2017 Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series

viperirl

Hi all,

I'm currently driving a 3 series 318D A/T F30 and while I mostly enjoy the car, I'm looking at planning an upgrade in the coming 6 months.

On paper, I've more or less narrowed it down to either an Audi A5 or BMW 420i. I havent driven either of them yet and will hopefully plan a test drive in the coming months. The weekly commute consists of a daily return journey half the length of the M50 so mostly motorway driving. The weekly run is ~375km. I'm not so keen on going Diesel again and would like something a bit more refined assuming I'm not going to get shafted with petrol costs.

Has anyone here driven both of these cars and is there anything to watch out for? Alternatives to consider? I drove the Lexus IS300H and while its an extremely comfortable place to sit in, I found the CVT box a bit annoying. The cabin layout is a bit odd too so I've more or less ruled this one out....maybe.

A few things that are important to me
1. Brakes. This is one area of my 318D that I do not like. I find the brakes too soft and too much pressure required on the pedal if I need to brake hard. The brakes on my wives newish Yaris are very sharp in comparison and I'd much prefer them this way. I had them checked out and they are working normally.
2. Warranty. I realise that the reliability of these cars arent always great which is why I'd only buy one newish or a demo model with at least a 2 year warranty. I'd plan on keeping the car for about ~3-4 years.
3. Comfort. The occasional long trip from Dublin down to west Cork so for those long trips something that is quiet-ish and a good cruiser would be great.
4. Looks. The Audi A5 is the only Audi I like from an exterior point of view, I'd prefer the 4 series in that sense, however from pictures the A5's interior seems light years ahead of the 4 series. Any idea when a new 4 series is due, if at all?

Are there any other important considerations I've left out? Thanks.

Cheers.

bazz26

The 4 Series will be very similar to your current 3 Series especially the interior as the 4 Series is basically a coupe version of the 3 Series. 3/4 Series interior is it's biggest letdown, it feels very dated imo and the quality of materials used would be no match for the A5.

The A5 is also a newer design so feels more modern, however if you like the drive and handling of your 3 Series then you might be disappointed with the A5. The 4 Series got a mid life facelift earlier this year but you would be hard pressed to tell the difference, I wouldn't expect to see an all new 4 Series for another 2 years at minimum. So it really depends on where your priorities are - the A5 will feel more upmarket and more modern but the 4 Series would be sharper to drive. Best thing to do is test drive both extensively.

Regarding brakes on your 3 Series, I've had a few BMWs and never found their brakes lacking so it maybe something to do with your particular car rather than the brand as a whole. What condition are the pads and discs in, when was the last time they were changed?

viperirl

bazz26 wrote: »

Regarding brakes on your 3 Series, I've had a few BMWs and never found their brakes lacking so it maybe something to do with your particular car rather than the brand as a whole. What condition are the pads and discs in, when was the last time they were changed?

I've only had the car since last Nov, it was a 162 demo model when bought, yes I know its a bit soon to be considering a change already but sure you only live once etc. The brake pads were never changed as far as I know. 24k on the clock. 1st service is due in Nov so I'll get them looked at.

A work colleague here at lunch suggested I throw the C-Class Coupe into the ring too. Never thought of that to be honest and depending on spec it seems to largely fall into the same price bracket. From pictures, the C-class interior seems more plush and luxurious whereas the Audi is more modern and hi-tech.

Nuw

The C-Class is definitely worth a look. But as always, it's the kind of things only you can decide after you gave each a good drive. We're in a territory in which there is no clear winner and each will have a favorite among the three depending on where his/her priorities lie (handling, interior, gadgets...). 
A bit different but a Lexus IS300h might be worth a look as well.

bazz26

The RC300h would be the Lexus equivalent to the A5/4 Series/C Class coupes.

mel123

Nuw wrote: »

The C-Class is definitely worth a look. But as always, it's the kind of things only you can decide after you gave each a good drive. We're in a territory in which there is no clear winner and each will have a favorite among the three depending on where his/her priorities lie (handling, interior, gadgets...). 
A bit different but a Lexus IS300h might be worth a look as well.

Ive an A5 (i love it) and drove a C class at the weekend, and would definitely consider this next time round. Completely different drive, the steering was so light in comparison i couldnt believe it

viperirl

bazz26 wrote: »

The RC300h would be the Lexus equivalent to the A5/4 Series/C Class coupes.

I saw a new one up close in Malahide yesterday evening. F-sport model. Not too sure about the design but it certainly stands out more than its German counterparts. Still though, it has that same CVT gearbox which I didnt like when I drove the IS300h. One thing about that Lexus is the seats. Probably the most comfortable ones I've ever sat in a car.

mel123 wrote: »

Ive an A5 (i love it) and drove a C class at the weekend, and would definitely consider this next time round. Completely different drive, the steering was so light in comparison i couldnt believe it

Is it the new A5 launched this year? I'll add the c-class to the list. How different did you find them?