I don't know...there's some something about Audis that I like more than BMWs.
I know BMWs are known to drive better...but I think Audis look better and are more "techy" if that makes any sense. Its just more my style...especially their interiors.

http://99audis.com/gallery2/d/58-1/Audi+A4+Interior.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1XknPAfZhc...s+interior.jpg

yup. BMW is known for bland interiors, but I like to think of it as uncluttered. I think the Audi looks clumsy and cheap, of course all personal preference.

I recently converted my friend who was an Audi guy for years to a BMW. He now asks how he was able to drive such a piece of shit (the audi) for so long thinking it was a nice car. There's no substitute for build quality.

Just go test drive one for a long drive, see if you like it. You may hate it, but at least look. The finance deals are great right now.

And PHX31, cool! thats one of the rides I was looking at before i bought my Mazda.

There should be good deals now - the current BMW 3-series is at the very end of its model run. Nothing worse than spending the big bucks and then coveting the new version next year...

That's going to happen soon with the B8, which has been out now for three years. The E92 is an older model so it simply means any bugs have had time to be worked out. If you buy a car thinking the model you buy is going to be the latest and greatest forever, you're very out of touch with reality.

The B8 Audi? The current one has been out since MY2009 so I'm thinking end of 2012 is when they will have a new one out. I haven't heard anything about a replacement model coming out end of this year as a MY2012.

yeah I didnt say this year, I said soon. 2012 is soon, that's next year...

Thanks, I think I've pretty much settled on doing Roosevelt. That sounds weird...

X2. I've always loved both BMW and Audi but in my opinion, Audi's styling has only been getting better while BMW (exterior) has been going downhill.

A4:

http://images.dealer.com/autodata/us...0/90AUGEM1.JPG

328i:

http://www.billdodgeautogroup.com/bl...328i-maine.jpg

Of course, styling is subjective and BMW's build quality is undeniable but Audi isn't lagging in that department, either. It's a German car, after all.

I think the BMW looks better, plus it is a BMW. The Audi is just a fancy Volkswagen. Nobody thinks you're cool if you drive a fancy VW.

I have no problems with VW...had a 2006 Touareg and I loved that car but unfortunately the gas mileage kills or else I would be seriously looking at the 2011+ Touaregs, they look badass in my opinion.

http://cdn2.worldcarfans.co/2010/3/medium/8655689.jpghttp://cdn2.worldcarfans.co/2010/3/medium/1535449.jpg
http://www.cartype.com/pics/7914/ful...areg_10_09.jpg

http://www.dropacar.com/pictures/gal...o_S_2008_3.jpg

I wouldn't mind a fancy VW.

Not a fan of SUVs in general but if I had to have one, I'd go with the Acura MDX.

http://www.thesupercars.org/wp-conte...Acura-MDX-.jpg


What do you guys think of the CT Hybrid from Lexus? I've seen the commercial for it about 12 times tonight...it's definitely grown on me.

http://www.uucec.org/gallery/Lexus/l...5_1024x768.jpg

http://www.jackohk.com/wp-content/up...-Side-View.jpg

http://dashboarddispatch.com/wp-cont...xusCT200h4.jpg

With a little bit of modifying, it can look pretty damn good in my opinion.

http://www.misselectric.com/wp-conte...xus-ct200h.jpg

A4 vs. 328i...

According to my trusty 2011 Best&Worst Cars Edition from Consumer Reports:

A4 overall test score: 82. "Better" owner satisfaction "average" predicted reliability. Highs: Handling, braking, acceleration, transmission, fuel economy, fit and finish, crash-test results. Lows: Controls, rear seat.

BMW 328i overall test score: 77. "Better" owner sadisfaction"average" predicted reliability. Highs: Agility, steering, acceleration, powertrain, fit and finish. Lows: Rear seat, some controls, cup holders.

BMW is about $1,500 more expensive.

I'd say they are essentially even. According to them, the infinity G37 crushes both with an overall score of 95.

Yeah but same problem, now you drive a Nissan. Something those tests never take into account is how a car ages. Nissan products are notoriously bad with their hard interior plastics, thin gauge steel, and generally bad paint application. I'd take even the Audi 100 times over the Nissan.

And that lexus looks nice, until you see the rear end. Its like they designed this classy nice looking car and then decide the back would be boy racer.

