Bmw vs Audi

[jabjab]

I'm in the market for a 4 door reliable used car that I can have a little fun with. With a baby on the way I will need space for a car seat now.

I didn't want to spend over 30k as the wife needs a newer car as well. I've narrowed it down to 3 vehicles:

1. 2015 to 2017 Audi s3 - I realize that it might be hard to find a decent km one on a 30k budget but they are quick and easy to tune but rear seat cramped

2. 2015 to 2017 bmw 335xi. I have never owned a BMW but from my understanding the N55 is more reliable. Good factory power and rear seats and I like the steering wheel.

3. 2017 A4. The slowest of them all but definitely fits the budget and alot more room than the s3

Anyone have any other ideas or reasons to stay way from these cars?

[ExtraSlow]

Whichever has the largest rear seat. Those are not large cars.

[Kloubek]

Do you have any interest in tuning it? If so, the A4 responds very well to the APR software. It's probably the best car of the bunch, with the nicest interior, imo.

Having a smaller back seat in the S3 isn't really a big problem as long as you can fit a car seat in it easy enough. Kids don't need a ton of space for a while. If you don't need or want the extra space, it makes some sense too.

Can't speak to the BMW, but reliability is always on my mind with that brand especially.

[jabjab]

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Do you have any interest in tuning it? If so, the A4 responds very well to the APR software. It's probably the best car of the bunch, with the nicest interior, imo.

I'm opening to tuning for sure. I'm coming from a track built TT but I don't want to go as deep as I did with that. Tune, downpipes and that's it really.

The a4 would need to be an s line cause the steering wheel is alot nicer (yea I got thing with steering wheels)

[Strider]

@flipstah can tell you about the excellent reliability of that vintage of s3

[03ozwhip]

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@flipstah can tell you about the excellent reliability of that vintage of s3

Lol ya thats what u was going to say. I have never owned an audi based on all of the horror stories I heard. I've owned 3 N55 BMWs and loved them all.

They do have oil filter housing gasket issues that cost about 800 to fix and water pumps need to be changed around 100k which is another 800 or so.

Keep it maintained and I believe they are way more reliable than audis.

[heavyD]

If reliability is important go BMW especially with later models. If your budget allows, I would try to get into a BMW with a B58 which will probably go down as one of the best 6 cylinder engines ever.

[bjstare]

I'd probably go for the BMW as well. I haven't done my research, but I think you can probably make more reliable power from an n55 than whatever 2L is in the A4. Both are the same size. Both likely have similar running costs (e.g., water pumps are wear items on them). +100 on getting a B58 bmw.

If your wife is >5' tall, the S3 will be very cramped/not usable with a rear facing seat.

[flipstah]

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@flipstah can tell you about the excellent reliability of that vintage of s3

Shit hit the fan after 175k km

It was like a hockey stick on upkeep; magnetic suspension leaked, fuel system issues, carbon buildup is super common in this engine, front diff leaked, two water pumps because the thermostat is plastic

Back seat is cramped and the trunk is tiny

I’m at 196k km

[killramos]

If reliability is any semblance of concern you do not buy an out of warranty Audi.

[flipstah]

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If reliability is any semblance of concern you do not buy an out of warranty Audi.

QFT

Just be a good boy and buy a Camry V6

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

You said reliable in the first sentence and that should have ruled out all three of your options. Get a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

[Tik-Tok]

1) Reliable
2) Used
3) German

You only get to pick two of those.

[pf0sh0]

i was in the same position as you - the S3 with a rear facing car seat = barely any room in the front passenger.

I ended up getting a late gen SQ5 (2014 - 2017), which can be had in your price range, fairly reliable engine with some known common issues, but nothing wild. It fits the car seat well with room up front and pretty fun to drive with tonnes of aftermarket support (for e.g. did a stage 1 tune and intake for fun haha). Plus its easier taking baby in and out of a car seat from an SUV versus a car or maybe I just have a fucked back.

edit: To add, not sure if this is of value since you're also looking for a new car for your wife, but we traded in our 2021 Q5 for a new Tiguan as it had way more space, reasonably priced, nice styling/ driving (in our opinion of the available options in that range).

[bjstare]

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If reliability is any semblance of concern you do not buy an out of warranty German car

ftfy

[gpomp]

I have 3 out of warranty German cars and they're all great!

[bjstare]

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I have 3 out of warranty German cars and they're all great!

Notice there's no reference to reliability in this post.

[riander5]

Gotta go a year or two newer and get a BMW 340 w/ B58. No other engines will touch it for speed and reliability. I've said it before, but TOYOTA uses it in the Supra. That should tell you enough that it's a great engine.

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If reliability is important go BMW especially with later models. If your budget allows, I would try to get into a BMW with a B58 which will probably go down as one of the best 6 cylinder engines ever.

This ^

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If reliability is any semblance of concern you do not buy an out of warranty Audi.

True, Audi's are like the non electric electric car. Purchase and once warranty is up dispose of

[jabjab]

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i was in the same position as you - the S3 with a rear facing car seat = barely any room in the front passenger.

I ended up getting a late gen SQ5 (2014 - 2017), which can be had in your price range, fairly reliable engine with some known common issues, but nothing wild. It fits the car seat well with room up front and pretty fun to drive with tonnes of aftermarket support (for e.g. did a stage 1 tune and intake for fun haha). Plus its easier taking baby in and out of a car seat from an SUV versus a car or maybe I just have a fucked back.

edit: To add, not sure if this is of value since you're also looking for a new car for your wife, but we traded in our 2021 Q5 for a new Tiguan as it had way more space, reasonably priced, nice styling/ driving (in our opinion of the available options in that range).

The second car we need is an SUV for her and l did have my eyes on the 2017 sq5 but was worried about their reliability. We test drove the tiguan and it was good but I felt it was priced too high for what you get but we were looking at the dealship price. We might revisit the tiguan as the trunk was great size and its not overly wide so it should fit in the smaller garage fine.

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You said reliable in the first sentence and that should have ruled out all three of your options. Get a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

Awd is a must, our new place is in an area where there are lots of hills. Camry is nice but I don't like it for myself

[flipstah]

If you want an SQ5, don't be concerned about reliability. It won't be.

RAV4 is boring and it works. It's the Buckley's of vehicles.