Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons? - Other Cars Forum

Forum Post / Reply
You must log in before you can post or reply to messages.
Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:03 PM
I have been toying with idea on what I want for my future car. I want something where I can slap a nice set of wheels and suspension on it, or upgrade its turbo setup and call it a day. No I am not selling my cavalier, I am just starting to look for when i graduate from college in 2-3yrs. I just looked at how much I have put or am going to put into this thing to get to where I want her to be, and honestly not matter how much $$ i put into this thing, it'll never be where I want it to be. My close friends at school all have high end cars... one drives an 05 Infiniti G35, another drives an 04 BMW 330i. My friend sean who drives the stock G35 can barely afford to own the damn thing since his payments are 590 a month but he's a personal trainer and makes due. I've ridden in that thing several times and absolutely love the power, and ride it has. My other friends brian whose daddy helped him with his bimmer has his semi modded with BBS 19"s and a Tein Coil over suspension. Both those cars as they are simply impress the hell out of me with few mods. They are quick and have very nice interriors. I want to follow this route. My dad has an 06 Audi A4 2.0T, its quick and with a little help of a lip kit, suspension upgrade, and some 19"s I would be in love with the car. The only downfall is, I will be buyin a used one and I have no idea on how hard these are to work on. My dad only leases them and trades them in ever 2-3 years and all the maintenance on the car is covered. Are they a pain in the ass





Seeing pictures like this just makes me all wet and fall more in love with the Audi's...

Anyone have any insite on these cars or my choice towards this? I'm just testin the waters, so the floor is yours..

thanks!






Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:16 PM
honestly my next car will be a wrx or an sti. a buddy of mine has a wrx that he just dropped an 18g in and that thing untuned is a beast. also rode in an evo recently with a few upgrades and man o man does that thing run.

cavalier won't be going anywhere though... i'm just gonna have a fun daily driver/winter car. hopefully this coming summer i'll be getting into one or the other and getting rid of my legacy wagon.



Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 8:13 PM
Listening Cody. I would like to do the same thing!!! Audi's with a few mods just look sooooo nice.




Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:21 PM
IMO European cars are a tad bit harder to work on, plus parts are rediculous, they want something like 1.5k for a catback exaust on my volvo.



Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:09 PM
the only opinion i can give on the A4 is on the projector headlights.
IMO: they are fantastic! perfect color and cut off line.

good luck buddy. i love the way they look!




-Www.IznTrbl.Com-
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:16 PM
Legacy GT spec B. STI performance with luxury to match. I want one soo bad. I could afford one, but I guess I don't want it that bad. lol.



Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:53 PM
I have been in love with Audi's for a while... if i get a job at the dealership im trying for, once i get all my current crap payed off, my plan was to use the big pay increase and employee discount to get myself in an A4


On the other hand....you have other fingers.

I just bought a 20 inch widescreen ultrasharp flat pannel..I'm going to have to subscribe to the high quality porn places now......damn
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 2:51 AM

Bottom line. If you want power and you're on a budget -- NEITHER !!!!!!
Get anything Subaru with a turbo and go from there. You just admitted
your friend had trouble making payments on his inifiniti and your dad
never keeps his Audis for long. You didn't research the true cost of
modding a bimmer, and I bet you never got an insurance quote on an
Audi, or a bimmer.

No1 From what I've seen, Audi/VW products are an uber bitch to repair;
they're only great when you're leasing them since they're under warranty
... in other words your dad's a smart man to walk away from them after
a few years. No2. BMWs are a little easier to repair; however, those
repairs still carry a premium. No3 if you think RWD bimmers are costly
to modify, be prepared to go into catatonic shock when you discover
the dollar/hp number on the xis. You can't intercool awd xis, your power
figures will be lower with the awd system, and suspension choices are
also limited on the xi platform. No4 I'm 30 with an accident free history -
- a 325XI will cost 150/month in insurance opposed to 90/month on my
Jeep. You're 20 and I bet you'll shun anything less than a 330 from bmw

Having said all that, I still want an e46. I wanted a 3 series since I saw
my first e36 in 92. I keep my cars for long time, I don't put many miles
on my cars (since I work out of the house), and I'm not striving to have
the fastest car on the damn planet, I also frequent the e46fanatics web
site to gauge any bmw issues that should keep me from buying one.

I almost bought a 2002 325xi last month, but I decided to wait until
I can see my company's Christmas Royalty statements... a little more
money (than what I can afford right now) can get me into a 03/04 325xi
with 30k miles. I can't stress enough that I'm prepared for the higher
repair costs, and I'm not looking for the fastest/ lowest thing on 19" rims.
I want something well balance with a classic profile. If I needed a daily
driver, racked up lots of miles, if my goal is cheap hp, or if I always
want the newest thing than I would NOT shop for an Audi or bimmer.






