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Asfwindsor
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:57 am Post subject:
Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi Quattro A4.
Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp
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Dennis W
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:47 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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Get the BMW. 1.Quality 2.Reliability
From a 2001 A4 2.8 Quattro Owner
"Asfwindsor" <asfwindsor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041207155725.07572.00001849@mb-m01.aol.com...
| Quote: | I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi Quattro
A4.
Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp |
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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Quattro system is superior to X-Drive. BMW is pretentious and overpriced, Audi
has better interior to boot. BMW's performance is slightly better but you
aren't racing, right? Get the A4. I'd also suggest the AWD Infiniti G35.
Steve Grauman
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Dan J.S.
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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"Asfwindsor" <asfwindsor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041207155725.07572.00001849@mb-m01.aol.com...
| Quote: | I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi Quattro A4.
Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp
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Both unreliable. Get a Lexus IS. |
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Mike Smith
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:50 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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Dan J.S. wrote:
| Quote: | "Asfwindsor" <asfwindsor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041207155725.07572.00001849@mb-m01.aol.com...
I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi Quattro A4.
Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp
Both unreliable. Get a Lexus IS.
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Too bad it's so ugly. :(
--
Mike Smith |
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:35 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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| Quote: | Both unreliable. Get a Lexus IS.
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I'm not aware of any mass claims that the 3-series is a problematic vehicle. My
uncle had 3 of them before moving into the 5-series he just bought and they've
been problem free thus far. However iDrive is a bitch. I'm well aware of claims
aganist the A4 but my father's B5 2.8 went over 60,000 miles with no problems,
and my 1.8t powered GTi is trouble free as well. The IS is great little car, it
can out-handle the 3-series and matches the class average 0-60 time of around
7.0 seconds. But it's rear seat is even more cramped than the A4's and it lacks
AWD. The AWD version of the G35 can match or beat any of them for performance
and costs less. Slightly over-zealous brakes, but that's not the worst thing
that could happen. However, I still prefer Audi's interiors and Quattro is the
only truly proven system in the lot.
Steve Grauman |
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KLS
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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On 08 Dec 2004 21:35:52 GMT, oneactor1@aol.com (Steve Grauman) wrote:
| Quote: | I'm not aware of any mass claims that the 3-series is a problematic vehicle. My
uncle had 3 of them before moving into the 5-series he just bought and they've
been problem free thus far. However iDrive is a bitch. I'm well aware of claims
aganist the A4 but my father's B5 2.8 went over 60,000 miles with no problems,
and my 1.8t powered GTi is trouble free as well. The IS is great little car, it
can out-handle the 3-series and matches the class average 0-60 time of around
7.0 seconds. But it's rear seat is even more cramped than the A4's and it lacks
AWD. The AWD version of the G35 can match or beat any of them for performance
and costs less. Slightly over-zealous brakes, but that's not the worst thing
that could happen. However, I still prefer Audi's interiors and Quattro is the
only truly proven system in the lot.
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Steve, as usual, is right. I love BMW as much as the next person (the
motorcycles are my thing, actually, more than the cars), but the Audi
is more affordable and appropriate for my life in western New York
winters, and my 98.5 A4 has been trouble-free for the most part. No,
I wasn't amused by the rear bearing failures (one last year, one this
year), but that's not the same as control arm failures, which I have
not experienced, and the car has been rock solid reliable in terms of
electrical and engine functions. Maybe I got a midweek built car. I
love this machine and will probably drive it to the ground. |
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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| Quote: | Steve, as usual, is right.
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=) Thanks!
| Quote: | but the Audi
is more affordable and appropriate for my life in western New York
winters, and my 98.5 A4 has been trouble-free for the most part.
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Apparently Subaru's have a very good reputation for snow and ice conditions as
well. Again I prefer the A4's interior but I think the Legacy/Outback with the
250Hp 2.5 litre turbo motor might be worth a look - just in case.
Steve Grauman |
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Dan J.S.
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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Mike Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Dan J.S. wrote:
"Asfwindsor" <asfwindsor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041207155725.07572.00001849@mb-m01.aol.com...
I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi
Quattro A4. Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp
Both unreliable. Get a Lexus IS.
Too bad it's so ugly. :(
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Well, its not that bad. Audi is a pretty car! By far probably the best
looking. I am not sure what happened to the Germans, cars that used to be
rock solid are a thing of the past. |
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KLS
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:41 pm Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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On 09 Dec 2004 03:40:16 GMT, oneactor1@aol.com (Steve Grauman) wrote:
| Quote: | but the Audi
is more affordable and appropriate for my life in western New York
winters, and my 98.5 A4 has been trouble-free for the most part.
Apparently Subaru's have a very good reputation for snow and ice conditions as
well. Again I prefer the A4's interior but I think the Legacy/Outback with the
250Hp 2.5 litre turbo motor might be worth a look - just in case.
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Subaru is an outstanding car for our winters, and we have a 1999
Legacy Outback right now, but the A4 is superior in all respects
except price and maintenance. |
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:25 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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| Quote: | Subaru is an outstanding car for our winters, and we have a 1999
Legacy Outback right now, but the A4 is superior in all respects
except price and maintenance.
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The Subies, at least the more expensive sedans, are getting nicer. I was fairly
impressed when I test drove the new 2.5GT sedans but it's still not Audi
quality.
Steve Grauman |
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Cam Newton
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:54 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 15:50:42 -0500, Mike Smith
<mike_UNDERSCORE_smith@acm.DOT.org> wrote:
| Quote: | Dan J.S. wrote:
"Asfwindsor" <asfwindsor@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041207155725.07572.00001849@mb-m01.aol.com...
I am considering a used 3 Series, maybe the Xi model or an Audi Quattro A4.
Thoughts, opinions and facts are appreciated.
H Castorp
Both unreliable. Get a Lexus IS.
Too bad it's so ugly. :(
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The IS 300 is too small, no ski sack, flip/fold down seats, FWD...
shall I go on? Get the Corolla XRS for 1/2 the price if you are stuck
on a small car.
BMWs though nice are too common and option up real pretty like. Go to
the Audi page and option up an A4 and then try it with BMW. You will
spend ~ $8K more for the BMW. And look like every other mook on the
road with a 3 series.
The G35 is pretty OK, my second choice. Distant 2nd. What Nissan is
doing with the G35 is pumping up the HP in lieu of other useful things
like how the rear seat functions, fit and finish and so on. The extra
HP instead of useful things is something I would expect from the US
car assemblers. More HP = more fuel consumption. Do you need 250 HP to
toodle around at 50 km/hr? I don't and chose the A4 1.8 q.
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:30 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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| Quote: | The IS 300 is too small, no ski sack, flip/fold down seats, FWD...
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The IS is RWD, and psosts higher skidpad numbers than a 330i, althog the 330
may turn that around if optioned with the Sport Pacakge that also ups
horsepower.
| Quote: | Get the Corolla XRS for 1/2 the price if you are stuck
on a small car.
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The Corolla uses the 1.8 litre 180Hp motor from the Celica GT-S. Very fun at
high revvs but practically useless torque below 4500 RPM and it still feels
like an econobox inside. Frankly, even Nissan's Sentra SE-R VSpec is more
attractive to me than the XRS. It's got better low-end power from the 2.5 litre
motor and can be had with Brembo brakes. Of course, for the money, I'll take a
Jetta GLS 1.8T over any of those.
| Quote: | You will
spend ~ $8K more for the BMW. And look like every other mook on the
road with a 3 series.
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My local dealer sells Audi, Porsche and BMW. I went with my mother several
weeks ago to test drive a Cayenne S and to show her the A6 Avant. When we went
to the BMW side to look at the X3 and X5 we noticed a fully optioned 330i with
a $45,600 sticker. You've GOT to be kidding me. I'll take an S4 thanks.
| Quote: | The G35 is pretty OK, my second choice. Distant 2nd. What Nissan is
doing with the G35 is pumping up the HP in lieu of other useful things
like how the rear seat functions, fit and finish and so on.
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The G35 is the best deal to come out of Nissan Motors in years. For $35,000 you
can have a fully loaded, 260 horsepower sedan with Navigation, leather, premium
sound, and a low 6-second 0-60 time. Not to mention that it can match or beat a
330 on the track. It's interior quality cannot quite match the A4's but it's
certainly as nice as the BMW's, which I think is over-rated. There's also
(apparently) huge discounts being given on the M45 which I think is a neat car,
but some people really dislike the exterior styling, and it's normal price of
around $50k is to high by any standard.
| Quote: | Do you need 250 HP to
toodle around at 50 km/hr? I don't and chose the A4 1.8 q.
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Well there's a little more to buying than that. If all you need is basic A to B
transportation from a car that's capable of 65 MPH highway speeds than a
$12,000 Kia will do it.
Steve Grauman |
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Eza Gadson
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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What!?!?
The ML is the worst piece of trash that Mercedes has ever sold (in America).
If you thought that was anywhere near nice and/or well put together, you'd
love a vintage 1980s Jeep. Seriously, that thing is a tremendous step down
for MB, and they've been somewhat practiced at stepping down build quality
and reliability for the last 10 years.
Check out a 1994 vintage W124 E-class or an even older W126 S-class. You
will find many examples of those 10+ year old cars with fewer rattles,
tighter exterior panel fit, and better internal fit and finish than a new ML
that just rolled off the assembly line.
On 12/8/04 10:42 PM, in article
20041208224235.16116.00002058@mb-m02.aol.com, "Steve Grauman"
<oneactor1@aol.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I am not sure what happened to the Germans, cars that used to be
rock solid are a thing of the past.
Mercedes Benz isn't what it used to be but the cars are still solid. In fact,
IMHO, MB is the only company who's cars interior quality can match or best the
Audi models. We test drove the ML-series SUV twice, once in late 2000 before
my
mother got her RX300 and again a few weeks ago before she got her new Touraeg.
The exterior styling leaves a *lot* to be desired but the interior is
extremely
nice and well put togethor.
Steve Grauman |
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Steve Grauman
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:28 am Post subject:
Re: Audi 4 vs. Bmw 3 Series |
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| Quote: | The ML is the worst piece of trash that Mercedes has ever sold (in America).
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The interior quality of the ML was at least as good or better than the Acura
MDX and Lexus RX 330, neither of which are horrible by any degree. It was fit
well and looked good, although not as good as previous Mercedes.
| Quote: | Check out a 1994 vintage W124 E-class or an even older W126 S-class.
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My Grandfather owned a 1979 S-Class Diesel sedan and a 1991 560 SEC coupe that
he kept as "side" vehicles till just last year. Both were extremely well put
togethor, but the 1998 SL500 and 2004 E500 he has at the moment aren't bad
either. I'm waiting for a new Sl to replace the 98'.
Steve Grauman |
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