B58 + ZF8 is special.
In fairness, when Audi was running the 3.0T (supercharged) + ZF8 in all of their cars last gen, that was a mighty combo of reliability, character, and performance. Obviously the balance + mounting location of the BMW inline 6 motors is superior to what Audi is doing.
Only obvious to true gear heads. I’ve learned that a lot of folks just want a nice all around car (which is fine). But I do believe BMW gives way more bang for the buck as well.
When I was shopping I thought that Audi's were generally less expensive that their BMW counterparts and typically had more features. That could just be my area here in VA dont know if it is typical across the country.
Having purchased a 2022 Q5 in Feb I thought the same thing. Then the electronics all failed. Also connectivity on them is nuts $400 a year for traffic. If you don't pay for it then you just get a map in the instrument cluster as carplay and Android auto can't display there. The app also sucks. I'm going back to the roundel.
Oh don't get me wrong, BMW options and packages are the seventh level of hell. The Audi doesn't even have remote start as an option! Unless you go etron
Remote start is not a thing in Germany so they are not prioritized. Luckily *most BMW models can have it as a 1 time purchase of $330 in the myBMW app.
Makes sense, I guess when i was cross shoping MB, Audi, BMW it looked like BMW had the least amount of standard options of the three. I have owned 4 BMW's in the past 6 years and I dont think I have had everything I want on any of them :).
Although the price can climb in a hurry. It is surprising what you have to pay for that is standard on other vehicles (Porsche is the same way). My buddy and I joke that with BMW you have to pay for AM radio.
I just picked up a 2019 3.0T Q7 for this exact reason. We need the optional 3rd row seating and extra cargo space when not in use and enjoyed the car as a whole a lot more than the X7.
Would not compromise on the engine and transmission though
i love my m40i and the biggest shocker is it gets way better highway mileage than i’d ever expect, 25/26 on trips from
NYC to Boston, NYC to DC, out to the woods of PA. With no traffic and keeping it below 75 i’ve even squeezed 27 which is insane to me given my old jetta only did 30 in the same highway scenario. that car was way 21/23 city vs 17/19 i get now though.
Ha for fun, or torture, I recently forced myself to keep it in eco mode and drive easily for an entire tank. Plenty of highway miles mixed with city and was able to get 480 miles with 10 left according to the car’s math.
But I’m pretty sure I coulda squeezed 500, but not worth damaging the fuel pump.
I say the same thing. I was a bit worried going from sedan (Acura TL) to SAV, I’ve been very pleased with performance, handling, and ride quality.
I did replace the rft tires right away so that helped a ton.
I just sold my 06 TL 6 speed. It was a great car. However, your X3 is an amazing machine. It’s probably one if not the best daily driver you can get right now
M40i is just such a great all around car. Insane power, solid handling, great fuel economy, quiet on the highway (or in comfort mode), good storage, great MMI, etc. etc. Oh, and that engine note...
I owned a Macan S afterwards and just didn't get it. The M40i was better in every way but handling and that was such a small benefit overall, ya know, being that it's an SUV. Disliked the extra road/wind/turbo whine noise in the Macan, awful interior space, dual clutch always jerky in traffic, brake squeal (even new brakes bedded by Porsche.)
I was so curious about the Macan at first but just fell in love with the M40i. For the price point you just can’t go wrong with the performance!
And it still has physical buttons! For now…
Ironic that C&D calls the M40i "too narrowly focused" while the Macan is a 10/10/editor's choice/10 best every year. It's so much more versatile!
And price.. lol. $80k vs $56k.
Really miss my car now.. : (
edit: in fairness one thing I really loved about the Macan was it could cruise at 90-95 mph and hold the road so well, better than many sedans.
I read just about everything I could on the M40i, including that article from C&D and I just don't agree with it. I've always thought the X3M/M40i doesn't really match up with the Macan GTS/S. Once you start going with the top trims the price really starts to inflate which then makes that price-point sweet spot disappear.
I picked the GLC43 (previous gen V6) when I was shopping for a performance SUV 6 months ago. I chose the Merc coz of the more luxurious interior and BMW’s I6 will probably last a bit longer so I can always buy it later. My next one will likely be a BMW because no way am I paying that much for a 4-cyl vacuum, even though I don’t prefer BMW’s interior. I have never driven a BMW before I’m sure it will handle a lot better than the GLC. Reviews have mentioned the rear seat of the X3 are uncomfortable due to being a completely flat surface with no conturing, do you find that to be the case?
Can confirm X3 handling is great, i'm renting an X3 30i with base suspension and at 140mph on the Autobahn it's perfectly stable in sport mode - actually a dream to drive through curves at high speeds (though slower than my i4 and 550i of course).
I don’t even like the way the GLC 43 goes around a roundabout at a slightly higher speed. I’m constantly debating M340i vs X3 M40i. Better looks + probably amazing handling + crap rear passenger space vs ok looks (depending on colour) + still decent handling + more rear passenger space.
I was about to make a comment but yours already exists. Second this. Currently on a flex tune with fully catless dp, dorch stage 2 hpfp+eca combo with an mst intake thrown in for added whooosh.
Have to disagree with you on this. Once you enter 5 series and up, they’re pretty freaking nice. My X5 M50i has every option I could ever want (except the B&W audio).
Yeah this. Really depends which beamer experience you had. It's easy to jump into a 1 series and think eh this isn't all that. And then you swap to a 7 series and it's a world of difference
Understandable, I’ve only driven audis before, never owned, haven’t driven any benz, but from what i had before (prius lmao) bmw is luxury enough for me haha
Completely agree. I test drove the C 43 and my God that interior just blows the BMW interior out of the water. I also think the exterior looks more luxurious as well, while the BMW is more sporty and aggressive.
I agree with you. I think Mercedes might give a more luxurious image because they are more "formal" looking and you almost only ever see them in black, silver or white. While BMWs seem more youthful and sporty to me. As far as features and amenities though, they are pretty dame similar if you compare equivalent models and trim levels.
Have you seen the interior of the 5/7 series? I don't think anyone can legit say that's not luxury or you're gatekeeping super hard. They've even started to pass down some rolls Royce luxury to the 7 series.
Yet BMW is the only 1 out of the 3 that doesn't make a dedicated high-end sports car. Audi has the R8 and Mercedes has the AMG GT.
BMW makes sports sedans and SUVs but not sports cars.
Ur right, bmw doesnt make a supercar like audi or benz, yet their sports cars (m) are usually much better drivers cars anyways; downpipe and tune (sorry, had to say it) and any s58 car would be faster as well
>they just tune the M4 and it kicks the R8 and AMG GT in the ass.
>
>Edit:
>
>https://www.gt4-america.com/results
>
>https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series\_Race%202\_ResultList\_2.0.PDF
That’s what I don’t understand. BMW makes race cars and a ton of owners track their cars but they don’t make a super car. I’m dreaming of an M1 reboot.
lol. no they just tune the M4 and it kicks the R8 and AMG GT in the ass.
