Audi vs. BMW (Handling)

[AlcatrazT2]

God I hate BMW...
So I've had an argument with my friend (owns a 3-Series)...and I don't want to act stubborn, so I wan't some feedback from you guys to see if I'm actually right or not...

I say...Audi handling overall (including Quattro) outperforms BMW engineering...what you guys have to say about this...

any interesting proof you gusy got?

thanks lol
-george

[bbaudi382]

stock for stock bmw in my opinion.

but i think quattro with heavy suspension mods will take a bmw with heavy suspension mods.

the only proof i got is that the bmws have ALOT better weight distribution than our audis. and weigh less as well.

[German Driver]

yea stock vs stock bmw is pretty amazing setup. id lean towards bavarian in this case. i gather my opinion having driven both a4 sport and 330ci zhp

if we are talking about wet roads... then we can rethink this

[josesantiago57]

yea definately bmw, they have amazing weight distribution
but then again.. alot of people underestimate the power of quattro..

[NewDolphinGray]

Someone posted a video a while back which had a British television show that compared a B6 S4 and a BMW M3. There was a time trial on a twisty track and the Audi performed better than the BMW due to Quattro. The BMW beat it in the straight away but fell short with handling.

[Vortec4800]

That was Top Gear. Their times are skewed, there were some very strange cars with strange times - like I think S4 also beat a Porsche Turbo. The S4 is good, but a Porsche Turbo? I don't think so. I love my Audi, but BMW's handling is king. That's not to say that the Audi's do not hold their own, they are very good handlers themselves. If you want a sporty luxury car then Audi is for you, if you want a track car with some luxury involved, then your friendly BMW dealer is the place for you.

[A4 - Oh Snap]

I can't imagine handling that tops Quattro in the dry and especially in the wet. I think you guys are giving the Bimmer too much credit.

[[]D[][]V[][]D]

^^^me too. audis the shit--bmw aint got nothin

[Vortec4800]

Quattro is nice, but sorry, it's pretty undisputable that BMW is the king of handling. It's hard to beat RWD when it comes to something like that, even with AWD. Blasphemy I know, but the truth.

[Canes6]

I am the one that posted the Top Gear clip and can tell you that stock vs. stock, BMW is better...YET, on the clip, the S$ outmanuvered the M3.

Top Gear never places their top times ahead of the 911 Turbo.

[bigshrimpin]

Originally posted by []D[][]V[][]D
^^^me too. audis the shit--bmw aint got nothin

do you have a brain?

[1/4 scale]

Unfortunately, BMW steering feel and handling (at least with my 95 M3) beats our 2002 A4 hands down. The BMW is so telegraphic that it's hard to compare. I love the way the E36 chasis is set up, it is so sweet. It doesn't mean that I don't love the Audi (for other reasons) as well.

[Vortec4800]

Originally posted by Top Gear Website
1st Ferrari F60 Enzo - 1.19.0

2nd Ariel Atom - 1.19.5

3rd Porsche Carerra GT - 1.19.8

4th Mercedes McLaren SLR - 1.20.9

5th Ford GT - 1.21.9

Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3

Porsche GT3 RS - 1.22.3

Murcielago - 1.23.7

Zonda - 1.23.8

Koenigsegg - 1.23.9

Noble - 1.25.0

Gallardo - 1.25.8

Lotus Exige - 1.26.4

Chevrolet Corvette - 1.26.8

Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2

TVR 350C - 1.27.5

BMW M3 CSL - 1.28.0

Dodge Viper SRT-10 - 1.28.5

MG SV - 1.28.6

Porsche 911 Carrera S - 1.28.9 (very wet)

Mitsubishi Evo VIII - 1.28.9

BMW Alpine Z8 - 1.29.0

Mercedes CL65 - 1.29

Alfa 3.7 GTA - 1.30.0

Subaru Impreza STI - 1.30.1

Aston Martin DB7 GT - 1.30.4

Those are all the cars just above the 911 turbo, which is 1.31.0. Some of those are hard to believe, and there are some even further down that should be up there. Quattro is nice, but an S4 beating a turbo AWD Porsche, or many of those other cars? Even in the rain, good luck with that.