[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 4:26 AM
^^ i agreed. while thinking about those cars are nice, just think of the maintance cost. my buddy use to work for a bmw dealer and he says the cost are ridicious in repairs. sure you can afford the price tag but think about insurance and maintance on the car.



Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 4:43 AM

My friend's father is a bmw mechanic. he's been fixing them for 30 years,
and he only charges $50/hour. Most importantly, he knows where to get
most parts at fair prices. He's the only reason why I'm still considering a
325xi this spring... otherwise I would run from these things like a plague.

Keep in mind that ALL cars break, and all cars need maintenance. Most
people lease Audis and bimmers because they don't want to deal with a
post warranty repair schedule (and that's probably why your dad leases).

I'll leave you with one final thought.... There's a good reason every tom,
dick, and harry don't own a bimmer. These people know there's more to
premium cars than their initial purchase price. if you're truly prepared for
that, than go for it. If you have some doubt than it's best to let this type of
car elude you a little while longer (like its been eluding me since 92).






[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 4:44 AM
urban wrote:
Bottom line. If you want power and you're on a budget -- NEITHER !!!!!!
Get anything Subaru with a turbo and go from there. You just admitted
your friend had trouble making payments on his inifiniti and your dad
never keeps his Audis for long. You didn't research the true cost of
modding a bimmer, and I bet you never got an insurance quote on an
Audi, or a bimmer.

No1 From what I've seen, Audi/VW products are an uber bitch to repair;
they're only great when you're leasing them since they're under warranty
... in other words your dad's a smart man to walk away from them after
a few years. No2. BMWs are a little easier to repair; however, those
repairs still carry a premium. No3 if you think RWD bimmers are costly
to modify, be prepared to go into catatonic shock when you discover
the dollar/hp number on the xis. You can't intercool awd xis, your power
figures will be lower with the awd system, and suspension choices are
also limited on the xi platform. No4 I'm 30 with an accident free history -
- a 325XI will cost 150/month in insurance opposed to 90/month on my
Jeep. You're 20 and I bet you'll shun anything less than a 330 from bmw

Having said all that, I still want an e46. I wanted a 3 series since I saw
my first e36 in 92. I keep my cars for long time, I don't put many miles
on my cars (since I work out of the house), and I'm not striving to have
the fastest car on the damn planet, I also frequent the e46fanatics web
site to gauge any bmw issues that should keep me from buying one.

I almost bought a 2002 325xi last month, but I decided to wait until
I can see my company's Christmas Royalty statements... a little more
money (than what I can afford right now) can get me into a 03/04 325xi
with 30k miles. I can't stress enough that I'm prepared for the higher
repair costs, and I'm not looking for the fastest/ lowest thing on 19" rims.
I want something well balance with a classic profile. If I needed a daily
driver, racked up lots of miles, if my goal is cheap hp, or if I always
want the newest thing than I would NOT shop for an Audi or bimmer.




the sky must be falling, because i agree with you completely.




R.I.P. Brian St.Germain


you know, i love when people like to criticize others about their behavior,
but turn around and do the same freaking thing months later...

Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 5:10 AM
^^ lol sh*t happens







[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 5:14 AM
it frightens me.




R.I.P. Brian St.Germain


you know, i love when people like to criticize others about their behavior,
but turn around and do the same freaking thing months later...
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 6:41 AM
Well this isn't gonna happen till I turn like 23 or 24. So insurance should be a little less than what it is now. But i guess when it comes down to it, I'll have to actually start looking into insurance prices and the whole ball game.



Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 6:47 AM
consider something, though.


will you have the income to support repairs on that kind of vehicle? a friend of mine has 2 newer BMWs (an M3 and a 325i). of the two, the 325i runs better.


because it's been totally rebuilt for the track.

it's the most reliable of the two, since the motor has been completely rebuilt from the block up. it's not running the stock computer, so electrical issues are nonexistent. it has NOTHING but the basics. no heat, no a/c, no power seat: everything's been ripped out. this vehicle runs better than his M3...the M3 has been in the shop 15 times in the past 4 months.



my friend's Passat repair bills were astronomical(and Audi = VW). every repair cost him a grand or more...he said he's NEVER had a repair cost under $800 since he bought it brand new back in 2000.


to summarize: German cars are just not good on the wallet if something breaks.




R.I.P. Brian St.Germain


you know, i love when people like to criticize others about their behavior,
but turn around and do the same freaking thing months later...
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 2:58 PM

indeed.

