Which a5 are you thinking off(engine wise)
BMW/Audi owners comparo
Has anyone went from a 3 series (328xi) to an A5?
i was looking for some input from those who have owned a BMW then went to an Audi and some of the pros/Cons of the switch.
I'm currently a 2008 328xi coupe owner and a previous A4 quattro owner and have always wanted an A5. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
i was looking for some input from those who have owned a BMW then went to an Audi and some of the pros/Cons of the switch.
I'm currently a 2008 328xi coupe owner and a previous A4 quattro owner and have always wanted an A5. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
2.0T Quattro
Looking for things like build quality... Reliability, tires.. BMW run flats suck. Customer service and such
Looking for things like build quality... Reliability, tires.. BMW run flats suck. Customer service and such
I went from a 328i to an S5 (biased to NA engines). First off, exterior wise is subjective based on the person, but the interior in the Audi is def better. The bmw also has better steering feel, while the audi can feel a bit light at times. Let me know if there's anything else you wanna know
Hows the audi paint compared to bmw... my paint seems to scratch super easy and the interior door panels get scuffed to no repair besides replace the whole door panel.I went from a 328i to an S5 (biased to NA engines). First off, exterior wise is subjective based on the person, but the interior in the Audi is def better. The bmw also has better steering feel, while the audi can feel a bit light at times. Let me know if there's anything else you wanna know
I tend to agree with Vicnumb7. BMWs seem to have better feel in the steering dept. The suspension on my old 5er seemed to be more comfortable too while at the same time still do well in corners. (2003 E39 525i)
The A5's steering is a little numb to me. Almost used to it by now. Audi interiors are fantastic from my POV. My Audi's *ahem* standard shocks are very hard. I could map all the road's impurities with my butt.
The A5's steering is a little numb to me. Almost used to it by now. Audi interiors are fantastic from my POV. My Audi's *ahem* standard shocks are very hard. I could map all the road's impurities with my butt.
I had a 3 series previously. Since then I have had a mark II TT and now the S5.
The interior in the BM was fine although Audi certainly have the edge in this regard. The BM did seem more driver orientated when behind the wheel. The steering had more feedback than either of my subsequent Audi cars.
However in terms of looks Audi are streets ahead.
Depends what you want, if looks mean nothing and you are only interested in the drive then BM for me.
If you want a bit of everything (as I do) to include great looks then I would go Audi and sacrifice the edge which BMs give you in terms of handling/steering.
All IMO of course
The interior in the BM was fine although Audi certainly have the edge in this regard. The BM did seem more driver orientated when behind the wheel. The steering had more feedback than either of my subsequent Audi cars.
However in terms of looks Audi are streets ahead.
Depends what you want, if looks mean nothing and you are only interested in the drive then BM for me.
If you want a bit of everything (as I do) to include great looks then I would go Audi and sacrifice the edge which BMs give you in terms of handling/steering.
All IMO of course
Not in this caseI went from a 328i to an S5 (biased to NA engines). First off, exterior wise is subjective based on the person
.I'm switching from an E46 325XI to an FL S5. Don't think I'll miss it too much.
imho likewise.
.... Depends what you want, if looks mean nothing and you are only interested in the drive then BM for me.
If you want a bit of everything (as I do) to include great looks then I would go Audi and sacrifice the edge which BMs give you in terms of handling/steering.
All IMO of course
I had a 2005 545i with the sport package and now have a Audi A5 S-line with every option including dynamic drive select. I also was considering a BMW 335 coupe.
Personally I think the A5/S5 just really pop on the road ways. So many BMW's around that I don't even think people really notice them much. Lets be honest many of us aren't buying 50K cars or whatever to not have someone notice.
Interior is easily on Audi's side.
Reliability I think there really pretty close. I'm not sure you could really say one is that much better then the other. Not like it matters but I've noticed the BMW forums are literally riddled with people posting issues. They also sell more so that may have something to do with it. BMW's though have always been a high stickler on maintenance. You don't maintain something it will always bite you in the ass and on BMWs it seems to bite you much quicker.
Driving.....I test drove an S5 and A5 without Dynamic drive and I'd say BMW is the better feeling car from a steering stand point. Audi with Dynamic Drive its splitting hairs. Overall both feel excellent and both handle well beyond most cars on the road and are capable of things well beyond bending the laws on the streets.
I'd also lean on the Audi side with overall build quality that is noticable.
