The local bmw dealer is still after me even after I told him my A4 is on the way.They had a "special 323 5sp/sport with the "M" aero package demo at year end clerance.This was my 3rd test drive in a 323 and I don't get it.This car does not impress me at all.I was glad to get back in my Infiniti I-30.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess! I also drove the 323i. It is a very different car from the A4, and even though I like the A4 a lot, there was NO comparison in a number of areas--including power and handling. Resale value makes it cost less than the A4 to drive. These were the primary reasons I opted for the 323i. My wife liked the Quattro and the A4 styling and that's what she ended up buying last fall. When she asked my advice, I told her to buy what she liked. Couldn't really go wrong with either car.<p>If these are not important to you, I can see why you weren't impressed. I find it odd that you based your decision to buy the A4 on what surely must have been a highly abused 323i demo (warped rotors!?).<p>

I30 is not even in the same league as either our A4's or any 99 323i or 328i BMW's. How has your Infiniti I30 impressed you, by the 8 cupholders? Maybe it is the beautiful rear-end design of it? FYI, I drove an I30 before getting my A4. What a lame-driving POS car that was. Better than a BMW? Yeah right.<p>Brian<br>99 A4 2.8 QMS

Same for the Maxima.

eom

Well, I drove both and bought the A4. I guess we're all different. BMW engine was OK, power was OK, steering was stiff. Tons of things standard on A4 were options on BMW. Interior of A4 2.8 was clearly superior. And although the A4 depreciates more, don't forget to include the substantially greater insurance costs for the BMW in your calculations. I'm not so sure it ends up much different in total cost (g).

between the I30-Maxima relationship, the ES300-Camry relationship, and the A4-Passat relationship. I find it awfully cynical and transparent for Infiniti & Lexus to charge A LOT more for THE SAME car in both cases than Audi charges for A4 vs. VW for Passat; we're talking $10,000 for the Easterners vs. $3000 for the Westerners. And, Infiniti and Lexus are doing it ALL with marketing (Lexus has been lightly more successful at it than Infiniti ;^( ).<br>As for your LAME-ASS attempt at humor, the only bashing in the garage was your girlfriend's ass bashing against the wall while I was unintendedly f#*@ing her brains out.<br>Moron.

now your mounting HIS girlfriend? JiMbO!