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'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I would think that either would be sufficient, assuming of course that you don't opt for the Sport Package on the A4 2.0T (which has the same rubber as does the A4 3.2). It all rests with the amount of distance between the rim and the tread. Consider the following:
Audi A4 3.2: Tire: 235/45 R17 -- Sidewall height: 4.20"
BMW 325i & xi: Tire: 205/55 R16 -- Sidewall height: 4.44"
Audi A4 2.0T: Tire: 215/55 R16 -- Sidewall height: 4.66"
As you can see, the non-SP version of the A4 2.0T has the greatest side wall height while the narrower tread of the 325i will allow it to cut through the snow better. Which one is the best? If you want AWD and a true SP, then your only option is the A4.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Audi's are getting killed in reliability ratings lately. Are you committed to an entry-level luxury sedan? Those w/ low profile tires & billed as "great handling" will almost certainly provide a rough ride in upper midwest roads (i.e. pothole city). Maybe consider something along lines of Acura MDX if you want the luxury feel and the good ride quality.
At the expense of any decent handling at all. Any 3-Series or A4, even without the Sport Package will be able to run rings around an MDX. Geez, I cannot even in my weirdest dreams (nightmares actually) imagine cross shopping an MDX with either of the two German sedans meade is looking at.
Thought #2, maybe meade is looking for a sedan that has a manual transmission, that in and of itself would rule out an MDX.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Umm, you're tired of taking your BMW to the shop...... so you bought an Audi?!?! Yikes....
My point was that Audi tends to have a worse reliability/service record than BMW.... It certainly isn't an upgrade, which is what the original poster was implying.
M bad, I pressed the wrong "reply" button. Sorry.
A4 - for those who cannot afford an A6 (plus it is outdated)
C-Class - for those who cannot afford an E-Class (plus it is outdated)
TL - nice car, but it seems a little large for this segment
CTS - no serious lux/sport sedan fan would even consider this atrocity
Buckle up and hold on, because the new "big three" in this segment are going to be churning out some fantastic cars in the upcoming years!!!
Be looking forward to the new IS500 V8 coupe and BMW twin-turbo 3 series coupe!
You believe this, yet don't believe the 3-Series and IS are only for people who can't afford the 5-Series/GS?
I've always felt this line of reasoning (and it pops up here at Edmunds often) lacks merit in general, but applying this reasoning to Audi and M-B but not to BMW and Lexus just seems ignorant to me.
The TL seems too big?
You obviously haven't checked the dimensions of the G35 lately - 3500# and 112" wheelbase!?!?
No serious lux/sport sedan fan would consider the CTS?
You've never driven it, have you? You may not care for it (I don't either, BTW), but it is a capable performer and satisfying to drive.
"Big 3" huh? IMO, there are at least 9 players in this segment (and Subaru and Mazda are knocking on the door and stealing sales). All of these companies have exciting cars on the horizon.
Hmmm, it seems to me that the A4 in Quattro guise wins plenty of races (over the 3-Series and others) in the European car formulas. How is it not a contender?
Best Regards,
Shipo
[edit]
Ohhh, I see fedlawman took the bit in his mouth as well. ;-)
The Lexus ES is built more for people that cannot afford their higher models.
MB and Audi must feel this way too, since they put very little effort into their designs!
I drove a CTS at GM event in Fall 2004...it's plain garbage. Drove like an Abrams tank and had an outdated interior.
The flip side is that I will take issue with your assertion that the IS is a true contender. Geez, that car is simply a poseur car, especially with the Automatic only IS350. Yeesh!
So, are my opinions/factoids any more accurate than yours? I doubt it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
When I see a C-Class and an A-4 I just see that their respective companies simply have these cars available for people that like their brands but dont' want to pay a huge price tag. What did audi do with their "redesign?" Gave it all red tail lights and a beard!!
Take a look at the A8L...gorgeous!! Why didn't as much thought go into improving the A4?
