Create an A4 that would drive BMW out of business

[Goldrings]

In this thread, create your dream car/ultimate A4 that will put BMW out of business. Of course something like this could never happen, but if it could, what would this car require in terms of:

1. Performance and handling (What engines and other tech and engineering would it have to have?)

2. Standard features and options

3. Interior materials and interior quality

*2 things*

1. This car MUST put BMW out of business.

2. Everything must be cost-effective and Audi MUST make a good-sized profit per car sold.

REMEMBER: This is only a design/engineering exercise.

 

[APL TDi]

Well if Audi aint managed it yet.... Id ont see how i'm going to?? lol

 

[sidibear]

All it needs is a good avertising slogan.

Drive a BMW and people will think you tuck your shirt into your underpants and have a small willy.
Drive an Audi and they will know you dress like an Italian model and **** like a porn star.

 

[NHN]

lol, await bowfer's input, wait for it................................

 

[jojo]

Don't know about putting BMW out of business, but stealing sales is more realistic in my opinion. The Last RS4 was very near the criteria if you still consider that as an A4 model, it was a better all round car than the V8 M3, just not as good out on the track which knock a few stars from reviews cos it can't go round corners sideway.... like 90% of us are going to do that out on the open road!?
The key to good car sales though, as shown by Audi in the last decade, is looks! Even if the drive is not as good as the 'Ultimate Driving Machine', it will still look good parked on your drive. Audi have got the styling part almost spoton throughout the ranges, which is why they are selling by the bucket load, whilst BMW have gone backwards - in my opinion - on the styling front, since the E36 3-Series. Even modern Mercs looks good and is quite high on the desireability from my point of view, despite the 'old man's car' tag, I'd still wouldn't mind a new C-Class in Sport trim.

 

[samuelt]

BMW are doing a good job of this themselves. They have started to follow Vaxhall/Ford in making there last model look so Dated days after the new one comes out!

Audi's seem to age really well, my friend has a 8 year old A4 i had a 5 year one and when a new A4 parked next to it you could see ther heritage just like Golfs. Buy a BMW and next year it will look old!

 

[APL TDi]

BMW are doing a good job of this themselves. They have started to follow Vaxhall/Ford in making there last model look so Dated days after the new one comes out!

Audi's seem to age really well, my friend has a 8 year old A4 i had a 5 year one and when a new A4 parked next to it you could see ther heritage just like Golfs. Buy a BMW and next year it will look old!

agreed

My mate just bought a new 123d m sport in white. Its quite an ugly car but gets away with it as its in vogue ate. Give it a year and I recon it will be a bit of a laughing stock as its so pig ugly!

A!

 

[Caesium]

I dunno, I have the 530 and although its an 05 it looks a damn sight better than the 05 A6

 

[APL TDi]

you have compared a 530 msport with a bog standard A6, not really proving anything there.

 

[Caesium]

the a6 "sport" doesn't look much different!

 

[NHN]

Only time I've been interested in looking at a BMW(looking only) was when I saw I think Bowfers new one, I like the lines but its when you get to the interior when it goes all wrong

 

[APL TDi]

the a6 "sport" doesn't look much different!

yeah ok, I actually agree with you. The 5 series is quite a hansome beast and the A6 is a bit weedy.
Have you seen the new 7 series tho? and the 1 series coupe

 

[Andy_S3]

Saw my first new 7 series yesterday, what going on there then?! Although Id have a 530/535D over the equivalent A6 any day of the week

 

[Caesium]

Only time I've been interested in looking at a BMW(looking only) was when I saw I think Bowfers new one, I like the lines but its when you get to the interior when it goes all wrong

Why do you think that?
Its simple looking but very functional.

 

[jojo]

Is this thread about different classes of cars between manufacturers or specific A4/3-Series class cars?
I would only purchase a BMW 5-Series in MSport trim, standard looks boring, A6 in sport trim does a bit better in Sport trim with the bigger wheels and lowered suspension, but I wouldn't go any near an A6 unless it was an 'S' model.

 

[benr]

I like the A6, not the one pictured but overall a very smart series especially the avants.

back to the question for me it would be the normal RS4 with a 3L+ TDI motor under the hood. paint black, black leather interior, heads up display... thatd do me.

 

[quattrojames]

Well if Audi aint managed it yet.... Id ont see how i'm going to?? lol

 

[JohnboyC]

Well, I have to admit I still really miss my 1999 BMW E36 328 Sport Coupe individual.....it drove really well, and I got the grin factor that I never get with my B6 A4 Avant.
The Audi is obviously far more pratical that my old BMW (now that I have children in tow)....and I do like the "classic" Audi Avant look.....but the Audi feels heavy and ploddy, the front end feels like an enormous pendulum even with the RS4 ARB fitted....whereas the BMW felt really well balanced....but drank fuel and was terrible in the wet (short comings I was prepared to live with)!

The B6 Audi A4 Avant overall is a safe, predictable good looking motor. The old BMW E36 (these days normally driven by baseball capped 19 year olds) still turns my head especially original unmodfied/bodged versions....

Now if I move closer to work I woulkd love a low mileage E36 M3 convertible (so I could cycle to work to keep fit and save the cash to spend on repairs and fuel, etc)

 

[jojo]

Just read in Autocar mag that the latest car sales show the current Audi A4 has outsold the current BMW 3-Series in Germany! But worldwide figures shows the 3-Series is 100'000 units ahead on sales.

 

[gizze]

The thing with BMWs is once you have had one it is very difficult to leave the brand, as much as I like Audi and their interiors etc. they are very dull to drive.
Now dull is not always a bad thing, as a motorway mile muncher they are fine, extremely comfy and a nice place to be, but BMW being RWD and far more importantly having a 50:50 balance, will always reward you in a way an Audi never can.

I think Audi need to have a bit more faith in their customers, they purposely built understeer into the A5 as they thought "that is what an Audi customer expects and wants"!! Well sorry that is bullshite!

I have always owned both, been 18 months since my last Audi, it was an S4 avant and I hated it, honestly the worst car I have owned, but always own a BMW too so go on a lot of BMW forums and I can say that Audis always get praised by BMW owners for their looks, interiors etc. If they were to get the balance right and make them more RWD biased they would grab a hell of a lot of new customers, and I can't see anyone who is already an Audi customer being disappointed either.

So, a little more faith in their customers is all they need to really over take BMW imho.

 

[TDI-line]

Well said Gizze.

 

[Caesium]

I think you meant to say Audi need a little more faith in their customers, you said BMW mate