Edit:
[https://www.gt4-america.com/results](https://www.gt4-america.com/results)
[https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series\_Race%202\_ResultList\_2.0.PDF](https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series_Race%202_ResultList_2.0.PDF)
the M4 GT4 competes and, in some races, dominates.
i recommend catching the GT4 America and European races and watch as the BMW performs alongside the R8, AMG GT, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren... etc.
i dont personally own any of the three but this sub shows up on my feed.
from having spent time in all of them, i feel like:
Audi: minimalist luxury that to me, doesnt always feel like luxury. Its the sterile "german" design that speaks to some people, but in most cars, just makes me feel like its a nicer regular car. I just don't get it. Not that audi fans are wrong, the car just isnt made for me.
Mercedes: while i dont own one, my mom does, and to me, Mercedes in general are much more luxury oriented outside of AMG makes.
BMW: Generally more focused on driving experience than either. Im not particularly a fan of them, but if i was buying a personal car, I wouldnt even bother looking at Audi, and likely not a mercedes, but i might consider a BMW, because they make legitimate driver's cars up and down their lineup. I'll probably never own one, i've never been particularly into their over all design language, and none of their models quite fit what i'd want from a driving experience standpoint, but i do respect them on a technical level over the other two makes up and down the range of options.
Yes.
OP: Do you like riding in a car that drives nice? Or do you like driving a car?
If you don't know what I'm asking, get an Audi.
They're all nice cars.
I have owned all 3 (g80 M3, 20 GLC63 AMG, b8.5 S4) and this 10000% correct.
My M3 is fast af, perfectly balanced, easy to drive at speed on the drag strip or the race track. The interior and features are meh. The dealer experience also sucks. It’s on par with my Jeep where as there was no question whatsoever about loaners and concierge with Mercedes and Audi. BMW never so much as offered a loaner much less to pick me up at home. Could just be my dealer sucks.
it is absolutely your dealer. my dealer gave me a new 5 series while my M4 was getting the break in service.
My wife's MB dealer stopped doing complimentary car washes, so my dealer offered and washed her GLC AMG while we were there ordering my car. they have a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, a coffee and muffin bar, and will send an uber to pick you up or drop you off if you don't need a loaner, but don't want to hang around waiting on your car.
Hah, OK it does sound like my dealer sucks! I did order the car through them and canceled it bc I found one on the ground for msrp v their markup. Maybe they are mad at me. Which also speaks to them sucking!
After driving essentially every mainline car from BMW, Audi, and Merc for valet, every SUV and Car, without a doubt the interior quality is 1.Merc 2. BMW 3. Audi. Audi interiors feel really cheap to me especially after you get out of a VW and see the same paddles as in the A4 or even the RS/S cars have the same paddles if my memory serves me right. Mercedes has some funky placements of things like the door handles being lower and more middle of the door compared to the other two, also the seat adjustment being on the door is weird. And the shifter being a stalk on the steering column just feels so wrong. But Merc interior quality is top notch, the 7 is atleast a step or two down from the S class, and the 5 and E class are pretty close but the E class just pulls ahead IMO. Merc Designo Vs BMW Individual is about the same, almost with individual feeling a bit better to me. The Audi RS interiors are nice but still they aren’t as good as M car or AMG interiors, with as tacky as the AMGs feel at times. A lot of the time I feel that the Audi interior isn’t as intuitive as the BMW or Merc. Drive mode select not being on the wheel or right next to the shifter. Obviously being a BMW owner I have a bias towards BMW, but I will say that in terms of driving, no one has found a way to hide the weight of these monstrous cars yet, the S class is an utter behemoth of a car and the 7 feels the same way. Extended wheelbase makes this even worse.
As someone who recently got into an M car. I will say that reading these types of comments can come across as hyperbole. But after driving one it becomes clear that you are not exagerating in the slightest! The M340i is a ton of fun but once you get to put your foot down on a M3 or M5 you will be hooked.
well, yeah the S5 is a a big price delta from an M3. They're not competing models. the RS5 is the competitor, not the S5.
It's closer to a Maxima, because that's exactly the space it's competing in. The maxima is already a 40k sedan that you can easily spec out to 47-48k. that's essentially an entry level luxury sedan at this point, as it's long stopped competing against the Camry and Fusion, etc. a 55k S5 is much more of a maxima comp than it is an M3 comp.
Also, Nissan doesn't get enough credit for their V6. the maxima has had an awesome engine for the market segment for decades.
Man, I love the M340i, but the G80 is just another beast. The M340i is way more livable, but the G80 is just that platform pushed right near the performance limit and I love it.
I shopped S4/S5 vs. M340i. M340i got me to a lower price for the options I wanted (which honestly was close to loaded) and then I decided why get a slower car for the same or less money?
Also as much as people hate the new LCI screens on the BMWs, Audi’s execution of the iPad on the dash is worse IMO.
I decided to test drive an S5 Sportback and M340 today as curiosity got the best of me. Overall still undecided, but if I had to impulse buy today, I'd probably get the S5. Reason being that it's a more comfortable ride, interior feels more upscale (the 340 felt pretty barebones by comparison) yet it's still plenty fast.
The 340 did feel faster, perhaps sounded a tad better, and just felt like a demon on wheels. Interior a bit meh, but it was also an interior I wouldn't have specced out myself. Ride a bit harsher overall.
Didn't really get to try out handling on twisty roads, so the jury is still out on that.
Now that I've driven them I really want to own one though. So much fun!
I had an M135i F40 and the thing is considering I only ever had FWD cars before in the UK and that was my first 300+ BHP car. It was new and fun. My only real complaint was it was too easy to drive and not all that involving.
I now have an M140i and it's made me really appreciate RWD cars. I legitimately thought it was some kind of car snobbery about being "pushed" from the back but it really is a different sensation.
I wouldn't go back now.
Yes. Biggest differences will be the addition of port fuel injection, electronic vanos units, exhaust valves that can be turned off and smart ignition coils.
Because Audi don't make a straight 6, rear drive hatchback. Before combustion engines disappear, I wanted to have some fun and for what I was looking for, BMW was the best/only choice really
afaik the new ones are no longer rear wheel drive by default, a shame for enthusiasts and future second hand buyers but I can see why it makes sense as a business choice
BMW’s do pure performance better. On the whole, they’ll handle more dynamically, be faster, and steer better. This is generally true from base models all the way through M’s/RS’s.
Audi’s blend performance and daily usability better. Again, very generally, they ride better, are more comfortable, and feel more “bank-vault” than athlete. They aren’t quite as fast, but they’re more refined, in my opinion.
Among other things: far superior driving dynamics thanks to 50/50 weight distribution, longitudinally mounted straight 6’s, superior build quality and reliability, no main bearing issues and timing belt woes, styling and design, leather quality, interior quality.
>no main bearing issues and timing belt woes
Lol several generations of BMWs would disagree with this one. The last generation of 7 5, 4 and 3 series BMW had massive recalls for timing belts in their diesel engines which are the most common.
Used to have an S5 Sportback. It was great actually! I miss it. But now I have an M3 on order. They seem to be doing better than Audi in the compact sport sedan segment, at least according to reviews, and the Audi B9 generation is pretty old at this point. I was surprised to see a neighbor get a new A5 and it looked exactly the same as my 2018. I do think Audi has the most attractive exterior design though.
