As an atheist, I’m quite happy having the basic audio controls on the steering wheel … where Audi puts them. Beats reaching for the dash any day.

Also, colour me surprised to see the steering wheel from my A3 in this car (that costs twice as much).

I also fully agree on the annoying MMI, which in my opinion works less well than the iDrive.

And especially if you are considering an X5, then the diesel works amazingly well and actual mPGs were even higher than the 26 EPA mpg highway! Morotweek got over 27 mpg from the 5,000+ lb beast in Mixed Driving!!!

I don’t get the 335d at all. It’s more expensive than the gas 335, which will clean the diesel’s clocks at any speed over 35 mph. And is the gas version a pig at the pumps? Not at all…17/25 mpg is damned respectable for a car that will do 0-60 in five seconds.

The X5 diesel makes a lot more sense – it’s a big, heavy vehicle, so the torque-monster engine will do it justice.

But I don’t get the point of the 335d. I don’t think buyers get it either – my local BMW store ordered one back in February and still has it on the lot as a demo.

And especially if you are considering an X5, then the diesel works amazingly well and actual mPGs were even higher than the 26 EPA mpg highway! Morotweek got over 27 mpg from the 5,000+ lb beast in Mixed Driving!!!

I agree. My old 98 usually does not get rentals when I take it to the dealer for service, but they once could not figure it out in time and gave me a free 328iX, I believe, and the auto at that. I did not like it one bit, it did feel cheapo inside, and the ride was of course not even close to that of my 740iL I only paid $10.5k to buy back in 05.

” I could be happy with a flame surfaced car but want an evolved e46 interior.”

The interior is the most important, but I like a good exterior too. Esp. if I buy new or almost new.

” A 335i with sport, etc was $51,000 before 8% tax. I’d gain the 300hp turbo, but the whole car is built a notch cheaper. The seats are still wonderful, but the interior is just ugly, and the switchgear went downmarket. “

That explains why I got that impression (without looking at it carefully) in that loaner.

“One huge problem for these car makers I overheard at a party recently. A money manager who claimed not to have had much setback said his E class lease is up. He liked it, and would do it again but as the market is so bad, he’s looking for something “less flashy”.”

In his case, I’d keep the old E instead of getting the uglier (exterior) new one. The old E diesel I would consider seriously later. Esp. if it is avail in wagon.

PS I never used any snow tires on my 7 and drive it all year round in its one set of all season tires, and still no problem ever. Maybe the hills in my town not being as steep as Lombard Str in San Fransisco helps.

On another topic, manual with RWD with dedicated snow tires is quite good. I’ve climbed hills that 4wd rigs and all seasons could not conquer. 4wd for normal street use is hugely oversold in North America.

I was in the dealer getting radio knobs for my 200k mile 330i and saw the equivalent car (equipment wise) on the showroom floor. A 335i with sport, etc was $51,000 before 8% tax. I’d gain the 300hp turbo, but the whole car is built a notch cheaper. The seats are still wonderful, but the interior is just ugly, and the switchgear went downmarket. Someone said build it for 10% less this time, and an engineer didn’t/couldn’t stop them.

One huge problem for these car makers I overheard at a party recently. A money manager who claimed not to have had much setback said his E class lease is up. He liked it, and would do it again but as the market is so bad, he’s looking for something “less flashy”. It appears some of his high value clients have been out of work for going on a year….

I like the styling of this previous 3 far more than the current 3. It is also quite fuel efficient if you do not get the M3.. If not for the winter driving in this snow-cursed area, I would get an e46 M3 for driving around town. Now, amazingly, I use the 740iL all year round with only the same all-season tires winter and summer, and no chains either. It has NEVER had a single misstep in the snow! And it is strictly RWD!

I discussed this with colleagues and friends and two explanations are 1) the 7’s hevay weight and 2) its perfect 50-50% weight distribution, but I think it is probably 3) all these systems, ABS, Stability, even YAW control that my old 98 740il has! (other guesses considered)

I’ll go German every time. I have owned 5 BMW’s 1 with 300+ k all tough as nails and not expensive to maintain. I presently have a 2003 e46 3 series with 70K and a 2003 Honda with 70k, the Honda has had more problems, which are few. But the 3 has had zero. The quality and driving experience between the two cars is not even close. My wife and I fight over driving the BMW practically every day.

So I was NOT just “lucky” when I made an educated risky decision to buy, without even checking by a mechanic, after two test drives, and after seeing the full Dealer printout of my 98 740iL’s maintenance and repair record for its 113k miles until oct 05.

