Hello all. For a few months, I've been trying to decide the pros and cons of the prospective next cars I will be purchasing. Currently, I have a 1999 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6, with 210,000 miles (purchased it with 29,000 miles in 2003), and the car is simply to the point of being worn out. The engine is still going strong, but there are lots of little things that are wearing out (particularly electronic components). Thus, I will be putting the Passat out to pasture and purchasing another car within six months to a year.
Though I've enjoyed owning the Passat, I've had a love/hate relationship with it. I know I shouldn't complain too loudly, since I have squeezed 181,000 of my own miles on it, I've often been irritated at the little things that have gone wrong with it. Lots of electronic issues, lots of plastic pieces that break, and other little gremlins that seemed to plague Volkswagen products of that era. Because of that, I swore I'd never own another VW/Audi product. Yet I've always loved the Audi A4s and have heard mixed reviews on their reliablity of late.
So my question is this. Based on opinions of current owners, which would be the better buy? A 2006/2007 Audi A4 or a 2006/2007 BMW 328i, each with around 40,000 miles on the clock (and priced similarly)? I realize that each car has its own strength and weakness, and I would appreciate any honest owner feedback for each.
However, I'm particularly interested in each vehicle's build quality, expected reliablity, and long term ownership expectations. Keep in mind that I'm the kind of person who tends to buy vehicles and drive them until they're worn out, so I'm interested in which vehicle would be the better buy for the long haul.
Any feedback or comments from current owners would be very much appreciated!
Though I've enjoyed owning the Passat, I've had a love/hate relationship with it. I know I shouldn't complain too loudly, since I have squeezed 181,000 of my own miles on it, I've often been irritated at the little things that have gone wrong with it. Lots of electronic issues, lots of plastic pieces that break, and other little gremlins that seemed to plague Volkswagen products of that era. Because of that, I swore I'd never own another VW/Audi product. Yet I've always loved the Audi A4s and have heard mixed reviews on their reliablity of late.
So my question is this. Based on opinions of current owners, which would be the better buy? A 2006/2007 Audi A4 or a 2006/2007 BMW 328i, each with around 40,000 miles on the clock (and priced similarly)? I realize that each car has its own strength and weakness, and I would appreciate any honest owner feedback for each.
However, I'm particularly interested in each vehicle's build quality, expected reliablity, and long term ownership expectations. Keep in mind that I'm the kind of person who tends to buy vehicles and drive them until they're worn out, so I'm interested in which vehicle would be the better buy for the long haul.
Any feedback or comments from current owners would be very much appreciated!
