[neilmc]

After having the car for 2 weeks and 400 miles, I thought I would post up a comparison with my old B7 audi A4 2.0T quattro.

Looks wise, it appears to be a fair amount smaller than the Audi, but dimensions wise, it is not really that different.

Interior, BMW is much better in the rear, but seems narrower in the front. The dash is also smaller on the BMW, but a lot better laid out. The boot is much smaller on the BMW though.

Navigation/i-drive is better in the BMW

Standard BMW stereo seems fine for free compared to the Bose option in the Audi.

Should possibly have gone for xenon's and usb input.

Seats in the BMW are not as comfortable for me personally as the sports seats in the Audi, but then I may find over time that 15 stone in and out every day sorts them out!! After black leather for the last 3 years, the Lemon leather is annoying when wearing blue jeans or job issue utility trousers, it does wipe clean easily though.

Leather in the BMW is much nicer, god knows what cows/people Audi use for it's hides.

Interior build quality is about the same on both cars

Paintwork quality on the Audi is much higher, far, far less orange peel and looks a lot thicker. Having said that both of my previous black Audi's had paint work faults.

Handling wise, much less understeer on the BMW, and I expext it to get even better handling wise once the tyres and engine have worn in. The traction in the Audi however is sorely missed, especially in wet, uneven tarmac. I also found on the well run in courtesy car 320d m. I was loaned, that the traction control is best left off, unless you have the wet weather driving skills of Felipe Massa.

The brakes are at the moment utter shit compared to the massive ventilated and drilled ones fitted to my Audi. I will adddress this as soon as possible.

Quality of the alloy wheels on my particular car is far superior to the Audi's, I believe the BMW's are made by BBS?

The tyres are not as bad as I expected, although I think this has more to do with the ride quality on the Audi. I suspect with normal tyres on the BMW, the ride would be excellent, as it is, the bMW's ride is much better than the Audi, with excellent body control and much less roll. Why not just use normal tyres and a can of foam though?

Design wise, inside and out, the BMW is to my tastes, much nicer.

I particularly like certain thing's on the BMW. Tool kit, little torch, dipping mirror when reversing, i-drive, cup holders, reversing diplay on i-drive, clear car phone, steering wheel and many other things.

Gearbox wise, both quite nice, the BMW is more precise, but I am finding it easy to get the wrong gear every now and again, I am sure with time this will work out fine. There is however much less slack in the drive train of the BMW, the Audi did jerk a lot more, but then it was 4wd.

And finally the engine. Obviously the BMW is less powerful, but not as bad as I thought. I think the torque and low down power make up for it. I will be getting it looked at power wise mind. MPG wise, the BMW is superb compared to the Audi. It is returning about 37 mpg compared to the Audi's 27 mpg on my way to work, town/B roads. A long journey on a worn in engine should be amazing hopefully. Incidentally sometimes use Ford focus ST's at work and these have hillarious fuel consumption when driven hard, so would not recommend one of those either.

Brakes aside, I am delighted with the car, even after my initial problems with the bumper and the badly applied sealant/Zymol. The dealer has redeemed themselves and offered compensation that I am happy with, so my previous posts have been edited and the sealant and Zymol issue is being dealt with soon.

Hope this is of use to anyone thinking of looking at an Audi and sorry for the lack of comedy/un pc remarks, plenty of time for that in other posts!! Thanks for reading.

[Atari Boy]

A great thread Neil, interesting observations and comments.
Even it was a little too pc...

Also

[gIzzE]

I went to BMW from Audi and then back to Audi, it took 6 cars in 2 years to realise what it was I was looking for in the Audi brand did not exist. It is the balance and rwd of a BMW that I loved so much about them.

After owning over 10 Audis I now really hate them, well I don't hate them, I like the design etc. but they annoy me as a brand. I hate the way they nicked a load of BMW designers to try and bring in a sportier feel with less understeer and then scrapped their input and went back to barge handling.

I would love to hear what you have to say in 12 months if you have a bash in an Audi again, I bet you would think they are pants drive wise.
I can get from A-B quicker in a BMW than in any Audi, my 335i was far quicker even in the wet than our S4 avant, and we had them at the same time so back to back comparisons were easy. Quattro may feel safer but you find the car understeers into a wall well before the back end comes out in a BMW.