I also have a Honda (actually had two when I bought the “Magnificent 7″ and drove the 1990 Accord 5-speed around town until I donated it to charity. The Accord rusted and developed other issues by the time I donated it, had 137k miles. But the 740iL now has 129k miles and STILL drives and looks like NEW inside and out. ANd the Accord’s exhaust needed replacements of some part or another every 2 years, while the BMw, NONE so far in 4 years+.

I hope that Audi steps up their interior game with the C7 A6. The C6 isn’t bad, but it definitely could be better. Audi buyers go for styling, Quattro, and interior design/quality. If Audi pulls a Toyota and starts really going Fisher-Price, we’re going to jump ship.

I would say that the the audi name, higher quality interior and the fact that it is built in germany make up that $1000 difference.

The higher quality interior and handful of extra toys were nice, but what really sold me on a FWD premium A3 over an optioned up GTI was the more grownup, non-boy racer look. Ten years ago, I might have chosen differently–even though, as you pointed out, the price difference was negligible.

Not shopping at this price point, but I keep considering the A4. So far I prefer the Japanese, but the German brands could win me over.

“Reliability is trivial and the Germans simply couldn’t be bothered because they focused on making their cars so much more desirable”

to

“It’s only the electronics that blow up and it’s ok as long as the engine didn’t”.

Gotcha.

MMI is WORSE than COMAND and not as good as the newest iDrive in the 750 (2009).

The red dials don’t connect with me. Looks like an X-Wing fighter but less exciting.

I find it amazing how reviewers always gloss over the plastic bins and fold outs that feel like economy class on a 747. Audi’s feel so cheap in my opinion.

I’d never buy one. I’m sticking with Mercedes Benz, but if I had to choose something else I’d take the BMW instead.

I’m talking late model Infiniti models, starting with the redesign of the G. I am familiar with the dial and buttons surrounding it, and I still don’t see where the latptop comparison is coming from. On top of that the setup in the M Series differs from that of the G/FX/EX.

1. Huh?

2. When you buy this kind of car, you usually live in a certain neighbourhood where what car you drive means jack. Your neighbour who drives a Camry could be worth 10 times more than you.

3. That’s either young guys who lease entry-level luxury (think Inifini G) or divorced old rich guys who buy 100K sport(ish) cars. :)

4. If you are asking this question, you shouldn’t be wasting your money on a car.

5. It’s not visiting the dealer, it’s the quality of service that you get when you visit the dealer, in which case a particular dealer means more than a brand.

6. Resale? Who cares. If you buy a 70K car, how much will it cost in 7 years? And what are you going to do about it? If you trade in, you will get pennies, even for a Lexus. What are you going to do, put it on Craigslist and have crowds of people coming to your house to test drive it (or maybe they are checking out your house to see if they can burglarize it later)? If you have a successfull business, time is money and you don’t waste your work time or your free time on selling cars on Craigslist.

This is the first review I’ve read where BMW’s famous twin turbo six shows zero lag against the Audi’s supercharged unit.

I’ve sampled that twin-turbo BMW six in two applications the 3-series and 5-series. I’m here to report: turbo lag has been banished completely.

Drive one for yourself, and if you can detect any lag, I’ll buy you a beer. Seriously.

The Audi doesn’t lag – it just delivers its power differently. The BMW twin turbo is designed to hit peak torque at 1400 rpm, while the Audi delivers peak torque at around 2500 rpm. The difference is that the BMW has its afterburners lit from a standing start, while the Audi’s kick in about a second later. After that, it’s seamless.

The supercharged 6 should be even more fun in the S4.

Two great engines, for sure…one’s just a bit better. Read tomorrow’s review for why.

I mean the XF is RWD and get’s the same amount of stars for handeling? What’s up with that? Has anyone on here had a go in an XFR? And tried that against this…. The Audi couldn’t put that much BHP through it’s VW front wheel drive floorpan. Go over 230 BHP and your dead in a FWD car.

Good thing the Audi has AWD, then….

My Jaguar X-Type left me stranded by the side of the road, at night, in a particularly bad part of Detroit, 2 weeks after I got it. It was a fun 2 hour wait for the tow truck!

Because there’s more to handling than just statistics and theory. Rear-wheel drive does not automatically infer good handing or “fun-ness”. You have to consider the whole package: suspension, steering, chassis stiffness, noise/vibration isolation, even interior design and ergonomics.