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Noodles
06-17-2011, 08:53 AM
It might be time for to replace my 02 WRX.

I'm looking at 2006 BMW 330CI with 55+K miles and a 2008 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro with 68K+ miles.

This will be my first German car. I've always owned Japanese cars before.

I need some input from owners or former owners.

Thanks.
PeteSB75
06-17-2011, 08:58 AM
Buy an Acura ;s
Mugen910
06-17-2011, 09:08 AM
Get a Merc....I've always been told not to buy a used Audi unless you've got the $ to fix it out of warranty. I'm not a bimmer fan so I won't comment.
e-man67
06-17-2011, 09:14 AM
I have owned a number of cars and currently own a BMW 525...This is the easiest car I have ever worked on..love it..and if you buy parts online they are not that bad price wise. I would stay away from Audi...My neighbor had an A4 and it sucked getting to anything in the engine compartment..he was always having problems with it....
loki
06-17-2011, 09:22 AM
buying a used german car is never........................EVER a good idea. I've got a friend who is a service writer for bmw, he's said time and time again that the newer bmw's are only to be leased. 3 years and out on them. Buy a quality car, not a badge
DBall
06-17-2011, 09:32 AM
I bought a BMW (02 330i w/ 45k) a couple years back. Hassle free and easily the best car I've ever owned. I vote BMW... :D
themoneycollector
06-17-2011, 09:36 AM
Between the 330 and A4, I'd go with the 330.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/37assets/svn/256-BMW_V_Audi_Sign_War.jpg.jpeg
J.W.
06-17-2011, 09:49 AM
Buy an Acura ;s

I agree with Pete!:tu:tu
ZachF88
06-17-2011, 09:53 AM
I love both brands, since I drive an RS4 and my wife drives an X5. The X5 is pretty easy to work on. The Audi is a lot harder (Could be since it's an RS4). Audi has the over engineering of Porsche, but with VW parts. Both cars are pretty reliable. The 2.0T is very tunable, but it is a 4 cyl. turbo. If you do get this, I recoomend getting the APR software onit (+35whp). The 330 is an inline 6, which I have always loved and is very solid! Both cars are great cars, but very different from each other. If you live in a winter climate, no doubt go with the quattro. If not, then a RWD makes more sense. I would just recommend that you drive each one, and see which one you like the most.
poker
06-17-2011, 10:02 AM
Currently own a BMW (E46) M3. Prior to that I had a Audi (B6) S4 (both bought when new). The Audi had a much better interior finish than the BMW but the BMW was much faster :).
Both cars are expensive to repair if out of warranty. My personal opinion is was that the S4 was more of a luxury car that went fast. The M3 was a fast car that they tried to make daily driving possible. Either way they are both very nice cars and I was happy with both of them. Although I dont drive the M3 anymore (looking to sell it), I liked it a tad better then the S4.
replicant_argent
06-17-2011, 10:05 AM
I have had 4 BMWs, (all used, bought smart, and in good service history and condition) and loved everyone of them.
Having been a service writer for over a decade for other marques, I can attest to the reliability, serviceability, performance, and build quality of them. I personally would stay away from 7 series, in conversations with my go to shop, but I don't think I have been merely "lucky" with repair history and general experience of ownership. Parts availability is good to excellent from non OEM suppliers (getting OEM parts, even), and found the few things I have had to repair straightforward and relatively well laid out, engineered, designed, and quite serviceable. Those items I haven't done or wanted to get into considering the climate I live in, have been taken care of by an affordable, well trained former BMW technician.


I have found the naysayers have never owned one. Take that grain of salt for what it is worth.
Genetic Defect
06-17-2011, 10:06 AM
buying a used german car is never........................EVER a good idea. I've got a friend who is a service writer for bmw, he's said time and time again that the newer bmw's are only to be leased. 3 years and out on them. Buy a quality car, not a badge

This
Remo
06-17-2011, 10:35 AM
My vote

9776
mmblz
06-17-2011, 11:05 AM
I love my 98 M Roadster.
Bought it 7 years ago and have never had a problem other than a leaky A/C.
ade06
06-17-2011, 11:12 AM
We have a 2005 A4 and it does great in the winter. We have over 100k miles on the car and she still runs great.
mosesbotbol
06-17-2011, 11:28 AM
Good comments so far. I would stay away from a used Audi and that's coming from a British and Italian car owner...

