wantmye90

I will be buying a new car soon. Currently drive a BMW 330 (2006 model) and love both the A6 and the BMW 5 series.

Can't decide between the 2008 A6 or a similarly equipped 2008 528. Both are approximately the same price.

While I know those at this site are A6 fans, I know there's none better to ask "What are the pros and cons of owning your car", and do you have any thoughts towards the BMW 528.

Thanks!

Egil A64.2s - S6

drive both back to back.

I always compare before any purchase.

jefman

I just came off a '05 3.2 lease. I test drove the 528xi and loved the balance, handling and road feel but felt it lacked power compared to my 3.2. From my point of view, the BMW requires little thought when going through curves. With the A6 if you react a little late the car understeers, therefore you need to be a better driver with the Audi. The 5 has an amazing suspension, Audi's feel sportier and you feel rough roads more.

I then test-drove the 535xi. It has a great engine but the A6 4.2 is better. BMW 6 cyl turbo versus Audi's 8 cyl FSI. Turbos give you a rush of power and then trail off. The 4.2 has linear power that keeps on giving more and more. If you like to zip in and out of traffic, the turbo is best for you

I really disliked BMW's auto gear shifter. It makes no sense at all. Why take a perfectly sensible device and turn it into something obscure that requires a thought process. It's just another electronically controlled gadget waiting to malfunction. For those who have not driven the 5 series go in and try one, you wont believe it. I dislike BMW's tiptronic mode. It works opposite Audi's and probably most others. Shift the handle up and you go into a lower gear, shift down and you move to a higher one. Also when you shift into tiptronic mode it first goes into sport mode, so basically it downshifted a gear.

The turn signal annoyed me, another electronically controlled devise that had a counter intuitive feel to it. When I used it, I was never quite sure it was engaged. Audi's turn signal is mechanical it clicks into place. Another nice Audi feature, when lane changing move it lightly up or down before the click and let it go, your directional signal flashes three times. Alternatively, hold it before the click engages and it flashes until you release it. Smart!

The 5 has no oil dipstick and the Audi has no auto transmission dip stick. Double Dumb!!

At first, I liked driving the 5 over the Audi but after driving both back to back a few times, I realized I liked the Audi better. It felt more connected to the road and I liked the lighter steering.

Ultimately, what did it for me was the safety factor. BMW scored very low on side impact crashes.

My opinion: the 3.2 and 4.2 are better cars than the 528 and 535xi.

I ended up leasing a 4.2

AlteredEgo79

Re: quattro for sure!

schnellmb

we've had 15" over the last couple days and my 525xi just goes.

2008A6

I had a 2006 530i before my new A6, and the 5 series was a great car from a reliability standpoint. (I've taken my A6 in for service 3 times in the first 2000miles). I did find the "tiptronic" arrangement weird in that upshift/downshift was reversed. But overall, it was a great handling car.
Then I got the A6 - and now realize that the Audi does feel more like a driver's car, ironically, since BMW's are known to be well connected to the road. It could also be due to the interior design, which is much more driver-oriented in the Audi giving you a more sports-car sense of control and comfort. I also find the Audi MMI easier and more intuitive than the iDrive.