New guy with inevitable "what new car" topic - 335i vs TTS
Discussion
Hello all. Been around the site for a long time but only recently signed up and started posting. I live just outside Wokingham, Berks.
Anyway, I have a new car dilema and have reached a total brick wall. I have driven both the Audi TTS and the BMW 335i now and just can't decide between them.
TTS - felt lighter and more eager than the BMW in many ways, better brakes, nicer interior. On the minus side the steering was a little artifical and I found myself feeding too much direction into it on fast turn in, perhaps this is something I would adjust to. The grip was also limpet like with the quattro.
335i - Looking specifically at the coupe but Coopers in Reading could only come up with the convertible for the test drive today. It felt soooo heavy though and the breakes felt very poor - weak to the point of concern. I did like power delivery - felt almost naturally aspirated it was so linear (although didn't seem to "feel" as quick as the TTS where boost is more obvious) and the steering was superb.
I know I really need to get in the coupe to feel the weight reduction (hopefully) but any experience or input would be gratefully taken at this juncture!
I don't know how to start splitting them - residuals, ongoing costs - I need to find a gap.
Cheers,
Steve
Anyway, I have a new car dilema and have reached a total brick wall. I have driven both the Audi TTS and the BMW 335i now and just can't decide between them.
TTS - felt lighter and more eager than the BMW in many ways, better brakes, nicer interior. On the minus side the steering was a little artifical and I found myself feeding too much direction into it on fast turn in, perhaps this is something I would adjust to. The grip was also limpet like with the quattro.
335i - Looking specifically at the coupe but Coopers in Reading could only come up with the convertible for the test drive today. It felt soooo heavy though and the breakes felt very poor - weak to the point of concern. I did like power delivery - felt almost naturally aspirated it was so linear (although didn't seem to "feel" as quick as the TTS where boost is more obvious) and the steering was superb.
I know I really need to get in the coupe to feel the weight reduction (hopefully) but any experience or input would be gratefully taken at this juncture!
I don't know how to start splitting them - residuals, ongoing costs - I need to find a gap.
Cheers,
Steve
TheArchitect said:
do you have any plans to modify either car as id take this into account also. Ive not driven either car though so cannot comment.
Yes. I won't be going as mad as I have done with my previous cars. I will (hopefully) limit myself to a remap and exhaust this time round.im not sure about the TTS but i imagine as with most VAG turbos remapping will offer some good results and with being 4wd will offer a large performance benefit in the uk imo. however RWD is always fun! i think nonuts and BmW2002 have experience of the 335i in various guises so hopefully will offer some light on them.
John D. said:
I think you should really test the Coupe 335i before dismissing it as the cab probably felt so heavy because it is in comparison 
Personally I would favour the 335i simply as I don't like TTs' and would expect it to be a superior drivers car. That said I have driven neither!
I am def going to try the coupe as I think by taking the cab out it probably gave me a negative impression - though I can't see it improving the brakes that significantly!Personally I would favour the 335i simply as I don't like TTs' and would expect it to be a superior drivers car. That said I have driven neither!
I would say don't knock the TTS until you've driven it. I was sceptical at first but was then very surpised. It started with me going for an S3 and went from there.....!
Have driven the Audi but not the beemer so may not be entitled to an opinion but I'm gonna give it anyway
The Audi I feel is looking very dated and before it wasn't, looked like a hair dressers car. The beemer looks more modern and has more gravitas about it.
The other thing to consider is Audi's reliability. There are a couple of guys on this forum (who will remain nameless but know who they are) who drive their Audi's 'properly' but have had more than their fare share of gremlins. Not heard the same said for the beemer.
The Audi I feel is looking very dated and before it wasn't, looked like a hair dressers car. The beemer looks more modern and has more gravitas about it.
The other thing to consider is Audi's reliability. There are a couple of guys on this forum (who will remain nameless but know who they are) who drive their Audi's 'properly' but have had more than their fare share of gremlins. Not heard the same said for the beemer.
[quote=Lakelord]There are a couple of guys on this forum (who will remain nameless but know who they are) who drive their Audi's 'properly' but have had more than their fare share of gremlins. quote]
Hmmm it's fair to say I also drive my cars "properly"... what sort of issues have they had? The 2.0TFSI is usually a sound engine in other VAG models by all accounts.
Hmmm it's fair to say I also drive my cars "properly"... what sort of issues have they had? The 2.0TFSI is usually a sound engine in other VAG models by all accounts.
I've not driven the Audi but I've driven 2 or 3 335s now. The 335i Cab is a heavy car and it's worth noting that the coupe felt alot lighter and more nimble, in my opinion ofcourse!
