LeadToRome

uh oh... is it gonna be NWM3Guy sometime soon? Tell me "no"!

no cell

I don't think so. Maybe SWM3Guy

Brandonb

Not the AWD version.

I test drove a BMW 335xi like 6 times over 2 years really wanting to like it. It seemed like the ideal replacement for my aging 2000 S4 - both turbo charged 6 cylinder AWD cars. I could never get excited about it.

Honestly, It felt to me like the steering and handling had been muted down. Wasn't what I've experienced with past generations of BMWs, including our X3 with the M sports package which is built on the previous generation 3 series.

The S4 with sports diff way out did the 335xi in handling, in my opinion.

No doubt, it's a different story with the 335is and 335i with sports package. But since they don't offer the sports suspension on the AWD version of the 335, it was a moot comparison to me. 335xi < S4 in every way, in my book.

NWS4Guy

No M3, sorry. I plan to keep the S4 for a while, and if I picked up anything else it would be in addition and not to replace. Likely a nice 996 TT.

For handling at the limits and control, the S4 is better than the 335xi, for the feedback and feel of the steering overall the 335 is better IMO.

Zed 2.0

I have to agree with this, especially on the feedback. The 335 can be incredibly irritating with it's lack of a LSD, but the steering feel is spot-on. The S4's steering feel is better than the A4, but still feels too artificial and too light. Audi got the current gen of dynamic steering wrong, IMO.

Gear Junky

335iS vs S4

Two different cars as one is a coupe and the other a 4 dr saloon, so your probably more interested in performance at a price. So let's break down the different elements and see which is better.

Engine: inline6 with turbo vs v6 with supercharger

Well to start with regardless as to what you might hear it's actually the Audi engine which feels the more buttery smooth with a more linear power delivery, it's also the one which when pushed is the more vocal and musical, sounding quite similar to that of a Porsche boxer engine. As for the actual peak power available out of either I think things are too close to call it.

Transmissions: both Dual Clutch

Yes this is true but again there are differences and again it's the Audi which feels the more polished in it's shift.

Rear axle: open diff vs Sportdiff

The BMW does without a proper LSD which is a mistake in my opinion, where as the Audi's sportdiff helps it tighten it's line the 335iS doesn't have this luxury.

Steering feel:

I give this one to the BMW, they produce a slightly better feel though it's not the huge difference of past models.

Handling and traction: RWD vs AWD

The BMW will be more playful but it's open diff and only rwd will mean it can't get the power down as quickly as the Audi can, less of an issue on the track where you can use all of the road but on the road it will be the Audi that will satisfy more of the time.

I could go on about interior quality, shut lines, fit and finish but you've had an Audi and already know that these are areas no BMW can match.

jcocktail

After 10 minutes behind the wheel of a White S4 I knew I had to have it. All thoughts of the BMW quickly went away.
The acceleration of the S4, Supercharged V-6, is much smoother and more controlled than the Beamer. The 335is reminded by of my old TT, lots of Turbo lag and than a big kick.
The handling of the BMW is great and the steering feel is amazing but it comes with a much less compliant ride. The Audi torque vectoring, once I got the hang of accelerating through a corner, was just magical.

So thank you all for your thoughts.
Audi wins again...

rktskicar

I had also looked at, driven the 335xi, nice machine. I would have just put aftermarket sport suspension on it though to spruce it up. For me I need AWD, so 335i, 335is, M3 are off the table. Since I have an S4, I still decided to run this way. The BMWs are fine machines though. No lose scenerio.

Bruce



Bruce

bimmers2

may i ask which city are you in? here in south oc/ca i can only see 4 to 7 of the 3s a few times in intersections. s4s are still rare.

Gear Junky

Glad to here you felt the same was. It's only the start of the amazement because the longer you live with the S4 the more amazed you will become, especially the DSG box, in comparison the one on the BMW feels dim-witted and never fully sure as to which gear you need to be in, with the Audi it almost has a sixth sense with none of the lag that the M3 M-DCT were most famous for. Another thing, got talking to a tuner who also specialises in Dual Clutch transmission and according to him the DSG can just about cope with anything thrown at it, he has some examples running with over 500hp and 550ft/lbs of torque with no need for a difference clutch plate, the gearbox software adjusts itself for the increase in output from the engine by increasing the pressure of the clutch, amazing. And the engine, well quite a bit can be had from this unit without the need to touch it's internals and up to 430hp it remains the buttery smooth engine with a linear delivery of the stock motor. Audi really do know how to engineer their engines.

On that note, he says that they are only scratching at the surface of the potential of the 2.5TFSI engine, this thing is a work of art (he's words).