[bhvrdr]

First it is true that these cars are no doubt very different cars but since they can be priced within 7K dollars of each other and both are fine European sport sedans it surely would be fun to take them all out for the day in the country roads of hilly Kentucky to gain impressions.

The day started out as a Saturday and we made contact with a friend at the local BMW dealership. He is the fiance of a medical student at our hospital and a pleasant and low pressure BMW salesman. Thanks to him for taking the time to provide both of these vehicles for a lengthy test drive.

Upon arrival at the dealership there were two bright red BMW 335i sedans parked next to each other and waiting for the drive. Their equipment levels were very pleasing as we had really wanted a chance to compare both the manual and the automatic transmission models.

Both models were equipped with the sport package, which is about the only option we can say that we would need no time at all to click the box at order time.

The 335i automatic transmission car was equipped with the paddle shifters which are the same very high quality metal shifters found on the SMG equipped e46 M3 cars that some may be familiar with. Each of the two paddle shifters allows both upshifting and downshifting by either clicking them from behind with your fingers to upshift or by clicking them from in front of the steering wheel with your thumbs to downshift. So, in chaotic tight track conditions, you need not remember or have to hunt for which paddle shifter is for up and downshifting but you just need to reach either of them for both functions. In addition to the paddle shifters, the automatic transmission car was also equipped with the iDrive. All other options were present that could be ordered leading to a price of almost 47K dollars in this car.

The manual transmission 335i was equipped with what we originally thought was pretty much how we would order such a car. It had no iDrive, had the sport package (as did the automatic car) and had the manual transmission and premium package. This vehicle was more moderately priced at approximately 43K dollars.

The Audi S4 was equipped with a manual transmission, convenience package, BOSE, and the telematics package. A similarly equipped Audi S4 would fetch approximately 51K in today's dollars. Of important note is that the Audi S4 used in this comparison weighs some 200lbs less than a standard Audi S4 due to deliberate weight reduction. It also packs some 40 more horsepower and 40 more foot pounds of torque than the stock 340hp/300tq S4 while being equipped with a Bilstein coilover suspension that can generate upwards of 1.0g or better in handling. Comparisons in handling and power were made considering these upgrades and with the knowledge of previous driving experience in non modified Audi S4 cars.

EXTERIOR COMPARISON:

Most have gotten used to the latest 3-series sedan design by now. Just as the 1986 Ford Taurus was introduced and even to some extent the B7 models of the Audi 8E chassis cars with the new fishmouth grille, it took us a bit to get used to. It no longer looks odd or all that shocking. That being said, the 335i sedan actually looks a little boring. The lines are nice in person however and the fit and finish was very nice. Still more preferable are the lines of even the older B6 model S4, but this is preference so we won't spend any more time on it. We did have a chance to compare the 335i coupe on the lot and much prefer these lines. It is far more aggressive of a look and the photographs of the 335i coupe do it no justice.

INTERIOR:

The comparison of the interiors of the 335i and the S4 was mixed. For example, the door panels of the 335i had a much more luxurious look to them as they uses perforations in the leather to let it "puff out" and really look like high quality leather is applied to the door panel. The Audi on the other hand uses a straight piece of vinyl looking leather all the way down and looks less luxury.

On the other hand, when it came to the dash board, the 335i uses a material that looks like it would feel like hard plastic. It actually doesn't feel like hard plastic. In fact if you touch it and play with it it actually feels wonderfully rubbery BUT the problem is that it really looks like cheaper plastic. The problem is in the deeper texture lines they molded into the 335i dashboard. It doesn't very well mimic real leather in their deep lines. The audi dashboard on the other hand has the texture of real leather and it provides a much more rich appearance. More preferable as well were the more smooth lines of the Audi dashboard as the front of it curves back to the windshield. The BMW has an odd bulge with a sharp angle in the top front of its dash that makes it looks more 1977 than 2007.

The automatic transmission 335i car was equipped with the iDrive with its central multifunction ball in the center console and the large flat screen in the dash. Unsure if this feature has gone through significant revision, but we had begun with a preconceived notion we would hate it and actually found it adequate to use. The major climate control buttons do retain separate control which is nice. The feel and ease of use of the central iDrive control "ball" was very smooth in operation and had a weighty metal feel to it that felt damped and expensive to the touch while using it. Although the Audi S4 in this comparison was not equipped with the Nav Plus unit, this driver owned a 2006 A4 with an identical unit and found it easier to use than the BMW iDrive controlled unit but with a smaller display and lacking points of interest on its Nav software.

Cupholders are a non issue in a sport sedan so there is no need to comment on them. Get an Oldsmobile if worried about cup holders.

As for the touch and placement of controls, both vehicles had quality feeling controls and both layouts were equally as nice. The BMW places the climate control a bit higher than the Audi so they don't go invisible when wearing sunglasses as the Audi ones do, not a huge issue.

