New commuter car for wife | FerrariChat
Buy

New commuter car for wife

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by ylshih, Sep 25, 2006.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

?

Which commuter sedan would you choose?

  1. Audi A4 3.2 Quattro

  2. BMW 330i

  3. Saab 9-3 Aero (2.8L Turbo)

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
Page 1 of 2
  1. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,448
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    #1 ylshih, Sep 25, 2006
    My wife needs a new car and we're down to 3 choices, all 4 door sedans:

    - Audi A4 3.2 Quattro
    - BMW 330i
    - Saab 9-3 Aero (2.8L Turbo)

    She's primarily looking for a commute vehicle and is most concerned about comfort, having an automatic transmission, good visibility and acceptable gas mileage (20MPG or better). Since we tend to use her car for errands and miscellaneous trips on the weekends, we like the 4-doors and 4 seats. I've convinced her to look at the 250-255HP engine options, as I hate dawdling when I drive her car; but we might still move down to the respective lower power engines in the 200HP range (Audi A4 2.0T, BMW 325i, Saab 9-3 2.0T) if they motivate the car in a fashion acceptable to me, while giving her better mileage.

    Any comments on what she might like or not like about these? Which would you choose?
     
  2. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
    12,313
    At Sea Level
    #2 Simon^2, Sep 25, 2006
    I voted audi. Can't go wrong with the BMW either IMO.

    If you win the Saab in a sweepstakes, I supposed that would be OK...
     
  3. boy2man

    boy2man Karting

    Jan 30, 2006
    107
    San Diego, CA
    #3 boy2man, Sep 25, 2006
    I agree...why is Saab mentioned in the same breath?
     
  4. 8 SNAKE

    8 SNAKE F1 Veteran

    Jan 5, 2006
    6,948
    Springfield, MO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #4 8 SNAKE, Sep 25, 2006
    How important is all-wheel-drive? Were you considering the BMW in AWD as well, or just the Audi? I'd drive the BMW and the Audi and pick between the two. Audi should have the nicer interior, BMW should be the better driver.
     
  5. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 20, 2005
    6,677
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Walter
    #5 Townshend, Sep 25, 2006
    I just got a letter from the IRS telling me I won an Audi...
     
  6. -FROG-

    -FROG- Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 3, 2003
    839
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Paul Daniels
    #6 -FROG-, Sep 25, 2006
    My friend has owned 2 Saabs. Yes, fun cars and can be boosted higher than stock setting, but hard to find parts for it. I would pass on Saab too.
     
  7. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
    4,274
    dusty old farm town
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    #7 Tyler, Sep 25, 2006
    BMW out of those listed. Might be worth your time to look at an Acura RL as well.
     
  8. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Apr 1, 2004
    16,347
    Dumpster Fire #31
    Full Name:
    SMG
    #8 smg2, Sep 25, 2006
    i vote BMW, the 3 series is bigger than the A4 by enough to make it matter. the back seats in the A4 are as bad as 2+2 ferrari's.
     
  9. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,448
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    #9 ylshih, Sep 25, 2006
    My wife's dad was a GM employee, so she gets an employee discount.

    She finds the Acuras too bland.
     
  10. bointc

    bointc Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2006
    625
    Jersey City, NJ
    Full Name:
    Anthony
    #10 bointc, Sep 25, 2006
    I'd say the BMW, as of this year, I believe the Audis discontinued their maintanence program or something like that
     
  11. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
    12,313
    At Sea Level
    #11 Simon^2, Sep 25, 2006
    Have you looked at the new infiniti M35/45?
     
  12. rollsorferrari?

    rollsorferrari? F1 Veteran

    Jun 5, 2006
    9,984
    St. Louis
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #12 rollsorferrari?, Sep 25, 2006
    another car(s) you may want to look into is the mercedes c or even e class
     
  13. Matthew_Love84

    Matthew_Love84 Karting

    Aug 9, 2006
    143
    Orange County, CA
    Full Name:
    Matthew Love
    #13 Matthew_Love84, Sep 25, 2006
    i just picked up a new 2006 325I BMW for my mother. Automatic, sports suspension, premium package, all the fixings except navigation (I really dislike the BMW navigation system), and that car rocks. It's great to dive, the $0 maint. is nice as well (they cover pads, oil changes, windshield wipers, etc.).

    I say the 3 series, I've had an audi myself (3.0 quattro) and it was nothing but problems, not to mention the back seat room the the 3 series is nice and roomy.
     