I had a 3 series. It was okay. Girls were impressed by it more than I ever was. The doors sounded solid rather than cheap and tinny like many cars, which was the only part of the BMW I really liked.

I dumped it and got a MazdaSpeed 3. That car was fun to drive. Sadly, I ended up unloading that for a more practical car for my wife to drive. After two years, they gave me as much in trade as I paid for the mazda in the first place. So I thought that was a pretty good value retention.

/\ They rank all of those items in their "reliability" section as well, which they base on the percentage of their respondents who reported problems for any given section of the car, compared with the average of all vehicles for that car's year. Let's call it (their ratings) 1 - 5... 1 being worse than average. 5 being better than average.

The A4, 328i, and G37 all have the best reliability data (5) for almost the entire car, except:

A4: Body integrity 4, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 3.

328i: Body integrity 3, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 1.

G: Brakes 4, Body integrity 4, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 3.

They all seem nearly identical (except what's up with the BMW's sound system?).

Bmw owners are always the pickiest. Especially 3 series buyers who are overly comitted to complaining. Infinity owners are more likely to see their cars as appliances thus subscribing to the theory "it works dont it?" i think Audi owners fall somewhere in the middle. I think thats part of the scoring.

The true test is to take the person with the highest expectations and a knack for bitching, and buy the car they complain the least about. Unfortunately, such a test (over long term ownership) will never exist.

I honestly see BMW, Audi, and Mercedes all being equal "status" wise...not sure why you see BMW as higher. Yes, Audi was bought by VW a while back...but so was Lamborghini...is that just a supped up VW?

VW has made Audi, on the same platforms as VWs, for quite some time, with VW parts. Its the same relationship as infiniti/nissan, acura/honda, and toyota/lexus. Gussied up economy cars. Mercedes and BMW are not fancier versions of anything, they are their own cars built on their own platforms. Thars called brand integrity.

If I want a Passat, I'll buy a Passat, not a bloated pig of a Passat with LED lights and an A4 badge for $8,000 more.

Oh, and for the record, VW drastically cheapened the cache of Lambo too. Nobody buys those cars instead of Ferrari anymore. They used to compete, now lambos are just bloated VWs with fast engines. The interior buttons are the same as in my girlfriend's Jetta!

I can see what you're saying but honestly I don't mind it. I'd they slapped a VW logo on the A4 and charged $8000 less, I'd be all over it. I'm not buying an Audi for the name, I'm buying it because a) I like how it looks inside and out, b) I like the features, such as the 8 speed transmission, and c) it's German.

Then you should buy a Passat. They are both the same car, on VAG's "B" platform.

Did you happen to read the rest of my reply...or did you stop after the second sentence? ;)

While the new Passat looks nice, I think the A4 looks better.

http://images.dealer.com/autodata/us...0/90AUGEM1.JPG
http://dailycar.info/wp-content/uplo...passat-swb.jpg

And the interior especially, it's on a whole other level design wise. The 2011 Passat's interior basically looks like my 2002 A4s interior.

http://a4audi.org/wp-content/uploads...or-picture.jpg
http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/...t-interior.jpg

My A4...
http://nitnelav.com/AudiA4Sale/1.jpg

No I read it all, I just feel like if you want a volkswagen, buy a volkswagen! \


lol

But I want an Audi!

I know...I know...Audi is VW, right? :banana:

it is, and what is a BMW? A BMW!

A Mini! :D

Nice try wise guy!

You know who makes who in that relationship.

:D :D :D :cheers:

On a somewhat related note, I'd be very tempted to look at the new Genesis if I were in the market for a car of that segment.

Its a great looking car but I can't get over the mental hump of paying so much for a Hyundai.

yeah, same here, but supposedly they are now one of the most reliable cars on the market, and do a great job of holding resale.

"supposedly"

^ Yeah, some of the new "cheap" car models look interesting.

The new Sonata Turbo from Hyundai, it looks pretty damn good in my opinion:

http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/...nata-Turbo.jpg

http://autoweek.com/galleryimage/CW/...ata-Turbo4.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D52XcATHzo...nata-turbo.jpg

or the Kia Optima, doesn't look bad at all for being even more of an automotive laughingstock than Hyundai was before:

http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/ki...902102_815.jpg

http://mshollandsthoughts.files.word...-optima-xl.jpg

http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-n...e-quarters.jpg

The Forte's not a bad looking car either, but I'm still leery of reliability and resale issues.