Conversely, when BMW made the e90 3 series, they knew that it was immensely important to their brand, and they made huge improvements to it to respond to what 3 series customers were looking for, (more modern styling, more power, more lxury) and it's selling very well.
Ahhh, I think you got my point. To me, ANY car in this class that cannot be had with a true three pedal manual transmission is a poseur car. My "opinion", which is of course, a "Fact" to me and ONLY me. ;-)
Regarding your comparison of the 3-Series and A4 vis-à-vis the other cars in their lineup, that doesn't really hold water either. Why? Simply because the Audi A8 and A6 redesigns typically happen before the A4 (just as the 3-Series was the last BMW to be Bangalized). That having been said, Audi has a history of "Face Lifting" the A4 just prior to a complete redesign, and this seems to be the case here as well, given that an all new A4 is due out next year. As such, I think you've jumped the gun in your analogy by several months at the very least.
Best Regards,
Shipo
It was just a response to the market, maybe a mistake for Lexus, but not a huge one since the market for manuals is very small.
I would like to enjoy a manual, but I just spend too much time in heavy traffic to deal with that.
Come on man it is certainly NOT a poseur car. It's very fast and handles well, great engine and is based on a brand new platform.
I've driven the IS350. It certainly is FAST. Probably one of the fastest cars I've (in my short 14 years of driving exeprience) ever driven next to my Dad's '66 427 Corvette Roadster and a family friend's '89 Porsche 944 Turbo. I didn't like the way it handled, lots of body roll & too softly sprung my tastes (The copious use of I & my denotes this is in fact an opinion, not fact).
As far as the stick thing goes, Lexus offers a manual in the IS250, it wouldn't hurt for them to put one in the IS350. If they don't sell, just yank it from production after the first 2 years. Simple as that. BMW, Audi, MB, Acura, Cadillac, Infiniti all offer 3 pedal versions of their respective cars in this segment. No matter how few manuals they sell, it is better than sending them to someone else's dealership.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
CTS an uninteresting/uninvolving/poorly engineer junkpile, imho (and i have driven it)
A4 = lethargic
C class = decent but no fun
TSX = fun, needs more power and rwd
A3 = fun, nimble, quick, great tranny
Is250/350 = banal, no personality, understeering monster with a horrendous transmission
G35 - quick, brutish, in your face, rough but still entertaining
Mazdaspeed6 - quick, wallowy in corners, cruddy clutch, poorly geared, high strung and not very luxurious
Legacy gt 2.5 - quick, unrefined, not worthy of its 28k sticker. more like 22-23k car.
e90 330i - underpowered, bad tranny, sublime handling, good feedback
I opted for the e90. I'll pick it up in munich in less than 3 weeks. I'm not wholly satisfied with it (my e46 is a far more engaging car to drive) but it'll have to do as the pickings in this segment are pretty much worthless to me. It's a two year lease, my eye on the purported 335i that will arrive in 07 or 08.
Just my opinions. I voted with my money though, so this wasn't a hyopthetical exercise.
You suffer so much traffic that you can't own a manual tranny, yet you need a $35,000 sedan with sport suspension and 306hp?
Your logic is astounding neko! Sorry I ever doubted you...ROTFLMAO!
Why do you have to resort to personal attacks? I don't get why you MT afficionados are so pompous, whether you're driving a honda civic or a 5 series.
If a 35,000 sedan with sport suspension and 250-300 hp is so "illogical" then why do so many people drive them?
And if you didn't like my analysis, check out blueguydotcoms, who said that they all pretty much suck :surprise:
This board is an alternate universe where each sedan is compared to a mythical sports machine that can outrun a Corvette, outhandle a Porsche 911, and still get front row valet parking when you go out to dinner with 4 people in the car. I want power and handling (at a price I can afford) in a comfortable, good-looking sedan.
Most of this class is even sold with automatic transmissions against our sport sedan wishes. Nirvana for me would be a manual 4 door M3 at a $40k base price.