[AlcatrazT2]

Originally posted by A4 - Oh Snap
I can't imagine handling that tops Quattro in the dry and especially in the wet. I think you guys are giving the Bimmer too much credit.

agreed...lol

[Crazy Quattro]

Originally posted by bbaudi382
stock for stock bmw in my opinion.

but i think quattro with heavy suspension mods will take a bmw with heavy suspension mods.

the only proof i got is that the bmws have ALOT better weight distribution than our audis. and weigh less as well.

I agree after owning both.

[b6usp]

I drivin a couple 330's and I think the A4 w/ sport pkg drives and handles better. Now if you compare the M3 with the A4 w/sport pkg I would give the nod to the M3 hands down. A standard 3 series is no M3 and we shouldn't overlook that. I agree BMW is sometimes given too much credit.

[stealth]

Well my last car was a 330xi (awd) and handling was good out of the box. With some H&R co’s handling improved more than 70% over stock. I think the BMW's based on their weight they tend to handling pretty well. I think out of the box with no mods the 3series would have a bit of advantage over a stock A4. There is still a bit of body roll with the A4's and this might be just because of the weight issue. Now the M3 is in a league of its own compared to our car running on stock suspension.

[AlcatrazT2]

sweet stuff guys, thanks for all of your input. great help!

[DolphinV8]

BMW!
I had a 325Xi before I bought the s4.

[A4 - Oh Snap]

So given that 99% of you give the BMW the nod in handling, would you trade your A4 or S4 for a BMW equivalent?

[Vortec4800]

Originally posted by A4 - Oh Snap
So given that 99% of you give the BMW the nod in handling, would you trade your A4 or S4 for a BMW equivalent?

No, I bought the A4 and test drove the 3 series as well. I bought the A4 for other reasons - even though it wasn't as fast or didn't handle as well (especially me being FWD). The only reason I would trade my A4 is if I could get into a 330Ci ZHP or an E46 M3 with a warranty, but those were much higher in price than my A4. The 325i was nice, but I thought the A4 was nicer for the money. I actually wasn't even going to go to the Audi dealership but I had some extra time to kill and it was right next to the BMW dealer, and I ended up falling in love with the A4.

Although I am pretty much always jealous of my roommate's 95 Dakar M3, that thing straight up mocks my car. Makes me sick. No warranty though, which is a main reason I got my car - ironic because by the time I'm done with it there will be no shred of a warranty left!

[Tinman]

bmws definitely. I love my audi, but stock, bmw beats out audi.

L8

[bionic]

BMW has awesome weight distribution... their cars are very well balanced.

[Crazy Quattro]

Originally posted by A4 - Oh Snap
So given that 99% of you give the BMW the nod in handling, would you trade your A4 or S4 for a BMW equivalent?

Got my A4 fully loaded for 31k, i dont even think you can get close to that with the 325 with the same options. Plus i knew i would mod which is why i rather have the 1.8t

I would def go for the 330 again but didnt want to drop 40k for it.

[phatAvant]

Originally posted by Crazy Quattro
I agree after owning both.

So do I "crazy bimmer"

steve {phatbimma}

[DolphinV8]

Originally posted by A4 - Oh Snap
So given that 99% of you give the BMW the nod in handling, would you trade your A4 or S4 for a BMW equivalent?

It really depends on what you are looking for.

Would you trade your a4 in for a 3-series when you need a car with more trunk space & amenities?

[EB650]

WOW! This is a discussion that could go on forever being that they are both such great automobiles! I come from a long line of 3 series to 528's to M5's and now a 745 and every one has been amazing(family cars). However, the A4 is a more affordable, all wheel drive sedan that has both a world class interior and handling. Also, at least in the bay area, almost every 3 series is driven by some trust fund female teenager and that is a group that i do not want to be part of. God bless Audi

[kwan]

Originally posted by EB650
WOW! This is a discussion that could go on forever being that they are both such great automobiles! I come from a long line of 3 series to 528's to M5's and now a 745 and every one has been amazing(family cars). However, the A4 is a more affordable, all wheel drive sedan that has both a world class interior and handling. Also, at least in the bay area, almost every 3 series is driven by some trust fund female teenager and that is a group that i do not want to be part of. God bless Audi

I feel you on this. Having driven a 525i and a 740il, it just feels like BMW is more agile. Maybe it's due to how well BMW translates road feel to steering and vice versa.

