[Icedog_16]

Originally Posted by Tranzporter

This is what an Audi salesman told my friend last week.

He told your friend incorrectly by a good margin whether talking US or world sales. http://thepassionatepursuit.com/2008...mercedes-audi/

And if he's talking about worldwide sales, Audi sold more than 516K from January to June, which would be on the order of 1M per year. http://www.audi.com/audi/com/en2/abo...y_summary.html

BMW sold 485K worldwide through April, which is roughly 1.5M cars per year.
http://www.wheels.ca/article/238509

[footie]

Originally Posted by Tranzporter

This is what an Audi salesman told my friend last week.

That is so much BS it kind of funny.

BMW's worldwide sales are 1.4million of which the new Mini accounts for about 250~300K. Audi's worldwide sales are between 900K~1million and this is without anywhere like the kind of national sales that BMW have in the US.

[oldaccount]

Originally Posted by Tranzporter

This is what an Audi salesman told my friend last week.

can we just agree that from now on nothing a salesman has ever told anyone can be mentioned, because they never seem to know wtf theyre talking about.

that or people just make shit up.

[cntlaw]

Which brand of European cars are less important than what sort of people are the owners. Many people do not buy Merc because they think too many elderly driving them. For someone, driving a BMW gives a young image. Audi is in the middle of no where. In terms of brand image and reputation, Audi is still the third and I think at least for another 100 years. Some people who buy an Audi is just because they don't want to drive the same brands of the majority, that's all. Personally, if I ever get an Audi, the only reason is I haven't owned one and want to try it, not because Audi is better than MB and BMW.

[S4to335]

Many salesman have no clue about the products they attempt to sell. There are a number of good ones that sell Audis, BMWs, Porsches, and Mercedes..but most of the ones you encounter at dealerships know way less than the average car enthusiast. BTW, I use to work at a Porsche/Audi dealership.

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by footie

On a track is not where Quattro or any awd system will show it's advantage over rwd, that place is on the public road where there are too many unforseen dangers that have to be taken into account. Few drivers on this or any forum will disengage DSC on the road in their M3 or 335i but in a quattro car there isn't the same danger of something going wrong.

When you don't happen the option of ideal lines, that is the place where awd shines.

Quattro/AWD = Less entertainment but is quicker on public road.
RWD = Far more entertaining but ultimately not as quicker.

P.S.
The new M3 is probably the best balanced rwd car out there for normal use, it's nose grips extremely well in all corners and as long as you aren't too aggressive with the throttle it can carry some serious speed through corners.

I agree with you here.

I have yet to drive the new M3 at a track (only on the street) but I am really looking forward to it. I plan on doing ED when I buy mine so hopefully will get it on the ring. Although I dont like to go crazy with a car till I have had some time to get used to it.

[adc]

Originally Posted by footie

Yes they will understeer when pushed too hard but the fact is they can still go harder when you are understeering than when oversteering.

I found the exact opposite on track - when I pushed the car, the limiting factor has always been understeer. What happens is that as you scrub the front tires you heat them up too much and they degrade even more, with more understeer - until you have to back off completely.

The only advantage that Quattro has (and I've owned 2 vehicles with it) is the confidence it gives you in the rain.

Sure RWD is more challenging, but I view it as a learning opportunity, about car control and dynamics that and AWD car simply won't offer you. If I were to buy simple transportation then it would all be moot, but when I pay $20k extra for entertainment, the car better entertain me for years.

A 335 is simply more fun than an S5 - just my opinion.

[E90 ANdy]

audi a4's are pretty over priced, i'd rather get a 335 over one of those any day. I used to have an A4 therefore i can say this, i've owned a honda and audi before this, both with suspension upgrades and neither has come close to the factory spec BMW if audi made a FR, rear will drive S4 or A4 then they might be able to compete with BMW. Bmw just feels better on the road, afterall, its the Ultimate Driving Machine!

[Davin]

this could be possible

[Deda]

My father drives Audi a6 allroad,it is a great car,but my love is BMW x6...and i can not see myself in any ther car than BMW!

[Atny286]

Audi is a nice car. Well, actually the quattro version only. The other front-wheel drive crap they make is worthless... Where I come from (originally) we say you either like Mercedes or BMW, no friends there... So no X6 and SLK or M3 and S400 in the driveway.

And then Audi, well if you can affort a luxury VW or Opel (Saturn in the US), why not buy a Audi as an upgrade.

Audi is as far off on the down side as Porsche is on the up side. Not too far off, but still off...

[MJC///M3]

audi is a fine car...have driven the sick RS4..., S4, and A4....

but will never come close to the feel and enjoyment of an Ultimate Driving Machine...

IMHO