW favour are a) handling; b) equipment.
Isoproturon1 said:
Olf said:
I love people who turn up - ask for some input and then FO never to be seen again.
Well boocks to you cos here I am.The BMW Touring boot is smaller than the Avant as I transferred the Cannon mat from Avant to Touring and it was too big.
I am trying to justify keeping the Touring but am still swayed towards getting another Audi. So far, the only things I can see going in BMW favour are a) handling; b) equipment.
Just saw your other post here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I did similair mileages to you and bought a 330i sport saloon and converted it to LPG.
In a nutshell:
no noticeable performance drop (still clocked 255mph but slightly less torque than high octane petrol but didn't really matter on the 330)
Loss of spare wheel-well is a pain but if you fit run flats or keep tyre weld you don't need the spare.
LPG is a problem if there are no pumps near you house but on all major routes filling up was not a problem.
I had all the joy of owning a 'proper' 3 series with less than 330d running costs. Plus I was 'green'!
Just an idea....If you need more info on LPG just let me know- i did loads of research before getting the car and gconverting it.
I did similair mileages to you and bought a 330i sport saloon and converted it to LPG.
In a nutshell:
no noticeable performance drop (still clocked 255mph but slightly less torque than high octane petrol but didn't really matter on the 330)
Loss of spare wheel-well is a pain but if you fit run flats or keep tyre weld you don't need the spare.
LPG is a problem if there are no pumps near you house but on all major routes filling up was not a problem.
I had all the joy of owning a 'proper' 3 series with less than 330d running costs. Plus I was 'green'!
Just an idea....If you need more info on LPG just let me know- i did loads of research before getting the car and gconverting it.
Olf said:
Dino D said:
SJobson said:
The Quattro's not fwd - you're thinking of the Haldex-equipped VAG cars, which are Golf-platform. The A4 has a proper Torsen diff, and it is very nice not to have wheelspin. A BMW really needs an LSD to get near it for traction.
Well not entirely true....My 330i had a distinct lack of wheelspin in the dry for a 230bhp car (it 255's on the back). Only serious provocation in the dry got the rears to light up.Anyway, my point is that you can plant your foot in a higher-powered Audi, in any gear, and just go. That is quite a pleasant thing. I can quite see that it'd be irrelevant in lower powered versions, except that I'd rather not have fwd.
Back to the A4/E46 comparison - the Audi feels like an appliance while the BMW feels much more intimate. And even if the A4 has a bigger boot, it has a cramped cabin. If you really need the space, you'd consider an A6/5-series, of course, so maybe that's not an issue.
Even Evo are in this BMW drivers are wrs thing. From their review of the 535d and the new lane departure system:
Evo review of 535d
An interesting new feature for the refreshed 5-series, and one that’s standard on the 535d, is a lane departure warning system (the reason for the glass eye in the lower front grille). If you stray over a white line on the motorway it makes the wheel gently buzz, which is less disconcerting than CitroÛn’s vibrating seat, and it remains inactive if you indicate when swapping lanes, although I suppose most BMW drivers won’t ever discover that…
Go on, buy a BMW and drive like tosser and lets push the residuals down together!!
rs thing. From their review of the 535d and the new lane departure system:Evo review of 535d
An interesting new feature for the refreshed 5-series, and one that’s standard on the 535d, is a lane departure warning system (the reason for the glass eye in the lower front grille). If you stray over a white line on the motorway it makes the wheel gently buzz, which is less disconcerting than CitroÛn’s vibrating seat, and it remains inactive if you indicate when swapping lanes, although I suppose most BMW drivers won’t ever discover that…
Go on, buy a BMW and drive like tosser and lets push the residuals down together!!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff