Bangle's high-five

[Renegade]

Well, there's always the VAG stable, should you wish to remain loyal to them Krauts....ever considered getting an Audi instead ?

 

That is, unless the new A6 manages to out-ugly Bangle - check out the following pic.....

 

Strange-looking Rosemeyer racer-stlye big-mouthed front end.....

Edited December 20, 2002 by Renegade

[Magfocus]

Or you could save a little harder and get an A8, which is beaut IMHO

[GDIzen]

Yes, matter-of-fact, you're right on the dot as I almost bought an Audi A4 Multitronic but the price was too high ($150,000) then, the engine+multitronic combination sounded like a diesel when driven. But I simply loved the fit and finish as it beat BMW in that dept. I would have loved the A4 1.8T NOW if I have the 'moolah'. Dun Flame me but I know the resale value is also not very encouraging...

[Renegade]

Even if I wanted to (which I don't), I don't have the slightest right to flame you for considering an Audi (or anything that has poor resale value, for all that matter).....

 

Just look at what I'm driving.....

[Jgoh]

Why couldn't Chris Bangle take a hint from this Beauty (and it certainly isn't 'Skin Deep')

 

The BMW 8 Series (E31) ran from 1990 to 1999. There were two variants:

 

850Ci: 5.4L V12, 322bhp@5000rpm, 361ft-lb@3900, 14/20mpg, 6.8secs 0-60mph.

 

840Ci: 4.4L V8, 282bhp@5700, 310ft-lb@3900, 15/20mpg, 7.2secs 0-60mph.

 

Mint 5-yr olds could be found for $30,000-$35,000 in the USA.

[Renegade]

Nah...too subtle, too 1980's.

 

And, most of all, too uncontroversial.....

[Jgoh]

So true, so true...

 

Its just that BMW had established itself as the Driver's Ultimate Choice (Ultimate Driving Machine, actually). And, to be distinctive due to unconventional design seems shallow and beneath BMW's creed which till now were engineering based.

 

Remeber the Z1? Innovative for its composite resin panels, and attempt to be a fun roadster.

[GDIzen]

What? you meant they actually built that to be put on the road? I'd take a 2002 Turbo over that anytime!

[Staloy]

Talkin abt Audi..... this thread in the BMW forum is an interesting read.... btw, i have soft spot for BM ....... to all BM fans, i guess, we will just have to learn to 'love' the shape of the future..... cos BM looks to follow the Merc way and have their cars look like the bigger bro (ie. C-class & S-Class)...

 

anyway, enjoy this detailed thread... i found it to a good read....

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Went with a fren for test drives on sat. She had her eyes on the Merc Sports Coupe C180, but i advised her to look around. With that budget, she will be spoilt for choice. Brought her to check out A4, and Saab 93. The first stop was Audi. The interior of the A4 won her over, but the limited choice of exterior colours put her off. Test drive started with her behind the wheels of the A4 2.0. My only experience with this car was limited to being the rear passenger. The ride was generally pretty hush, but the bumpiness surprised me. I could feel bumps readily, but what was shocking was the fact that the test drive car was wearing puny 15" wheels. For a car on 15", the ride quality is quite unacceptable.

 

Asked her abt the experience, and she complained abt the car being sluggish. The engine was pretty loud, and not exactly musical to the ears. Ok, points noted. Next stop, Saab show room next door...

 

Went thru the usual boring routine of available colours and standard items. The 93 betters the A4 in price and gear. At a little more than 130k, it comes with car phone, and parking sensors. The climate control actually comes standard. The show car in the Motor Show (and the test drive car) did not have it though. Finally, we hopped on board the test car for a spin in the light drizzle. She had the wheels once again under my insistence. The car felt responsive according to her, the drive was pretty ok. On the way back, i swop positions with her :) Went thru the usual slalom like direction changes for a feel of the steering and body control. Played with the throttle, and realized that there was quite a lag from the engine. Engine note was way louder than the A4. The worst part of it was prob the tyre roar. It was reaching an uncomfortable level when i was seated in the rear. The offending component could be the crappy Goodyear rubber on the test car, but i was sure the sound insulation takes a second place to A4.

 

Finally took the car round corners, and was pleasantly surprised with the way the car handled. Great cornering poise, the steering column was pretty communicative - a nice departure from the older Saabs i have driven. The chasis and suspension was nicely tuned, and it felt really nimble and lively. Ride quality was pliant, with little compromise in handling. Even on the wet tarmac, the turn in was crisp. Basically the car changes direction eagerly. I don't know what the engineers did to the car, but it sure felt like one sporting sedan. In fact, it even resembles a BMW in handling. Finally parked the car back in the show room and walked away from it with admiration and fondness. One thing to note though: the interior of the car is really crappy. For one who is normally not too concerned with interior styling and finish, i found the 93's interior to be unacceptable. The signal stalk felt like it was gonna snap, and the dash was laid in low grade plastic. Serious negative points to the Saab in this dept.

 

As the test 93 was a 2 litre LPT, we figured it was not exactly a fair comparison with the A4. Decided to head back for another round with the A4. This time, it would be me behind the 1.8T ** evil grin **

 

The A4 sales consultant was really obliging and pleasant and immediately got us the ugly burgundy 1.8T test car. Gosh, this car deserves better colours. I hope nobody ever buys the A4 in this shade. Once on the move, i chose a longer route to pasir panjang for a more thorough experience. Another reason was the presence of road works on that stretch of road, which makes for good tests of the chasis' road holding ability.

 

As usual, started the test with a pedal to the metal off the lights. This 1.8T doesn't feel as powerful as the unit on the Beetle, but its largely due to the curb weight. Played with the throttle along the way for a feel of the response. The 1.8T felt more responsive compared to the 2.0T, but the thrust is of couse less forceful. The 1.8T is also more refine relative to the 2.0 so the cabin never got intruded by the engine note. A4's superior sound insulation prob has something to do with this. Under full throttle, the engine doesn't rev in a way a normal auto box does. Gotta give Audi credit for that. It actually doesn't feel very CVT like unless one pays attention to the rev characteristics. Now to the handling dept...

 

Sorry to say this, but i have to award the A4 lesser points in this regard. Overall, the steering was much tighter, but totally inert. The tightness was prob an attempt to mimic a sporting sedan, but a bad one in my opinion. The steering column on the Beetle was weighted just rite in my opinion. Took the car round a few bends hoping that it would communicate with some lock, but no luck here. The chasis and suspension tuning leaves much to be desired too. The ride is stiff, but never lively unlike in the 93. When taking the car round bends, it felt rigid, more like a Volvo. None of that nimble and eager gait in the 93. There was simply too little communication with the road. When i took it thru those road works, the chasis didn't maintain the poise i would expect it to. It threw the car slightly off balance. Not too confidence inspiring i would say. In this regard, i can only compare it with my 330 cos i didn't put the 93 thru the same test. I know that stretch of road pretty well incidentally.

 

Gotta admit i was quite sorry to feel the way i did for the A4. On the way back, i was focusing on being less critical, and hopefully with more experience, things would improve. Where comfortable cruising is concerned, A4 acomplishes the job well for as long as u don't attempt to go F&F with it, not that it can't deliver. It just doesn't encourages u to do so thats all. Now i know why many think it doesn't connect with the driver. One of the uneducated ways of assessing a car is how big it feels behind the wheels, and the A4 felt pretty big unfortunately. I hope the A4 TQM doesn't have the same feel as the unit i drove. The steering needs some serious sorting out to qualify as a sports sedan.

 

Disclaimer: The above are merely my personal opinions based on a brief experience behind the wheels and its in no way an attempt at being definitive.

 

<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Super7]

Minus the overdone masking tape, here's some pics of the next 5-series. Note the 7-series style boot and make your call.... Hope the grille mesh that looks like garden fencing doesn't make it, tho'.....

 

ya know, the up-swept front signal lights next to the headlights really remind me of the heavy make up of the chinese opera actresses whose' faces are nothing but patches of pink, red, white, black......... including the up-swept eye makeups......... hope you know what i mean .............

[Super7]

>>With that kind of designs, am pretty sure he did NOT design the 156!!!

Eh.......you damn smart! The 156 was designed by Walter de Silva, who's been poached to Seat. Did you notice how beautiful Seat cars are nowadays?

 

maybe he has the same avatar you have in front of him everyday for inspirations........ that's why .............

[Super7]

Actually, the Leon was basically a chopped up Toad so I don't know if that qualifies. And, also, I think they chopped it up before he got poached.....

 

i am reminded of the frog-legs porridge in Geylang.......... yummy

[Yttrium]

Btw do you know if the 7 series also has some special coating on the windscreen that prevents an IU from communicating with the ERP gantries? I suppose they must have done something to the local units, coz my uncle's malaysian one interferes with the IU/ERP communication. Did they do something like what Citroen did for the local beemers?

[Seansene]

Nice review

[Fastforward]

Here's an updated pic of the 5 and a sneek-pic of the upcoming 6......seems like BM's hell-bent on the the ugly rear-end look

 

That's why Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I think the new 7 E65 is a nice looking car especially the boot, even in it's stock appearance. It moves away from traditional design and makes it look muscular. I would however prefer it to be in Black. I think most people out there are not keen on the new look but the more I see it the more it grew on me especially this one dressed in a Hamann suit.

[RadX]

Looks like I am not alone!!!

 

http://www.petitiononline.com/STOPCB/petition.html

[Saaber]

I like the front....very muscular...

[Renegade]

if only we could buy half the car's exterior with its chassis intact....