Audis have always had pretty impressive interior but that wouldn't be enough to pull me away from the driving experience in the 335i. I can honestly say that I've been nothing short of thoroughly impressed by the latest range of sporty BMWs, even the 535d M Sport was ridicously quick across country and was a fair bit faster than most hot hatches in a straight line.
Make sure you take the opportunity to try a 335i coupe before you chose between the two.
Before I forget, I may have been imagining this but I'm sure Vixpy mentioned he had a moderatly tuned 335i on his rolling road and it made as much power or perhaps even a little more power as the E92 M3.
Audis have always had pretty impressive interior but that wouldn't be enough to pull me away from the driving experience in the 335i. I can honestly say that I've been nothing short of thoroughly impressed by the latest range of sporty BMWs, even the 535d M Sport was ridicously quick across country and was a fair bit faster than most hot hatches in a straight line.
Make sure you take the opportunity to try a 335i coupe before you chose between the two.
Before I forget, I may have been imagining this but I'm sure Vixpy mentioned he had a moderatly tuned 335i on his rolling road and it made as much power or perhaps even a little more power as the E92 M3.
Lakelord said:
There are a couple of guys on this forum (who will remain nameless but know who they are) who drive their Audi's 'properly' but have had more than their fare share of gremlins. Not heard the same said for the beemer.
Nothing mechanical has died yet! Not bad for an 18 year old!!
Robatr0n said:
Lakelord said:
There are a couple of guys on this forum (who will remain nameless but know who they are) who drive their Audi's 'properly' but have had more than their fare share of gremlins. Not heard the same said for the beemer.
Nothing mechanical has died yet! Not bad for an 18 year old!!
It was the 'Yellow one' and the Silver estate I was referring to.
Colin is probably talking about me, my S3 has cost a f
king arm and a leg to run and is currently miss behaving again, that said it's only stopped me getting home once, which was when I knocked a hole in the sump.
If you're getting a new(ish) car, this isn't going to be your issue for a while so maybe that's not worth caring about, my car will also sail past 150,000 miles most of which haven't been gentle in the next 2 days.
The 335i engine is great and will remap to ~400bhp that would sell it to me above the Audi in an instant. If you were talking about a TTRS then it'd be a different call.
king arm and a leg to run and is currently miss behaving again, that said it's only stopped me getting home once, which was when I knocked a hole in the sump.If you're getting a new(ish) car, this isn't going to be your issue for a while so maybe that's not worth caring about, my car will also sail past 150,000 miles most of which haven't been gentle in the next 2 days.
The 335i engine is great and will remap to ~400bhp that would sell it to me above the Audi in an instant. If you were talking about a TTRS then it'd be a different call.
335i coupe isn't a lively car like the TTS is, but would be much better on a test drive than a 335i cab (which weighs about as much as the moon!).
I do feel you may be missing a trick though - seems to me a 135i coupe might be the perfect compromise. You really need to drive one to understand it though...
I do feel you may be missing a trick though - seems to me a 135i coupe might be the perfect compromise. You really need to drive one to understand it though...
VerySideways said:
335i coupe isn't a lively car like the TTS is, but would be much better on a test drive than a 335i cab (which weighs about as much as the moon!).
I do feel you may be missing a trick though - seems to me a 135i coupe might be the perfect compromise. You really need to drive one to understand it though...
I have just never been a fan of the 1 series looks - be it coupe or hatch. I just think "wardrobe" whenever I look at one! No offence intended to any owners I must add.I do feel you may be missing a trick though - seems to me a 135i coupe might be the perfect compromise. You really need to drive one to understand it though...
Is the driving synamic really that different to the 3 series coupe?
Verysideways should be able to answer your driving questions, but I think the 1 series is lighter and more aglie than the 3, and supposedly much improved once off run flats.
As for the looks, I prefer it to the 3er, and I'm 'young, hip and with it" etc...
Also, fit some CSL wheels to make it look really good:
As for the looks, I prefer it to the 3er, and I'm 'young, hip and with it" etc...
Also, fit some CSL wheels to make it look really good:
135i drives like a totally different car to the 335i - and so it should. The 135i is a little sports coupe, dynamic and energetic. The 335i is a GT, like a junior 6 series. Personally i think the 630i drives better than the 330i coupe too - and they weigh about the same.
Do me a favour - drive a 135i before you buy anything. Maybe you'll hate it, maybe you'll love it, but if you buy something else without trying this first you could be making a mistake...
Do me a favour - drive a 135i before you buy anything. Maybe you'll hate it, maybe you'll love it, but if you buy something else without trying this first you could be making a mistake...
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