[BrunoS]

Audi is offering special leases on the A4 to compete with the 3-series. With similar options, the A4 2.0T is $80/month less than a 325. ($350+tax vs. $440+tax, 36 months, same down) What makes the 325 worth 25% more that the A4? I am trying to choose between the two of them.

[foofighter]

Having owned 2 A4's 2001.5 and 03 avant, the thing that sets the BMW apart from the Audi is the GOSH DAM resale value!!!! The A4's dont hold squat...and at the rate Audi is facelifting and changing their designs every 3 years it sucks balls to own an A4...plus they're heavy lead sleds.

[siriusinvestor]

Originally Posted by foofighter

Having owned 2 A4's 2001.5 and 03 avant, the thing that sets the BMW apart from the Audi is the GOSH DAM resale value!!!! The A4's dont hold squat...and at the rate Audi is facelifting and changing their designs every 3 years it sucks balls to own an A4...plus they're heavy lead sleds.

What he said!

[MIKEYMIKE]

I will never buy a FWD car

[Eiso]

Originally Posted by MIKEYMIKE

I will never buy a FWD car

You can choose Quattro...

[foofighter]

on most leases though it's for the "frontrash" i mean frontrak...and getting quattro is great but makes it that much heavier i know

[visor]

Originally Posted by BrunoS

Audi is offering special leases on the A4 to compete with the 3-series. With similar options, the A4 2.0T is $80/month less than a 325. ($350+tax vs. $440+tax, 36 months, same down) What makes the 325 worth 25% more that the A4? I am trying to choose between the two of them.

Are you a "driver" or a "passenger" type of driver?

You'll know when you test drive both back to back whether the BMW is worth 25% more to you, or not.

[MIKEYMIKE]

Originally Posted by Eiso

You can choose Quattro...

You definitely can. But adds more weight, decreases fuel economy, and is still a FWD bias AWD anyways.

[SapphireBlackG01]

Originally Posted by visor

You'll know when you test drive both back to back whether the BMW is worth 25% more to you, or not.

Best response you're gonna get.

Test drive both... you'll know whether it's worth the extra cash to you or not.

[romain]

Love my 325i , fun to drive. BTW, I don't like the inside of Audi, it looks cold.

[r_liebo]

Since the issue here is the lease, resale is irrelavent (normally this is a huge factor, and also usually makes Audi leases and BMW ones pretty close in price despite BMW's heftier stickers). Audi is subsidizing this residual, so it comes down to the vehicles themselves. As others have said, you must test-drive. However, prevalent opinions often state the pros/cons as follows:

Audi:
Nicer, more quality interior
Better AWD system
Less polarizing styling (this has changed a bit with the new big snout)
Transmission choices
Less snobby reputation

BMW:
Much better driver's car
better performance
better ride/handling tradeoff (to get similar handling, you must deal with a very harsh ride with Audi)
better engines
better reliability
More of a "look at me car" (can be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective)
RWD

Personally, outside of the S4, I always came away uninspired by their cars.
25% is a hefty price difference however.

All this reasoning aside, my suggestion is to go drive them. If you don't come away feeling BMW is the car, definitely buy the Audi. My feeling is that you are either inspired by the BMW or you don't care about that kind of driving experience (you either "get it" or you don't). If you don't -- and there is nothing wrong with that, save your money.

[txusa03]

Does audi still give you 4 years/50K free maintenance? I know BMW does...

[dencoop]

I dont think anyone has yet stated that...

1. The Audi is on its last desighn year...meaning once you get yours a whole new body style will come out....The BMW is brand New for 2006 meaning for the life of your lease you will always have the NEW body not the OLD Body

2.Why dont you do European Delivery (ED) on the BMW...you will end up having an awsome time taking the car on the Autobahn and your monthly payment will be less then or = to AUDIS. (Free vacation anyone?)

3.Like someone stated above...I drove the AUDI and I can honestly say that in IMHO the BMW just outhandles the AUDI...If you like to drive then there is no question about it...the BMW is a true Drivers car....it feels like it is going on rails when you take the sharpest of turns....to me really if your going to get the AUDI A4 2.0T Why not save a bunch of money and just get a Passat or Jetta 2.0T made by the same company same engine...similar platform....and if you cant tell the driving diff. between the BMW and the Audi...then I know youll feel almost no diff. driving the VW's while saving a bunch of money....

Thank You.

[StevoSEA]

Originally Posted by txusa03

Does audi still give you 4 years/50K free maintenance? I know BMW does...

NO!

[ALPINE6SPD]

the 6cyl opposed to the turbo 4 is worth 15% and the other 10% is because the BMW drives and handles better.

