CEAnderson

A woman who works for me drove her husband's 2000 BMW 323i manual to work today. I said to her that I'll let you drive mine, if you let me drive yours (no puns intended)!

Is this a nice car -- yes! Did I like it as much as my 2001 1.8TQMS -- no! She actually preferred the Audi feel also. She said it was a sportier ride and definitely felt like it had better power especially on take off.

This was fun since I never drove, but contemplated, a BMW before purchasing the Audi. Once I test drove the Audi, I knew right then that it was the car for me. So this just soldified my choice as being the right one yet also gave me a chance to drive another real nice German auto.

cesc

Good for you. I also drove the new 3 series and I came back thanking my self that I had chosen the A4. I found the Audi more composed and fun to drive as it was suited to my style.

The old shape 3 series was very good though. The new one is too safe and refined for its own damn good.<ul><li><a href="http://audizone.co.uk/registry/registry_main.htm">Got an Audi? Register it here!</a></li></ul>

Audimobile

Same here, I planned on test driving both the Audi and BMW, but after driving the Audi first, I didn't look any farther. In my heart I wanted the Audi anyways, but my brain was telling me to test both before making the final decision. I pretty much ignored the brain and bought the car immediatly after the test drive! Had it for two months now, and still wake up excited thinking about my drive to work! Your story helps put my "brain" at ease.

Mooney

Nice, I would have test driven one, but even the 323 was way more than I had.

Rodney

I liked it a lot, but I felt the A4 beat it in too many areas too soundly whereas the areas that it bested the are it only did so marginally. It came in a close second to my A4, I expect that the 01 A4 widens that gap.

GTLee

But I just got a 01.5 A4 2.8QM instead of a 330i. Why the hearsey? 1. Availability - I drove the A4 off the lot with what I wanted on it; the BMW would have been 6-10 weeks. 2. Price - although the list price was close, the lease was much cheaper on the A4. 3. Interior - the Audi interior had better fit and finish and better quality materials. 4. Everybody and his bro has a 3 series. I like something a little different. 5. When I drove the A4, everything seemed to just fall to hand very easily - I guess better ergonomics. 6. Quattro.

I'm happy!

DrBimmer

<center><img src="http://e46bimmer.home.att.net/Photo010.jpg"></center><p>well it isn't as easy as I thought! lol

The 323i is a great car. Nothing beats the sound of a straight six BMW engine revving out on an open road. I have put on 15.6K trouble free miles on mine and it is great.

As for Audi? Well, I love the A4. Why did I choose a BMW? First of all, the back seat is much larger (very, very important if you actually need to put real people back there) and of course it was a 6 cylinder (I personally want to stay away from turbo/superchargers) Also I have previously owned BMWs and Audis.. so I don't have a propensity to go toward either brand. This time BMW won by a small margin. Will Audi win next time? Who knows!

BTW- my neighbor has a 98 1.8T that he just chipped this week, next week he is lowering it and after the winter he is putting back on his 17s.. it is a very nice car. Of course, he happened to show up today with a new Ebony pearl A6 2.7T so I don't know which one I like more (the 2.7T does give one hell of a ride!)

Anyway, its nice to see that we can all get along and agree that the Germans design and build amazing cars.<ul><li><a href="http://http;//e46bimmer.home.att.net">DrBimmer's BMW Gallery (not that good... but it gets my pictures put there!)</a></li></ul>