Drove 2010 S4 today...

[kjrulz]

I don't know how to put this...It's pretty awesome.

Remember it's just a random person's opinion so don't get pissed off...

Interior IS better than ours.
Exterior is great (especially the lights of course)
Handling was fantastic, no wheelspin in light rain.
Braking and steering were tight.

Felt slow but definitely wasn't according to speedometer.

Don't like the seats.
Don't like the actual stick shift.
Don't like the steering wheel.

Combine these two cars and I'll be

Glad you liked it but I think interior is very subjective. I like the look of BMW interior, not too clustered, busy, fancy gizmos but simple and classy. A lot of my friends can appreciate it and a lot can't who are used to their parents MB and higher end luxo cars that have a thousand gizmos that brew you coffee while checking up on your stocks. Performance wise, it's a great car but it just can't turn heads like a modded bimmer can. ( or maybe I've just never seen a really well modded s4 )

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

You are now going to get flamed by BMW fan boys who think Audi can't make proper cars and BMW is the king of all that is automotive. Nice try though.

[kjrulz]

you are completely correct, the interior is subject to opinion. I just don't think it was clustered as badly as people make it out to be. I agree it's not as clean as the BMW's, which I do appreciate. I just feel the overall interior from where the buttons are laid out to the materials, etc etc is great.

Thought the disclaimer would have helped? lol

[mkato13]

I looked at both cars before I chose the 335 but I have to say the alacantra seats look nice but the upper bolster on ours is better. The audi does have real cupholders which is nice. Still like the bimmer though. Much cheaper to lease though My 335xi was $52500 with options and the S4 was $50200. The audi was $150/ month more to lease

Originally Posted by mkato13

I looked at both cars before I chose the 335 but I have to say the alacantra seats look nice but the upper bolster on ours is better. The audi does have real cupholders which is nice. Still like the bimmer though. Much cheaper to lease though My 335xi was $52500 with options and the S4 was $50200. The audi was $150/ month more to lease

Yup Audi keeps shooting themselves in the foot with their leasing

[bluescoupe]

Wow, this car keeps attracting attention like Tiger Woods leaving a driveway...

Coming from 7 Audis I have to say the new S4 interior is nowhere near as nice as my 2001.5 S4 with all the components neatly displayed and an efficient cockpit like atmosphere.
BTW-"Alcantra" is synthetic suede that wears...
not impressed by LED's
Cupholders are just never an issue.
Body looks bulky to me, not really sleek.
Subjective? hell yes.

Good handling (although a little vague at low speed)--but I drive a 335ic; that's a great standard for handling.

[D.yi]

^ 325ci you mean? or a 325 with an intercooler

[bluescoupe]

^ oops, 335i coupe =335ci

[mkato13]

Yeah their leses price was insane. Thats was employee pricing too. Oh well. I will have my 335 in a week or so. I cant wait

[TailHappyM3]

Originally Posted by my92

Yup Audi keeps shooting themselves in the foot with their leasing

It simply comes down to their residuals...Audi's are lower because they know their cars will depreciate more than what BMW believes theirs will. In other words, they show little faith in their product in the long run by doing this, at least to me.

[Nick.CBR]

Originally Posted by kjrulz

I don't know how to put this...It's pretty awesome.

Remember it's just a random person's opinion so don't get pissed off...

Interior IS better than ours.
Exterior is great (especially the lights of course)
Handling was fantastic, no wheelspin in light rain.
Braking and steering were tight.

Felt slow but definitely wasn't according to speedometer.

Don't like the seats.
Don't like the actual stick shift.
Don't like the steering wheel.

Combine these two cars and I'll be

How did you like the engine? I'm still questioning why they went with a blower but according to the website, highway MPG is still high 20's. City MPG's are in the high teen's though. I would have expected peak torque lower in the rev range as well...

Haven't they had lots of issues with their V6's or is that nonsense talk coming from a BMW owner?

Bottom line for me is there are just far too many doors on an S4. S5? Sexy but damn they are expensive!

Thanks for the perspective!

Nick

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by Azorean

It simply comes down to their residuals...Audi's are lower because they know their cars will depreciate more than what BMW believes theirs will. In other words, they show little faith in their product in the long run by doing this, at least to me.

Yup. The current S4 sedan has a 0.00144 MF which is good but a residual of 50-52% which is low compared to the E90 335i which has a residual of 57% but a MF of 0.00205

November rates for both brands. I would have to run some numbers to see how they compare.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by Nick.CBR

How did you like the engine? I'm still questioning why they went with a blower but according to the website, highway MPG is still high 20's. City MPG's are in the high teen's though. I would have expected peak torque lower in the rev range as well...

Haven't they had lots of issues with their V6's or is that nonsense talk coming from a BMW owner?

Bottom line for me is there are just far too many doors on an S4. S5? Sexy but damn they are expensive!

Thanks for the perspective!

Nick

haha i would rather have a 335i than an s5 its not that great looking just an opinion thoughh

[Nick.CBR]

Originally Posted by Jeef

haha i would rather have a 335i than an s5 its not that great looking just an opinion thoughh

Me too

I like the lines of the S5 though; very well done for an Audi coupe.

Nick

[JerzeySux]

335's are all over the place now.. S4's are more rare.
I litterally see 20 3 series a day driving on main street for half an hour.
Uncle has a S4 and it drives more refine and i loved it. Chipped 335 is SO much faster tho.

[5soko]

While looking for a sedan for add to my lineup, i searched and test drove many cars including the S4 numerous times in different configs, OVERALL the 335i was a better car.
For me it ended up being E90 LCI M-sport 335i > S4... i do wish the 335i had DCT though.

[Craig@SupremePower]

Audi leases are a joke..

[Nikolas]

I know I've said it before, but BMW inflates their residual rates as leases are the majority of BMW's USA income. If anyone honestly believes the resale value of BMW actually equals the residual value they are dreaming.

[TailHappyM3]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

I know I've said it before, but BMW inflates their residual rates as leases are the majority of BMW's USA income. If anyone honestly believes the resale value of BMW actually equals the residual value they are dreaming.

I think BMW sets their residual rates based on what they believe the market will support for their products. They are willing to take that chance on setting higher residuals than Audi because quite simply they know the market will support that. The used car market is what determines prices, not a car company directly. The manufacturer can only influence the prices of their used product slightly by producing good products that are in demand.

[princefemi]

Is the S4 really that much better looking on the inside than a 3 series?

I too have test driven the S4 and I really did not see what people seem to always rave about. I did not like the size and feel of the steering wheel and I felt the seats were not as supportive and just did not feel as good as my sport seats.

I told my wife about what seems to be the accepted consensus about Audi interiors and asked her to be as objective as possible. She too could not give the S4 the nod for having a better interior. She told me she actually prefers the BMW interior for its looks and simplicity, and said that the Audi did score some points with her for having a more spacious rear seating area.

Are we both missing something?

[kugasman]

Originally Posted by Azorean

It simply comes down to their residuals...Audi's are lower because they know their cars will depreciate more than what BMW believes theirs will. In other words, they show little faith in their product in the long run by doing this, at least to me.

So in the end BMW shoots themselves in the foot with residuals when they try to resell the car, and Audi may actually be making a smarter business move. BMW lease prices have been artificially low for years....not a bad thing if you pick up a good CPO deal or lease deal right...