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No other options, exact same cost, which and why ?
Both brand new, both diesel, both 190bhp. Company Car money and for this comparison, no alternatives.
BMW 520d SE Tourer, manual
Audi A6 SE Avant, Quattro auto.
BMW is outgoing model summer 17 and is better to drive. Audi is a bit nicer inside, easy option with auto box, Quattro handy for a few days a year (west of Scotland based)
🙂
The Quattro. 4wd tick, auto tick, working indicators tick 8)
For me....Audi.
Probably bigger boot (not compared though, but the 3-series tourer boot is tiny), Auto would be nice on my commute (40 miles each way) and Quattro like you say would give a bit of re-assurance in winter.
How does fuel economy stack up? Might change things if auto & Quattro make the Audi a lot thirstier.
BMW engines currently seem to break the laws of physics when it comes to power/economy......
Audi, because I like Audis more than BMWs thats the only reason.
Boot size is about the same, as is economy
Comparable emissions for tax reasons?
Cougar - yes, nothing in it space, finance etc. That's partly why it's a hard choice ! ( I currently have the BMW but replacement needs ordered in October)
Audi.
My next car is a a6 avant. Black edition its awesome however quattro really screws the emissions if that causes consideration?
Thanks for feedback so far. Steve, not really a factor due way it is being financed.
BMW for me - I just prefer them.
The Quattro all day long, especially if it's got that fancy sat nav option with the screen replacing the clocks.
I'd have gone for an A4 Quattro Avant but for the emissions and tax, a 330e is on order.
Out of the two the Audi without hesitation.
Im a BMW fan but would much rather an auto box on either of those engines.
I'd take the BMW, if for no other reason than the manual gearbox. Anyway, the Audi competitor to the 5 Series is the A6; the A4 would feel like a downgrade, Shirley?
Also, i like BMWs more than Audis.
These are direct competitors for company car drivers. Space, economy, tax etc are all based around the same targets. In this case I would go with the Avant for 4wd and dsg, which would cost more on the bmw.. Very similar cars.
Audi, tick!..quattro not just for a few days a year, Ive had quattro since 2005 and you are aware of it in the wet and just pulling away from stationary. SE a bit boring so stick some decent rotor alloys on it!
I have had Audis and BMWs and prefer the latter. However if I was doing £20k+ miles per year then the auto would be tempting.
They are both quite big cars so ease of parking would be a factor for me given where I live and work. I know that some 5 series have a really cool radar based parking sensor display which would swing it for me if it was available and the Audi did not have something similar.
Audi for the Quattro. Need to make sure you can get out of those trail centre carparks. 😉
On a more serious note, what's the base of your mileage? Will a more fun car trump a nicer place to sit in on long motorway miles?
BMW
To be fair I have only had one Audi, an A4 avant se technik. It just felt very ordinary. Like a Passat in posh clothes.
Oh good, another of Iainc's what car threads.....
About 20k miles a year with lots of slow commuting on traffic.
Glad to please nobeer 😀 ordering soon so not many to go !
Does it really matter. Both great cars I'm sure. What colour are they?
In that situation - I chose neither...
Was tempted by both, but the Audi salesman in Cardiff was a cock.
Does it really matter ? Not really, in the scale of life decisions, no, but I am in the fortunate situation where my employer will fund one of them, I can't have both, so need to pick one 🙂 it will be a blue one.
Audi, just because....
Does the Audi have the twin clutch auto box? My mate Ed has it in a golf and he says it's great so if it has then I'd go for the Audi as well
Audi, because of the auto box and the quattro.
it will be a blue one
Red ones are faster!!
Both nice cars. You have a BMW so I'd go for a change.
Neither are going to excite you more than the other as they are more luxo barge than sports cars, but the Audi with 4wd and an auto box will be more relaxing to drive and probably a nicer place to be whilst sat in traffic.
A change is as good as a rest and all that.
The F11 cabin is a considerably better place than the current A6.
4WD is irrelevant to me, but the big issue is the 5 series is a manual.
Sod having a manual again. I'll put up with the A6 inside for having an auto.
Test drive both. Take the one you like the most.
Hhhmmm, auto vs manual preference might be the decider...
Personally, auto drives me up the wall. Much rather have a manual
BMW for me. Audi drivers round here are, almost without exceptions, dicks
BMW. Audi A4s and A6s are bloody everywhere - far too common and boring, and almost impossible to tell apart.
Bmw, on the basis that the S5 i driove was quite underwhelming, unless you were buying it to sit on the drive and watch telly in it.