I have a 2008 Fit Sport, which I love dearly, but for the life of me, I can't get into the redesigned model. Looks like they took a first gen Fit and pumped it full of steroids.

So that's three of us who drive sardine cans, buckeye, phx31, and me.

lol

I would totally drive a Smart as a second vehicle! :D

I wouldn't.

I read a thread about them on thecarlounge last week and someone had linked a report of a record low 19% customer satisfaction rate. They are unreliable, overpriced for the options, and get very poor gas mileage considering the size and weight of the car.

Damn...didn't know about that, nevermind then...not that I would have bought one anyway. :)

Yeah, my co-worker had a Smart. After he traded it in for something else he said buying it was the worst decision he ever made. It required crazy maintenance/service and overall sucked.

Buckeye, what are the design differences between an '08 and a '11 Fit Sport? I really like the way mine looks, especially in my color (Silver) with a dark tint. One thing I like about the new model is the body piece below the rear window which holds the "H" Honda emblem is now a shiny black, when before it was the same color as the rest of the body. It makes it look "sportier" somehow. Admittedly, I don't know anything else regarding differences between the new and the old body style.

I think the newer Fits look kinda lumpy. Its not a bad design, and the newer version a shit-ton more options than mine, but I kinda like the styling of the first gens. Its a little more simplistic and angular. Just a personal preference, nothing more.

2008, last year of the 1st-gen body style (my car):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/...47fa0cd763.jpg

2011
http://2011-honda-fit.com/images/2011-honda-fit-2.jpg
Source

Probably not the best angle, my complaints stem more from the way the rear looks. For lack of a better phrase, its plagued with "ghetto booty" ;)

Mine's also silver. I love the car (hugs the road on the twists and turns of some of these mountain back roads), but its terrible for winter driving. Thank god snow's been practically non-existant in Flagstaff this winter.

Only thing that maddens me about the fit is that dorky triangular window by the mirror.

Ugly design FTL.

Heh heh, the back ---back/side view on my car is probably my favorite angle. different strokes for different folks.

Yeah, but they actually improved it on the new model/made it bigger. It looks even more stupid/useless from the inside, and it serves no functional purpose. Funny you bring that up, because I was at a light this morning next to a 2nd gen and was comparing the triangular window size...

Same here.

You say plagued with a ghetto booty, I say blessed :haha:

:haha:

You have to have nice tinting on the windows to make any car look better from any angle. No tinting = granny car or rental car.

The Fiesta Bowl will lose its BCS backing: Yes or no?

Jerry Jones has been clamoring hard for the Cotton Bowl to regain its prominence, and with the monstrosity that is the Cowboys Stadium, there's more than enough cause for concern given the shit going down with Junker.

Good lord I hope not, that would be awful for the State. With as corrupt as things in the NCAA often seem to be at most top programs I hope the NCAA realizes something like this would negatively effect the economics of a whole state and is more serious than giving SC a post season bowl ban or whatever.

I know Jones is popular and has been pushing for the Cotton Bowl for a while, if anything I'd rather just see the Cotton Bowl elevated rather than having it replace another game.

The NCAA is nothing, if hypocritical. How else do you explain Cam Newton, or Ohio State's "tat-5" playing in the 2010 Sugar Bowl?

It would be a huge blow for the state (and our much-needed tourism dollars), but the Fiesta Bowl committee is already in enough shit as it is.

I would like to think the history and tradition the Fiesta Bowl has created will keep it from being dropped. I think the BCS will just look over it much more closely.

This state can't afford another hit like would happen it the Fiesta Bowl lost BCS status. Everyone in this state need to be behind the Fiesta Bowl, I mean EVERYONE Governor, Republicans, Democrats, McCain, Mayors. If done it can come out even better than before.

and not to make him sound like a miracle worker, but get Colangelo involved. The guy seems to turn most of things he touches to gold, he's got a great reputation in the sports community especially. If he took Junkers job or even just became a figure head for the Bowl Game I'd bet it would help.

Riding in the car right now coming back from soending a wek in LA and Santa Barbara. I noticed one thing, within the city of Los Angeles alone there are 5-6 skylines larger than Phoenix's. The downtown area completely reminded me how much Phoenix blows. LA is ridiculously dense, multicultural, historic, and fun.

My city sucks. :(