Maestro

What are your thoughts? The Audi is not only cheaper to purchase, but their current special lease offers are amazing. How are the vehicles, overall, for comparison purposes? Thanks.

Jon200

it depends which one you are after. Me and my friend test drove an 2.0T Quattro Manual about 3 weeks ago. We had the car for like 10 minutes.

Interior quality is excellent, power delivery is very smooth with strong torque at 3rd gear (upgrading from 1.8L to 2L was very smart). I am not sure if I like the front grill though :p

Very nice car overall. A very tough choice between that and the 230K SS IMO

this is all I can tell u as we only had the car for 10 min and we were stuck in traffic most of that time

Maestro

I'm looking at the 2.0T with CVT, Premium, and Sport Packages. No manual.

r3v1ls

Front wheel drive is bleh unless u opt for the quattro, but that's also more $$$.

blkc230k

if you like modding cars, audi is a better choice. audi has always been an easy-tune tuner car...
the new 2.0T w/ chip will easy get up to 250hp, from what i remember the 2.0T has 200hp stock.

if you are more mature, want the name of BENZ, and just want a cruiser that is quick enough for stop and go traffic. c230k ss is for you.
both are great vheicles

Axxis22

Audi fan alll my life.. Had 2 audis already. new b7 2.0's are over priced. I didnt find a good deal for it when I was shopping not to long ago.. ended up with a 05 c230

www.audizine.com

FrankW

tough tough tough choice..............................I guess I'll take the 2.0T if it's a quattro. The Audi turbo 4 has more appeal to me than the MB s/c 4 because my commuter car is a Beetle 1.8T going and back from school.

Buellwinkle

I like the Audi but the new grille leaves me cold. Actually when I compared the prices last year when I got my C230, the Audi was considerably more expensive. For one, the Audi does not come with leather standard like the C230 and MB discounts way more than Audi and last year, not counting my $1,500 coupon, I got $5,500 off on the MB and Audi would only do about $2K off. The Audi can be a cheaper only if you can get comparable discounts and a vinyl interior is OK with you. Or get the A3, that's definately cheaper.

Jim Banville

I was building an A4 2.0 quattro manual and was only given the choice of leather of CLOTH!!!!
What are the lease "deals"? $3500 down?!

GDawgC220

Tough choice...both are great cars!

They did however, raise the price of the A4 2.0T a little bit. It's a great car IMO, the grille may take getting use to (some either hate it or love it). They made a smart move with upgrading the motor to 2.0 FSI. 200HP and 207TQ, versus 170HP and 166TQ from the 1.8T motor. The interior is top-notch materials, fit and finish. And the reliability is back up (not like the late 90's early 00's) like MB.

The MB is also a good choice...the 1.8 supercharged is a good engine though they're ridding it soon for a NA V6 putting out about the same as the 2.0T. The exterior body kit makes it look sweet. Audi has the S-Line package which is a body kit, trunk lip, rims, etc. I think Audi has MB beat in the interior dept but exterior styling is a different story. Both are rock solid cars that are fun to drive

Both are great cars! can't go wrong with either one. Good luck

Iceman's C230

Both are great cars. For Mods go with the Audi. Before i bought my c230 i test drove the Audi and was very pleased with it. But ended up with the 2.3L engine of the MB. To me the C230 was more fun to drive with that huge panaroma sunroof.

GDawgC220

definitely agree with the mods portion, hehe

chipping a turbo will give you a nice output push. There are a few chip tuners working on a program for the 2.0T while the 1.8T has a lot of different software out there. An example, the 1.8T is a very durable engine even when modded. I just recently got my ECU flashed with a performance program. Stock is 170hp and 166TQ, flashing it increases it to ~200-205HP and ~215-220TQ and the gains are definitely noticible! A person has recently chipped their 2.0T with a beta program, initial output shows ~250hp but not sure on the torque.

lewisliaw

I've owned a 1999 A4 Avant with 1.8/5spd manual
2001 A6 2.7t / 6 spd manual

I love Audi's Interior and exterior design seemed more unique. The A4 was in my opinion way better than the W202 as a sport sedan but less as a cruiser and luxury car. I did not mod that car but the potential is probably the greatest of any European cars with tons of available parts which would be available for the lastest A4 with 2.0 as well. The engine is way smoother than its 4 cylinder competitors and less jerky and my current C230 SS

The 2.7 I own outright was pretty heavily modded with ecu, exhaust, downpipe as well as suspension upgrade and 18s. I have to say the A6 (non sport) was not a sporty car to begin with, but it responded so well to mod that it was a complete different car at the end with amazing smooth power and tenacious awd grip. I love that car but is worry about warranty expiring after 50k. It was no BMW in the agility area but the interior was classic and beautiful and were love the looks on 545 or E500 owners face when then could barely keep up was fun. I think I was pushing 350 hp and 390lb of torque easily. The boost kicks in at a low low 2000 rpm and remain strong til 5000rpm. The push was simply intoxicating.

