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Love BMW's, think Audi has some excellent designs, cannot stand M-B. Having owned a couple of 3 series cars in the past, they seem to be more driver oriented. My boss has an Audi S4 Quattro V8 twin turbo and I must admit, it really screams.
No such bird. The S4 has been sold with a single-turbo straight-5, a twin-turbo V6 or a normally aspirated V8.
I had the money, and I was ready to buy my dream car...a BMW. But I was greatly disappointed when I test drove a 3 series. It was pretty much like my Camry, just felt heavier. Then I tried a Mercedes...I liked it better, but I hated the square hump in the back seat. Audi...sorry, I hate Audis and have heard too many horrible things about reliability and service.
I settled for an Acura TSX. It's OK...
I've decided (for now) that my "I've made it" car once I graduate, get settled and get some school debt paid down will be the BMW 135i. I just wish they'd sell the hatchback version in the States. Bastards.
Having had the pleasure of operating a 745i Euro BMW back in the early 90's for over 30,000 miles ... BMW definitely had Turbo'ed 6's that screamed! The car had a "buffalo hide" leather interior that was superb for durability and comfort. Other than routine maintenance, I don't recall any issues with that car ... oh, maybe a seeping left rear suspension unit requiring a top up of the hydraulic reservoir now and then with some gold derived ATE hydraulic fluid from the platinum metal can. The fellow I sold it to claimed he'd run against Porsches at 140+ for many miles in the Utah deserts and had no problem keeping up with them .... and the car still kept running without distress for many years.
That was one of the few cars that gave my 6.9 'Benz a run for it's money in comfort, handling, performance, and durability. I preferred the raw power and handling of the 300SEL6.3, but it was rather rough compared to the later 6.9 cars.
In the other extreme, my 4000CS Audi Quattro sedans were simple, durable, good handing, reliable, comfortable, and economical to operate. I wasn't very happy when Audi went more upmarket and more performance oriented at greater cost with lower durability after 1997.
I went through several 2002 BMW's, and still have a one-owner 1972 which gives yeoman service. The interior build quality wasn't as good as it could have been, but it was a lot of car for a tad over $3,000 out the dealer's lot back then. There were a few isses with it ... a tender input shaft on the trans, thinner sheet metal than I'd like to have seen in the fenders and at the trunk area ... but I've rebuilt the trans and kept the car rust free all these years.
I still own/operate a couple of 1982-3 123 chassis 300Dturbo sedans. Simple (except for the damn climate control), durable, reliable, comfortable (although not as comfortable as the 126 chassis series), with good handling and tough as nails build quality throughout. I think these were the last quality cars from MB, after years of owning 108, 109, 107, 114, 111, and 115 series chassis cars from 'Benz.
IMO, all three of these manufacturers have strayed from the quality of design and execution that marked their better cars of the 60's-early 80's. All had a few "lemons" in the line when it came to longer term build quality (Bavarias, 250's, 100's), but they also built some stellar vehicles for reasonable money which are worth keeping around even today. The electronics issues in the current cars are quite problematic, but I can point to underbuilt cooling systems, inadequate drivelines, underbuilt accessory items, cylinder head and manifold problems, and numerous other mechanical failures that simply aren't up to their old quality, let alone current standards of the competition.
I truly fear the day when I won't be able to run my older vehicles anymore ... they're simple enough that I can keep them on the road for little money and work on them entirely by myself. Without dealer diagnostics for the current vehicles, it's going to be a problem diagnosing difficulties, let alone repairing them. The current levels of efficiency/fuel economy simply don't justify the maintenance and operational expenses compared to what the industry was building in the 1970's and 1980's.
For looks Audi they look lovely inside and out not so keen on the newer BMW's the shapes can look a bit strange not so much the 3 series. Not really into the Merc's don't know much about them and don't really pay attention to them. I have only driven the BMW and as a fan of RWD they are fun in the rain and snow especially the 3 series.
Audi's changing from their traditional Torsen 50/50 AWD setup - a traditional system that gave little driver feedback - to a more rear drive orientation. The first car with this was the RS4, which I believe had a 40/60 RWD bias setup.
And I personally was disappointed with the way the new 3 series drove. It seemed softer and overboosted and I really couldn't tell what everyone meant when they said BMW's are true drivers cars. It just didn't drive that great to me.
Hate to be the one to say it, but the Lexus models are vastly superior in many ways, especially resale value. I had the chance to drive an LS 430 a couple of years ago and I was blown away. It was quiet, fast, comfortable, and had a Nakamichi sound system that was out of this world.
Anyone who believes Lexus makes superior cars is not concerned with performance driving at all. You just can't have both. And Lexus quality is overrated.
Having had the pleasure of operating a 745i Euro BMW back in the early 90's for over 30,000 miles ...
I was actually an inch from buying a gray-market 1984 745i about 10 years ago until I thought better of what it would take to get driveline parts for it on this continent or find a mechanic who would touch it.
I always liked older 7-series, I remember they also came in 5-speeds. There's a red 1990 735i manual on ebay right now. If I had the money, I'd definitely snap that up. A true drivers' large sedan.
I always liked older 7-series, I remember they also came in 5-speeds. There's a red 1990 735i manual on ebay right now. If I had the money, I'd definitely snap that up. A true drivers' large sedan.
No such bird. The S4 has been sold with a single-turbo straight-5, a twin-turbo V6 or a normally aspirated V8.
It's definately a V8. I thought he said was a turbo as well. I'll check it out, thanks.
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