STevE A4T

What's going on everyone? I am a current 2003 A4 1.8T Multitronic owner (Blk/Blk, Prem. pack, Bose, Xenons, 17" wheels and Cold Weather Pack.)....

Here's my dilemma: I cannot decide what car to get next. I am giving up my A4 to my dad and we also just purchased a 2006 325xi. The BMW is in a level of its own. Its driving dynamics and build quality really out****e my '03. So here's what i'm looking at:

1. A4 2.0T Quattro Tiptronic (Fully loaded with S-Line and Nav)
2. upcoming 2007 328xi Sedan (230hp) also fully loaded with Sport pack and iDrive.
3. IS 250 (it is way underpowered i've read, if they make it more powerful or offer the 350 in AWD, i'd chose either one of those).

Can you guys help me decide? Give me some pro's and con's on the mid-life remodel A4s please.

What should I do??

acdace

If you were considering the 328i, that's what I'd pick. I wasn't impressed driving the 325xi, with the 330xi doing marginally better. The Sport Package is not a true one on the X models as it sacrifices the suspension...which in my opinion is the most important part. With Audi, you get a real sport pack in the S-Line.

All things considered, I would still go Audi on this one. Chip it and enjoy.

LEH82

if your not going to chip I say go with the IS250 it just looks so damn good and sporty as hell for a sedan. Although the s-line front bumper cover is pretty damn nice. No offense to B7 owners but the front bumper cover on the non-s-line A4's just don't really get my attention, looks awkward.

Malore

First of all, stay german. Don't go from an Audi to a Lexus, that's a no no :-) Secondly, my brother has a 2006 325xi with the sport package. My A4 2.0T, chipped, absolutely smokes him. Also, as previously mentioned, the sport package on the xi does nothing for the suspension. It is a toss up between the 328xi and the 2.0T. The only reason I would go BMW over Audi is for the transmission. Nothing feels as smooth as a BMW transmission. But if you're purchasing an automatic, that isn't a factor. There is my two cents.

Silver Stealth

They compared the following and the Audi came out on top:

Audi A4 2.0 T Quattro S-Line
BMW 325ix
Infiniti G35x
Lexus IS 250 AWD
Mazdaspeed6
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B
Volvo S40 T5 AWD<ul><li><a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&amp;article_id=3280">Cli ck here for article</a></li></ul>

Uncle Kraut

If you live at altitude, the 2.0t will smoke even the 330xi BMW, don't know about the lexus. If BMW ends up making their new twin turbo with AWD, that would probably be a good choice too. However, that's a long way out and might not happen.

Steve Mac

and the difference is night and day. The 170hp 1.8T is an absolute dog next to the stock 2.0T. The lemon issues on my car didn't extend to how the 1.8T ran, but it is really on a different (lower) plane compared to the 2.0. The driving dynamics were pretty similar, with the sedan having a slight edge (although neither is as good as my old 98.5 TQMS- maybe it's the 4-season radials...).

It sounds like you have some seat time int he 325xi. The 328xi will be a bit faster, but with the same driving dynamics. Try a 2.0T and see how the differences fit in with your preferences. I like my 2.0T, but you may like a BMW better. Oh, yeah. The BMW will probably be a few kilobux more too...

Enjoy your dilemma!
Steve

tipsyhemi

i currently own a 7series also and the i-drive is the worst thing ever created.

on that note ive driven the 330xi and 325xi, its nowhere near us in performance (chipped 2.0t) and the automatics are just fustrating. Road noise is way to high in the E90, and im sorry i disagree with you, the E90s interior is just not up to B7 level, not even close, the seats are seriously PAINFUL after 1hr+, little **** breaks inside. And the one thing that REALLY made me happy about NOT PURCHASING a E90, is the fact that i had one on a trip to PA, and the Active steering, brakes, and tranny failed in a stop and go traffic.

try MMI in the A4, with bluetooth, it will blow ur mind I PROMISE you. ive got buddies that have owned/own the E90. one traded it in for a B7 (a 325i sport) and the other hates me (330i sport) because i pull on him.

for get the BMW, forget the IS250, rite now the only car in the class that matters in my eyes is the B7, might not be the best everywhere but my god is it good chipped.

Low J.

I own a B7 S-Line and an IS250 6MT and the Audi is superior in every way but then it cost about $8k more. The IS makes decent power as long as you're revving it but doesn't have much torque. The IS also looks amazing though but then so does the A4. The IS manual tranny is also pretty notchy and the throttle isn't too precise so forget about rev matching and sporty driving. The IS is a nice cruiser but the Audi and the Bimmer have the advantage in pretty much every single category across the board.....yeah, I test drove the new 3 series too

leonpro

Did you make Audi get it back? How? Which incidents? I have a 2005 1.8T Avant - curious to know the issues around this model. TIA.