Once you get used to the BMW you will love it, and get the car tuned. My mate has a B7 216ps 2.0T special edition and he just can't keep up with mine.
I guess it is the torque??
So well worth tuning!

[Carrera RSR]

Nice one Neil....but only 400 miles in two weeks!! I'll end up doing that in one day!!!

The gearbox will loosen up after a few thousand miles as will the engine. This car will start to come into its own. Its all a little too tight at the moment but thats not to mean it all get slack, just better.

The seats are narrow and take time to slide both cheeks in

After 12 months and 45,000 miles mine still gave me a smile everyday I used it. I nearly became too complacent. Having endured a Vectra for the last 4 months I really do miss the car and now even more excited about getting mine in 4 weeks.

I think we need a reason to get these Edition M sports together over the coming months

[neilmc]

Thanks for the info carrerarsr, my Audi took about 6k miles and then came alive. as this is my private car just to get to work, and very occasional work use, it will not do many miles, about 10k per year. Actually have a couple of 530d's at work and they really fly, but are too big for cross country drives quickly. Good in a straight line mind and very stealthy. I think a meet would be good, then I can steal someones usb socket! Worryinhly I have started to talk to the car, miserable thing though as it never answers back unless in voice mode. Wonder if you can program it to talk like kitt?

[booforty]

Great write-up Neil, interesting and informative...

However, you haven't said which car is the gayest

[Carrera RSR]

Didn't Victor Meldew talk to himself, was often upsetting people and very un pc!!!

Forgot to mention those WTCC wheels are made by BBS.

[neilmc]

The Audi is the gayest, it tried to bum me.

I am very much like Victor Meldrew so I am told, along with being rude, arrogant, obnoxious, cocky, alcoholic, ignorant and vindictive.

They say this as if it's a bad thing.

Wheels are nice mind.

[booforty]

I think Audi's are gay too (am I allowed to say this?)

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by neilmc

I am very much like Victor Meldrew so I am told, along with being rude, arrogant, obnoxious, cocky, alcoholic, ignorant and vindictive.

They say this as if it's a bad thing.

I doooooo beelieeve it !!!!!!

[willhollin]

The actor that plays Victor Meldrew is also gay I believe.

[neilmc]

I know I have slept with him. But only once, I thought he was someone else. Oh how silly I felt.

Any chance my little description can say first class privates instead of private first class?

[Atari Boy]

Originally Posted by neilmc

The Audi is the gayest, it tried to bum me.

Neil is back! I was getting bored and worried

[neilmc]

I am still here, I was just hiding in the closet.

I forgot to metion, never order a climate comfort windscreen. Don't give the money to your dealer, cut out the middle man and just find someone you don't like and give them £250 instead.

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by neilmc

I am still here, I was just hiding in the closet.

I forgot to metion, never order a climate comfort windscreen. Don't give the money to your dealer, cut out the middle man and just find someone you don't like and give them £250 instead.

It also makes your windscreen look pink when the light hits it at certain angles!!

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

It also makes your windscreen look pink when the light hits it at certain angles!!

Oh how gay!

[neilmc]

Now this is getting silly again.

Is it true that the climate windscreen will be dropped on the next 3 series? and the latest option will be a built in brown clown?

[booforty]

The brown clown is already an option... He lives in the closet behind the back seats...

[Porscha!]

LOL! Neil you are a legend, get your name down for UK6, only gays don't bother turning up.....

Aside from that don't know what came over me then I'm normally such a good little Porscha

Glad you are enjoying BMW, and have discovered that RWD is better. I don't like Audis personally one little bit but hey ho each to there own

[booforty]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

LOL! Neil you are a legend, get your name down for UK6, only gays don't bother turning up.....

Carlos turns up

[Porscha!]

Originally Posted by booforty

Carlos turns up

Oooooooooooo I'm telling Carlos, I'm telling Carlos, ner, ner, ner, ner

Aw, O/T don't be so harsh on him!

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

Aside from that don't know what came over me then I'm normally such a good little Porscha

That'll be Carlos again.