On this episode of Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago pits the new 2012 BMW 335i against it's natural rival from Ingolstadt - the 2012 Audi S4. The 3 Series has long enjoyed its reputation as the benchmark of European sports sedans. But does the more powerful S4 finally have what it takes to end BMW's reign?
At 5+ years my E90 has a lot of creaks especially on bad pavement (Koni FSD's on order). I attribute some of the deterioration to the poor setup of the stock ZSP when combined RFT's - the car just basically shakes itself apart due to poor vibration damping. My concern with the F30 is if the car is not tank like when new, how will it be in 4-5 years (obviously if you lease this is a non issue)?
High school teacher with a master's degree can make 60's or 70's depending on where in the country they teach. Also, they get their summers off in most cases, and in many places have a fantastic pension plan.
For hearing about how teachers get the shaft, they seem to have a very good deal to me (and they should be getting those things but so should the rest of the "middle class" workers). Admittedly a starting out teacher, in many parts of the country can make high 20's to low 30's fresh out of college and in some cases might never break above about the $45K mark.
Apologies for the interruption, but did anyone answer the question about the 131ft sopping distance?
I test drove a 335 a few days ago and all was great, except when i hit the brakes, there was a noticable delay. To the 'where are the brakes?!', the CA explained that this is likely from the regenerative breaking. The car was in the sportiest setting (8sp auto, manual mode).
Anyone else had similar experience?
Apologies for the interruption, but did anyone answer the question about the 131ft sopping distance?
I test drove a 335 a few days ago and all was great, except when i hit the brakes, there was a noticable delay. To the 'where are the brakes?!', the CA explained that this is likely from the regenerative breaking. The car was in the sportiest setting (8sp auto, manual mode).
Anyone else had similar experience?
Didn't notice any issues with teh brakes when I test drove two 335i (one being sport and the other luxury) and a 328i. My guess is they got this distance because of the all weather tires. it make a world of difference. Also as i stated early in this thread the brakes on their test car may have had an issue, 131 feet to me is way too much. Not one revewer from a magazine or otherwise has mentioned brake issues.
I'm not sure if that's true, I believe either motor trend of C&D complained about the brake feel on the F30 they drove having a slightly spongy feel and not having the firm, commanding brake performance they normally expect from a BMW.
You guys won't believe today. I thought I had ordered my personal butler to the kitchen to get some fondue and champagne ready for dinner, at the time I headed upstairs to my closet for a post-polo match shower. This is when I catch my butler wearing my favorite rolex and tailored armani suit! Before I could even scold him, he bursts into tears, exclaiming all he ever secretly wanted was to be just like me. I send him off after telling him to remove the watch and my clothes immediately. The nerve. I pull out some alcohol wipes, try to clean the rolex vigorously, and immediately dump the suits into the drycleaning chute by my two fingers protected by the same wipes. Sigh. I thought I was having a bad day, when I came across this hilarious thread. I haven't had a laugh in a good long while given all my troubles. It sure cheered me up as I wasn't looking forward to the long flight in my private jet first thing tomorrow.
Poor, poor man. I believe I can truly empathize with your troubling situation. Why just last week I had to dismiss my driver of 14 years! I believe the dear fellow was trying to pinch my genuine Roundel BMW valve stem caps from my beloved 328i!!!!! It is so difficult to find good help these days...
LMAO. It's worse than that VOIP. He also used the regular Armor All to shine the 17 inch tires. Good thing the Weatherby shotguns were locked up or else.
I found that by paying the help well enough so that they could afford to lease 328s they were more geared to using the proper products and techniques when caring for my cars.
The Holiday Bonus Rolexes I gave out also helped.
The down.side is that it gave a couple of them delusions of grandeur.
Regarding the braking: I know that most journalists get loaners from the manufacturer press fleets, and a lot of times those cars are beat to heck. It's quite possible that the brakes on the tested 335i were just shot after far too many abusive drivers. :dunno:
Does that mean that the Audis holds up better to abuse because both of the cars are from the fleet. Not to mention, Audi didn't even give them the face lifted B8.5. It was the B8, which is older. And it still beat BMW
AFAIK, the 8.5 mid-cycle refresh of the A4 has no performance related improvements that would have affected this comparison. As far as the idea that the BMW was a crippled loaner, it's just not likely, manufacturers are pretty serious about this stuff and I'm sure that these cars get some kind of look over between being loaned out. Not to mention that these drivers are professionals, drive tons of cars and would certainly observe if the car had some kind of mechanical failure.
Can't we just be adults and admit that BMW lost this round? It seems like there's a lot of excuse making by people who can't handle the thought of BMW losing a performance shootout.
AFAIK, the 8.5 mid-cycle refresh of the A4 has no performance related improvements that would have affected this comparison. As far as the idea that the BMW was a crippled loaner, it's just not likely, manufacturers are pretty serious about this stuff and I'm sure that these cars get some kind of look over between being loaned out. Not to mention that these drivers are professionals, drive tons of cars and would certainly observe if the car had some kind of mechanical failure.