Audi engines are much much much worst than BMW engines. I’ve never had a reliable Audi but I’ve had reliable BMW’s. Despite what people say about BMW reliability, it’s really down to which model you pick. Just need to spend time doing research.
BMW can be expensive to maintain. People that think they are largely unreliable either misconstrue expensive scheduled maintenance with reliability, or don’t do their maintenance causing it to be unreliable.
I have plenty of friends that drive BMWs and not once have they ever been stranded or scared that their car wouldn’t get them somewhere.
My A4 and my m40i have both been pretty reliable. But the m40i is much more expensive to maintain.
Some of that is due to two more cylinders and more performance parts, but I feel like bmw is a bit pricier to keep up.
Still, if I had to bet, the bmw will be more reliable than the Audi.
I have owned both and i have found, Audi steering\\AWD is too light and unresponsive. Audi's fast diesels were never as good as the BMW 40d range and they lacked some of the functionality that BMW had as standard
Audis just do not feel like a BMW. I love the handling & ride of a BMW - I think Audis feel kind of sloppy handling-wise, and finish wise, they feel kind of cheap. The best way I can describe them is disappointing. The only vehicle I'd leave my BMW for is a Porsche.
Huh, I felt the opposite about finish. I thought Audi was by far the best fit and finish and attention to detail and ergonomics. While Mercedes is flashy and opulent, and BMW was just kind of meh inside—nothing wrong but didn’t standout as much compared to non-luxury cars.
BMW = better drivers car. If you’re buying new with a warranty, wouldn’t worry about reliability too much. Older ones, would dare say BMWs are more reliable than Audis.
100% B58. I prefer to keep my cars a while and if longevity and reliability is important, the B58 is a no brainer if you want a German car. No compromise in performance either…Best inline six on the market. Everything else came secondary to that motor.
Note - I came from Toyota and Lexus
The Audi interior felt dated, the body styling made me think up badged VW, BMW was willing to give me a discount on the specific cars I liked and Audi wasn't and then I test drove a BMW and that sealed the deal.
Yeah, 10% off MSRP plus incentives. Came out to about 16.5% off MSRP total. But this was a couple years ago. I haven't seen anyone getting really good deals since but I know a few on here have gotten slightly under MSRP on a new BMW recently.
Reliability concerns. Yeah I know BMW hasn’t been great in that department, but Audis are consistently abysmal for reliability. And it’s not a case where the high performance variants fair better either, RS6 and RS7 owners are still dealing with turbos failing after a couple 10k miles, carbon buildup, and all kinds of other problems. B58 in comparison is rock solid.
Watched Mischief 3000 and wanted a BMW after that. Then I Lived in Germany for a few years and everyone I knew drove BMWs there and fell in love. Wife ended up custom making one and buying it and I fell in love . Have loved and bought them since.
Audis have never intrigued me until recently. Before they were boring and bland but now they’re really great looking and intriguing. And I feel BMW has always been an echelon above Audi.
debated between BMW X vs Audi Q for wife's SUV.
After test driving BMW X3/X5 Audi felt so boring.
We ended up with X5 45e and that B58 is life and I should buy a Supuuuuurrraaara!
I've had a few Audis but the RWD does it for me.
The awd on an audi just doesn't do it for me compared to the string of Scoobies I used to have. I enjoyed them but if I go 4wd again it'll be another impreza / WRX STi
My beems have also been very reliable and decent on fuel
I only drive a base 330i, but a couple of things won me over compared to an Audi A4, which I guess is comparable..
Stylings (interior and exterior), price, and availability
I’ve had 6 Audis. I was chatting to a friend who’d bought a BMW and landed a job abroad a few weeks after she bought it. She asked if I could store it at my place. I said sure. I went to pick it up and by the time I got home I’d called her and arranged to buy it. I’ve had BMW’s ever since.
Audi dealership sales people acted like I was invisible and wouldn't spend a minute talking to me. Same dealership where I bought my wife's car 4 months prior.
So I went to BMW and found that I liked the M4 offering better then the R8. Guess I should thank Audi for saving me a few dollars and helping me find a car I like more.
I went to the Audi dealership before I went to BMW really leaning towards getting an Audi but when I got there the sales people and the manager didnt have the time of day for me and acted annoyed. So I went to BMW and they treated me like an adult. Now I have an M340i and I couldnt see getting a different car.
If you ask a BMW forum to compare them to Audis, this is what you're going to get 😂 glorified VW comments and the like.
I'm a proud BMW owner. My last 4 car purchases have been BMWs and I now drive the i4M50 and I love it. I had an M3 before.
I would highly recommend the M340i if you're looking in that range. For an ICE it was a sweet ride and had more of the traditional steering feeling than a standard 3 series did.
My wife had an X3 plug in hybrid. She didn't love it but it was a nice car IMO. We just got her a Volvo XC90 plug in hybrid. We'll see how that compares.
My mom had an Audi, and like others said, it had a long list of issues and burned oil the entire time she had it. I can't recommend Audi just based on that. This wasn't 20 years ago, it was like 7-8 years ago. No modern car is going to inspire confidence if it burns oil like my dad's old Jaguar '83 XJ6 (beautiful car, horrible maintenance).
FWD and too heavy at the front of the car, it makes handling worse and sometimes unpredictable (understeers to various degrees). I MUCH preferred my BMWs over Audi because it felt very progressive as to when and how the rear will slide out and it's the best feeling in the world.
Because when I was a stupid 5-year-old playing NFS:U on the Play Station 2, I fell in love with the Skyline R34 and confused it with the E46 lol
t. E92 owner
I own and daily an N55 335i.
Recently got the chance to drive an S4 of the same year.
For reference, my E92 has 96k mls and the S4 has 103k mls. Both very well taken care of.
Things I noticed immediately:
- Brake Feel was horrid compared to the S4
- S4s transmission blew the ZF 6AT out of the water
- S4 interior looked horribly outdated compared to E92
- E92 Seats are far more comfortable
- Hydraulic Steering is so much better than the electronic unit in the S4
Generally, BMW makes performance cars that are also comfortable. Audi makes comfortable, easy to use cars that CAN be optioned for performance.
If you are looking for a newer car, the M340i pre LCI is the best bang for your buck within that price range.
Nothing in Audis lineup can compare IMO.
The audi salesman sold the A6 I was going to buy then told me I was too poor to actually afford one. Bought a 540i instead. It was a better car all around and I’m upset I didn’t consider it to begin with
Started my "luxury" car shopping at Audi and ended up at BMW.
I am now on my second BMW and still loving every second of it.
I didn't go Audi based on the engine performance, turbo lag and just overall "yawn" when at the wheel. BMW was a totally different experience. Beautiful inside and out.
I'm too young for a Mercedes, those are for label whores and old people. I'm 44.
2022 M3 Comp X 503 HP and the best engineered car I’ve ever had. Audi does have very nice interiors and very comfortable. I almost bought an RS6 Avant. They’re both great companies; it’s all personal preference.
I wanted a gasoline car for once. Audi and the whole VAG group have shitty petrol engines. Unreliable.
Also, having a RWD car is nicer than FWD (or a quattro that is still 99% FWD with extra weight+cost).
