[vkk]

I lost my audi a4 in the snowstorm here last week. I used to love that car and thought for sure I'd replace it with an audi. However, test driving the 3 series blew me away.

I test drove the new A4's too. What surprised me is that I see a lot of posts saying how bad the 328 interior is and articles on how good the A4 interior is. Having spent many years in audi, I think their standards have actually gone down. They now have far too many knobs and the interior looks more cheap now compared to my 99 A4 (in my opinion).

The 328, on the other hand, seems to be much more ergonomically equipped. I like the fact that the dash isn't too noisy and very clean. I much prefer the 328 interior to the new A4's.

Anyway, just some rambling....

Thanks

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by vkk

I lost my audi a4 in the snowstorm here last week.

Wow, that must have been some storm. I hope you find it. j/k - I am glad you are alright.

If you aren't dead set on AWD, make sure you test drive the RWD BMWs with the sport package as well. They are sublime. And with snow tires, they are quite competent in the snow.

[kuthair]

Originally Posted by vkk

Having spent many years in audi, I think their standards have actually gone down. They now have far too many knobs and the interior looks more cheap now compared to my 99 A4 (in my opinion).

agreed... i had an '01 A4. I always liked the B5 best. It went downhill when they got rid of the vacuum door locks. I loved that.

[vkk]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Wow, that must have been some storm. I hope you find it. j/k - I am glad you are alright.

If you aren't dead set on AWD, make sure you test drive the RWD BMWs with the sport package as well. They are sublime. And with snow tires, they are quite competent in the snow.

Thanks for the note of concern!

[findtom]

I prefer the BMW interior too.

[mercury26]

I have a 2006 A4 model now and considering moving to the 328xi Wagon when my lease expires. I have no experience with the BMW, but I think Audi has dropped the ball on some interior elements (for instance, lack of sport seats).

Cheers,

Chuck

[arbitrage]

Wait for 335xi (who knows when) but that car is going to blow any audi out of the water (or snow ). I will seriously consider switching over my lease from my 335i if they ever build the 335xi!!

[Titania]

I cross-shopped these two, as well. What bothered me most about the Audi was how very front-heavy it felt. I liked the Audi interior slightly better than the bimmer's, but both were nice.

[uhaulball]

the downside with bmw XI's is their massive wheel gaps. audi a4 quattro's dont have such large wheel gaps stock. i got a set of H&R sport springs for my xi as soon as it comes out, but the drop is not perfect, and coilovers are not out for the XI yet. if u plan on doing some suspension mods, id say got with 328i or 335i, there are a lot more viable options for aftermarket suspension.

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

the downside with bmw XI's is their massive wheel gaps. audi a4 quattro's dont have such large wheel gaps stock. i got a set of H&R sport springs for my xi as soon as it comes out, but the drop is not perfect, and coilovers are not out for the XI yet. if u plan on doing some suspension mods, id say got with 328i or 335i, there are a lot more viable options for aftermarket suspension.

I think folks on here tend to exaggerate the wheel gap issue in the xi. But then again the slammed look never did appeal to me. I can tell you for anyone who's never driven an xi, the handling is superb. I test drove the A4 and compared to the 330xi the A4 doesn't have it. The one thing you find in ALL BMW's is amazing handling. My favorite thing to do every Sunday is take a drive through Rock Creek Park and carve up the twisties. That always seems to clear my senses.

[Daya]

I am trading in my 2005 A4 for a 335 in the spring. I too agree that audi interiors are nice, but BMW is not that far behind. I am guessing since you have a B5 the interior is a bit dated compared to the 328. I can't compare Xi system vs. quattro, though. The 335 test drive gave me an adrenaline rush I never felt with my Audi (obviously, 300hp vs. 170hp) but the handling and balance was sublime.

The audi B7 platform doesn't impress me, all they did was update the grill and taillights and added the 2.0t and 3.2, but everything else is the same as the B6.

Get the 328xi and don't look back, or wait for the 335xi

[Chuck_IV]

Originally Posted by Titania

I cross-shopped these two, as well. What bothered me most about the Audi was how very front-heavy it felt. I liked the Audi interior slightly better than the bimmer's, but both were nice.

I cross shopped the 325xi with the A4 earlier this year too and the one thing that turned me off with the A4(besides the salesmen at 2 different Audi dealers) was the 2.0 engine on the A4. While it may have had a bit more power, the engine felt very unrefined/rough around the edges and had that classic 4 cylinder sound, which I kind of despise.

The 325xi(I'm sure the 328 continues this) felt MUCH more refined all around, especially in the engine. The engine feels so smooth and refined. To this day, I hardly ever turn the radio on because it drowns out the sound of the engine, which I love to hear, especially under acceleration.

As for the interior, at the time, I did like the A4's a tick better, but, having the 325xi now for almost a year, I've come to appreciate the simplicity of the BMW interior. About the only thing I will give the A4(and this is personal opinion, at it's best) is that they still include a fullsize spare and DON'T use runflats, like the BMW's.

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

I think folks on here tend to exaggerate the wheel gap issue in the xi. But then again the slammed look never did appeal to me. I can tell you for anyone who's never driven an xi, the handling is superb. I test drove the A4 and compared to the 330xi the A4 doesn't have it. The one thing you find in ALL BMW's is amazing handling. My favorite thing to do every Sunday is take a drive through Rock Creek Park and carve up the twisties. That always seems to clear my senses.

i have an xi too, imo the wheelgap was pretty darn big, especially with my high offset 17" wheels.

[SP330]

Wow I didnt know both BMW and Audi messed up on the redesigns of their bread and butter cars.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by Daya

The audi B7 platform doesn't impress me, all they did was update the grill and taillights and added the 2.0t and 3.2, but everything else is the same as the B6.

Drice/ride in an S/RS 4 and it'll impress you plenty, trust me.

[Daya]

I have taken a ride in the RS4 and I was impressed, but the original post is comparing the 328 and an A4

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Drice/ride in an S/RS 4 and it'll impress you plenty, trust me.

[vkk]

I reveal my ignorance here, but what is a wheel gap?

[BK]

^^ Space between the tire and fender wells.

[fueledbymetal]

Originally Posted by vkk

I reveal my ignorance here, but what is a wheel gap?

It's the space between the tire and the wheel well. Some people (not I) like the look of lowered (slammed) cars with giant wheels.

I also cross-shopped the A4 with the 328i, but the Audi was too expensive imho due to the way they bundled the options I wanted.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by findtom

I prefer the BMW interior too.

Me too--I have always felt the Audi interior resembled the VW's too much--having 2 Jettas prior to my E92, this really turned me off getting an Audi. They felt so similar that the driving difference could not convince me. Just my .02