Former 5er guy now with Audi comparison

Before I begin I want to start by saying how great the people on this forum are. No disrespect at all intended, thank you all for your input and advice!

At the end of my fellowship at Yale I started to look for a new car. It would be my first real nice car. Previously I drove SAABs because of my connection with GM discounts. In retrospect SAABs were really fantastic and I was so lucky to drive such nice cars during residency.

I originally was looking at an E92 sport with manual. My girlfriend at the time, now my wife, convincent me that I should go for a 5 series because I was a big guy (6'4''). Best decision I ever made. Did a ED with the perfect E60, sport, manual, hifi, nasca leather, ventilated seats, etc. Loved that car. But....Had to turn it in after 2 years. Wish I did a 3 year on that baby!

So I did another ED, moved to the midwest and took advantage of the great deals on E93 M3 vert. Beautiful car, white with full fox red. but so impractical for me at the time. Swap a leased it after 9 months. After that ordered a 2011 F10 550x msport. WORST CAR EVER. Drove like a pig. hated it. even my wife would say, its so luxuries, but not sporty at all. The supposed comfort seats were a huge step back from the E60, so disappointed in fellow festers telling people how good the seats are on the new F10.

So, finally I got rid of that car after a year.

Took a trip to the dark side. Bought, not leased, a A7. Phantom black, Prestige, 20' Sport, Bang and Olufsen, and Technology (cruise, night vision, HUD, etc)

Wow! what a car. feels just as fast as the 550 but handles WAAAAAAAY better. No boat like feeling. Love the dynamic cruise. Best option on the car besides the Band and Olufsen which sound incredible.

Now the driving part. The Audi schools the F10 left and right, up and down. No question. It feels 90% of the E60. All of the audi setting feel great. The best part....If you like sport, the car stays in sport when you start in up. All settings remain, including seat and wheel heaters. Why can't bmw do that?

Now there is the emotional part. My wife nailed if perfectly, the car is perfect...but its not a BMW. Its underlying parts still feel weak, like its a volkswagon. I can't wait for BmW to fix its problems (steering, handling, seating) and I want to come back. Please fix this on the LCI. SEATS EXCPECIALY. we need the side bolsters back. Those that praise the crap F10 comfort seats have no idea how goood seats can be.

Keep Bimmering my Friends,
MR

Agree with you on the side bolsters..I really miss them on my F10.

Yes. I agree that the F10 is a lousy car to drive. Looks great, but sucks big time in terms of driving pleasure. Truly disappointed .

Our family owns both BMW and an Audi a6 2013...
Just two points new BMW 5 series is NOT a great looking in my families and it drives more like a Lexus then a BMW... I drive 335 vert and I can't say that I like how A6 drives but its a far cry from a new 5 series...

For people looking for good BMW sedan either buy Audi or 3 or 6 series BMW .

My point is that BMW still makes great looking cars that are pleasure to drive in any condition, but it's not a 5 series... 3 series yes, 6 serious, yeah baby !

OK, so here we go again. Haven't seen this type of 5-bashing for a while now. You made a choice, be happy with it. Now we're going to get the diatribes again about how "bad" the F10 is? Personally, I think the A7 is an ugly car. Haven't driven it, I'll believe it might handle better. I see several A7's in my workplace garage, can't get past the drooping butt look. What exactly is the purpose of your thread?

Originally Posted by markl53

OK, so here we go again. Haven't seen this type of 5-bashing for a while now. You made a choice, be happy with it. Now we're going to get the diatribes again about how "bad" the F10 is? Personally, I think the A7 is an ugly car. Haven't driven it, I'll believe it might handle better. I see several A7's in my workplace garage, can't get past the drooping butt look. What exactly is the purpose of your thread?

Maybe to rightfully give his opinion on how the F10 has been softened up, compared to other German sport sedans, since he used to own one.

I feel the same way. My 2011 DHP equipped 535 is pretty boaty, loosey goosey feeling. It feels like it is never comfortable, never tracking straight. The suspension feels like it is never settled down.

Personally, I think the A7 is ugly and the A6 is boring looking. Interiors are nicely laid out but materials are no where near the quality of the BMW, especially mine with perforated vented Nappa. But dynamically, the A6 3.0T Sport spanks my car. My car has no where to hide, and wouldn't have any idea where it went.