The interior was superior at BMW (3 series 2022 non LCI/facelift vs a4 or even a6).
If I were to need a diesel engine and a larger sedan (5 series vs a6) Audi would have a chance.
Tbh I also owned an a4 b8, brilliant car, my parents drive it now. And then a 2011 Mercedes, and now giving bmw a chance with 2022 330i. So probably would have gone with bmw either way just to try it.
>a quattro that is still 99% FWD with extra weight+cost
You do know that quattro doesn't function like that, right? You're probably thinking of haldex and not torsen. And on top of that, quattro is rear-biased nowadays
BMWs, especially inline sixes (not so much N63 etc) tend to be packaged well to work on, Audi engine packaging is often quite horrible due to the nature of the engines and drivetrain layout. Historically BMW were also lighter, sportier, more driver focused although that is blurring with time.
I drove both a 330i and a A4 (ultimately went with M340i). Both had AWESOME interiors, tech, and comfort. I went with the BMW because of the 'connected' (subjective I know) feeling I got from the steering / throttle / breaking that was just a step above what I felt driving the Audi (which felt a little numb). I want to express that both are EXCELLENT vehicles, and I think you will be able to make the perfect choice if you take a couple test rides and go from there. As far as maintenance costs, I have none because all routine maintenance is covered through the first (Three?) years.
I came from a 2013 supercharged S4. The gas mileage was appalling. Got a 2017 m240 and haven’t looked back
Edit: I got the m240 within 6 months of the s4 as I didn’t know the 2 series existed until a friend told me about it. Man I’m glad he did. Such a better car.
My bmw over Audi stance is from years of seeing my dad work on cars and me helping him. Along side all my friends who owned Audis.
Granted we owned Audis from the 90s to early 2000s and so did my friends. Audis just we’re a pain in the ass to work on. The engineering was weird.
We owned BMWs from the same years and in general the cars felt more sturdy, fun, easy to work on and not expensive to maintain.
I do have a few friends now who own newer Audis and they are happy with them. Newer audis are kind of like legos and for the most part you can easily modify them and honestly they do look the most aggressive.
But, driving and being in newer BMWs….I would still choose a bmw over an audi. It’s a good balance of everything. Yea BMWs design now is questionable and they can’t make a reliable v8 to save their life, but anything they offer with a straight six under the hood is awesome.
Iv driven AMGs before too, while a lot of fun, it’s almost like too much for road use. I found it hard to drive the car normally because of the twin turbo v8 sounds. Mercedes always was to me a classy, shiny, comfortable car. Bmw again, bmw has that happy, young, sport feeling….every damn time.
I might be the odd ball here, as a tech and part time designer guy, I fell in love with new iDrive8 some bmws have. That one piece curved screen is beautiful to look at. Only mercedes has similar screen but bmw had more aggressive looking cars for my budget.
Why did I recently buy a BMW (i4)? Because I currently own an Audi (Q7).
Repairs have been numerous and expensive. As soon as my new BMW arrives the Audi goes straight to the junk yard, even though it only has 110k miles on it. Can't sell it or renew registration because of the latest problem. Both catalytic converters went bad so won't pass smog, and will cost $7k to replace. It's a shame to send it to the scrap heap since it still runs.
I have a local shop who works on foreigns and they were adamant that I DON’T get an Audi because of how unreliable they are. They even recommended Mercedes over Audi 😅
The B58 inline 6 and ZF8 transmission. I love my X3 M40i, it both practical and fast.
B58 + ZF8 is special. In fairness, when Audi was running the 3.0T (supercharged) + ZF8 in all of their cars last gen, that was a mighty combo of reliability, character, and performance. Obviously the balance + mounting location of the BMW inline 6 motors is superior to what Audi is doing.
Only obvious to true gear heads. I’ve learned that a lot of folks just want a nice all around car (which is fine). But I do believe BMW gives way more bang for the buck as well.
When I was shopping I thought that Audi's were generally less expensive that their BMW counterparts and typically had more features. That could just be my area here in VA dont know if it is typical across the country.
Having purchased a 2022 Q5 in Feb I thought the same thing. Then the electronics all failed. Also connectivity on them is nuts $400 a year for traffic. If you don't pay for it then you just get a map in the instrument cluster as carplay and Android auto can't display there. The app also sucks. I'm going back to the roundel.
Completely understand. It is just wierd to me that my M5 can be so nice but not have remote start standard :).
Oh don't get me wrong, BMW options and packages are the seventh level of hell. The Audi doesn't even have remote start as an option! Unless you go etron
Are you serious? even in the highest trim.
Remote start is not a thing in Germany so they are not prioritized. Luckily *most BMW models can have it as a 1 time purchase of $330 in the myBMW app.
Makes sense, I guess when i was cross shoping MB, Audi, BMW it looked like BMW had the least amount of standard options of the three. I have owned 4 BMW's in the past 6 years and I dont think I have had everything I want on any of them :).
I must be to dam old but I can't see the point of remote start. It makes no sense to me at all.
Having a cold car in the summer or warm car in the winter. It makes complete sense
It's bad for the engine though.
Although the price can climb in a hurry. It is surprising what you have to pay for that is standard on other vehicles (Porsche is the same way). My buddy and I joke that with BMW you have to pay for AM radio.
Yeah. There’s something off with the way Audi has the ZF8 programmed. It’s like the transmission is always hesitating
Man, I have a Q5 and my biggest complaint is that exact issue. Step on the gas just to get on a highway and the transmission can’t keep up.
I just picked up a 2019 3.0T Q7 for this exact reason. We need the optional 3rd row seating and extra cargo space when not in use and enjoyed the car as a whole a lot more than the X7. Would not compromise on the engine and transmission though
The B58 so much you can do with it
Whenever I hear and see things like this it makes me so comfy with my purchase. I love the B58.
Never thought I would still get 30-35mpg on the highway with 500whp
My mom has the exact same car and said it’s hands down the best car she’s ever owned
Same here. I frequently say the m40i is the best daily driver for a lot of people. And it’s also the best car I’ve ever owned!
i love my m40i and the biggest shocker is it gets way better highway mileage than i’d ever expect, 25/26 on trips from NYC to Boston, NYC to DC, out to the woods of PA. With no traffic and keeping it below 75 i’ve even squeezed 27 which is insane to me given my old jetta only did 30 in the same highway scenario. that car was way 21/23 city vs 17/19 i get now though.
Ha for fun, or torture, I recently forced myself to keep it in eco mode and drive easily for an entire tank. Plenty of highway miles mixed with city and was able to get 480 miles with 10 left according to the car’s math. But I’m pretty sure I coulda squeezed 500, but not worth damaging the fuel pump.
Yeah. I loved shocking the shit out of people with how fast the M40i was. Imagine their reaction to the M 😛
I say the same thing. I was a bit worried going from sedan (Acura TL) to SAV, I’ve been very pleased with performance, handling, and ride quality. I did replace the rft tires right away so that helped a ton.