The automatic one. Let the car do that.
Quattro imo. 🙂
I'd want the BM, but I think I'd want the auto more. One of the main reasons I don't drive into work is the traffic and having a manual car (plus the cost) is there no way to get an auto 5 series?
Thanks for all replies. Auto BMW too much money, so not an option. Have test driven Audi and like it, not better, different. Already have BMW and done 70k miles over last nearly 4 yrs and can't fault it, apart from in the snow which is only maybe a week every year. The idea of the auto is appealing..
Audis are to the car world what e-bikes are to mountain biking 😉
The Audi. When it's dark, the weather is filthy, lashing down and blowing a gale, an A6 Quattro is just a lovely place to be.
I commute across rush hour Edinburgh - slow moving stop start traffic for 40+ minutes
There is no way I would go back to a manual gearbox for that sort of journey.
Audi Quattro all day long - OP you'll not be surprised to hear me say that. Miss mine awesome car.
Get parking sensors front and rear if you can (or take it easy in multi-story car parls and tigjt spots till you are used to it)
bugger, didn't realise I was agreeing with jamby. Get the BMW.
^^ you could just take it that for once I'm right 😉
Which has the best sound system and connectivity?
Both really nice cars. flip a coin, I bet you'll be happy with either.
If you enjoy driving the BMW, if a car is just a thing to get you from A-B then the Audi. If you enjoy driving, every time you get in the Audi you will regret having got it.
Will you need lots of boot space? Remember to spec the BM with folding seats.
I've always had BMWs but currently have an Audi and won't be getting another (and it's quite a juicy one). For me, they're just too detached to drive and as I don't drive every day anymore, I want to enjoy it.
However, modern autos are great and if you're likely to spend much time in traffic or around town, that would swing it for me. Quattro is also nice when the weather is grim.
I'd say the Audi is arguably the better day to day car due to 4wd and autobox, but the BMW is probably the one that would make you smile when driving it every now and then.
Last time I drove an Audi I had to go get my fillings replaced as they'd all rattled out. Suspension? What suspension?
If it's an SE the suspension will be OK - it's the S-Lines that are a bit hard, and even then the recent ones are better.
BMW. Audi A4s and A6s are bloody everywhere - far too common and boring, and almost impossible to tell apart.
I'd say exactly the same about BMW's, I truly can't tell different models apart, and having driven two BMW's, as well as several Audis, I'd have the Audi every time; far nicer styling, the only thing that stood out about either of the BMW's was the HUD on the 330d.
Also, I've actually known several people who've owned BMW's, which have stayed on the drive as soon as there's the merest hint of snow.
Both Audi and VW cars feel instantly comfortable as soon as I get in and drive, almost like they're a custom fit for me.
The auto box in the A6 is shite, horrible, crap, rubbish. Having lived with mine for 3 years I can't wait to hand it back next year and go back to manual.
Did I say it is appalling?
Is the A6 an S-Tronic (which is a dual clutch box rather than a 'proper' auto)? I had assumed it would use the ubiquitous ZF 8 speed box like mine which is brilliant.
Mine is the 3 litre s-tronic 7 speed box (3 years old if that makes a difference) and the l a g is pa inf ul.
It is S-Tronic. Felt fine on test drive, but am used to a manual !
which have stayed on the drive as soon as there's the merest hint of snow.
That's because they are inept at driving, and should have purchased some snow socks, or winter tyres.
It's the day to day living with it that is bad - so many times I try to pull away and the... . . . . . . pause is so long that I miss the opportunity to pull into traffic.
Then sometimes I get flashed out (not often, it *IS* an Audi after all) and the pause can be so long that the other party thinks I am not going to pull out and moves off again.
However, it is a three year old model and I did get a new A5 as a courtesy car last month and it was a bit better - I spoke to the garage and apparently Audi have slightly improved the box.
Could never choose an Audi over a BMW. BMW's just much better to drive.
However I did hear an RS3 the other day, holy cow!! Just sounded properly naughty in the way that old Impreza's used to sound.
If the boots are the same useful shape, I'd probably go for the BMW, but if the Audi had even a slightly bigger or more useful boot, I'd go for that.
Oh and winter tyres if you ski in Scotland, can't remember if you do!
Nobeer the Jazz gets a lot of stick but its a great little car and superb bike carrier with seats folded flat
My A6 2.7tdi worked brilliantly with the "tip" box, pulled really well when dropping down a gear to overtake. When all is said and done both it and the BMW are big estates not small sports cars and they are going to drive that way. I persoanlly think an auto box suits the car and the way I was happy to drive it. I wanted the 4wd traction and size based load carrying and in fairness had a sports car as well. In reference to that 100k RS6 on the other thread I'd never buy that, rather have a A6 Quattro and a sports car and still have £££ left over.
