[joe163]

Hi all! I'm an international college student in LA, I'm planning to purchase a new car for the 5-6 years to come (school....)

after some consideration i've narrowed my choices down to these two sedans. 335i and S4. i think they are in the same class, no? or is S4 more M3 lvl?

anyway, just wanted to ask the community their opinions on these two cars. please keep in mind that i'm not going to track nor mod my car. also i only want sedan, not a coupe.

what i care about:

handling (not in terms of straight line speed or acceleration because i think any car that can do 300hp is more than enough for my speed requirements)

comfort

high tech gizmos (im EE major)

safety? & reliability? (i know German cars are suppose to be pretty solid, so which is the better one here?)

long-term use (what i mean is which car, in the end of the day, after 5 years of driving will still put a smile on your face when you step on it? of course i'd probably be pwned by new generations etc. but which car is more "timeless"?)

my parents are paying and i have a job that can return them $650 a month until i graduate, the only reason they allowed me to buy a new German car is because they are A LOT cheaper when compared to the same brand back home (where import tax is 200%) a 320i back home cost the same as a 335i here in the states.

as long as it's within $60K (OTD price including options, tax, blahblah) i'm ok

your opinions and inputs are welcome!!

[US///M3]

The S4 is the better lookin car with a nicer interior,the 335i is a lighter car,handles a bit better..

[matt_435xi]

I hope you created the same thread on an Audi forum.

[centauri]

handling: BMW

comfort: BMW

high tech gizmos: BMW
(HUD, Lane departure warning, etc)

safety? & reliability: Tie.
(Crashtest and reliability ratings are almost the same)

long-term use: BMW
Better resale, more fun to drive, F30 just came out so it will be on market in five years, whereas Audi there will be a new A4 in a couple of years

A4 was not a match for 3 series even before F30, and not the gap is even bigger.

[CJF]

Thought about an e92 335is?

The new 335 does not do anything for me.

If you are going sedan, the s4 is it.

[joe163]

Originally Posted by US///M3

The S4 is the better lookin car with a nicer interior,the 335i is a lighter car,handles a bit better..

is it better materials? or the audi just feels better in terms of ergonomics?

[joe163]

Originally Posted by matt_335Ci

I hope you created the same thread on an Audi forum.

i was think about hearing the BMW community first and then the audi. cause back home audi strikes as the lesser when compared to BMW and Merc

[joe163]

Originally Posted by CJF

Thought about an e92 335is?

The new 335 does not do anything for me.

If you are going sedan, the s4 is it.

i thought about it but i need to haul friends and people around a lot. so probably not a coupe.

[joe163]

Originally Posted by centauri

handling: BMW

comfort: BMW

high tech gizmos: BMW
(HUD, Lane departure warning, etc)

safety? & reliability: Tie.
(Crashtest and reliability ratings are almost the same)

long-term use: BMW
Better resale, more fun to drive, F30 just came out so it will be on market in five years, whereas Audi there will be a new A4 in a couple of years

A4 was not a match for 3 series even before F30, and not the gap is even bigger.

thanks! A4 drives like a slug i know, my mom had one, it was terrible

but what about the S4?

[dmode]

It is a tough choice. I would say the 2012 335 as it is brand new and has got a bunch of tech upgrades. With your $60K budget you should it be able to option it very well. I would also strongly consider the e92 (maybe a CPO 335is). I have one and I can haul in 4 people when the rare occasion demands.

[centauri]

Originally Posted by joe163

thanks! A4 drives like a slug i know, my mom had one, it was terrible

but what about the S4?

Quite the same, only faster. It's not as balanced as the bimmer or not even as Merc C class. And it's harsher, it's not as comfortable either. And if you like tech gizmos, F30 is quite awesome. The head up display for instance, it's like scifi

I find Audi very overrated in US, maybe because of driving culture, people really don't care how good it drives or don't understand: It's not in the culture. Luxury appeal and saving money is more important here, and Audi can give a premium experience in terms of cabin quality and looks, for less money; so it becomes a popular choice even though it's not even in the same class in terms of driving experience. Here, you will see people saying: " S4 is 350 HP, 335i is 300 HP; they are both premium cars, but their prices is the same; so S4 is better value! "

[matt_435xi]

they are both awesome sedans, my suggestion is drive both and go with your gut.