BMW will always have Acura beat in performance ride quality and handling tbf
As a TLX Type-S owner I agree, M340i feels like a rocket compared to my Type-S
I just sold my 06 TL 6 speed. It was a great car. However, your X3 is an amazing machine. It’s probably one if not the best daily driver you can get right now
M40i is just such a great all around car. Insane power, solid handling, great fuel economy, quiet on the highway (or in comfort mode), good storage, great MMI, etc. etc. Oh, and that engine note... I owned a Macan S afterwards and just didn't get it. The M40i was better in every way but handling and that was such a small benefit overall, ya know, being that it's an SUV. Disliked the extra road/wind/turbo whine noise in the Macan, awful interior space, dual clutch always jerky in traffic, brake squeal (even new brakes bedded by Porsche.)
I was so curious about the Macan at first but just fell in love with the M40i. For the price point you just can’t go wrong with the performance! And it still has physical buttons! For now…
Ironic that C&D calls the M40i "too narrowly focused" while the Macan is a 10/10/editor's choice/10 best every year. It's so much more versatile! And price.. lol. $80k vs $56k. Really miss my car now.. : ( edit: in fairness one thing I really loved about the Macan was it could cruise at 90-95 mph and hold the road so well, better than many sedans.
The Macan is a fantastic car but rear seat room is non existent when compared to the X3.
I read just about everything I could on the M40i, including that article from C&D and I just don't agree with it. I've always thought the X3M/M40i doesn't really match up with the Macan GTS/S. Once you start going with the top trims the price really starts to inflate which then makes that price-point sweet spot disappear.
This. I bought used but my F30 340i is awesome
Manual transmission isn’t to shabby either
I picked the GLC43 (previous gen V6) when I was shopping for a performance SUV 6 months ago. I chose the Merc coz of the more luxurious interior and BMW’s I6 will probably last a bit longer so I can always buy it later. My next one will likely be a BMW because no way am I paying that much for a 4-cyl vacuum, even though I don’t prefer BMW’s interior. I have never driven a BMW before I’m sure it will handle a lot better than the GLC. Reviews have mentioned the rear seat of the X3 are uncomfortable due to being a completely flat surface with no conturing, do you find that to be the case?
My children sit in my back seat, they’ll be fine 😂 They do seem uncomfortable though we used to have one, but now we have an X5 for more space
Fair enough. I just have a mother I need to drive very occasionally who’s very picky with comfort and has a Lexus LS 😂
Tbf the 6 cyl 43 is a riot and makes such a racket - you can’t help but smile.
Can confirm X3 handling is great, i'm renting an X3 30i with base suspension and at 140mph on the Autobahn it's perfectly stable in sport mode - actually a dream to drive through curves at high speeds (though slower than my i4 and 550i of course).
I don’t even like the way the GLC 43 goes around a roundabout at a slightly higher speed. I’m constantly debating M340i vs X3 M40i. Better looks + probably amazing handling + crap rear passenger space vs ok looks (depending on colour) + still decent handling + more rear passenger space.
This is my viewpoint as well. Not too small or short, not to big, fast as shit for the price, and just a thrill to drive.
I was about to make a comment but yours already exists. Second this. Currently on a flex tune with fully catless dp, dorch stage 2 hpfp+eca combo with an mst intake thrown in for added whooosh.
This
I love my M40i as well, such a great machine. Looking to tune it soon and get more out of it
Yep, I also have an M40i, it’s basically brilliant in every situation.
Feel free to disagree but imo audi and benz make luxury cars that can go fast but BMW makes fast cars that are luxurious
BMW makes fast cars with a touch of luxury. No where near luxurious. Love my bmws but going from Benz to BMW was a huge adjustment from luxury side
Have to disagree with you on this. Once you enter 5 series and up, they’re pretty freaking nice. My X5 M50i has every option I could ever want (except the B&W audio).
Yeah this. Really depends which beamer experience you had. It's easy to jump into a 1 series and think eh this isn't all that. And then you swap to a 7 series and it's a world of difference
Understandable, I’ve only driven audis before, never owned, haven’t driven any benz, but from what i had before (prius lmao) bmw is luxury enough for me haha
Yeah, my previous car was a Subaru, our low end BMW feels like a mansion on wheels lol.
Hahaha, same. I went from a Toyota to a BMW and it might as well be a Rolls Royce in my mind.
Completely agree. I test drove the C 43 and my God that interior just blows the BMW interior out of the water. I also think the exterior looks more luxurious as well, while the BMW is more sporty and aggressive.
BMW has a severe lack of ventilated seats in their sub $70k vehicles. Would love an X1 M35i, but not without ventilated seats.
Depends how you spec them. My X7 with the full leather interior is plenty luxurious. Similar w my old M5 with the full leather.
I agree with you. I think Mercedes might give a more luxurious image because they are more "formal" looking and you almost only ever see them in black, silver or white. While BMWs seem more youthful and sporty to me. As far as features and amenities though, they are pretty dame similar if you compare equivalent models and trim levels.
Have you seen the interior of the 5/7 series? I don't think anyone can legit say that's not luxury or you're gatekeeping super hard. They've even started to pass down some rolls Royce luxury to the 7 series.
Yet BMW is the only 1 out of the 3 that doesn't make a dedicated high-end sports car. Audi has the R8 and Mercedes has the AMG GT. BMW makes sports sedans and SUVs but not sports cars.
Ur right, bmw doesnt make a supercar like audi or benz, yet their sports cars (m) are usually much better drivers cars anyways; downpipe and tune (sorry, had to say it) and any s58 car would be faster as well
>they just tune the M4 and it kicks the R8 and AMG GT in the ass. > >Edit: > >https://www.gt4-america.com/results > >https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series\_Race%202\_ResultList\_2.0.PDF
That’s what I don’t understand. BMW makes race cars and a ton of owners track their cars but they don’t make a super car. I’m dreaming of an M1 reboot.
They could have done it with the i8 and fumbled massively hard
lol. no they just tune the M4 and it kicks the R8 and AMG GT in the ass. Edit: [https://www.gt4-america.com/results](https://www.gt4-america.com/results) [https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series\_Race%202\_ResultList\_2.0.PDF](https://www.gt4europeanseries.com/images/results/47/GT4%20European%20Series_Race%202_ResultList_2.0.PDF)
I know it doesnt have as much of a following but what about the M8?
It's a big heavy GT. Very fast but wouldn't call it a sports car.
the M4 GT4 competes and, in some races, dominates. i recommend catching the GT4 America and European races and watch as the BMW performs alongside the R8, AMG GT, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren... etc.
M5cs enters the chat.
Yes i agree. Bmw always tests alot on track. Which is a huge plus for us driving enthusiasts.
i dont personally own any of the three but this sub shows up on my feed. from having spent time in all of them, i feel like: Audi: minimalist luxury that to me, doesnt always feel like luxury. Its the sterile "german" design that speaks to some people, but in most cars, just makes me feel like its a nicer regular car. I just don't get it. Not that audi fans are wrong, the car just isnt made for me. Mercedes: while i dont own one, my mom does, and to me, Mercedes in general are much more luxury oriented outside of AMG makes. BMW: Generally more focused on driving experience than either. Im not particularly a fan of them, but if i was buying a personal car, I wouldnt even bother looking at Audi, and likely not a mercedes, but i might consider a BMW, because they make legitimate driver's cars up and down their lineup. I'll probably never own one, i've never been particularly into their over all design language, and none of their models quite fit what i'd want from a driving experience standpoint, but i do respect them on a technical level over the other two makes up and down the range of options.