I've tried every software update, and PSS tires. Multiple software reloads, etc. It's the toughest car to drive I've ever driven. Between take off tip in, occasionally laggy throttle while underway, unpredictable breaks / stopping power. It's just tiring to drive.

However, not sure what to do. Don't want to get an A6. 3 series too small. Porsche too expensive.

I wonder where test drives went...

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

I feel the same way. My 2011 DHP equipped 535 is pretty boaty, loosey goosey feeling. It feels like it is never comfortable, never tracking straight. The suspension feels like it is never settled down.

Personally, I think the A7 is ugly and the A6 is boring looking. Interiors are nicely laid out but materials are no where near the quality of the BMW, especially mine with perforated vented Nappa. But dynamically, the A6 3.0T Sport spanks my car. My car has no where to hide, and wouldn't have any idea where it went.

I've tried every software update, and PSS tires. Multiple software reloads, etc. It's the toughest car to drive I've ever driven. Between take off tip in, occasionally laggy throttle while underway, unpredictable breaks / stopping power. It's just tiring to drive.

However, not sure what to do. Don't want to get an A6. 3 series too small. Porsche too expensive.

You seem to be having bad luck with cars. This, your old Volvo R

Originally Posted by mikeriley

Before I begin I want to start by saying how great the people on this forum are. No disrespect at all intended, thank you all for your input and advice!

After that ordered a 2011 F10 550x msport. WORST CAR EVER. Drove like a pig. hated it. even my wife would say, its so luxuries, but not sporty at all. The supposed comfort seats were a huge step back from the E60, so disappointed in fellow festers telling people how good the seats are on the new F10.

No disrespect intended, but calling the 550xi the WORST CAR EVER is about the most direspectful statement one can make in an F10 forum.

Originally Posted by bretov

For people looking for good BMW sedan either buy Audi or 3 or 6 series BMW .

The 5 Series crushed the A6/A7 combined US sales in 2012: 56,798 vs 27,596. So people looking for the good BMW sedan actual buy the 5 Series.

I for one really enjoyed my 550xi and as a guy who actually drives BMWs the way they are meant to be driven, the 550xi is a very capable car. Yes it lacks the level of crude NVH characteristics traditionally associated with the term sportiness, but that's a good thing. I've run against the E60 M5 at the track and in the twisties and the F10 is a very capable car.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

The 5 Series crushed the A6/A7 combined US sales in 2012: 56,798 vs 27,596. So people looking for the good BMW sedan actual buy the 5 Series.

When you can lease one for as much as a loaded 3 series or buy one for thousands under invoice, of course, the BMW will sell better.

Mercedes and BMW have made the MSRP a complete joke for their entire lineup.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

I for one really enjoyed my 550xi and as a guy who actually drives BMWs the way they are meant to be driven, the 550xi is a very capable car. Yes it lacks the level of crude NVH characteristics traditionally associated with the term sportiness, but that's a good thing. I've run against the E60 M5 at the track and in the twisties and the F10 is a very capable car.

To be fair, though, you:

* Added lighter wheels and Michelin PSS tires.
* Were at Dinan stage 3 (4?) with power
* Added Dinan suspension
* Added Dinan exhaust.

How would you rate your stock car?

Here we go again. Why are you bringing up that FWD VW in this enchanted beloved BMW froum

What's so VW feeling about the A7? Some BMW fanboys told me its based on a Passat CC, is that true?

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Here we go again. Why are you bringing up that FWD VW in this enchanted beloved BMW froum

What's so VW feeling about the A7? Some BMW fanboys told me its based on a Passat CC, is that true?

Autounion, autounion, you just love this thread

ps your sarcasm may be lost on some

Originally Posted by Technic

I wonder where test drives went...

The most I ever drove a 535 on a test drive was 15 minutes. I encountered maybe 20% of the driving conditions I normally would. You just have to try to extrapolate that over the rest of the cars experience. It's hard to do so.

One other thing I found was that there was a lot of variation in the driving experience among early cars. I ended up buying a CPO car that was the same price I would have spent new but with more warranty and many more features. Turns out that was a mistake.