You're a few years too late for that. The last 4 door M3 was the E36 produced from 1997-1999 (I think) that could be had for around $40K)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Then buy an Acura TL. For $31,000 you get great performance, handling, fuel economy, fit & finish, safety, comfort, electronics, looks .....etc.
Simultanious translation for the preceeding post: etc=FWD :P
Best Regards,
Shipo
The 3 is my first choice next time, but the G35 is 2nd. CTS & Merc C are tied for 3rd.
That said, my present vehicle (with a manual) is hanging in there. No rush. I actually bought it, as I will the next.
I'm keeping my 2 year old 330i performance package manual. I really like the fact that I average 30+ mpg doing 75 mph, have almost sports car handling with decent acceleration, and a few luxury features like heated leather sports seats and Xenon lighting.
I'm not an "MT afficionado." My Volvo is a quiet and comfortable automatic tranny car. It's got a soft suspension and 170 hp - perfect for rush hour.
"If a 35,000 sedan with sport suspension and 250-300 hp is so "illogical" then why do so many people drive them?"
I don't know. You tell me.
Rumor says Lexus will offer a manual for the 2007 model. Not sure if it's going to happen but let's wait and see.
Lexus will bring IS300 back in the fall this year. Not sure how many trims but they sure have more horsepower than current IS250 models.
btw, which dealer did you purchase your IS350 from? I got quite a deal at Lexus of Naperville. Woodfield (Schaumburg) & Arlington (Palatine) did not give me a lot of room for negotiation and hence I ended buying at Naperville dealer.
I heard that the 335i will be sold solely as a coupe/convertible. If that is the case then I am not interested in the 335i.
I dont care if 6 billion in this globe drive one. I want mine with a stick.
Why do you have to resort to personal attacks? I don't get why you MT afficionados are so pompous, whether you're driving a honda civic or a 5 series.
I like to have the option of manual when I buy a car. Does that make me pompous?
No, but your opinion of people that drive an AT does.
"I dont care if 6 billion in this globe drive one. I want mine with a stick."
yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! good for you, Dewey!
They are very nice at Woodfield and McGrath, Arlington is kind of creepy, feels more like a chevy dealer there.
I wish I could decide whether or not a car was worthy of my hard-earned money based simply on seeing one in a lot. ...
You can. If you don't like the way it looks, it's not worth your money. What's hard about that? :confuse:
Your tranny choice is your choice. Why should other people's opinions bother you?
I don't care if someone drives an MT or AT, but you obviously look down on those that drive AT
I drove a CTS at GM event in Fall 2004...it's plain garbage. Drove like an Abrams tank and had an outdated interior.
You didn't mean it that way, but that would actually be a compliment. The Abrams tank drives quite well. It can literally turn on a dime. There's not a car on the planet that can remain flatter in a turn. And if it had ABS, it could probably stop from 60MPH in under 80'. :surprise: :P :P
Huh? :confuse: The TL has a 260-something HP engine. And you do know there's a such thing as the E500 and E55 AMG? :confuse: When's the last time you did some research?
I do :confuse:
Huh? The TL has a 260-something HP engine. And you do know there's a such thing as the E500 and E55 AMG? When's the last time you did some research"
I'll try to respond for him....note the bolded part. The TL has a 260 HP engine but doesn't come close on the bolded part....especially the turning radius. You might need to return to school to learn how to read a sentence containing an "and"....hint, it means both things have to be true.
I was just commenting on the TL. According to theautochannel.com here are some turning ratios for cars in this class....
2006 IS250 = 35.5'
2006 G35 = 36'
2006 330i = 36.1'
2006 E series = 37.4'
2006 TL = 39.7'
2006 Crown Victoria = 40.3'
Now do you see the point? The TL has a turning ratio MUCH closer to that of a Crown Victoria than to other cars in this class. See how someone could say that the TL isn't a "small maneuverable car with a tight turning radius ".
Not just my opinion either, I have read many reviews by people who liked the TL who complained about the turning radius and how that makes maneuvering in tight spaces (parking garages for example) a pain.