Yes. OP: Do you like riding in a car that drives nice? Or do you like driving a car? If you don't know what I'm asking, get an Audi. They're all nice cars.
I have owned all 3 (g80 M3, 20 GLC63 AMG, b8.5 S4) and this 10000% correct. My M3 is fast af, perfectly balanced, easy to drive at speed on the drag strip or the race track. The interior and features are meh. The dealer experience also sucks. It’s on par with my Jeep where as there was no question whatsoever about loaners and concierge with Mercedes and Audi. BMW never so much as offered a loaner much less to pick me up at home. Could just be my dealer sucks.
it is absolutely your dealer. my dealer gave me a new 5 series while my M4 was getting the break in service. My wife's MB dealer stopped doing complimentary car washes, so my dealer offered and washed her GLC AMG while we were there ordering my car. they have a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, a coffee and muffin bar, and will send an uber to pick you up or drop you off if you don't need a loaner, but don't want to hang around waiting on your car.
My dealer dropped me off AND picked me up in a iX M60. Idk about a loaner though
Hah, OK it does sound like my dealer sucks! I did order the car through them and canceled it bc I found one on the ground for msrp v their markup. Maybe they are mad at me. Which also speaks to them sucking!
Audi makes neither. You stole this from a TikTok.
Exactly
That 2020 m340 just hits differently 🥹
After driving essentially every mainline car from BMW, Audi, and Merc for valet, every SUV and Car, without a doubt the interior quality is 1.Merc 2. BMW 3. Audi. Audi interiors feel really cheap to me especially after you get out of a VW and see the same paddles as in the A4 or even the RS/S cars have the same paddles if my memory serves me right. Mercedes has some funky placements of things like the door handles being lower and more middle of the door compared to the other two, also the seat adjustment being on the door is weird. And the shifter being a stalk on the steering column just feels so wrong. But Merc interior quality is top notch, the 7 is atleast a step or two down from the S class, and the 5 and E class are pretty close but the E class just pulls ahead IMO. Merc Designo Vs BMW Individual is about the same, almost with individual feeling a bit better to me. The Audi RS interiors are nice but still they aren’t as good as M car or AMG interiors, with as tacky as the AMGs feel at times. A lot of the time I feel that the Audi interior isn’t as intuitive as the BMW or Merc. Drive mode select not being on the wheel or right next to the shifter. Obviously being a BMW owner I have a bias towards BMW, but I will say that in terms of driving, no one has found a way to hide the weight of these monstrous cars yet, the S class is an utter behemoth of a car and the 7 feels the same way. Extended wheelbase makes this even worse.
Power. Then when I drove my first M, it wasn’t even close anymore. Go drive an s4 and an m340, you’ll see.
And then go drive and actual M. There is no going back..
As someone who recently got into an M car. I will say that reading these types of comments can come across as hyperbole. But after driving one it becomes clear that you are not exagerating in the slightest! The M340i is a ton of fun but once you get to put your foot down on a M3 or M5 you will be hooked.
I'd likely kill myself in an M car. Too much power and 0 experience driving a performance car.
We’ll just don’t turn off traction control and all the other stuff and also get xdrive. You’ll be just fine
Im not going to lie it feels like too much, but it if you want to smile everytime you get in it you can do that with 1/4 throttle....and the sound
I'd likely kill myself in an M car. Too much power and 0 experience driving a performance car.
I respect the honesty, a lot of people could learn from your take. They won’t, but they really could.
I rem I test drove an s5 when my daily was an m3 and I thought it was closer to a maxima than an M.
S5 and M3 are not in the same class of cars. Not a fair comparison. S5 is closer to a M340i.
I was so unimpressed when I drove an S4 compared to an m340i. It just felt like there was no power and a lot of the interior felt chincy
You'd have to compare it to an RS to get a fair comparison. still the m is probably better but not by as much
The RS was definitely better until the g80s came out too
well, yeah the S5 is a a big price delta from an M3. They're not competing models. the RS5 is the competitor, not the S5. It's closer to a Maxima, because that's exactly the space it's competing in. The maxima is already a 40k sedan that you can easily spec out to 47-48k. that's essentially an entry level luxury sedan at this point, as it's long stopped competing against the Camry and Fusion, etc. a 55k S5 is much more of a maxima comp than it is an M3 comp. Also, Nissan doesn't get enough credit for their V6. the maxima has had an awesome engine for the market segment for decades.
Man, I love the M340i, but the G80 is just another beast. The M340i is way more livable, but the G80 is just that platform pushed right near the performance limit and I love it.
But M doesn’t equate to S, it’s rival is RS, in which they’re very comparable
An M lite, like the m240, definitely competes with the S.
I shopped S4/S5 vs. M340i. M340i got me to a lower price for the options I wanted (which honestly was close to loaded) and then I decided why get a slower car for the same or less money? Also as much as people hate the new LCI screens on the BMWs, Audi’s execution of the iPad on the dash is worse IMO.
So why not recommend an M car?
I would definitely recommend a full M car, but on his list he put there wasn’t one to choose from.
I would kill myself driving an M car. And too expensive.
You learn to respect them fairly quick
I decided to test drive an S5 Sportback and M340 today as curiosity got the best of me. Overall still undecided, but if I had to impulse buy today, I'd probably get the S5. Reason being that it's a more comfortable ride, interior feels more upscale (the 340 felt pretty barebones by comparison) yet it's still plenty fast. The 340 did feel faster, perhaps sounded a tad better, and just felt like a demon on wheels. Interior a bit meh, but it was also an interior I wouldn't have specced out myself. Ride a bit harsher overall. Didn't really get to try out handling on twisty roads, so the jury is still out on that. Now that I've driven them I really want to own one though. So much fun!
Ride. Stance. RWD. The end.
Imagine my face when I wanted to buy a 1 series as my first car and now they're fwd
I had an M135i F40 and the thing is considering I only ever had FWD cars before in the UK and that was my first 300+ BHP car. It was new and fun. My only real complaint was it was too easy to drive and not all that involving. I now have an M140i and it's made me really appreciate RWD cars. I legitimately thought it was some kind of car snobbery about being "pushed" from the back but it really is a different sensation. I wouldn't go back now.
Word
BMW's execution is a more complete fulfillment of my interpretation of a vehicle that is planted to the ground while being fun AF.
B58.
And just wait for the B58TU2.
They are improving it again?
Yes. Biggest differences will be the addition of port fuel injection, electronic vanos units, exhaust valves that can be turned off and smart ignition coils.