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

You seem to be having bad luck with cars. This, your old Volvo R

Because I keep buying first year cars. One of these days I will learn.

Fortunately my MDX has has no first year problems.

Originally Posted by mikeriley

After that ordered a 2011 F10 550x msport. WORST CAR EVER. Drove like a pig.

Took a trip to the dark side. Bought, not leased, a A7.

Wow! what a car. feels just as fast as the 550 but handles WAAAAAAAY better. No boat like feeling.

Now the driving part. The Audi schools the F10 left and right, up and down. No question.

MR

Let me start by saying that I leased an E60 for 3 years and now have an Audi A7. However, I did test drive the F10 several times before making a final decision.

Calling the F10 the WORST CAR EVER is laughable. The design intentions of the F10 certainly results in a car that is less of a "drivers car" than the prior gen E60, however, IMO it is still a great overall automobile.

I absolutely love my A7. Love the looks, fantastic supercharged engine, ride, tech, quattro and utility. However, the OP is mistaken on some points including the statement that the car stays in sport when you turn it on - it reverts back to Drive, not Dynamic Sport. I am surprised he does not know this.

I respect OP's opinion that BMW driving is boring. I hate my F10 in that respect.

But, OP complained about comfort seat in F10, buy he did not complained about the seat in Audi. He loses his credibility on that topic.

Audi main weakness are the SEAT (not S6/S7) and the overall interior quality compared to F10.

Why do people not appreciate what they have and belittle great cars so easily? I wonder about the driving skills and expectations of one who calls a 550 the worst car ever. Not credible at all.
If that's the worst car ever, what should people who drive Kias, Hyundais,etc. feel about their cars? I guess this tread was started intentionally to create some drama. We should consider ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to own/lease and drive an F10.

Originally Posted by hufington

Why do people not appreciate what they have and belittle great cars so easily? I wonder about the driving skills and expectations of one who calls a 550 the worst car ever. Not credible at all.
If that's the worst car ever, what should people who drive Kias, Hyundais,etc. feel about their cars? I guess this tread was started intentionally to create some drama. We should consider ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to own/lease and drive an F10.

The sad part is that I recently rented a Hyundai Sonata and I found the HANDLING was much better than my F10. No boat like suspension, sharp throttle response and good steering feedback. Yes, everything else loses out to the F10.

But when you call the F10 BMW an ultimate DRIVING machine, it's a slap in the face.

A car is just a car. There's no big deal in criticizing it, especially for people that actually own one. If there is a handful that have the same dislike for the same aspects for the car, maybe it's credible? I do agree that calling it the worst car ever is a little exaggerated though.

Originally Posted by douggie

The sad part is that I recently rented a Hyundai Sonata and I found the HANDLING was much better than my F10. No boat like suspension, sharp throttle response and good steering feedback. Yes, everything else loses out to the F10.

lol what? I've drive Sonatas all the time. Steering is over boosted, light, and has zero feel. Feels like a Camry.

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

lol what? I've drive Sonatas all the time. Steering is over boosted, light, and has zero feel. Feels like a Camry.

Not sure what generation you drove, but the 2012 sonata was decent. The 2012 Camry did not have the boat like suspension as well.

Originally Posted by douggie

The sad part is that I recently rented a Hyundai Sonata and I found the HANDLING was much better than my F10. No boat like suspension, sharp throttle response and good steering feedback. Yes, everything else loses out to the F10.

But when you call the F10 BMW an ultimate DRIVING machine, it's a slap in the face.

A car is just a car. There's no big deal in criticizing it, especially for people that actually own one. If there is a handful that have the same dislike for the same aspects for the car, maybe it's credible? I do agree that calling it the worst car ever is a little exaggerated though.

http://gifb.in/uKsV

Originally Posted by getz

http://gifb.in/uKsV

love the gif. priceless

Originally Posted by douggie

The sad part is that I recently rented a Hyundai Sonata and I found the HANDLING was much better than my F10. No boat like suspension, sharp throttle response and good steering feedback.

I have a good response for this, hold on, but it's gonna be long and well though out so you better have your A-Game on when you have to come back to refute it.

... Wait...

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It's coming.................

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