Audi A5

[xjay1337]

So you want to spend 13 or 14k on a car as a stepping stone to a 25-30k car?
Why not just keep the 13k or 14k and put it towards an M3 if that's what you want lol.

[lukemk5gti]

So you want to spend 13 or 14k on a car as a stepping stone to a 25-30k car?
Why not just keep the 13k or 14k and put it towards an M3 if that's what you want lol.

I'd like to enjoy a variety of cars eventually leading toward the higher end so I get more enjoyment out of each. Breaking my back saving £30k to buy one car after a few years doesn't seem near enough fun as buying 2 or 3 cars, each more superior than the next. Providing they're all held onto for a short time the depreciation will be little to nothing.

[rdfcpete]

The 335d is all very well Luke and they are capable out the box, make some serious pace with a few performance mods. I've no experience with them directly but they're a rung up from the 330d in performance terms.

The 325d/330d (which both map to the same figures in the e9x) are more the direct alternatives for the A5 3.0tdi.
A 335d with mods is more S5 pace I suppose.

Jay has a point though, you may as well live with what you've got and put the capital towards what you really want? An e92 M3 can be had for £21k in good nick so you're be 66% ready for one, minus tax, petrol and some other wallet a$$ bleeders 

Joking aside, the M3 will probably be roughly 2.5 times what a 330d would be to run when you equate everything.
I can safely say my MK5 GTI was nearly exactly twice what my 2.0 TDI A3 Black Edition is to run all things given, as an analogy for it to be understood 

[GTI5]

The 335d and 330d are only available with a Torque Converter auto, later A5's came with DSG as an option which might sway the decision?

I dont think Xenons are standard on the E90 but they are on the E92, also I think the pre LCI sat nav runs off a dvd and is slow...lmao really BMW?

Sometimes I like the idea of the Bmw and then later I dont.

[rdfcpete]

I dont think Xenons are standard on the E90 but they are on the E92, also I think the pre LCI sat nav runs off a dvd and is slow...lmao really BMW?

Yup, standard on all coupes (even SE models) and optional on the saloons and estates (e90 & 91) 

[rdfcpete]

The 335d and 330d are only available with a Torque Converter auto, later A5's came with DSG as an option which might sway the decision?

Yeah the Audi gearbox is 'proper' in that respect. BMW is single clutch auto, but that said, I've had a fast ride in a friends 2009 325d cabriolet and in just normal drive mode, off the line it felt perfectly progressive up through the gears. Nothing that made me think 'this gearbox would be a problem when pushing hard'... On a track day, you might get a bit annoyed with it, but for fast road progress it should be ok.

[dan930]

With a remap those 335d's are VERY quick

[xjay1337]

The 335d and 330d are only available with a Torque Converter auto, later A5's came with DSG as an option which might sway the decision?

Yeah the Audi gearbox is 'proper' in that respect. BMW is single clutch auto, but that said, I've had a fast ride in a friends 2009 325d cabriolet and in just normal drive mode, off the line it felt perfectly progressive up through the gears. Nothing that made me think 'this gearbox would be a problem when pushing hard'... On a track day, you might get a bit annoyed with it, but for fast road progress it should be ok.

Irrespective, the 335d is much quicker. Gearboxes are fine.
Put it this way the engine in the 335d is much better than the gearbox in the a5 if that makes sense?

[rich83]

A5 3.0tdi is a snooze fest IMO, but a decent long  distance cruiser for 2 people. The back is very cramped, much less room than the mk5 golf.

Steering is crap too. Too light IMO.

[rdfcpete]

The 335d and 330d are only available with a Torque Converter auto, later A5's came with DSG as an option which might sway the decision?

Yeah the Audi gearbox is 'proper' in that respect. BMW is single clutch auto, but that said, I've had a fast ride in a friends 2009 325d cabriolet and in just normal drive mode, off the line it felt perfectly progressive up through the gears. Nothing that made me think 'this gearbox would be a problem when pushing hard'... On a track day, you might get a bit annoyed with it, but for fast road progress it should be ok.

Irrespective, the 335d is much quicker. Gearboxes are fine.
Put it this way the engine in the 335d is much better than the gearbox in the a5 if that makes sense?

Na they're all rubbish compared to the 335i with DCT, that's a real box 

Also the manual on the BM would be no good as any forum shows.
The 335d is awesome but it's a different level of car to the A5 3.0tdi, as said - the 330d is the parr offering with a few bonuses IMO.

[lukemk5gti]

All the advice is appreciated lads! I've still got my heart set on an A5 and there's very little that can sway me at this point.

I was looking twice a day for 18 long months to find my ideal GTI so I could be doing the exact same for the Audi.

Keep the comments coming though, @rdfcpete your wealth of knowledge is appreciated!

[xjay1337]

I was looking twice a day for 18 long months to find my ideal GTI

 

[lukemk5gti]

I was looking twice a day for 18 long months to find my ideal GTI

 

They're a lot more rare to find a high spec GTI in Ireland