German cars have so many relays, pricey sensors and electrical subsystems
that, even with solid mechanical components, you'd be naive to think you can
escape with low repair bills. lilbit01 made a good point about her friend's 325
... a gutted bmw is more reliable precisely because it's been gutted of its extra
electrical systems. My folk's always said: "the more features you get on your
car, the more is likely to go wrong"

The 2002 325xi I nearly purchased had 54k miles, and it already required a
new alternator ($420), new battery, new control arms, and the dealer told me
the car had a long list of repairs before he could sell it certified (most people
think that because it's German -- it will have longer repair intervals -- that's
not always the case)







[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 5:38 PM
All I have to say is that I love my Audi, it's a 2002 A4 1.8T. the car is super confortble, enough power for what i need(could always use more) and great on gas, i get about 400-450 miles from one tank which cost about $30
to fill. the car has every option and the only problem I have is the leather interior gets a little hot in the Tampa sun. I would recomend the car to anyone.
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 6:54 PM
Yea.....im actually in the same boat as you.....looking for a couple different cars once im outta college (which for me, is less then a year). Honestly, if you want power....another one to look at is a new MazdaSpeed 3. 265hp, decent tq numbers, looks are always subjective. Been getting AMAZING reviews, out performaing the WRX in many different levels.

Look into also an older S4 if you know you can afford it. I had the chance to ride in one that was slighty modded (chip, intake, and full exhaust), and MAN was that amazing. Got to ride in the newer V8 version too, and thats also a great car. Again, just take a look into some other options as well, just to see what else is out there.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Tristatetuners.com
IGOTBANNED.NET
OceanStateDubs.com
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Friday, October 13, 2006 8:59 PM
i absolutly love audi's

but

reliability scares me..



** FOR SALE** http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=24&i=110879&t=110879
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Saturday, October 14, 2006 1:16 PM
As far as insurance goes on an Audi, it's pretty cheap. I only pay $106 a month for full coverage and a $500 deductable through GM insurance. Also I am only 24, about the age you will be when looking for a car. But look around and do your homework till you find what is best for you.

Mike
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Sunday, October 15, 2006 11:31 AM
Im a bmw mechanic,so if i were you i wouldnt buy a bmw thats outta warranty.There nice cars and all,but the cost of repair on these things are crazy.The common problems with these cars are:front control arm bushings,stuck thermostats,window regulators,brakes/rotors.These things go through brakes every 10-15 thousand miles,and usually the rotors are warped,and since they cant be cut,you have to buy new ones.And another thing that sucks on these cars are the wheels.You can hit a friggen pebble on the road and the rims will bend on you.Oh,and they go through tires pretty quick too.I was gonna get an 04 325ci w/24,000 miles before i got my cobalt.The only reason i didnt get it was because the insurance was gonna be too much money.Im glad i didnt get it,the car has come back a couple of times with problems like a broken window regulator and crap.


Peter
'06 Cobalt ss/sc W/G85 Package
Gm Stage II W/2.79" Pulley
K&N Drop In Filter
Custom Magnaflow Dual Exhaust


Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:05 PM

^ WOW. I'm glad I didn't buy that 325xi last month. In fact, you convinced
me against a bimmer next year as well. So what other problems do you
often see on these things (I was only aware of the control arm problems
and faulty window regulators).






[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Sunday, October 15, 2006 2:40 PM
Im not trying to convince anyone not to buy a bimmer.Im just saying what i think about these cars.Other problems ive come across?Well last week alone i had to change 2 starters on the 3 series.They grind for a few seconds after the car is started.There not that bad to change,you gotta drop the exhaust,lower the sub frame,and the transmission mount.The xi's are a little bit more of a pain in the @ss because of the all wheel drive.They have alot of stupid electrical problems like the taillight sockets melt along with the connector and sometimes the harness.It happens alot to the x5's,except you cant repair it,you have to replace the whole lens.If i was to get a bimmer,it would be a 330ci,thats a sweet car.I dont really care for the m3.It rides too rough for me and you get alot of cabin noise.Also the transmission isnt the smoothest either,its very jerky when you switch gears.The m5 on the other hand,thats a sick car.I drove one not too long ago,that car scares me,lol.As long as you buy a certified bmw,you really shouldnt have anything to worry about.Their covered up to 100,000 miles i believe.All cars have there cons,but out of all bmw's,the 3 series are probably the best of all the models.


Peter
'06 Cobalt ss/sc W/G85 Package
Gm Stage II W/2.79" Pulley
K&N Drop In Filter
Custom Magnaflow Dual Exhaust

Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Sunday, October 15, 2006 3:10 PM
interesting.

I can't speak for Nity9CavSedanCRJ because I don't know where he lives
or his financial situation, but I'm not rich enough to buy a new bimmer,
leases don't make sense for me because I don't drive that much, and we
don't have a bmw dealership for 300 miles in any direction. Certified used
bimmers cost considerably more than other used bimmers as well (and
like I said earlier, I don't have a bmw dealership in my town so its a moot
point) I guess a bmw is the worst option for someone like me (which is
too bad because I wanted one since 92).






[ o ][][][][][][][][ o ] coach built jeep
Re: Audi A4/ S4 or BMW 325Xi... Pro and Cons?
Sunday, October 15, 2006 5:44 PM

all i got to say about those two cars



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, October 15, 2006 5:47 PM


Forum Post / Reply
You must log in before you can post or reply to messages.

 

Start New Topic Advanced Search