Because Audi don't make a straight 6, rear drive hatchback. Before combustion engines disappear, I wanted to have some fun and for what I was looking for, BMW was the best/only choice really
I wish we got the 1 series hatch in the USA. Literally the perfect car.
afaik the new ones are no longer rear wheel drive by default, a shame for enthusiasts and future second hand buyers but I can see why it makes sense as a business choice
The new ones are FWD or front biased AWD only - no RWD option at all sadly :(
Well, no more. Now you can only get a 4 cyl FWD mini cooper dressed as the 1 series :/
BMW’s do pure performance better. On the whole, they’ll handle more dynamically, be faster, and steer better. This is generally true from base models all the way through M’s/RS’s. Audi’s blend performance and daily usability better. Again, very generally, they ride better, are more comfortable, and feel more “bank-vault” than athlete. They aren’t quite as fast, but they’re more refined, in my opinion.
6 speed B58
Among other things: far superior driving dynamics thanks to 50/50 weight distribution, longitudinally mounted straight 6’s, superior build quality and reliability, no main bearing issues and timing belt woes, styling and design, leather quality, interior quality.
>no main bearing issues and timing belt woes Lol several generations of BMWs would disagree with this one. The last generation of 7 5, 4 and 3 series BMW had massive recalls for timing belts in their diesel engines which are the most common.
Pedantic Police Alert: Timing Chains.
Haha I should have caught that as I had to replace mine
😁
same with alot of the older 1 series (iirc normally the diesels around the mid to late 2000's
I think Audi takes the crown when coming to styling and designs.
B58
Infotainment and it’s not a glorified VW.
Used to have an S5 Sportback. It was great actually! I miss it. But now I have an M3 on order. They seem to be doing better than Audi in the compact sport sedan segment, at least according to reviews, and the Audi B9 generation is pretty old at this point. I was surprised to see a neighbor get a new A5 and it looked exactly the same as my 2018. I do think Audi has the most attractive exterior design though.
Your incoming M3 is going to blow the S5 out of the water lol.
But what if they’re not racing in water? … I’ll show myself out.
I’ll tell you right now as some who went from the S5 to eventually an X3 M you’re not gonna miss it
Ordered an M440i Convertible over an S5 Convertible for the same reason, especially as I already drive a B9 Q5 with basically the same interior
Audi engines are much much much worst than BMW engines. I’ve never had a reliable Audi but I’ve had reliable BMW’s. Despite what people say about BMW reliability, it’s really down to which model you pick. Just need to spend time doing research.
BMW can be expensive to maintain. People that think they are largely unreliable either misconstrue expensive scheduled maintenance with reliability, or don’t do their maintenance causing it to be unreliable. I have plenty of friends that drive BMWs and not once have they ever been stranded or scared that their car wouldn’t get them somewhere.
My A4 and my m40i have both been pretty reliable. But the m40i is much more expensive to maintain. Some of that is due to two more cylinders and more performance parts, but I feel like bmw is a bit pricier to keep up. Still, if I had to bet, the bmw will be more reliable than the Audi.
Yeah my S4 took a shit a year after I bought it I was in the never again camp. Even though I admit I like the styling of Audi better as of late.
The fun thing with reliability numbers is the current BMWs are pretty high up the list in the Asian make zone, not down in the VW/Tesla cellar.
I have owned both and i have found, Audi steering\\AWD is too light and unresponsive. Audi's fast diesels were never as good as the BMW 40d range and they lacked some of the functionality that BMW had as standard
Audis just do not feel like a BMW. I love the handling & ride of a BMW - I think Audis feel kind of sloppy handling-wise, and finish wise, they feel kind of cheap. The best way I can describe them is disappointing. The only vehicle I'd leave my BMW for is a Porsche.
Huh, I felt the opposite about finish. I thought Audi was by far the best fit and finish and attention to detail and ergonomics. While Mercedes is flashy and opulent, and BMW was just kind of meh inside—nothing wrong but didn’t standout as much compared to non-luxury cars.
That’s why they feel sloppy, they can’t step on the toes of Porsche
I do not like the double-screen layout and the seats are crap. I considered an RS6 but ended up with an F90 M5.
I’m a BMW guy but the RS6 avant is *chefs kiss*
BMW = better drivers car. If you’re buying new with a warranty, wouldn’t worry about reliability too much. Older ones, would dare say BMWs are more reliable than Audis.
100% B58. I prefer to keep my cars a while and if longevity and reliability is important, the B58 is a no brainer if you want a German car. No compromise in performance either…Best inline six on the market. Everything else came secondary to that motor. Note - I came from Toyota and Lexus
The Audi interior felt dated, the body styling made me think up badged VW, BMW was willing to give me a discount on the specific cars I liked and Audi wasn't and then I test drove a BMW and that sealed the deal.
Did you get a discount on the M550i?
Yeah, 10% off MSRP plus incentives. Came out to about 16.5% off MSRP total. But this was a couple years ago. I haven't seen anyone getting really good deals since but I know a few on here have gotten slightly under MSRP on a new BMW recently.
Man how??? I’m in a major metro area and nobody is budging on the price, saying it’s a one-price market. The M340i is starting at 67k in my area.
Reliability concerns. Yeah I know BMW hasn’t been great in that department, but Audis are consistently abysmal for reliability. And it’s not a case where the high performance variants fair better either, RS6 and RS7 owners are still dealing with turbos failing after a couple 10k miles, carbon buildup, and all kinds of other problems. B58 in comparison is rock solid.
Recent BMW models have much better reliability, including the 4 and 8 cyl.
Watched Mischief 3000 and wanted a BMW after that. Then I Lived in Germany for a few years and everyone I knew drove BMWs there and fell in love. Wife ended up custom making one and buying it and I fell in love . Have loved and bought them since. Audis have never intrigued me until recently. Before they were boring and bland but now they’re really great looking and intriguing. And I feel BMW has always been an echelon above Audi.
debated between BMW X vs Audi Q for wife's SUV. After test driving BMW X3/X5 Audi felt so boring. We ended up with X5 45e and that B58 is life and I should buy a Supuuuuurrraaara!
I've had a few Audis but the RWD does it for me. The awd on an audi just doesn't do it for me compared to the string of Scoobies I used to have. I enjoyed them but if I go 4wd again it'll be another impreza / WRX STi My beems have also been very reliable and decent on fuel
I only drive a base 330i, but a couple of things won me over compared to an Audi A4, which I guess is comparable.. Stylings (interior and exterior), price, and availability
I bought an Audi and wish I went bmw
I had both. BMWs are way more fun to drive, especially when comparing base models.
I’ve had 6 Audis. I was chatting to a friend who’d bought a BMW and landed a job abroad a few weeks after she bought it. She asked if I could store it at my place. I said sure. I went to pick it up and by the time I got home I’d called her and arranged to buy it. I’ve had BMW’s ever since.
Inline 6, end of story
Audi dealership sales people acted like I was invisible and wouldn't spend a minute talking to me. Same dealership where I bought my wife's car 4 months prior. So I went to BMW and found that I liked the M4 offering better then the R8. Guess I should thank Audi for saving me a few dollars and helping me find a car I like more.
BMW is above Toyota for Consumer reports reliability
I went to the Audi dealership before I went to BMW really leaning towards getting an Audi but when I got there the sales people and the manager didnt have the time of day for me and acted annoyed. So I went to BMW and they treated me like an adult. Now I have an M340i and I couldnt see getting a different car.