However I did hear an RS3 the other day, holy cow!! Just sounded properly naughty in the way that old Impreza's used to sound.
Kind of sums Audi up though, all show and no go. The RS3 still gets slated for its lack of ability to go round corners.
I'd want the BMW, but having a manual 'box is a slight downer on that kind of car.
Either but I'd want a manual. I drive a auto at the moment and I miss chosing the gear that I want to hold on high rev, tight corners on B roads.
Scotland's full of B roads isn't it?
Also, I've actually known several people who've owned BMW's, which have stayed on the drive as soon as there's the merest hint of snow, and enjoyed ground coffee at home rather than the ubiquitious office canteen catering instant, a decent lunch, a quiet office space and avoided all the office bores with the heatng on at a level comfortable to you
FTFY Countzero.
About 20k miles a year with lots of slow commuting on traffic.
Then the BMW 'being better to drive' is almost irrelevant.
Then the BMW 'being better to drive' is almost irrelevant.
Why ?
nobeer - I want a Jazz for the Boss when her Soul gets replaced, she reckons not 🙂
Thanks for all the points, useful for the decision process. Swaying towards the Audi due comfort of autobox and 4wd. I do have snowsocks for the BMW mind you 🙂
hora - Member
Either but I'd want a manual. I drive a auto at the moment and I miss chosing the gear that I want to hold on high rev, tight corners on B roads.Scotland's full of B roads isn't it?
I don't know much about the S-Tronic as have always had manuals, but it does have a manual selection option and daft paddle things 🙂
Which highly boring average but still classed as luxury in the eyes of most commoners car should you buy?
The Audi, since the BMW is sh*t in snow.
Is the Audi red ?
^^^ thankyou for your insight bomberman 🙂
You may have missed my OP. It is a company funded car, and I am choosing between those 2 currently tabled options. There may be an option of a Skoda Superb 4x4 Estate, but currently not.
EDIT - weeksy, nope, both blue, so even playing field 🙂
daft paddle things
Very daft as they aren't in a fixed position so when you feed the wheel the shifters are in the wrong place. On the very rare occasion I use the manual mode I just shift on the gearstick.
lots of slow commuting on traffic.
Audi because of the auto box. I love driving my manual BMW - love it! - but being stuck in stop-start traffic with a manual box is not fun. If that was the bulk of my driving an auto gearbox would be a key factor in my car-buying decision.
The Audi, since the BMW is sh*t in snow.
That's odd my BMW is just as good as any other car I've had. You have driven one in snow haven't you?
I'd struggle to pick an BM in SE trim because they look gash and don't get the sport seats etc. The F11 in SE trim does look particularly horrid. The current BM's only seem to drive nicely in M Sport trim. My friends 320 sport feels like a bit of a pudding compared to the M Sport versions that I've driven.
The A6 won't set your pants on fire through excitement, but it'll be a nice enough place to sit and the slush box will work well with it. Assuming that the 190 is the development of the 184 TDi in my vRS, the auto will suit it well.
That's odd my BMW is just as good as any other car I've had. You have driven one in snow haven't you?
We lived on a hill and also on a private road. In snow the BMWs and Merc's never left the drive. The Quattro is fabulous in the snow even with standard conti tyres.
Very daft as they aren't in a fixed position so when you feed the wheel the shifters are in the wrong place. On the very rare occasion I use the manual mode I just shift on the gearstick.
??? On the two cars with tip I have had the paddles are on the steering wheel so when you turn the wheel the paddles are always in the correct position by your thumb / fingers (on top / under wheel is the two cars). When your are "spiriting along" a twisty road you keep your hands on the same place on the wheel - on any decent driving course they will tell you "do not feed the wheel" in such circumstances
Personal preference, Audi. As a past owner.
The BM's I looked at failed to blow my skirt up, thought they were dull.
I'd struggle to pick an BM in SE trim because they look gash and don't get the sport seats etc. The F11 in SE trim does look particularly horrid. The current BM's only seem to drive nicely in M Sport trim. My friends 320 sport feels like a bit of a pudding compared to the M Sport versions that I've driven.
This is true. My motor is M Sport spec, but I had an SE spec (manual 😯 ) courtesy car, last time it was serviced. It was pretty wallowy and uninspiring TBH. Luxury spec looks OK though.