Personally I think the A5/S5 just really pop on the road ways. So many BMW's around that I don't even think people really notice them much. Lets be honest many of us aren't buying 50K cars or whatever to not have someone notice.
Interior is easily on Audi's side.
Reliability I think there really pretty close. I'm not sure you could really say one is that much better then the other. Not like it matters but I've noticed the BMW forums are literally riddled with people posting issues. They also sell more so that may have something to do with it. BMW's though have always been a high stickler on maintenance. You don't maintain something it will always bite you in the ass and on BMWs it seems to bite you much quicker.
Driving.....I test drove an S5 and A5 without Dynamic drive and I'd say BMW is the better feeling car from a steering stand point. Audi with Dynamic Drive its splitting hairs. Overall both feel excellent and both handle well beyond most cars on the road and are capable of things well beyond bending the laws on the streets.
I'd also lean on the Audi side with overall build quality that is noticable.
My 4 previous cars are a 2001 330CI, 2001 M Roadster, 2004 M3, and 2005 330Ci ZHP. I got out of the ZHP and into the A5. For me it was a decision I based on being a bit older. Ride comfort and daily useability in Wisconsin winters is just easier with the A5. I would agree with previous posts reguarding steering feel and feedback, but again, for where I'm at in life, I like the A5 better. Its as sporty as I need, as good looking as I think there is, and the interior is a way nicer place to be.
I currently have both a 2009 S5 and 2011 335i convertible. Both are great cars, but I prefer driving the S5 over the 3-series. Some impressions:
1. My S5 has manual tranny and the 335i is auto - so my wife can drive it. We have the paddle shifters, which can be fun, but it's nothing like a good old fashioned 3 pedal car. In fairness my previous bimmers where all manuals (E36, E28, E21) - and they were really great to drive. The position of the Audi's brake versus throttle pedals make it more difficult to heel-and-toe than any of my old bimmers, so as long as BMW hasn't messed that up I suspect that if my 335i was a manual I would probably enjoy it as much as the Audi, maybe more. BTW - the trick to heel-and-toe in the Audi is to position your right heel directly under the throttle pedal, rather than the more natural position between the two pedals.
2. The 3-series has the damn run flats. They are noisy and harsh. In fairness the newer summer tire run flats are much better than they used to be, but the winters I have on now (Blizzaks) sound and feel like truck tires. Score one for Audi.
3. Gas mileage in the 335i is much better than the S5 - surprisingly so.
4. 3-series cars are so common that no one notices, but the S5 still attracts favorable attention.
5. The ergonomics of the Audi beat BMW hands down. MMI is better than iDrive, and I can't believe how the BMW engineers managed to make some of the switches almost impossible to see from the driver's seat - auto windshield washer button and heated steering wheel buttons in paticular. They put the master unlock button in the center of the console instead of on the driver's door - yecch. And the one cup holder is a flimsy thing that pops out of the dash into the passenger's air space.
6. Neither car comes with an oil dipstick, but at least for Audi you can buy an after-market one.
1. My S5 has manual tranny and the 335i is auto - so my wife can drive it. We have the paddle shifters, which can be fun, but it's nothing like a good old fashioned 3 pedal car. In fairness my previous bimmers where all manuals (E36, E28, E21) - and they were really great to drive. The position of the Audi's brake versus throttle pedals make it more difficult to heel-and-toe than any of my old bimmers, so as long as BMW hasn't messed that up I suspect that if my 335i was a manual I would probably enjoy it as much as the Audi, maybe more. BTW - the trick to heel-and-toe in the Audi is to position your right heel directly under the throttle pedal, rather than the more natural position between the two pedals.
2. The 3-series has the damn run flats. They are noisy and harsh. In fairness the newer summer tire run flats are much better than they used to be, but the winters I have on now (Blizzaks) sound and feel like truck tires. Score one for Audi.
3. Gas mileage in the 335i is much better than the S5 - surprisingly so.
4. 3-series cars are so common that no one notices, but the S5 still attracts favorable attention.
5. The ergonomics of the Audi beat BMW hands down. MMI is better than iDrive, and I can't believe how the BMW engineers managed to make some of the switches almost impossible to see from the driver's seat - auto windshield washer button and heated steering wheel buttons in paticular. They put the master unlock button in the center of the console instead of on the driver's door - yecch. And the one cup holder is a flimsy thing that pops out of the dash into the passenger's air space.
6. Neither car comes with an oil dipstick, but at least for Audi you can buy an after-market one.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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