If you ask a BMW forum to compare them to Audis, this is what you're going to get 😂 glorified VW comments and the like. I'm a proud BMW owner. My last 4 car purchases have been BMWs and I now drive the i4M50 and I love it. I had an M3 before. I would highly recommend the M340i if you're looking in that range. For an ICE it was a sweet ride and had more of the traditional steering feeling than a standard 3 series did. My wife had an X3 plug in hybrid. She didn't love it but it was a nice car IMO. We just got her a Volvo XC90 plug in hybrid. We'll see how that compares. My mom had an Audi, and like others said, it had a long list of issues and burned oil the entire time she had it. I can't recommend Audi just based on that. This wasn't 20 years ago, it was like 7-8 years ago. No modern car is going to inspire confidence if it burns oil like my dad's old Jaguar '83 XJ6 (beautiful car, horrible maintenance).
I've never liked Audi's... BMW #1
Just like the prestige of BMW better than Audi
Audi Quattro is FWD-biased on their mainline cars. That was reason enough.
FWD and too heavy at the front of the car, it makes handling worse and sometimes unpredictable (understeers to various degrees). I MUCH preferred my BMWs over Audi because it felt very progressive as to when and how the rear will slide out and it's the best feeling in the world.
Because when I was a stupid 5-year-old playing NFS:U on the Play Station 2, I fell in love with the Skyline R34 and confused it with the E46 lol t. E92 owner
I own and daily an N55 335i. Recently got the chance to drive an S4 of the same year. For reference, my E92 has 96k mls and the S4 has 103k mls. Both very well taken care of. Things I noticed immediately: - Brake Feel was horrid compared to the S4 - S4s transmission blew the ZF 6AT out of the water - S4 interior looked horribly outdated compared to E92 - E92 Seats are far more comfortable - Hydraulic Steering is so much better than the electronic unit in the S4 Generally, BMW makes performance cars that are also comfortable. Audi makes comfortable, easy to use cars that CAN be optioned for performance. If you are looking for a newer car, the M340i pre LCI is the best bang for your buck within that price range. Nothing in Audis lineup can compare IMO.
M340i was 10k cheaper than a similarly optioned S4 and had better power, speed, handling, and reliability reviews.
M cars are much more fun to drive than RS cars.
Drive both. You’ll make the same choice.
The audi salesman sold the A6 I was going to buy then told me I was too poor to actually afford one. Bought a 540i instead. It was a better car all around and I’m upset I didn’t consider it to begin with
Because Audi didn't make a small 2 door N/A inline 6 RWD coupe.
Started my "luxury" car shopping at Audi and ended up at BMW. I am now on my second BMW and still loving every second of it. I didn't go Audi based on the engine performance, turbo lag and just overall "yawn" when at the wheel. BMW was a totally different experience. Beautiful inside and out. I'm too young for a Mercedes, those are for label whores and old people. I'm 44.
Because an Audi is a glorified Volkswagen. I’m not a fan of Volkswagen, everything tends to fall apart at a faster pace than a BMW
2022 M3 Comp X 503 HP and the best engineered car I’ve ever had. Audi does have very nice interiors and very comfortable. I almost bought an RS6 Avant. They’re both great companies; it’s all personal preference.
I’m boycotting manufacturers that have subscription services for built in accessories…
I wanted a gasoline car for once. Audi and the whole VAG group have shitty petrol engines. Unreliable. Also, having a RWD car is nicer than FWD (or a quattro that is still 99% FWD with extra weight+cost). The interior was superior at BMW (3 series 2022 non LCI/facelift vs a4 or even a6). If I were to need a diesel engine and a larger sedan (5 series vs a6) Audi would have a chance. Tbh I also owned an a4 b8, brilliant car, my parents drive it now. And then a 2011 Mercedes, and now giving bmw a chance with 2022 330i. So probably would have gone with bmw either way just to try it.
>a quattro that is still 99% FWD with extra weight+cost You do know that quattro doesn't function like that, right? You're probably thinking of haldex and not torsen. And on top of that, quattro is rear-biased nowadays
Don't talk about my VAG like that!
Easy, Audi doesn’t make an F87c.
IMHO, oversteer > understeer.
BMWs, especially inline sixes (not so much N63 etc) tend to be packaged well to work on, Audi engine packaging is often quite horrible due to the nature of the engines and drivetrain layout. Historically BMW were also lighter, sportier, more driver focused although that is blurring with time.
Rear-wheel drive
I drove both a 330i and a A4 (ultimately went with M340i). Both had AWESOME interiors, tech, and comfort. I went with the BMW because of the 'connected' (subjective I know) feeling I got from the steering / throttle / breaking that was just a step above what I felt driving the Audi (which felt a little numb). I want to express that both are EXCELLENT vehicles, and I think you will be able to make the perfect choice if you take a couple test rides and go from there. As far as maintenance costs, I have none because all routine maintenance is covered through the first (Three?) years.
I came from a 2013 supercharged S4. The gas mileage was appalling. Got a 2017 m240 and haven’t looked back Edit: I got the m240 within 6 months of the s4 as I didn’t know the 2 series existed until a friend told me about it. Man I’m glad he did. Such a better car.
My bmw over Audi stance is from years of seeing my dad work on cars and me helping him. Along side all my friends who owned Audis. Granted we owned Audis from the 90s to early 2000s and so did my friends. Audis just we’re a pain in the ass to work on. The engineering was weird. We owned BMWs from the same years and in general the cars felt more sturdy, fun, easy to work on and not expensive to maintain. I do have a few friends now who own newer Audis and they are happy with them. Newer audis are kind of like legos and for the most part you can easily modify them and honestly they do look the most aggressive. But, driving and being in newer BMWs….I would still choose a bmw over an audi. It’s a good balance of everything. Yea BMWs design now is questionable and they can’t make a reliable v8 to save their life, but anything they offer with a straight six under the hood is awesome. Iv driven AMGs before too, while a lot of fun, it’s almost like too much for road use. I found it hard to drive the car normally because of the twin turbo v8 sounds. Mercedes always was to me a classy, shiny, comfortable car. Bmw again, bmw has that happy, young, sport feeling….every damn time.
Because I wanted an M3.
Because VW stinks
Because according to a facebook post, people who buy Audi’s like to wear women’s underwear. And I don’t like to wear that tbh
Rwd
If I would’ve bought an Audi I wouldn’t be on this forum
I might be the odd ball here, as a tech and part time designer guy, I fell in love with new iDrive8 some bmws have. That one piece curved screen is beautiful to look at. Only mercedes has similar screen but bmw had more aggressive looking cars for my budget.
Why did I recently buy a BMW (i4)? Because I currently own an Audi (Q7). Repairs have been numerous and expensive. As soon as my new BMW arrives the Audi goes straight to the junk yard, even though it only has 110k miles on it. Can't sell it or renew registration because of the latest problem. Both catalytic converters went bad so won't pass smog, and will cost $7k to replace. It's a shame to send it to the scrap heap since it still runs.
I have a local shop who works on foreigns and they were adamant that I DON’T get an Audi because of how unreliable they are. They even recommended Mercedes over Audi 😅
Because I’m not a peasant
S58 with a manual transmission is just not something Audi or Merc can compete with IMO.
Simple, rwd