Our Audi A5 & BMW 3 Series Coupes

[martinbo]

I'm sorry to hear that Mr Mercedes. Wasn't it perhaps worthwhile to extend the Freeway plan?

 

[Zafiro]

Ops! you gotta lose lots of money selling it so soon

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Just me, I make it a habit of buying cars pretty well so when it comes time to sell it the depreciation hit isn't so bad. I actually made money on the A4 I had for 2 months in 2008.

Martin, I did consider an extended warranty, but the price for a 12 month plan and the inclusions weren't worth it. Plus I drive a company car during the week, so my wife would be driving the Audi mostly, and as a new driver scratched alloys and dented bumpers was a real possibility and an expensive risk to be taking.

 

[MoSs]

I've sold the A5. Beautiful car to look at and drive. But the expiring warranty, my new wife who is a learner driver, and who is unfortunately not as good behind the wheel as I was anticipating lol, and a few other factors dictated selling the vehicle.

Dude tell me about it every time I take my wife out to teach her how to drive I feel like my death is near lol, I get so frustrated and scared, and I gotta do that everyday lol...


Btw im sorry about ur a5 Im sure u had so much fun with it, my warranty is near the end but I can still extend it, but anyways I'm doing some mods to my s5 so they Wont cover anything lol

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

dude tell me about it every time i take my wife out to teach her how to drive i feel like my death is near lol, i get so frustrated and scared, and i gotta do that everyday lol...


Btw im sorry about ur a5 im sure u had so much fun with it, my warranty is near the end but i can still extend it, but anyways i'm doing some mods to my s5 so they wont cover anything lol

lol.

 

[LaArtist]

What is wrong with the front of the 3er ..looks aftermarket and squished like a sandwich in a school bag..

Hot A5 though

 

[TheDriver]

The interior of the A5 looks classy, though not liking the rims at all, are those aftermarket or stock?

 

[Human]

Martin & Human, I'm sure we experience very similar road conditions on a regular basis. And I don't understand how some Germans feel they can get away with this sort of stuff. Perhaps it's us, but I feel how rattle free and quiet a car's interior is over time is absolutely integral to the overall quality impression. You pay through your nose for what is supposedly a superior built and finished product, so it's only fair to expect a rattle free existance.

That's what I love about my mum's C, dad's E and my old C. They've got 30000, 17000 and 60000kms on them respectively and they feel as solid and rattle free as the day we bought them. There was a 'buzz' from the rear view mirror in mum's C, but that was addressed by the dealer quite easily.

Absolutely!

I had two W203 C180's - last one was a 2003 pre-FL C180 Kompressor and truthfully their build was impeccable, given the materials used in the W203 was not 'best-in-segment'. The E46 3er's was the class leader in the perceived quality department and the build overall was on par with the C's.
On the other hand I must mention that overall Merc has the best LONG LASTING build quality in terms of rattles. I made my self believe it's because Merc's suspension comfort are class leading and on the softer side BUT on the W204 with AMG package and firmer suspension that did not shake a rattle nor a squeek out of the build in 63000km on a supplier of mine's 'rep' car (2008 -C320 CDI AMG).

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The interior of the A5 looks classy, though not liking the rims at all, are those aftermarket or stock?

The Audi's interior looks classy indeed. The feel however is like all new Audis. The design is by far the saving grace and Audi continues to create a sense of percieved qaulity through desing despite very average plastics and tactile quality. I don't doubt this is going to come back to bite them in the butt within a few years.

The rims are stock Audi 17's. A better bet for an acceptable ride quality on our roads than the HOT looking 18's.

 

[K-A]

Audi and VW both. Materials and plastics are going down the drain in quality. I don't think I've ever experienced plastics as cheap and cold as the new Jetta's.

 

[footie]

All brands are cutting corners with regards to their choice of materials used in the areas that are seldom touched by anything other than your knees or feet, the word they would probably use is durable but our word is hard/brittle. While I don't like this use anymore than the next person I do understand the benefit overall (more profit) which in turn allows the standard spec to go up, something that continues to happen with every replacement. Just look at the E-class, 5er and A6, when was the last time that any of these models came standard with leather trim, Sat-Nav, cruise control or full parking sensors? The answer is never.

Something has to give and in this case it's some of the quality of those trim pieces.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Footie I actually think MB and BMW are upping the ante in terms of actual interior quality, just as Audi begins it's slide. The 5 and 7 feel rather plush and the new Benzes truly have that cliched 'bank vault' feel. You knock on the dash and it feels solid. You pull and prod on the interior an it doesn't creak. Do this in the new Audi's and you'll get a hollow thud and groans of pain from trim pieces.

I'm sick and tired of hearing magazines continue to praise Audi for their interiors despite BMW and MB doing a better job now.

 

[footie]

Footie I actually think MB and BMW are upping the ante in terms of actual interior quality, just as Audi begins it's slide. The 5 and 7 feel rather plush and the new Benzes truly have that cliched 'bank vault' feel. You knock on the dash and it feels solid. You pull and prod on the interior an it doesn't creak. Do this in the new Audi's and you'll get a hollow thud and groans of pain from trim pieces.

I'm sick and tired of hearing magazines continue to praise Audi for their interiors despite BMW and MB doing a better job now.

