First off hello to everyone...new to the forums and (perhaps) new to Audis.

I need to replace a totaled BMW 330i Zhp, and I was looking around for cars and both me and the wife like the new look of the Audi compared to the ugliness of the new BMWs.

I have my eyes set on a 2005 A4 3.2 (36k miles) and a 2005 A6 3.2 (45k miles), basically the same price (just an extra grand on the 6) and nearly the same features.

Now let's get on with the Noob questions....

1) which one is better as far as reliability?

2) any known major problems/issues to be in the look out for?

3) how they hold up engine-wise in the long run? (will be kept until the wheels fall off, and that was the plan for the BMW until it got totaled).

4) I heard about some throttle response problem, are the true? and if so to what extent?

5) how they relate to BMWs? I loved the handling on mine (although had the M suspension package).

I think that is enough for starters....

Thanks in advance for your help.

You should test drive both of them and find out how they handle for yourself. I would consider the A6 if you needed more room.

First off hello to everyone...new to the forums and (perhaps) new to Audis.

I need to replace a totaled BMW 330i Zhp, and I was looking around for cars and both me and the wife like the new look of the Audi compared to the ugliness of the new BMWs.

I have my eyes set on a 2005 A4 3.2 (36k miles) and a 2005 A6 3.2 (45k miles), basically the same price (just an extra grand on the 6) and nearly the same features.

Now let's get on with the Noob questions....

1) which one is better as far as reliability?

2) any known major problems/issues to be in the look out for?

3) how they hold up engine-wise in the long run? (will be kept until the wheels fall off, and that was the plan for the BMW until it got totaled).

4) I heard about some throttle response problem, are the true? and if so to what extent?

5) how they relate to BMWs? I loved the handling on mine (although had the M suspension package).

I think that is enough for starters....

Thanks in advance for your help.


you'll need new suspension I think. I like the Audi for those reasons, but if you really like the BMW suspension, the Audi will not ride as sporty.

Thanks for the quick replies....

Now I am looking into a 2007 A6 3.2...just need some clarification...the dealer (a indie one not Audi) states the car has adaptive air suspensions...but today I went to look at the car and since they just gave me the key and let me mess around with it I spent some time messing with the MMI. I couldn't find the Adaptive Air Suspension option for the life of me, not that is a deal breaker (only if it has the sport ones) but I can use it to leverage some price reduction with them.

The car looks awesome, needs some good old TLC since is not exactly properly detailed (either they do it or cut me some slack on there too), has the NAV and the rear view camera...lots of stuff to mess around with, and lots of questions when I get back to it on Wednesday, if I can find the information I need that is. Just like to go informed and prepared as much as I can.

Another stupid question, if the car has sport suspension it gets the S-Line badge in the front?

Other than a few quirks to be ironed out with the dealer and a proper test drive I am pretty much sold on Audi, maybe this one or another similar model (as far as techno gizmos goes) but definitely I will switch from BMW. After looking at the A6 I felt cheated on my 330i; seems like I went from a cheap plastic toy to a properly built piece of machinery.