I test drove the 2.0 A4 briefly and was pretty impressed but its power compared to the C230ss but suspension needs some work. Someone pointed out that if you plan to mod, 2.0 A4 is by far better than any other Eurppeans to by. I took over the C230ss from my wife because I bought a new van and the C230ss was the newest vehicle at the time so I have to keep that and the leased RX8.
However, if I am in the market now to spend around 35k, i'll definitely without any doubt get the 325i with just sport package and bixenon. The 05 C230ss and 06 C230 V6 might be a better value and in some people's opinion looks better but trails in both power and ride/handling by a large margin and comes with free maintainance. The Benz does have a classier look and that solid feel and excellent freeway cruiser but its design is also the oldest.

For some damn reason I've always wanted BMW but always ended up with something else because of value. Wanted the 325 but A4 was way cheaper and more mod ready
wanted the 530 but was more than 2.7 by $5k and was slower and less roomy
got C230 from my wife because she would only buy MB because she likes the design(yeah right, I think it the star on the hood that got her), I wanted to buy her the 325 or the TL or the G35.
I was almost closing a deal on a barely used 330i with 6pd until I saw this killer deal on the RX8

So until now, I've never own a BMW
Truely, I think for the first time in a long time that a BMW actually presents a better value than its competitors. I'd go with 325i and not the 330i, both with the same displacement of 3.0 but 330i is more powerful up top; for everyday driving under 5000rpm, i doubt anyone would notice the difference; btw, 325i recently did a 6.1 sec from 0-60mph in recent car and driver test and that would its German competitors.

p.s. I also test drove the Lexux IS350, while impressive on paper and speedometer pick up speed like crazy it never really stir my emotions. The cabin is as cramp as it can be but it comfortable once in there. What's the point of having that much power without feeling it...

I should shut up now.... because I am going off track on the topic

blk900t

I agree completely. The BMW is a good value in 325i form w/o losing any the 330 attributes really. I think giving you the free upgraded stereo and bixenons on the 330i is just a way to want you to pay more by moving up.

When I drove the e90 3 with sport pkg and manual I was literally giddy after the test drive. Going 90 mph in a 40mph curve on the freeway; by salesman's advice, was amazing to say the least.

I think I would want to load up my cars pretty much with manuals and that would leave 5-6 cost difference btw the benz and bmw.

The other cars worth considering that I like IMO are the SAAB 93, Volvo s40, A4, 3'er. Benz def being a good/better value. If you really want AWD get a Subaru Forester or product for the winters etc and a Benz for luxo sporty. I have an XT turbo Subie and that thing is light on its feet, very fast and reliable as all get up, and safe. Even named him...

LorinserCClass

Ex-owner of the 3.0CVT on the A4 cab and current owner of the 3.2 A6 engine and I also have owned the 6 cylinder C Class engine and the E320 engine. I can say that as far as value the Audi wins hands down. They come pretty much more loaded than both my MB's ever did and I always got at LEAST 7k or so off sticker. Lease Money factors are also superb. The only thing I don't like about Audi's is the fact that they don't feel as 'heavy' as a MB. I was pleasantly happy w/all the aftermarket support though!

Outland

Who keeps digging up these dead threads?

blkc230k

200hp is like the bare minimum benchmark for new cars now days...
S40 - 215hp,
325i - 225hp
Audi A4(expensive version of jetta - 200hp
Acura TSX -205hp
Cadillac CTS - 210hp
Mazda 6 s - 215hp
Lexus IS 250 - 204hp
Saab 9-3 -210hp
even non-luxery cars
Dodge stratus rt - 200hp
Nissa Altima SE - 250hp
Toyota Camra V6 - 210hp
Jetta GLI - 200hp
Civic Si - 197hp

C230 is really nothing special...not fast or anything....
lets see by 2010, if the benchmark will be 300hp