  14. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,448
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    #14 ylshih, Sep 25, 2006
    Thanks for thinking of the suggestions, but these cars were filtered out already. She likes cars that stand out a bit in their styling, so the first pass was taking a visual of all the cars in this category and only the ones that she liked the looks stayed on the list. For whatever reason, the Japanese cars (Acura, Infiniti, Lexus) didn't get her excited at all. The Volvo S60 and MB C320 also fell off, though they lasted longer.
     
  15. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    #15 ^@#&, Sep 25, 2006
    BMW
     
  16. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
    3,778
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    #16 Gran Drewismo, Sep 25, 2006
    Volvo S60 R
     
  17. taber

    taber Formula 3

    Mar 4, 2005
    1,582
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Norman
    #17 taber, Sep 25, 2006
    I believe the "R" only comes in the 6spd manual.

    Why not a S60 2.4T ?
     
  18. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2002
    2,385
    WI/IL
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #18 DMC, Sep 25, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    How about the Saturn Aura? The XR looks good, and it has a 252 hp V6 w/ 6-speed transmission. Same chassis as the Saab 9/3 but better powertrain and styling. It's been getting great reviews.

    That said, I'd take the BMW over the Audi.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  19. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    25,999
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    #19 ryalex, Sep 25, 2006
    How about a preowned 02-03 S4 or M5? Big performance, luxury in the low $30's.

    Can you get an auto Mini S? Audi A4 Cabriolet?
     
  20. rollsorferrari?

    rollsorferrari? F1 Veteran

    Jun 5, 2006
    9,984
    St. Louis
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #20 rollsorferrari?, Sep 25, 2006
    this may be a little bit over what you're looking at, but what about a jaguar?
     
  21. Teenferrarifan

    Teenferrarifan F1 Rookie

    Feb 21, 2003
    3,111
    Media, PA
    Full Name:
    Erik
    #21 Teenferrarifan, Sep 25, 2006
    If you can get GM employee pricing but a Cadillac CTS with the sport package with your savings it will be well worth it.
    Erik
     
  22. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Feb 27, 2005
    12,091
    #22 ^@#&, Sep 25, 2006
    quiet you. Now tell them how much you like the 3 series.
     
  23. Teenferrarifan

    Teenferrarifan F1 Rookie

    Feb 21, 2003
    3,111
    Media, PA
    Full Name:
    Erik
    #23 Teenferrarifan, Sep 25, 2006
    Not if he gets GM employee price I don't. He would even get GM employee price on an extended warranty he won't have any problems for 7yrs or 100k for like 1800k extra iirc from when I was selling gm cars.
    Erik
     
  24. otaku

    otaku Formula 3

    Aug 12, 2005
    1,391
    Boise,Idaho
    Full Name:
    Josh
    #24 otaku, Sep 26, 2006
    Of these probably the BMW. However if you really like or need awd and aren't worried about a backseat then I say audi. Styling wise the audi is slightly better (inside and out) but both look great.

    As for a jag-women seem to love them and I love them in green. Probably the sexiest of the cars mentioned in this thread. Thats really all they have going for them other than comfort and luxury.
     
  25. ylshih

    ylshih Shogun Assassin
    Honorary Owner

    Mar 21, 2004
    20,448
    Northern CA
    Full Name:
    Yin
    #25 ylshih, Sep 26, 2006
    Sorry, I'll NEVER buy a Jag again. Long story, but the short version for those of you in the car biz is that the customer you screw today is the one that WON'T buy their next 20-30 cars from you in the future.

    Unfortunately :( she's not interested in higher performance levels and the S4/M5 don't meet the gas mileage requirement. Her attitude is that if we're in the mood to burn up obscene amounts of gas in the pursuit of an E-ticket ride, then I can do it in my cars and she'll just enjoy the ride.

    She does think the Mini is "cute", and considered it for a bit, but ultimately decided it was too small. On the A4 Cab, she doesn't like convertibles (noisy) for daily driving. Thanks for the ideas though, Ryan!

    Thanks for these suggestions, she (and I) hadn't thought of them. We'll take a closer look tomorrow - mostly it would be out of her family loyalty to GM (sigh), though we might be surprised.

    We got a chance to drive the BMW and Audi back to back tonight and she's now leaning to the BMW (unless one of these late candidates makes a strong showing). This will be a switch for us as I've always been a Porsche guy and, being around the Porsche/Audi dealerships a bit, ended up with a few Audi's along the way for her. She liked both, went in with a bias for Audi (due to the prior experience), but the BMW surprised her in a positive way. Unfortunately, the Audi had some strange buzz in the steering column and it probably soured the test-drive for her.

    What's the scoop on realistic BMW pricing for 2006 models? Invoice, Invoice + X? How about the 2007 335i? Are they worth waiting for or will those be premium priced for too long?

    Thanks for all the help so far guys!
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page