[ksfrogman]

Not sure if I stumbled upon this with google or on e90post.com. If it's the latter, I apologize for reposting, but this is such an interesting comparison:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=106052

[tonee8519]

this is repost!

[ksfrogman]

Well then dangit, this one is for the newest members.

[Hankdoll]

Thanks! just read it.

[icedragon]

Speaking of Audi, has anyone noticed how Audi has been jacking up their prices? The A4 used to be much cheaper than the 3-series, but now it's almost the same.

[Casey 5]

My buddy just got a 2005 and 1/2 A4 3.0 convert with Auto and Quattro. It is a beautiful car.

However, it is also a slooooow car.

His A4 3.0 just cannot keep up with my 330i...its not even close. I thought it would be a toe to toe fight each time we hit a light and took off.

However, I pull away each and every time and quickly put a few car lengths between us.

In fact, we don't even bother anymore.

I wonder if the new 3.2 at 255 can challenge my 330i?

Anyone tried going up against an A4 3.2 ?

[flipmde786]

Not that I've seen it in person, but the A4 3.2 is still slow compared to the rest of the competition. In a Motor Trend test, it did 0-60 in 7.1 and the 330i did 6.6 (both auto). Then again, the A4 has the added weight from quattro.

However, the A3 3.2 DSG is fast. Audi states 0-60 in 5.9, which means it can be faster than that in real life. May take away some 3-series buyers...

[canucklion]

Originally Posted by icedragon

Speaking of Audi, has anyone noticed how Audi has been jacking up their prices? The A4 used to be much cheaper than the 3-series, but now it's almost the same.

I agree, it's almost the same if not more, at least in Canada anyways. The A3 3.2 quattro starts at 45K CAD

[JBM]

I agree. Audi has been increasing prices. Back in 2001, I was looking at a BMW 3 series, but was turned off by the salesman at the dealer, who stated that we would bother running any lease numbers for me unless I was going to get the car that day. What a tool! But I digress.

Anyway, back then ended up leasing a fully loaded A4 3.0 quattro for a sale price of about $37,000. And now, a 3.2 quattro outfitted the same way as my 2002 A4 is about $42,000 (no nav). And no included scheduled maintenance.

I was going to buy a new A4 this year, but that price differential made me look back to the 3 series (different dealer this time) and have been very happy.

[firewired]

I think Audi likewise includes scheduled maintenance, just not wear and tear items.

[ksfrogman]

I've always liked the looks and interior refinement of VW and Audis, but lately, both have been given poor reliability ratings by Consumer Reports.

But yes, the performance difference (not to mention my subjective affinity for the BMW) between the A4 and the 330i made my choice a no brainer.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Not sure if I stumbled upon this with google or on e90post.com. If it's the latter, I apologize for reposting, but this is such an interesting comparison:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=106052

I'm a Bimmer fan but fair is fair and this comparison was not fair at all. They compared an A4 2.0T (200 HP) to the 330i (255 HP). A fairer comparison would have been A4 3.2 (255 HP ) to the 330i, or A4 2.0T to the 325i. Bimmer would probably still win in either case but what's the point of comparing if the match up is not equal? Nothing exciting about that at all.

[ed328ci]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

...A fairer comparison would have been A4 3.2 (255 HP ) to the 330i, or A4 2.0T to the 325i. Bimmer would probably still win in either case but what's the point of comparing if the match up is not equal? Nothing exciting about that at all.

The article did state that Audi provided the 2.0T at their own volition. Of course, there have been tests that show the 2.0T 0-60 in th mid-6s. No independent tests have planced the 3.2L at under 7.

Ed

[ChrisPA]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

I'm a Bimmer fan but fair is fair and this comparison was not fair at all. They compared an A4 2.0T (200 HP) to the 330i (255 HP). A fairer comparison would have been A4 3.2 (255 HP ) to the 330i, or A4 2.0T to the 325i. Bimmer would probably still win in either case but what's the point of comparing if the match up is not equal? Nothing exciting about that at all.

There is truth to what you say, but Edmunds asked both manufacturers to send their "sportiest" models, and Audi sent the 2.0T... hard to blame the testers if Audi deemed the 2.0T "sportier".

Alongs those lines though, it may be my faulty memory or just plain rationalization, but when I picked up my 2000 A4 1.8T years ago, I recall it was more entertaining to drive than the V6. It sounds funny to write that now - is that really what I thought at the time or not - but maybe it was the lighter weight or low-end torque that made the drive more entertaining??

[ihavedrivenanm1]

Originally Posted by ChrisPA

There is truth to what you say, but Edmunds asked both manufacturers to send their "sportiest" models, and Audi sent the 2.0T

It was really not an issue of sending the "sportiest" model but rather an issue of transmissions.

Audi does not offer the A4 3.2 with a manual [unless you also buy Quattro; slower, heavier, more expensive] and the testers required that both cars have a manual transmission saying, "The answer is the six-speed manual gearbox, which is a must-have in a true sport sedan."

While I am sure than many here would agree with that statement it does conflict with the reality of the North American marketplace and the vast majority of real e90 and A4 buyers.

If Audi thought that there was a crushing demand for a manual equipped A4 3.2 then they would have offered one out of the gate. Likewise the majority of e90s sold in North American will be automatics as well. Seems to me that the vast majority of potential buyers [whom Edmunds claims to serve] would have been better served by a comparison of an auto-equipped A4 and 330i

Inside Line is not exactly the most rigorous or well respected of auto reviewers so at the end of the day this is no big deal but if they really wanted to conduct a meaningful review then they should have paired the manual A4 2.0 with the 325i and/or the A4 3.2 with a Steptronic equipped 330i.

[flipmde786]

The reason Audi sent a 2.0T is because it was the only version of the car available with a manual at the time, making it the "sportiest" car. I think they should redo the comparison now, since the A4 3.2 is offered with 6-sp manual now. Not that it would change the end result...it would just make it more fair and decrease the 330i domination just a tad...

Or probably the most fair comparison would be 330xi vs A4 3.2, both stick. Again, not that it would change the end result, but it would make things more interesting.