You have to drive both and consider whether quattro is really worth the wear and tear. BMW is more for "the driver".

Which one has a cooler color combo?
themoneycollector
06-17-2011, 11:44 AM
It might be time for to replace my 02 WRX.



I re-read it and noticed you are a fellow WRX driver.

Why such a departure from the WRX to either of the two you mentioned?
BlindedByScience
06-17-2011, 11:51 AM
Buy an Acura ;s

Get a Merc....I've always been told not to buy a used Audi unless you've got the $ to fix it out of warranty. I'm not a bimmer fan so I won't comment.

buying a used german car is never........................EVER a good idea. I've got a friend who is a service writer for bmw, he's said time and time again that the newer bmw's are only to be leased. 3 years and out on them. Buy a quality car, not a badge
....you know, I hear comments like this all the time and I disagree. Having owned several German cars over the years, I think I can offer some perspective. My current daily driver is a VW Jetta TDI with 130K on it (love the 45+ MPG), and the wife's car is a BMW X3 with 50K on it. Both our cars have been completely reliable and great to drive.

German cars don't just need proper service, they seem to require it. The reward is an extremely reliable platform that is a blast to drive. All I'm talking about here is the factory recommended maintenance. The other point is to find a shop that really knows these cars well. I have a guy where I live that's a complete TDI diesel head; he drives one, and knows these cars inside and out. He is better than the dealer locally for these cars, and he gets all my work. The wife takes her BeeEmm to the dealer locally because they have an excellent reputation for doing quality service, for the last 25 years or so.

Moral of the story is that a new or properly maintained German car can be a solid investment, but I wouldn't touch a used one that didn't come with up to date service records, performed by a shop that knows what they are doing.

FWIW - N.F.H.
mosesbotbol
06-17-2011, 12:12 PM
I re-read it and noticed you are a fellow WRX driver.

Why such a departure from the WRX to either of the two you mentioned?

I had an '02 WRX (wagon) too.
Noodles
06-17-2011, 12:18 PM
buying a used german car is never........................EVER a good idea. I've got a friend who is a service writer for bmw, he's said time and time again that the newer bmw's are only to be leased. 3 years and out on them. Buy a quality car, not a badge

So are you saying a BMW is not a quality car?
Noodles
06-17-2011, 12:22 PM
I re-read it and noticed you are a fellow WRX driver.

Why such a departure from the WRX to either of the two you mentioned?

I want something more upscale and more of an adult car. WRX was good to me but time to move on.
mosesbotbol
06-17-2011, 12:29 PM
So are you saying a BMW is not a quality car?

The newer the BMW and Audi are, the more you are stuck with the dealer for repairs. It's hard for the 3rd party repair places to fix them. Most likely, the repairs you will need, 3rd party shops should be able to fix.

Porsche is the easiest for the 3rd party mechanics to fix (for German cars) as there are a lot of specialist Porsche shops. I've only had to bring my Jaguar to the dealer once after the warranty ran out. The local Jag repair shop is walking distance from my house has done the rest. It comes down to how invested the shop is for any particular marque. The equipment is very expensive.

Consider who is going to work on your car (beyond the dealer) in your decision.
replicant_argent
06-17-2011, 12:45 PM
there are a lot of specialist Porsche shops. The local Jag repair shop is walking distance from my house has done the rest.
Consider who is going to work on your car (beyond the dealer) in your decision.

Very regional dependent as far as what indy shops are available and/or competent. Good advice is to see what may be available as far as reputable shops with competent technicians and equipment. Around here if you were to buy a used Range Rover, I would wonder what medications you are on. Same goes for a few other marques.
Buying used has its own benefits and downfalls, doing market research of services you may want or need available in your AO definitely comes into play in a purchase decision of any vehicle, IMHO.
NCRadioMan
06-17-2011, 01:19 PM
buying a used german car is never........................EVER a good idea. I've got a friend who is a service writer for bmw, he's said time and time again that the newer bmw's are only to be leased. 3 years and out on them. Buy a quality car, not a badge

Laughable. My Mother bought a used 07 328i and it's the best car she has ever had. I drive it to the Shack every year. I drive it when I can. Very, very good cars. The 3 Series is a work horse and won't let you down.

Also, used ones still qualify for the 6 yr or 100k warranty.
Adriftpanda
06-17-2011, 01:24 PM
I would stay away from the Audi. I had an Audi A6 and it was nothing but problems. Used Audis are doo doo.