One thing worth noting was the BMW sport seats that were in both 335i sedans. They offer absolutely incredible feel for small framed drivers. This is because the side bolster can be pneumatically adjusted to hug your torso to such an extent one might wonder if they are in a race seat. The Audi Recaros are similarly a fantastic seat but seem better suited to larger frame people who will feel the side bolsters hugging them at all times. Smaller framed folks will only feel the side bolsters when they slide over into them in turns. The Recaros feel a bit softer to the driver's rear end though and as many report, probably would make a better seat for cross country drives than the BMW sport seats that seem a bit more firm. Both seats are fantastic though and the look of the Recaro seats was top notch while the feel of the BMW sport seat was more...well...sporting to this driver.

Overall, we found even the dated Audi interior to look much better integrated and to flow better in design. It still appears Audi knows how to stay on top with regard to this benchmark, although BMW had some hints of attempting to strive ahead they fell short with overall integration.

PERFORMANCE/POWER:

It could be the lack of all wheel drive drivetrain loss or it could be that BMW really is underrating their 300hp motors as some independent dynos are showing but the 335i was fast, fast, fast. So was the modified 380hp/340tq Audi S4, but that was expected. What wasn't expected was just how brutal the 335i can accelerate from virtually any start point. From take-off the 335i will literally roast its tires throughout the entirety of first gear in the manually equipped car. Second gear isn't much friendlier. The automatic transmission car was less rude to the rear tires which may explain why many automatic transmission 335i cars are actually posting better acceleration times by real world drivers. The manual tranny car is definitely quicker but suffers a loss of traction when hammering it. More significant was the acceleration from 4th gear while cruising on a two lane country road. In this same spot pressing the accelerator of the S4 one became very aware as 80mph approached. When driving the 335i vehicles this driver looked down and saw an indicated 100mph before having the chance to even wonder if speeding. So quiet in the way it goes about its business you can get into a lot of trouble. The power delivery of both the Audi v8 and the BMW twin turbo'd I-6 is smooth and linear with no signs of holes. They both have ample torque and a great top end. Remarkable, was the virtual absence of turbo lag in the 335i. It was difficult finding ways to discuss differences in how these naturally aspirated motors and the turbocharged motors behaved as you probably wouldn't have been able to tell the 335i was receiving help from its snails if no one had told you.

The manual transmission mechanism of the Audi and the manual transmission mechanism of the BMW were both quality units that were easy to drive. Both shifters felt relatively smooth with the Audi unit feeling a bit more "oiled" or smooth but the BMW having slightly shorter throws and a slightly more precise feel. Both shifters were top notch to use and finding a favorite would likely come down to preference. The clutch on the BMW felt surprisingly light (not uncommon on a brand new car) and it had less travel than the Audi clutch. It was much easier to engage/disengage and provided less lurching between shifts. The nod goes to the BMW clutch.

With regards to the automatic transmission cars, the nod goes to the BMW. Although there was not an automatic transmission Audi S4 here today, this driver has logged hundreds of miles in them at one time or another. The BMW automatic transmission was lightning fast in its upshifts and downsifts. A recent publication posted that it can shift gears in 100 milliseconds or as fast as many automated manual transmissions, ala the Ferrari F1 tranny. This appears true. The Audi tiptronic automatic transmission is downright clumsy and slow compared to the BMW steptronic unit. And the large metal paddles of the BMW belong on a Ferrari whereas the smaller plastic paddles of the Audi belong on a Hyundai. So is the latest BMW automatic as good as the manual transmission equipped car? The answer is unfortunately no. Both the Audi and BMW automatic will still downshift for you if you put the pedal to the floor, a trait that prevents them being used in true track conditions. Similarly they will upshift for you if you hit the rev limiter. Another trait that is unacceptable for a true track driver. For those who are looking for the ease of an automatic but still want the performance of a manual transmission, the best option is still with the Audi DSG dual clutch automated manual transmission of their similar S-Tronic or with the BMW SMG transmission or their new DCT dual clutch mechanism. Interesting to note is that Audi has (at least in some cases) stepped away from their top of the line and highly acclaimed dual clutch units and moved into a less acclaimed single clutch unit in some of their new models while BMW is moving away from the slightly inferior single clutch units and towards the use of dual clutch units.

When it came to pure power and performance there was little question the 335i makes better use of its power and is ultimately a quicker car. It performed very similarly to the modified Audi S4 that was making 380hp and in some places even appeared a bit more powerful. A stock S4 will not have the juice to keep up. On the other hand, the ease of acceleration of the Quattro Audi due to added traction will probably make standing starts a better show for the Audi, as well as giving it the ability to power out of turns earlier.

