Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max
do you own stock in BMW or work for them or something?

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimster
the G35 RWD if you don't, or even better, a 3 series.

---

__________________

///M Power

2002 E46 M3
Carbon Black
SMG
Full Dinan S2 Package
CSL Spoiler & Rear Diffuser
Diamond Black BBS RGR 18x8.5 Wheels

I am in the process of making a BMW 3-Series FAQ thread and any suggestions would be welcome. Just send me a PM.

I was unaware that the A4 was re-designed for 2005. This certainly makes it a closer match for the G35, but it still loses IMO. The G35 still performs better. It also offers a conventional manual transmission with its V6, if that matters to you. And it's still more reliable. Jimster, I'm not saying it's more reliable because of what J.D. Powers says. In fact, I've never even read the J.D. Powers ratings. I make my reliability conclusions based on a large and varied amount of consumer reviews from various sites. I'm glad that you've had a good experience with yours, but a lot of people haven't.

The A4 is most likely the better touring car. It looks good, has a very well-designed interior, and has a nice, cushy ride. But if acceleration and sharp handling are important to you (and as you said, they are crucial to you), then the G35 is undoubtedly the better choice. It may not be the best at everything in this category, but it's certainly the best at performance, and it's more than acceptable everywhere else.

__________________

My Camry...someday.

Even consumer reviews are unreliable, I should know, if you read sites like carsurvey.org , then you'd think that 80-90% Alfa Romeo 156's broke down all the time, however after managing a dealership that sold them and hence serviced them, I found that 70-80% of them are actually perfectly fine, bar the odd niggling fault.

Though I have read carsurvey and must conclude that a majority of Audi breakages have been because the owners are retards (ie. Those who drive thier cars when the oil light comes on or don't realise that timing belts need changing with age should it come before milage.), there are a few that develop the same niggly electrical faults that Nissans, Peugeots and Fiats do. There is also of course the 1.8T cars have been affected by the now irrelevant Ignition coil failures.

Considering that Alfa Romeo has been scraping the bottom of the barrell of reliability (Somewhere just below Mitsubishi and Renault and just above Fiat and Land Rover) for years, yet can build about 3 quarters of thier cars properly, then to say not to buy an Audi because a few develop faults is being paranoid, because using that logic there's also the chance he could get a dodgy G35.


Oh what the hell am I saying? Get a 330i

Well, I see your point about reliability ratings being very elastic and subjectible, so I'll throw that out of my argument. I still argue that the G35 is sportier and funner to drive than the A4, yet still acceptable as a standard, docile luxury sedan.

__________________

My Camry...someday.

And I wouldn't debate that at all.




Still, both are good cars and I would reccomend them both, it comes down to which one the buyer prefers come test drive time.


Of course as afore mentioned, the 330i is worth a drive too, as is the Cadillac CTS if you can live with a depressingly cheap interior. The Volvo S40 T5 is an excellent choice as well, but a bit snug for an FWD sedan.

i've actually heard very good things about audi dealers (certainly better than bmw and vw dealers)
but once again, this is on this side of the pond.....

Thanks, everyone, for your prompt replies. It sounds like the G35 is the popular choice with several write-in votes for the BMW 3-series! I do have a few follow-up questions: 1) which car is safer? 2) which car has more leg room in the back seat? and 3) when the G-35's AWD kicks in, is it very stiff? I currently have a 2001 Pathfinder and when I throw it into 4WD, I get better traction on a straight road but I feel like the car becomes much clumsier and stiffer when turning -- can I expect the same from the G35?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Felixa1
Thanks, everyone, for your prompt replies. It sounds like the G35 is the popular choice with several write-in votes for the BMW 3-series! I do have a few follow-up questions: 1) which car is safer? 2) which car has more leg room in the back seat? and 3) when the G-35's AWD kicks in, is it very stiff? I currently have a 2001 Pathfinder and when I throw it into 4WD, I get better traction on a straight road but I feel like the car becomes much clumsier and stiffer when turning -- can I expect the same from the G35?

---

__________________

My Camry...someday.

the a4 is very nose heavy and is something that they never really put into the equation during the set-up of their 4Wd system.
as a result, it will understeer like crazy.
this is why they (audi) are desparately reconfiguring the next gen of cars to be either mid front engined or to have more rear bias in them or a combination of both.
i also think they're pinching someones rear transaxle to help with their weight distribution problems; again, something to remedy their front heavy past.