Re: All Audi A4 Owners MUST READ THIS!!!! (JoeFriday)
I've been in several cars over the past few months, trying to make up my mind on the next car...
My order, right now
1 - 330ci - I had to drive the tiptronic... the dealer didn't have a 330 with a stick available. Everything is solid and I love the looks of the coupe. The best engine yet.
2 - Jaguar X-type - It's the new baby on the block for Jag, but it has a good deal of that Jaguar feel (if you are into that... I am). I drove a sport 3.0 model with a stick that was smoother than a baby's butt. Loads of power. Almost my favorite drive, but I'm a tall guy (6'4") and it was a smidge short... maybe if I special ordered w/o the sunroof. It also runs a bit more expensive than the BMW (2-3 K)
3. A4 3.0 - I drove the 3.0, loaded with the sport package (everything but navigation). Unfortunately, I had to drive the tiptronic w/ this one too. It just didn't have the 'Push you back in your seat' feeling that I got with the Jag or the BMW. I love the A4 interior (Audi does the interior right on every one of their cars), but I want the feeling of a sports sedan and the 3.0 felt like a family cruiser... Please don't flame me... It's just my opinion. I loved the car in every other respect, but there was more DRIVING ENJOYMENT from the 330ci.
4. Saab 9-5 aero: I was driving past the dealership with some time to kill so I thought I'd take a spin out in one of these things. When the turbo kicks in, it hauls A$$. I'd never understood torque steer until I rev'd the engine and released the clutch (the stupid sales agent let me take it out on my own
. It took everything I had to recover from that snap to the left while I struggled to overcome the G's from the turbo. It was a fun drive in a truely butt-ugly car. I almost wanted to wear a disguise becuase I'd be ashamed to be seen in that thing. I'm sure it does something for someone (There are people who can get turned on by a 500 lb, 80 year old woman), but it just doesn't do it for me.
I've also got to try the new Infinity G35, just to see how it measures up and if the BMW is worth the extra $7000. By the look of the back end of the G35, the 330ci is well worth it. I also want to check out the IS300, but it looks a bit too rice for my tastes. I'm so anti-Altezza tail lights that I don't know if I can drive the car that coined the term...
There was a thread a month or so ago about my A4 testdrive...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=407955
