Hi all,
I know I can never get a completely unbiased answer, but I'm coming up on the end of my balloon purchase, where I can either turn it in, or buy out the $18,700 on the car. It's an early 2005.5 A4 2.0T. It has 6spd, nav, cold weather and premium pkg. No problems with it (yet??). If I buy it out, I'm looking to add and AWE flash to add 40hp and 75ft/lb torque, bringing me to 240/275 (because 45k miles is almost out of warantee anyway).

If I turn it in, the car I'm looking at in comparison is a 2008 BMW 335xi (300hp, 300ft/lb torque stock) with premium, cold weather, and comfort access. Their premium package includes what Audi called the "lighting package" back in 2005 - xenons, memory seats, dimming/folding mirrors. Plus I'd get bluetooth.

I am not sure what to do. With the chip, the Audi ends up being about $20,000 out of pocket at the end of the lease. The BMW would be a 5yr loan of about $44,000 out the door (assumign a European Delivery), or $47,000 if I buy from dealer stock. The BMW gives me more features and a more powerful (stock) engine. Plus I'm a little worried about the value of the A4 at the end of the lease being even worth $18,700 because of the new 2008s coming out being a new platform.

Suggestions?

 

What do you think we are going to tell you?

 

Though I am an Audi man I must say the 335xi is one of my favorite cars in looks and performance. And you better be going manual on both those no matter which one you want. 335xi FTW!!

 

I vote 335xi but make sure you get the sport package or you'll be sorry! The nice thing about the 335 is that it come with the Logic 7 premium surround sound system as a standard option--it is an amazing system. I also love the comfort access feature.

I was torn between a 335i and the A4 when I was shopping but the dealership (Audi) gave me a deal I couldn't refuse. My other decision breaker was gas mileage but as I've learned the BMW wasn't much less in the city (or the highway) than the 2.0T in my A4... ****.

Get it, love it and take lots of pictures!

 

its really not even a decision. i would go 335 all the way... my sister has one and its much nastier/nicer than the new a4's... wat she traded in. So honestly unless you are going to mod the car, get the bimmer.

 

If your looking to mod, then keep the 2.0T, you could make that thing just as fast as the 335 and not even come close to the cost of the 335. But that also means no warranty, so it kind of goes both ways. If your not to interested in modding, then get the 335.

 

You can always chip the bmw i believe, and then you would have 350 plus horsepower, i think it was 380 with full exhaust. But if you wanted to go all out i think the only thing you can do witht eh bmw is single turbo since their is such limited room. Keep the Audi, i think it looks better. And who knows you may have the last model a4 that doesnt look like a bmw.

 

whoa, wrong!

the 335i and xi are VERY responsive to mods.

with just a Vishnu chip and exhaust the 335i can keep up with a stage 3 B5 S4..

in conclusion. GO 335!!!!!!!!!

 

As I said, the 2.0T could be modded to be just as fast as the 335 without getting close the the price of the 335 (he quoted arount $47k and he could buy the 2.0T for $18,700).

I do understand that you can mod a 335, but with it being a new car and having a warranty he wouldn't do it (I think).

 

I can tell you from experiance in modding cars and being in the industry for about 12 years now and watching the market that the 335I is the new hot thing out with the Inline 6 TT you cant beat it. Look how well the 93-98 Supra TT did and how much power it can make. There will be SO MANY mods that will push more HP than any audi could do anyday. TRUST ME, wait for the Warranty to go out and the car to get a little older and you will have so many things out for that car.
IMO the 335I all the way!

Adam~