A4 quattro or 330Ci?

[OCDetails]

I'm looking at getting a convertible this spring and I'm torn. I'm looking at either an Audi A4 Quattro or a BMW 330Ci. I've driven them both and I have to say I enjoyed the Bimmer a little more, but the Audi is also really nice. Does anyone have anything they want to add for either one? I've done some research and it seems they both have a lot going for them. The BMW does have a larger trunk, however, but it is basically deeper and not much else. That makes a difference if I am still going to use it ever to try and get some detailing done. The A4 has the AWD that I desperately need in the winter, so I'm really torn. I don't have AWD right now and I'm surviving, but if I could get a convertible with it, then that would be just awesome.

I wish I had the money to buy the car right now because there is a certified 2004 BMW M3 that is being sold at a dealership off the beaten path for about $5K below book that is in terrific condition. SMG transmission, GPS, the whole nine yards. Damn I love those cars... Oh well... It probably won't be for another three or maybe four months before I'm ready to buy, so I've still got time to do some research.

Oh, and by the way... I'm trying to keep it under $24K for the car, so I'm not looking for anything newer than probably an '04. I'm also not looking for anything with more than 60,000 miles on it, so probably not older than a 2002 either.

[Bob]

I was asking about Audi's on another forum. Most people that owned Audi's loved them. BUT they said that certain things break a lot and it almost seemed like they need to be babied. A few of the guys have owned both and said they liked the BMW better.

[OCDetails]

Yeah, I was afraid of that... I've heard that about Audi. In fact, if I bought one, then I know a few guys who would enjoy making me eat my words when I told other people to avoid them. The one thing I like about them is I never have a problem cleaning up the paint. Unlike some paint (Nissan, for example) the Audi paint seems to polish up perfectly every time without tearing my hair out with frustration that I can't get the haze eliminated. I've only done two BMWs that weren't silver or grey in the past ten years and those all seemed to polish up fairly well too, but since silver and grey seem to be the color of choice in Bimmers around here, I couldn't really say how easily they polish up. I do love the Charcoal color that BMW uses. It is a terrific color that hides just about everything.

[BlueZero]

I've driven an Audi A4 and a BMW 330i but never a Ci. I lovedthe BMW.

Sorry I don't have anything to base that on, other than a test drive of both. :)

[Bob]

Yeah, I was afraid of that... I've heard that about Audi. In fact, if I bought one, then I know a few guys who would enjoy making me eat my words when I told other people to avoid them. The one thing I like about them is I never have a problem cleaning up the paint. Unlike some paint (Nissan, for example) the Audi paint seems to polish up perfectly every time without tearing my hair out with frustration that I can't get the haze eliminated. I've only done two BMWs that weren't silver or grey in the past ten years and those all seemed to polish up fairly well too, but since silver and grey seem to be the color of choice in Bimmers around here, I couldn't really say how easily they polish up. I do love the Charcoal color that BMW uses. It is a terrific color that hides just about everything.

I want something I can have fun driving without having to baby it. I don;t have time for that any more. LOL

[Dave]

BMW :cool:

[reeeko99]

I have two buddies that are total VW/Audi guys...
They swear by the 1.8T / 2.0T turbo motors in the VDubs/Audi's..
Very reliable and they've got multiple's in their fleet. ( each own +4VW or Audi's )
One of them beats his cars and the other guy puts alot of miles on his car ( hwy) and just can't stop gloating about the Audi's...
Each own +130k cars as daily drivers.
I've just turned one of them into a detailing machine last year after he let me clean up his A4 and TT quattro's convertible..

I've been a closet Audi guy for years ( mainly because of the Quattro system/racing victories). I still love my japanese cars for reliability/price point.

Quattro and good snow tires will win you over in the white stuff..
Steer clear of the 6 cycl Audi motors... My buddies mechanics don't like them at all. More expensive to repair and not as bullet proof as the 4 cycl motors....

The 4 cylc motors are easy to chip also....if your into that.
Good luck with your purchase....