B8.5's only difference is that Audi has switched to EPS and has gotten rid of the old Hydraulic system.
Can't we just be adults and admit that BMW lost this round? It seems like there's a lot of excuse making by people who can't handle the thought of BMW losing a performance shootout.
This. For example, the F10 has been consistently loosing comparos since it came out. Hell, the last gen Audi A6 beat it in a comparo. BMW has its guard down right now and everyone is catching up.
What if we chip the F30, and put some extra wide summer tires on it, I bet it can beat the S4 then. While we are at it, lets add some nitrous and a K&N air filter Last but not least, add the M-sport badge.
Well, if it's any consolation, the 328i still beat the competition in all the magazine shootouts so far, even if it is slower through the slalom and has a lower skidpad than the A4.
In my opinion, the 3 series is still the bench mark of this segment, no matter what the comparo results are. The gap is not as big as it use to be, I remember in the old days when most people automatically think 3 series when they are shopping for a small sport luxury sedan, now a days, the choice is not so clear.
This has been going on on this forum for years. A review or comparison that favors BMW is taken as conclusive proof of the superiority of BMW. A review or comparison that favors the competition is taken as conclusive proof of the bias and incompetence of the reviewer.
you should have done what BJ did and order a base 328i without a single option. Then you would have had money to pay for the country club. Live and learn.
It's 7:25am and I'm already excited at the thought of getting into my BMW and enjoying the drive to work. As the garage door opens, I look around the neighborhood and see mom's with kids and 20 something's all going about their way to the pre-school or the train station for work. I smile.
Through past the neighborhood and further down the road I see 3 domestic cars driving the speed limit with plenty of gaps in between - which they purposely left open for me as they had noticed my angels eyes from afar rapidly catching up. I drop a gear and whiz past the first car nearly taking out his door mirror (they like when I do that), cut in front of the second one and get millimeters away from the rear of the third car until he moved aside (I think that one had one of those four ring emblems). The light in front proceeded to turn red from yellow and I floor it just making it past. In my rear view I see the cars stop at the light all flashing, honking and waving in amazement obviously praising me on the fine execution of a maneuver that only a BMW can perform.
Get onto the main highway, taxi's, buses, insignificant domestic cars and a Prius all litter the road making my morning commute a tad more aggravating. Only BMW's are allowed to be the first in the pack and I for one will not tolerate driving behind lesser makes. Through the use of my dual tone horn, high beams and aggressive force am I competently able to take command and attain my goal. Such hard work and its not even 8am. Need that coffee break already.
While stopped at the next light my phone rings, I turn down the Snoop blasting and answer - its my sexy Asian secretary and she's calling to tell me that the 10am with my buddy Simon head of Equity sales trading at Merrill has been cancelled - he's taken the morning off to go sky diving and will meet me instead tonight to talk strategy at his penthouse. He has hired a master sushi chef to come and prepare dinner - a bit bland I admit, but looking forward to that. Meanwhile, the light has turned green and I'm just finishing up the call while cars are having to go past me as they know never to inconvenience a BMW. As they slowly swerve around, they look over at me admiring my Armani, Movado and this amazing Alpine White BMW goodness. Yeah, I know they'd give up one year of their life to experience 10 seconds of mine.
Ok, turn Snoop back on (nothing beats these superior stock BMW subs) and accelerate further down the highway. The office parking entrance is on the left. No need to use the blinker as these mere mortals walking and bicycling to work know very well the standard protocol - which is to never get in the way of an oncoming BMW. I proceed to bulldoze my way through pedestrian traffic and down the parking entrance slope. I make my way towards my spot completely ignoring the 8Kph speed limit and park exceptionally perfect, fix my tie, do the 'look-back' and go up the elevator to start an ordinary working day.
At the main entrance, I kindly smile and open the door for the lady in front of me.
It's really hell having the responsibility of owning the most sought after production automobile of all time, but 'gawd almighty,' someones got to do it!
It's really hell having the responsibility of owning the most sought after production automobile of all time, but 'gawd almighty,' someones got to do it!
They are all good cars and each of them excel in certain areas and not every owner puts the same level of importance on the same aspects.
I have a fair amount of experience driving both the C Class and the 3 Series and can understand why some people would choose one over the other. I have not driven an F30 yet and am not likely to in the near future since it is not a car that I am particularly interested in owning at this point in time. From what I have read it is an excellent car but may not be out in front of its competitors to the same degree that previous models were.
The iPhone was purchased at Apple's Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue which is conveniently located accross the street from Bergdorf Goodman and Van Cleef and Arpels, next door to Zegna, around the corner from Brioni and in close proximity to several other establishments that I frequent.
I like your username. You're one of the few people on here who isn't coy about his outlook on life and his status.
Power to you, brother. Embrace the stereotype, don't fight it. Right on.
BJ
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