Given the choice, which would you pick and why??

JD

Of those two , the A4 , especially if you are talking about current shape cars.

I think they are better looking cars and don't come with the "I am an arrogant t***" image that the 3 series has.

320d especially in 'estate' form, quicker, better handling, more power, more driver involvement.

I don't own one but I'm sure not all drivers are tw**s, albeit need to make sure its got the indicators option

I would have a BMW, because they have a nicer ride both for cruising and for hustling. The 2.0 is more powerful than the 1.9, slightly newer technology. I don't think it is as roomy as an A4, but it is more interesting to drive. I imagine the insurance is more on the BMW though - running costs will be similar though.

good luck with your choice.

Having come from 2 BMWs (both 3 series) and having driven an '05 plate A4 130 TDI, I would pick the BM. The Audi is a lovely looking and well built car, but so is the BMW and the BM doesnt have the fundamental flaws I found in the Audi (poor pedal feel on both brakes and clutch, incomprehensibly high brake pedal with no chance of heel n toe'ing and rather inert steering).

Just my 2p worth...

I'd go for the A4 even though it won't be quite as sharp a drive as the BMW. It's better looking, better equipped and easily Jabba'd !

A4 is without a better looker. Depends on which spec A4, if it's the quattro then I'd go for the A4 without a question.

If not, it's a tough one as BMW diesels are fun to drive!

I'd pick the Audi for a couple of reasons

1. I find it attractive and interesting.

2. Its not a BMW

Audi.BMW very nice as are lots of the owners.Unfortunately the car has aquired a reputation.

Isn't the Audi engine borrowed from a skoda fabia vRS;)

BMW, if you're talking about the new one. Great car.

Don't get me wrong, I love the A4 but I think that the new 3 outclasses it's opposition at the mo' and the engine is as easily tuneable as the Audi's. In touring form, the new 3 is a real looker, IMHO.

This thread has just reminded me of a class comment I read today in PH.... a guy called Tombola swapped his BMW 330i Sport for an A3 2.0 T Quattro.... one of the reasons he swapped was that he would no longer be tarred with the BMW brush.

A guy replies that he instead would be tarred with the Audi driver brush...

His retort? At least in the BMW I was a w*nker in a nice car. Now I'm just a w*nker.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=226648&f=23&h=0

I'd pick the Audi for a couple of reasons

1. I find it attractive and interesting.

2. Its not a BMW

:iagree:

Plus 320d's are no match for Furby power 330's are a different matter!

Also you pay extra for indicators in a BM as everything is an optional extra!!

New 163bhp BM will remap to 200. It really is a very good engine.

Re. the optional extras, too true.

I'd go with the BM as I've been out in an Audi A4 TDI and not been too impressed by it. Saying that, I reserve the right to change my mind if I discover that the BM is worse

Chris

The new 3 series is hideous IMO. Especially in a drab colour. One of our sales guys has a black one. Its just so horrible it hurts to look at it.

Get a Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec B Loads of fun!

tough choice but if its the new BMW i would go for the 3series. also depends where you are in the country. i wouldnt have my main car as a RWD as the scottish weather just aint suited to it. but im not sure if the A4 u are talking about is a quattro.

ps. see im not audi biased. thats where folk get me wrong

I love the idea of being tarred with a certain brush because you drive a BMW - a tad rich coming from a bunch of Skoda owners

As to the cars, I voted for the BMW - purely for the extra 38bhp. Also RWD versus FWD. As for options on a 3 series, I specced up an A4 3.0TDI Q estate with what I'd like without going too OTT (ie I left off quite a bit) - £43K. Now that is just silly IMHO.

Have to say though,a car still has to look good for me to consider it.I liked the shape of the last BM's but can't come to terms with the new ones.

Are they like magic eye pictures? Do you have to stare really hard to see beauty?

Oh and I'd go for a Merc C220 CDI sport

I'm with the Subaru Legacy suggestion. If I have to choose it would be the BMW because of rear wheel drive though I would have to get plastic surgery so nobody knew I drove a Beemer! Can you believe a Skoda driver just said that!

To narrow it down just a little, it would be a second hand probably 2002/3 car i would be looking at. Most likely a mid to high spec SE/Sport in both.

I personally have always steered clear of beemers because of the reputation they have (yes i drive a skoda), but more and more people i know are buying 320Ds.

I haven't driven either, but the main factors which would put me of the beemer originally were:

Parts and Servicing cost - not much different than Audi/VW now, and with independant garages its negligible.

Image - getting better reviews as people are buying them for the car and not the image

Insurance - 30 next year and its only going to be a few pounds difference. Besides, my 110TDI Octy is only

I personally think that Audis age better than BMW's. To my eye, an 03 3 series will look pretty old pretty quickly when compared to a similar age Audi.

All IMHO of course.

I agree, older BM's just have that 'Couldn't afford a new one and still a w*nker' look to them, Audi's age gracefully and have that classless image.

A 3 series is just a rep-mobile these days (and more common than a mundaneo too), IMHO driven by image conscious salesmen who could have got better specced, nicer cars but instead bought a crap car with a good badge (for the money that is - they're both good cars)

I'd have the audi, because I don't like the image, that comes with a BMW.

In truth the BMW is probably the better of the two, but I'd rather been seen getting out of a sheep!! Than be assumed, a To**er! :sheep:

Audi has the brand recognition, that I believe your after (or you'd be buying an Octy) without saying, look what I've got...