So it's about that time to get my wife a new car. We've narrowed it down to these so far. 2008+ BMW 650i 2008+ Audi A5 2011+ BMW 135i The common theme is European and two door. Does anyone have any feedback on the above cars, or have any alternatives I need to consider? We test drove the new Audi TT, and it was too small and I felt it was underpowered. We initially thought about the 328i/335i Coupe, but have decided against that as they're so prevalent. The new Mercedes E-class coupe is nice as well, but still a bit too pricey.
I like the A5's. I'd really give them a good once over because I noticed in a lot of A4's (even in the 2008's) seemed to feel "cheap" on the inside i.e. seat noises when you sit down and little nuances like that. The A5's seem pretty "tight" in comparison to the A4's I've been around but many more A4's. It would be something to look for when purchasing (theme is that some of them really don't wear well). The 1 series might be nice for her to zip around in but it is very small and I'm not sure how safe they are. 650's are really nice but seem to drink gas a bit more than the A5 and might be a bit bigger. I think your best bet is the A5.
Did one in Daytona Grey Pearcoat a month ago........."Certified tightness" great interior and fit / finish with pretty good performance.
Audi A5. With the right options, this car is nice. Rims can make or break this one. Dont get the 14"s. LOL.
I'd go with the 650i. I think those are so nice looking, plus you rarely see them around compared to A5's. The 1 series just don't look right to me though.
P1et -- How are things down there in Austin ? Getting excited about the Forumula-1 track they are building out there ? My take -- BMW135/135M - you have to really like the looks of it, or you wont be happy. It's plenty fast, and probably the last of the new cars that still retains the "Ultimate Driving Machine" feel.. If I was going to buy one, I would get a black one. A5 - probably the prettiest of all the line to me; there are more and more of them out now, but still a very nice vehicle. And as with every Audi, it is going to be an expensive experience to maintain, ,so is that worth it to you ? Many, many, years ago, a German friend of mine visiting in California told me the English translation of "Audi" = dat damn kar !! Of course, back then, they were breaking all the time without any help from the owners... I am sure its way way better now, but the people who keep stats and owner Forums seem to say otherwise at times.. BMW650i - very nice, bigger car, beautifully finished, runs great, not many around here in my "silky-shorts" neighborhood. If you guys are younger then this might be more of an older person's car unless you put 19's on it and let Steve Dinan's team bring up the level of performance,, etc.. Good luck !! Dan F
Thanks for all the feedback so far guys, keep it coming! I think the 135i is definitely third in line. My wife is 28, and the 650i has been her dream car for a long time. However, the A5 is quickly replacing that it seems! When looking online, they're a bit harder to come by when comparing it to a used 650i, but it'll be a bit cheaper as well. On the A5, looks like they had the V6 for a while before replacing it with a turbocharged 4-cylinder. Any direction I should go on those engine?
Yes, most certainly excited about the F1 track. Should be great for the city, but not for the people who live here: another weekend where it's too DAMN busy with too many DAMN people everywhere!
I own an A5 3.2... not sure if you would be getting a 2.0 but I'd say thats probably the way to go now as there is some flexibility when it comes to tuning because the 3.2 basically has no aftermarket. After almost 3 years of ownership this is what I have to say... The car has stunning body lines. I'll still admire the shape at odd times when I park it somewhere new. Lots of people, even non car people comment on how pretty it looks... and women basically throw themselves at me in pairs if I simply press the lock button (okay that last part may be a complete falsity) bottom line is that it really is one of the prettier cars on the road and has a great presence both driving and still. Interior as in typical Audi fashion is great. Again I still admire the setup and the driver oriented layout. The center console buttons and nav screen are angled toward the driver, which for me I like a lot. Not what you find in a BMW or Benz. Then again if your talking about a 650 interior compared to a 3 series thats different. The leather in the A5 is absolutely more comfortable and easier to maintain (IMO) than BMW hides which I was never a fan of since they changed them. The drive is very smooth and its a brilliant highway car, I've take many roadtrips and its just a joy to drive even for 200miles straight simply for its comfort and complacency. Power wise its nothing impressive, definitely wish it had more torque. As for handling as with all Audis except for maybe the R8 it does understeer a lot and gets a little fidgety in tight turns at not so pedestrian friendly speeds. I wish it was a more performance oriented car but it is big and very heavy. Im not a fanboy, I'll be the first to say I don't like quite a few things about the A5 but after 3 years the car has served me well and been enjoyable both from a driving and ownership standpoint. Out of the cars you listed I'd say you would probably fit well in a A5 2.0, chipped with an exhaust... dropped an inch if you so choose too! You can definitely pick up an 08' A5 for cheaper than a 08' 650i.
Darth Vader drives a black A5. That's what I would choose! lol Only mods: a S5 grill and if you get the 3.2 a custom cat back. Those sound mean!
P1et -- Yeah, that's the price to pay for wanting to enjoy the ultimate in car racing - swarms of people around on the weekends. I will still brave the crowds to see the first F-1 race on the calendar next year. Guess there is questions about the date for the first race - was originally going to be in June, but now hearing possibly November... If I was going to ever get a smaller engine - 4 cylinder or 5 cylinder (volvo), it would have to be direct injection and hopefully twin turbocharged. Now, you are talking power and way more efficient gas-wise. They smaller engine will never have the torque of the bigger engines, but these 2 things give it a way better chance to spank some of its bigger brothers... Back in the day, BMW decided to go racing with 2.0 liter 4 cylinders, and built one that put out 1,200hp, twin turbocharged and was scary to drive. The professional drivers remarked it was scary to give it gas at speed, because the rear tires would break loose. This was long before all the electronic nannies got into the act and racing drivers were, well, real drivers, not paddle shifting queenies of today... Just kidding!!! Looks like the A5 may be a candidate - good choice, as I said it's a beautiful vehicle! Dan F
650i ALL THE WAY! It's WAY ROOMIER then the other two, and is a totally different class of a car! It might not be cheap, as you can get BMW 750Li for the same amount of money...Heck, I'd let her test drive 750Li too, to see which one she likes better...test drive all that you have on that list...135i is WAY TOO SMALL...and remember, V-8 is not a V-6!
Im a vw/audi nut... so I go with the A5 2.0T. issues you may encounter is the car may consume oil, so you might need to add a quart of oil every 2-3k miles / might have it check out if its every 1k.... a set of tires and brakes every 20k-25k depends on how you drive. those are the common issues I deal with everyday at my shop. and the P6 tires are crap! overall a very reliable car if you care for it.
Why is the S5 not in there? I feel like it fits better with the BMW's. I detailed one not too long ago and took it for a test drive. Handled really well and was quiet. Too quiet for me, but probably perfect for a woman.
A5 S-line would definitely be first on my list, but I don't think your going to be modding it any time soon so you I say go for the 3.2