[Hej]

Originally Posted by BrunoS

Audi is offering special leases on the A4 to compete with the 3-series. With similar options, the A4 2.0T is $80/month less than a 325. ($350+tax vs. $440+tax, 36 months, same down) What makes the 325 worth 25% more that the A4? I am trying to choose between the two of them.

If the Audi in question is an auto, then I would say the unbearable turbo lag would prolly make it worth while. Try mashing the gas from a stand still in both cars.

[dencoop]

Originally Posted by Hej

If the Audi in question is an auto, then I would say the unbearable turbo lag would prolly make it worth while. Try mashing the gas from a stand still in both cars.

My friend has a 2006 VW Passat 2.0T Auto and I dont feel the turbo lag...maybe its the way I drive...but it actually feels very peppy for a 4cyl.....

In any case Ill say it again....If you are into driving the BMW slogan the Ultimate Driving Machine is so true...the car is just amazing.....cornering is like you are glued to the road.....puts a huge smile on my face every time I drive it....take both for a test drive....and push both on a curvey road and keep pushing...the BMW will hold the road...the AUDI will LEAN side to side...I should mention that the BMW I drove on test drives and mine are SPORT PKg. cars...

[stressdoc]

For daily transport, I would be tempted to save the $80/mo. But a car is more than daily transport for me. Another plus on the BMW ledger is rear seat room. If you plan to have anyone sit behind you, particularly if you are 6' or taller, then forget the Audi unless you are into sadism.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by MIKEYMIKE

You definitely can. But adds more weight, decreases fuel economy, and is still a FWD bias AWD anyways.

Quattro is better as an AWD then a BMW X.
Frontrak is a pretty darn good FWD, in the world of FWD.
I prefer the RWD BMW to the Frontrak. But, the quattro adds a certain feel in the A4 that is different than the RWD, but is pretty good as it's own thing.

Plus, the new A4 with the 2.0T engine is not a slug. Many tests put it close to the 330i accel times, not as fast, but then the E90 330i isn't either.
The 335i will be a totally different story.
The 325i vs. A4 2.0T quattro is a very tough call. In everyday driving they are both excellent automobiles.
The 325i has a bit heavier steering feel as terms of less power assist, which I prefer. The A4 has ligher steering wheel turn feel, but the steering precision is as good as the 3 series. The A4 sport suspension has great ride and handling but leans a bit more in turns than the 3 series sport.

For me, A4 front driver/passenger room is much better and roomier except for the center stack right knee placement. The rear seats on both is tight with a slight advantage to the 3, but not much considering ingress/egress is harder in the 3 due to the door placement and c-pillar intrusion.

The A4 2.0T has better low rpm torque with almost 0 lag compared to the 325's need for rpms to get the torque going. The BMW 3.0 inline 6 takes the advantage in legendary smoothness and lovely higher rpm song.
The 2.0T engine has it's own cool sounds though, just a bit rougher as revs climb and an "odd" idle "dieseling" sound.

The only way to really know is to drive both in your neck of the woods in your style of driving.
It's a tough call for me too.

[volinder]

I had an Audi just before my BMW. Wayyyy better interior, and the new 2.0T is a far better engine than the 325i engine (in my opinion). I would personally go for the Audi if it's cheaper.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by r_liebo

Since the issue here is the lease, resale is irrelavent (normally this is a huge factor, and also usually makes Audi leases and BMW ones pretty close in price despite BMW's heftier stickers). Audi is subsidizing this residual, so it comes down to the vehicles themselves. As others have said, you must test-drive. However, prevalent opinions often state the pros/cons as follows:

Audi:
Nicer, more quality interior
Better AWD system
Less polarizing styling (this has changed a bit with the new big snout)
Transmission choices
Less snobby reputation

BMW:
Much better driver's car
better performance
better ride/handling tradeoff (to get similar handling, you must deal with a very harsh ride with Audi)
better engines
better reliability
More of a "look at me car" (can be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective)
RWD

Personally, outside of the S4, I always came away uninspired by their cars.
25% is a hefty price difference however.

All this reasoning aside, my suggestion is to go drive them. If you don't come away feeling BMW is the car, definitely buy the Audi. My feeling is that you are either inspired by the BMW or you don't care about that kind of driving experience (you either "get it" or you don't). If you don't -- and there is nothing wrong with that, save your money.

Sorry but the Audi interior quality is not better than the E90.

[geeslice]

well my last car was an audi (TT) and i had terrible reliability and service with Audi... i lost about 10k selling the car but it was worth it because I never drove the darn thing because it was always in the shop.