Re: BMW 325 Ci / Volvo C70 / Audi A4 Cabrio
mysteryman;158853 said:
Hi I thinking of buying one of the above. I have looked at the 325 Ci and simply loved it but the Sales quoted me 188,888 so anyone got idea on how low i can bargain?? also how do u all think of the above cars.
thanks man.
hi
such questions have no answers because choice of car is clouded very much by several things, which differ greatly amongst individuals. you gotta feel your own force dude.
having said that, i'll share with you the process i went through deciding between the TT 2.0 TFSi and E92 325i (we'll skip the fwd-rwd part for simplicity) :
audi says (i had a long test-drive) :
1. TT is beautiful and a chick-magnet.
well, the TT's design somehow doesnt gel. it's very "front-heavy" and the whole body tapers to a weird ending. there're a few nice details but they dont amalgate. it looks delicious only from certain angles and only with the optional 18"s. i think the previous one looks better.
doesnt matter if it's a chick-magnet or not. i'm totally at peace with myself.
2. TT is powerful and can be chipped further.
damn, dont wanna have my car look like a bodybuilder with chicken legs. all right, doesnt matter if it has 1000 or 1001.5 hp. i want communications, handling and finesse.
the TT actually handles best of all audis (RS4 notwithstanding). it's sharp round bends but like all audis, the steering is
NUMB. it's not making love with you, it's just going through it mechanically.
the engine is smooth and torquey, no dreaded torque-steer. sounds nice too, though it can get tiring if you're not in a mood to play. nice throttle blips when you change the DSG with Walter Mitty mentality.
but, nett of all, aint engaging enough. and finesse is what separates the great from the merely very good.
3. E92 looks too much like E90.
dont have a problem with that. in fact, the E92's front is like a refined version of the already nice E90. back, E92 wins hands-down. overall impression of the E92 when i first saw it was : elegantly sporty, restrained aggression and
ENDURING APPEAL.
enduring appeal is a very key consideration. the TT can lose its novelty pretty quickly but not so the E92. damn, if only i'm 10% as good-looking as it.
you flirt with the TT, but marry the E92. but individuals' tastes differ ya.
i've owned BMWs to date and should gravitate towards another BMW naturally. but no, i was seriously considering the TT until i decided to go for another (much longer) drive in the E92.
through kent ridge hill, the TT was very good. you throttled off slightly before corners, took it and throttled on at the apex. no brakes. corner after corner.
the TT carried out your commands. but that's the problem : it carried out your commands and did not seem to enjoy it together with you.
then same roads, same conditions in the E92. it was a partner that danced with you, kept telling you "faster", "more". the fluidity it displayed was the elusive "finesse".
so the E92 for me then. i've since covered several hundred kms in my E92 and loved every moment. the refinement is first-class.
regarding the "Highline" version, you gotta decide what you want. i'm neither a gadgets man nor needs talking points with passengers.
so out goes iDrive, Comfort Access and "superior sound system". i spent the money on enhancing the drive instead.
so follow your heart dude.
cheers!