HANDLING:

Herein lays some true differences in how these cars will perform, most significantly how they will perform at ten tenths or on the track. But first the similarities. Both vehicles handle similarly in normal daily driving to mildly spirited driving. Both quell sway extremely adequately and both appear to have similar response and control. But when the speeds ramp up and you are driving on a Kentucky country road that winds through mountains where you can look out your window and see no pavement and nothing but a hollow 50 feet below, the Audi inspires the most confidence. One trait important to note in which the Audi does not inspire confidence is when decelerating in decreasing radius turns. Both the S4 and RS4 are plagued by an odd oscillation, gyration (call it what you want) but it is a tendency for the rear end to become light, swing around slightly, then settle. It is a non linear, three step process rather than the smooth break away of the BMW rear end under the same conditions. Otherwise the Audi holds its course with much more confidence than the rear drive BMW.

Despite the handling advantage at ten tenths motoring of the Audi, one thing was notable in all driving situations which was the lack of precision in the steering compared to the BMW unit. The Audi is equipped with a speed sensitive steering unit that felt overly assisted at low speeds and occasionally lagged in its transition from firm and less assist at high speeds to soft and more assist at low speeds. The BMW unit remained tighter and more linear through all speeds of turns. It's often called telepathic in reviews and this experience supports those claims.

To sum up the handling characteristics of the 335i versus the S4, it appears the BMW is the more telepathic and fun to drive of the two. Much more satisfying to drive around town and for mild spirited mountain runs. However, if one was advised they had to purchase one of these cars for 40 to 50 grand and take it out on a track with no offer of reimbursement if they should crash one of them, then hands down the Audi would be the one to take. With the addition of an aftermarket swaybar or suspension upgrade the peculiar rear end gyration of the Audi can be eliminated and the Audi allows the worst drivers to appear as experts. Of course the downside is that the driving experience of the Audi can feel a bit more sterile and less connected. There is no clear winner in this category and will likely depend on the individual driver's preferences and needs.

RIDE:

The ride of both the Audi S4 and the 335i was surprisingly similar when comparing the sport suspension 335i to the Audi S4 that comes equipped with its standard sporting suspension. The Bilstein coilover equipped Audi with setting turned up to full stiff did offer more feedback from the road at the expense of an uncomfortable ride over pot holes and expansion joints. But when comparing a stock S4 to the sport package equipped 335i, both performed very similarly. Both vehicles had a taught firm ride but provided enough compliance and dampening to make them comfortable enough on broken roads. We did not have the opportunity to test a non sport suspension 335i and can't imagine any reason to. Either of the Audi or BMW would be worthy of a cross country road trip.

OVERALL:

It's difficult to pick any type of winner with such different vehicles that both provide such excellent driving experiences. What comes to mind is previous reviews comparing the e46 M3 to the Audi S4. This is because the new 335i shows performance traits so similar to that of the e46 M3...but in many ways it is better. This writer can recall the loud and brutal manner in which the M3 assaults all of the senses. The 335i provides similar thrust but without the racket. The Audi S4 has the fantastic burble of its V8 engine that the BMW can't compete with although the BMW does have a muted and smooth song that emanates from its straight six motor, more reminiscent of Lexus than BMW. The Audi handles the limits with confidence and makes the driver always want for more power all the while not realizing they are hitting triple digit speeds while the BMW feels more telepathic and integrated in its moves but is ready to throw you a blanket party at ten tenths if you make a mistake. Each of these cars is brilliant and each has a buyer. This writer can't find any other way than to say you simply should own them both. If you are forced to choose one...well...you'll probably want to at least make friends with some one who drives the other.

[kujo]

Welcome to the Dark Side !!

kujo, fellow ex B6S4 owner (2 of them)

[bhvrdr]

hehe, thanks bud. I now think that I may hold out for an SMG or DCT (whatever they may use) version of the 335i. I would really like that option if it ever comes about. If not, the M3 may have my name on it. If it comes in around 60 grand that would be a hit.

cheers! Mike

[Jrocket]

I'll admit,I didnt read the long post but I do own both an B6 S4 and E90 335 and like driving them both.Obviously they both have their strong points.I'll always be for the forced induction cars so I'll tip the hat towards the E90 between the two.

[kujo]

Originally Posted by bhvrdr

hehe, thanks bud. I now think that I may hold out for an SMG or DCT (whatever they may use) version of the 335i. I would really like that option if it ever comes about. If not, the M3 may have my name on it. If it comes in around 60 grand that would be a hit.

cheers! Mike

At the moment, SMG is ONLY for M cars.
DCT will be out very soon, replacing SMG.

BMWAG sent a memo to all NA dealers, stating that from 2008, the new Steptronics will be the main tranny and MTs will be a Pay Option.
It's unclear as to when or if they will put DCTs in non M cars.

So, if you are holding out for that, you will be buying an e90 M3, as for the foreseable future, that's all that will fill your needs.

kj