[Vortec4800]

Originally posted by EB650
blah blah blah blah M5's blah blah blah blah blah

That's all I saw...

[lcapoun]

I own both... my audi seems much lighter than my 3 series... both 02'..... I choose the BMW... sorry... but I know with mods... audi will do great... I just like the weight on the corners of the bmw... I actually feel it. STOCK WISE

[kgny1]

i have owned both.
the bmw DOES handle better, BUT, does the DRIVER know how to handle his bmw ? most of the time, NO
in my opinion , 2 avg drivers in a 330bmw, and a 3.0 a4 quattro, the audi guy will prob push the audi more because of the confidence that the quattro gives you...

[fongaroos]

Originally posted by Crazy Quattro
Got my A4 fully loaded for 31k, i dont even think you can get close to that with the 325 with the same options. Plus i knew i would mod which is why i rather have the 1.8t

I would def go for the 330 again but didnt want to drop 40k for it.

yah i was lookin at the 3 series too but its just SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE!

i dont consider audis and BMWs on the same level AT ALL! in terms of what you get and what you pay for i think audi is a DEFINITE STEP DOWN from BMW.

[bbaudi382]

i dont know eric. i've had alot of time in my friends manual bmw 325. in terms of handling and driving sure i'll give the BMW the edge, but ill give my interior, comfort, overall design(minus the cupholders) to the audi. to me an audi is a MUCH better car for the "luxury sport compact" than the bmw. for a track car the 325 might take it, but just adding a chip to the audi makes my car faster in a straight line BY FAR.

[diztek]

they are both great handling cars. they both understeer. taking the bmw to its limits involves more skill. An a4 1.8t has great weight distribution, and so does the bmw. the true test would be to get both cars to weigh the same. AWD does have its advantages. I've never seen a street legal car handle better than AWD rally cars. I still believe most of it is in the hands of the driver. Back in the day, when most rally cars where not AWD, a girl was driving an AWD audi and won. First time ever that a female driver won a WRC race.

[diztek]

everyone who thinks that BMW is better, would you say the same thing about an RS6 and the M5?

[fongaroos]

Originally posted by bbaudi382
i've had alot of time in my friends manual bmw 325.

heheheh in her backseat? freakin alex... STOP HOARDING ALL THOSE CUTE, RICH SC GIRLS!!!

[bhvrdr]

In stock formation, I have found the BMW to have absolute magical handling. The ride was always pleasant enough that even my father never complained and triple digit speeds were a non event. I still think of my old BMW with respect and admiration.

IMO, the Audi is another beast. In stock formation it is not as precise as the BMW, but it loves to be b1tchslapped around the track. That is where it shines. You can jump on the throttle much sooner. Heck, you can even forget to jump OFF the throttle and it tends to respond with obedience.

The nice thing about the Audi is that for a reasonable amount of money you can upgrade the suspension to get the precision of the BMW, but you still retain the all out limits the Quattro system affords. There is no adding Quattro to the performance BMW (let's not talk about the xi).

cheers! Mike

[Crazy Quattro]

Originally posted by fongaroos
yah i was lookin at the 3 series too but its just SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE!

i dont consider audis and BMWs on the same level AT ALL! in terms of what you get and what you pay for i think audi is a DEFINITE STEP DOWN from BMW.

I wouldnt go that far. I dont think a 325 is above me at all, its just pricey for what you get. Its close to 36k with most options. Plus not as easy to mod, which was a selling point for me withthe A4. Even though after owning the A4, i realized its not THAT easy to mod

[Vortec4800]

Originally posted by diztek
everyone who thinks that BMW is better, would you say the same thing about an RS6 and the M5?

Well the E39 M5 isn't meant to be quite as much as a track car as say the M3, and I don't know enough about the RS6's handling characteristics to say on that one. I would probably give the edge to the RS6 there, but that's just a guess. I'm willing to bet an M3 could take the RS6 on the track.

[diztek]

i think BMW uses a v8 in the m3 they race for SCCA. RS6 won that series.