[jtuds]

Originally Posted by joe163

Hi all! I'm an international college student in LA, I'm planning to purchase a new car for the 5-6 years to come (school....)

after some consideration i've narrowed my choices down to these two sedans. 335i and S4. i think they are in the same class, no? or is S4 more M3 lvl?

anyway, just wanted to ask the community their opinions on these two cars. please keep in mind that i'm not going to track nor mod my car. also i only want sedan, not a coupe.

what i care about:

handling (not in terms of straight line speed or acceleration because i think any car that can do 300hp is more than enough for my speed requirements)

comfort

high tech gizmos (im EE major)

safety? & reliability? (i know German cars are suppose to be pretty solid, so which is the better one here?)

long-term use (what i mean is which car, in the end of the day, after 5 years of driving will still put a smile on your face when you step on it? of course i'd probably be pwned by new generations etc. but which car is more "timeless"?)

my parents are paying and i have a job that can return them $650 a month until i graduate, the only reason they allowed me to buy a new German car is because they are A LOT cheaper when compared to the same brand back home (where import tax is 200%) a 320i back home cost the same as a 335i here in the states.

as long as it's within $60K (OTD price including options, tax, blahblah) i'm ok

your opinions and inputs are welcome!!

You should drive them then decide for yourself man...all I can say is the tech in the new 3 series is the coolest I've seen

[DrivenByE30]

S4 ... there is going to be too many F30 in the streets 6 months from now ...

[svache]

Originally Posted by US///M3

The S4 is the better lookin car with a nicer interior,the 335i is a lighter car,handles a bit better..

I think that's a matter of opinion. While I kind of like the looks of a S4, the F30 does win it for me on all fronts, including the looks.


To the OP: You should go see dealers of both BMW and Audi, do some test drives and then decide, that's the only way. I know people who will never look at a BMW, and also those who will never look at Audi. In the end it is a personal thing, only you will be able to make that decision for yourself when you do some tests imho

[AlexM]

Tought choice. Go drive both as one is RWD and the other 4WD. There's a problem, new A4 model just came out and I'm not sure when the 'new' S4 is out, might be a while. Looks... Personal preference also, you have to decide on you own.
Build quality - I owned Audis and BMW excels here!
Power - tie.

I would go for the Bimmer still

[ts61gogo]

F30.


Audi may be premium in quality, but why should you pay more to drive a passat with four rings on the grill?

True premium cars are RWD.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by ts61gogo

F30.


Audi may be premium in quality, but why should you pay more to drive a passat with four rings on the grill?

True premium cars are RWD.

I thought the new S4 line had 60/40 (rwd/fwd) , but ok the base chassis still is fwd.


In my book here are some 'premium'AWD cars: Nissan GTR, Ferrari FF, Porsche Turbo, all the Lambos. But hey their base chassis layout is 'rwd'.

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by svache

I think that's a matter of opinion. While I kind of like the looks of a S4, the F30 does win it for me on all fronts, including the looks.

To the OP: You should go see dealers of both BMW and Audi, do some test drives and then decide, that's the only way. I know people who will never look at a BMW, and also those who will never look at Audi. In the end it is a personal thing, only you will be able to make that decision for yourself when you do some tests imho

I looked at the f30 on 5 different occasions,really is not a handsome car like the S4. People convince themselves it's a good lookin cae to justify their purchase.


Regarding handling the S4 might not feel as light as a F30,it ll destroy the 335i in autocross(handling test)
The same reason the lighter e36 M3 can't compete against the evo,sti in the class.
I thought the op was talkin the A4,the S4 will outhandle the 335i.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by US///M3

I looked at the f30 on 5 different occasions,really is not a handsome car like the S4. People convince themselves it's a good lookin cae to justify their purchase.


Regarding handling the S4 might not feel as light as a F30,it ll destroy the 335i in autocross(handling test)
The same reason the lighter e36 M3 can't compete against the evo,sti in the class.

I won't be so sure about that.
If the autocross consists of gravel/snow/ice etc or is very wet. then: Agreed. At A dry autocross I think the F30 is really the more agile one(having had 2 Audis in the past and I know the new Audi layouts are much better than before I still think the F30 will win)

The example of the E36 M3 vs theEVO /STi, those 2 Japanese cars are 100% more track/rally/autocross dedicated than any Audi(except a S1 gr B LOL) ever will be.

[pepsih]

Wait a little for the 335 M-sport, that's what i would do.
Well it's up to you but i'm totally in BMW.

[justinnum1]

BMW for sure, drive both