I'm shocked at your opinion of recent Audi interiors, I've owned more recent Audis than most and I've never had experience any of the issues you are rising here, and not to sound bias I have owned two Beemers in the last five years as has my brother and neither of them gave any of these problems.

I personally prefer the styling of Audi interiors over either Merc or BMW but don't see any being head and shoulders better than the other. That said I do think the new A6/7/8 are of a standard above the A4/5 and I am sure once you have experienced them you will agree.

 

[Giannis]

I'm shocked at your opinion of recent Audi interiors, I've owned more recent Audis than most and I've never had experience any of the issues you are rising here, and not to sound bias I have owned two Beemers in the last five years as has my brother and neither of them gave any of these problems.

I personally prefer the styling of Audi interiors over either Merc or BMW but don't see any being head and shoulders better than the other. That said I do think the new A6/7/8 are of a standard above the A4/5 and I am sure once you have experienced them you will agree.

Hmm, interesting. Have you ever owned an A4 B8 or A5?

Because, no matter how good those plastics look, they are of terrible quality in comparison to the E9x and the W204 C.

Again, I talk about quality, fit and finish, not design.

 

[footie]

Hmm, interesting. Have you ever owned an A4 B8 or A5?

Because, no matter how good those plastics look, they are of terrible quality in comparison to the E9x and the W204 C.

Again, I talk about quality, fit and finish, not design.

I can't agree with you here, dash top and door capping are equally as good as each other but as I said before it's the areas where one generally doesn't touch that the quality drops. As for fit and finish I still reckon Audi are at the top of their game.

But we are all allowed to have differences of opinion are if you don't agree with that then no worries.

P.S.
Your first paragraph almost has the impression that you disbelieve I owned both of them. Actually I owned 2 S5 and 1 S4 and in between them was an M3 and an XF and now superseded with a Cayenne, so my experience is quite varied.

 

[Giannis]

I can't agree with you here, dash top and door capping are equally as good as each other but as I said before it's the areas where one generally doesn't touch that the quality drops. As for fit and finish I still reckon Audi are at the top of their game.

But we are all allowed to have differences of opinion are if you don't agree with that then no worries.

P.S.
Your first paragraph almost has the impression that you disbelieve I owned both of them. Actually I owned 2 S5 and 1 S4 and in between them was an M3 and an XF and now superseded with a Cayenne, so my experience is quite varied.

First of all, I don't know your car history, nor I know what to assume of it

Anyway, my problem with the B8 A4 and the A5 is not on the top of the dashboard or the doors. My problem is with the poor plastics of the central console. They are cheap, shiny, silver plastics, that sqeak when you push them. Also, in many little details (like the lights switch) Audi is left behind from the competition.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hmm, interesting. Have you ever owned an A4 B8 or A5?

Because, no matter how good those plastics look, they are of terrible quality in comparison to the E9x and the W204 C.

Again, I talk about quality, fit and finish, not design.

Giannis understands exactly what I'm talking about. I've owned both and A4 and A5 and my previous A3 leave them both for dead when it comes to the actualy quality of the materials and build solidity. The piece of plastic that covers the dash and transmission tunnel and is supposed to look like metal is a joke.

 

[footie]

First of all, I don't know your car history, nor I know what to assume of it

Anyway, my problem with the B8 A4 and the A5 is not on the top of the dashboard or the doors. My problem is with the poor plastics of the central console. They are cheap, shiny, silver plastics, that sqeak when you push them. Also, in many little details (like the lights switch) Audi is left behind from the competition.

Fair point about the centre console, fortunately all of mine had the Carbon Fibre trim which gave an air of luxury that isn't there on the standard trim. Though the squeaking is something I never experienced, in fact that part of any Audi I've owned has been first rate, as has the quality of the leather, it's nappa leather was more durable on both Audis than was the case with my M3 which scuffed badly within a few week of getting it. Probably my fault of being less careful getting in and out though I never had reason to even think about it before the M3 and since.

 

[Giannis]

Giannis understands exactly what I'm talking about. I've owned both and A4 and A5 and my previous A3 leave them both for dead when it comes to the actualy quality of the materials and build solidity. The piece of plastic that covers the dash and transmission tunnel and is supposed to look like metal is a joke.

Thank you Mr. Mercedes!

As far as the A3 is concerned, the fit and finish on this little thing is impressive. It leaves its competition (1er included) far behind in this sector. Its interior, from the base 1.4TFSI to the S3 is much better than anything else in its price range!

On more thing about the B8 A4 and A5. I don't know what the S4/S5 interior is, I haven't experienced it in person, but I have much exprience with both cars' basic interior. And compared to the B6 A4, it's many steps behind...

 

[martinbo]

Mr Mercedes and Giannis: it's what I've been feeling about new Audi interiors for the longest time now. The B7 is gone and with it that impression of impervious interior build quality.

My two biggest gripes with the new B8 interior: firstly, the dashboard feels hollow - sure it's covered in pretty, soft-feeling stuff but give it good, solid bang on top and it feels thin and insubstantial. The next thing's around the way Audi cram all of the controls on the centre console into 3 separate slot-in components - each with its own faceplate. This is a recipe for rattles.