Help! 4-dr "sports" sedan decision to make ASAP!

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nfafan

Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
21
Location
Pittsburgh area
Hello,

Need a DD sports sedan for about a 40mile r/t commute each day here in the hilly snow-country of Pittsburgh. Need it to be an A/T with FWD.

Already have one #@$%!. appliance car that fits the bill for this use, but need a 2nd car IMMEDIATELY. Have had Toyotas, Honda, Nissans, Subaru, Pontiacs, Fords before.

Decided this time on something "out there" - either a C-P-Owned low-mile 2004 325xi vs a 2006 medium-mile C-P-O Audi A4 Quattro.

I don't know anyone who owns either type of car, so have no 1st hand knowledge of "living with one".

Can anyone reveal the real truth behind the rumors of outlandish German maintenance costs and reliability - $150.00 oil changes??

Thanks tons in advance!
 
Have had 4 Audi Quattros and have loved each one! Awesome capability in the Ohio winters...No truth the high maintenance costs AFAIK....
 
Check your local Mazda dealer for a CP-owned Mazdaspeed 6. My dealer bought a bunch from Mazda Corporate (executive demos with 2k - 3K miles on them and blowing them out for $22K - $23K depending on model (Sport or Grand Touring). I got mine for $22.6K with 2069 miles on it, other than a couple of rock chips on the nose, it's like a brand new car. Was driven by a Mazda executive, all maintenance taken care of until they sent it to auction. I'm loving it.
 
Which engine on the A4? The 2.0T or the 3.2? If it's the former, you need to be more careful with it, as with any car with a turbo engine. Other than that, it should be fine. Between the e46 (325xi) and the b7 (A4), I'd go with the latter. From all I've heard and read, the awd system on the bmw isn't as good as the torsen and makes the car a bit boring to drive.

As for the $150 oil changes - maybe that's what the dealer charges, but you don't have to have it done at the dealer. You could do it yourself (unless it's not allowed under the CPO warranty) for the price of oil and filter - about $40 I guess. My local indy shop used to charge $60 for an oil and filter change on my B5 1.8T (parts+labor).

I would consider and AWD Subaru as well if reliability is a main concern.
 
If you specifically don't like the Subaru, I can't help you. Have you sat in a leather Subaru Spec B, or something like that? Heck of a car and extremely good performance in slippery conditions for the money.
 
Quote:

Need a DD sports sedan . . . Need it to be an A/T with FWD.

Click to expand...


I think you could call an automatic 3-series, or even a TSX with a manual, a sports sedan. But both auto and FWD is a bit of a stretch!
grin.gif


It sounds like you wouldn't be meeting your requirements with a Quattro or an xi.
 
Quote:

I'm guessing the OP got confused with the "FWD". Maybe he thought it stands for Four Wheel Drive.
laugh.gif


Click to expand...


Ah yes. Now it makes more sense!

I'd probably want a Subaru if I were thinking AWD right now; mainly because I'd want the non-electronic AWD system that comes with a manual. There are certainly a lot of nice cars to consider in this category. I'd lean toward Japanese brands over German ones, but only because I have minimal experience with long-term ownership of the Audis and Bimmers and the hearsay on them isn't quite as good. So I don't really have anything useful to offer here. Sorry!
smile.gif
 
2007 Acura TL, 5-speed Auto, No-Navi. You can get one for $31k + TTL (hair less if you are good at negotiating). This is the second to last year for this generation, so all of the bugs have been worked out. The 2007 models received a new transmission that is much better than the previous models (04-06).
 
If resale is important than BMW is one of the top out there and their reliability is on average better than Audi. I would drive them and see what you like best...two different machines for different drivers IMO.
 
Let me throw in a sleeper. Ford 500 AWD! Plenty o' room. Not VEEERY sporty but hey.....you can get um rebated pretty cheap.
 
Quote:

Hello,

Need a DD sports sedan for about a 40mile r/t commute each day here in the hilly snow-country of Pittsburgh. Need it to be an A/T with FWD.

Already have one #@$%!. appliance car that fits the bill for this use, but need a 2nd car IMMEDIATELY. Have had Toyotas, Honda, Nissans, Subaru, Pontiacs, Fords before.

Decided this time on something "out there" - either a C-P-Owned low-mile 2004 325xi vs a 2006 medium-mile C-P-O Audi A4 Quattro.

I don't know anyone who owns either type of car, so have no 1st hand knowledge of "living with one".

Can anyone reveal the real truth behind the rumors of outlandish German maintenance costs and reliability - $150.00 oil changes??

Thanks tons in advance!

Click to expand...
In real life all cars are appliances that replaced the horse. Own a horse and you will see cars are a better way of transportation.The most important thing is a car that will be reliable and give you a "low" cost of ownership.
 
Quote:

In real life all cars are appliances that replaced the horse. Own a horse and you will see cars are a better way of transportation.The most important thing is a car that will be reliable and give you a "low" cost of ownership.

Click to expand...

Maybe not for the sake of this discussion, but not everyone treats a car as an appliance and not everyone thinks reliability is the most important thing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
1 Week Review - 2025 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Limited
3 4 5
Replies
84
Views
25K
mikeduf
W
20,000 miles in a CX-5 GT-R
3 4 5
Replies
92
Views
22K
Tshane3000
Back
Top Bottom