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Audi A6 Avant Le Mans 3.0TDI Vs BMW 535D Sport


aj84
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Hi all,

As title suggests, got a colleague deciding on one of the two above vehicles

It has to be one of those and has it be an estate (Avant/Touring)

Your thoughts... I'm an Audi Fan, friend next to me is a BMW fan, colleague is therefore very confused.

Any Pros/Cons and also sizing (boot space, rear pass. space) would be appreciated :)

They would be nearly new cars (08/58 plates)

Thanks :- )

Oh, he test drove both but still can't decide..and when he does, the other half has a change of heart :)

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Audi - The A6 Avant just looks sooo right. It's quattro too, so has no problems with the snow we've just had. Unlike the squirming BMWs.

However, on the go stakes, the BMW beats it hands down as it has 2 turbos versus the Audis 1 turbo.

Space wise (boot, seats etc) - too similar to call.

The Audi interior is the dog's danglies (IMHO).

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The Audi is arguably not only the better built but also the better looking car, however if your mate likes performance then the figures really speak for themselves:

BMW:

0-60 mph 6.3 s

Power Output 281 bhp

Torque 428 lb-ft

Top Speed 155 mph

AUDI:

0-60 mph 6.9 s

Power Output 229 bhp

Torque 332 lb-ft

Top Speed 150 mph

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I would say that the 535d touring is arguably the best all round car ever built.

I loved mine, and would have another in a heartbeat, I have gone back to an Audi A6 because I fancied a change and I have an M3 as well so feel I can sacrifice the handling and overall drive for a little more comfort and to save a bit of money.

The Audi looses alot more over the first 3 years so when buying used it is a lot cheaper.

It's not really fair to compare the 535d with the 3.0tdi, the 530d is still a little quicker than the 3.0tdi, and the 535d is a hell of a lot quicker.

The BMW figures are extremely conservative, I got 6 seconds to 60mph everytime from my 535d in stock form, and that was the older pre facelift version, remapped it got 5.4 seconds no problem, it is a very quick car.

I also think the BMW looks a little better than the Audi, the A6 avant does look good from the back though.

Does it have to be a diesel??

They are both pretty thirsty returning just over 30mpg and only really seeing mid to high thirties if you do a hell of a lot of motorway miles.

The new 3.0T looks a real peach and I would take that over the 3.0tdi every time.

The 530i is also a stunner, shame we don't get the 535i in the UK.

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Thanks all for your opinions... I suppose this is where forums are REALLY useful in getting individual opinions and thoughts and also experiences!

He has ordered a 535d as of yesterday after turning down the A6...I think they still were not 100% sure but the following made their minds up...

1. While I myself much prefer the Audi look (maybe as people have mentioned, every other car is a BMW on UK roads and it's actually nice to see an Audi, no matter what spec/model/age!). However, he preferred the BMW look.

Personally, I only like the 6 series look but that's me!

2. Knee room. This was a biggie... in the back he found more knee room in the BMW. My own thoughts are that BMW seats are quite thin...the le mans ones are obviously leather but MUCH thicker ... as are the rear ones which means your seating position is further than the BMW too.

It's a shame because on What Car! you can compare the two models...the BMW has all the figures but the A6 has no figures for knee room!

I am still putting it down to the thicker seats though despite What Car! stating that the A6 is longer, wider but shorter than the BMW.

3. Boot Space. Again, he proffered the BMW however there is a BUT in there. The BMW has no spare wheel (run-flats + can of gunk) so that space is storage - the but being if you had a flat in the hills/moutains/terrain...you'll get 50miles @ low speed...might not get too far!

Personally, I liked the A6 one, especially with auto open/close and the nice wide load space. My german shep dog could easily fit in there with bags of space - and he is one of the largest german shep dogs several vets around my area has seen!

And that is it!

The A6 was favoured in interior (I dont think BMW will ever match it or better it!)

MMI/Nav

Consumption was slightly better being a smaller and single turbo engine

Ride he also liked the A6 better despite the Le Mans 19" + sports suspension

Ability for expansion in media (AMI) yet still be integrated with MMI + BT etc

But I think it kept going back to interior rather than engine/looks for him.

So thats that... Another BMW on our roads :-)

Hopefully I will get to have a drag race in my Le Mans A6 saloon ...well maybe after I pass my probation at work :)

Thank you all once again, very good comments and apart from I think one or two of you, the two cars seem to be very close

The BMW seems to be the better engine but as mentioned, it is unfair to compare THESE two as they are different in power/size etc

I'll just laugh when it snows again and I can get to work and he cant :roflmao:

Thanks again, if I had known the purchase was almost straight away, I would have posted earlier with my Q

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I'll just laugh when it snows again and I can get to work and he cant :roflmao:

No, I think you'll find that he''l be the one down the pub having a chuckle! :grin:

Be interesting to hear your thoughts when he gets it.

I had a dozen Audis before beingh given the keys to a 535d sport touring, within 6 weeks I had sold the A6 Avant and had a 535d sport touring sat on my drive.

The interior is actually really nice on the 5 series....

M5wheel1.jpg

paddle1small.jpg

interiornight.jpg

HUD.jpg

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haha! very good comment about the pub and probably true too!

the interior is nice in the BMW but I prefer the Audi... I think the iDrive was a major put off but for me...I have always found BMW's to be a bit too plasticy (if such word exists)

When I was after a replacement to the faulty 2.0 A6, it was between the 530 and the 2.7 a6...took them both out, really considered both but it was that dash I just could not get used to which looked squashed yet one lump of plastic with a few sections cut out for the screen and vents

what I do like is how the screen is inside the dash rather than flush...it gives it a nice finish

Having said that, BMW did not miss out "basic" features (atleast the one I had a look at ) like the autodim functions for the mirrors and full electric seats

I felt with that in mind, I would quickly become bored of the BMW

Bear in mind I am 24 so BMW would be the first choice for me in a normal world albeit a M3 no doubt! :- )

Your pictures have changed my mind about a lot of my int. worries/thoughts/dislikes initially though.

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It might be new baby syndrome, you always think your kids are beautiful whether they are or not, I was not over struck on the Bangle designed 5 series when it was launched, I like it, but had some doubts and didn't think the interior was as nice as the E39 5 series before it.

However, after living with it for a couple of weeks not only was I smitten with the drive but I started to really love the look too, in fact I went off Audi looks completely thinking they looked completely dated and in real need of a good shake up.

It was the A5 and B8 A4 that brought me back round to liking the design again, and oddly I started to like the A6 again as well, even though I thought it had looked dull for the last couple of years.

Still not sure about the interior though on the A6, there are far too many materials mixed in there, the switchgear doesn't feel great quality and there are too many colours going on!

By that I meant you have white dials, red dis and switchgear, then you have the MMI screen, rather than keeping it all red and white to tie in to the reast of the car you have Green for phone, ornage for radio/media (which is what I have it on 90% of the time) and blue for nav, the one bit that is red and matches is the set up screens.

I am going to look at a firmware and see if I can set it all to red so it all flows better.

A small thing that many people won't ever notice, but it niggles me! :)

I do have to say that I had more comments from complete strangers on my 535d sport touring than any other car I have owned, the CSL got a few as well but normally from people who knew what it was, the 535d got comments from everyone, and always along the lines of "That has got to be close to the perfect car, do you like it?"

Being an estate helps get rid of the negativity of being a BMW, and when people ask you what you drive you don't feel a cock (although now having an Audi again I suppose I have to get use to that once more?!) saying "a BMW estate" in the same way you do when you say "an M3". :(

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