Unique Advice Need (Read Description): Audi A4 1.8TFSI VS A3 1.8 TFSI VS BMW 316i

[hussain]

Hi,

I am 35 years old, a father or two young ones, and looking to buy a fast yet comfortable german car. The complications I face are that I live in a country:

1. where roads have potholes galore,
2. Anything above 1800cc gets taxed 300% of the price.
3. I cannot test drive vehicles.

So the only three options I have are:

1. Audi A4 1.8TFSI priced at 50k USD
2. Audi A3 1.8 TFSI priced at 45k USD
3. BMW 316i priced at 53k USD

I know Audi A3 has smaller boot but I don't really need a boot, anything which can fit two bags is enough for me and family. The concerns I have with all three are list below:

A3:
- Road Comfort as compared to A4 and BMW?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Cabin Space as compared to A4 and BMW?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

A4:
- CVT?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Slightly slow as compared to A3?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

BMW:
- 135 hp, I mean wtf :)
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

I would appreciate any feedback, I can get.

Thanks

[TDIaholic]

I take it you're looking at a new car, so the Audi's come with the EA888 Gen.3 engines. I have this in my A4 quattro in the 170hp / 320Nm form and love it! The economy is very good, about 6.8 - 7.5l / 100km and the power delivery is nice and very diesel like, with plenty of torque. REVO just came out with a tune for this engine, and they're promising 258hp / 400Nm, which is a tremendous increase! I'm looking at have mine tuned in the summer once my warranty runs out.

The new A3 is very nice and newer tech than the B8, which will be replaced late this year by the B9. However, it's significantly smaller, so with 2 kids I'd look at the A4. FWD is probably ok for you since you don't have any snow down there.

[hussain]

I take it you're looking at a new car, so the Audi's come with the EA888 Gen.3 engines. I have this in my A4 quattro in the 170hp / 320Nm form and love it! The economy is very good, about 6.8 - 7.5l / 100km and the power delivery is nice and very diesel like, with plenty of torque. REVO just came out with a tune for this engine, and they're promising 258hp / 400Nm, which is a tremendous increase! I'm looking at have mine tuned in the summer once my warranty runs out.

The new A3 is very nice and newer tech than the B8, which will be replaced late this year by the B9. However, it's significantly smaller, so with 2 kids I'd look at the A4. FWD is probably ok for you since you don't have any snow down there.

Are there any trustworthy piggy back solutions available for Audi B8 as i cannot take my car to europe for tuning:)

[mjt20mik]

Hi,

I am 35 years old, a father or two young ones, and looking to buy a fast yet comfortable german car. The complications I face are that I live in a country:

1. where roads have potholes galore,
2. Anything above 1800cc gets taxed 300% of the price.
3. I cannot test drive vehicles.

So the only three options I have are:

1. Audi A4 1.8TFSI priced at 50k USD
2. Audi A3 1.8 TFSI priced at 45k USD
3. BMW 316i priced at 53k USD

I know Audi A3 has smaller boot but I don't really need a boot, anything which can fit two bags is enough for me and family. The concerns I have with all three are list below:

A3:
- Road Comfort as compared to A4 and BMW?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Cabin Space as compared to A4 and BMW?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

A4:
- CVT?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Slightly slow as compared to A3?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

BMW:
- 135 hp, I mean wtf :)
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

I would appreciate any feedback, I can get.

Thanks

My cousins own an A4 and they live in Bombay, so I can only assume conditions are the same (Karachi?). Either way there are several ways to look at this.

An A3 in Pakistan/India would be ideal as it is smaller and would be best for traffic and such (considering you live in the city).

An A4 (my recommendation) would be the best considering you have two bachas. It is much more spacious, and the safety is better on them. Also the mileage really isn't too bad (especially if you go with CVT). Now I'm not too sure if they have the quattro where you are, but I'd suggest going for it. Much better to handling on wet/muddy roads.

I wouldn't really mess around with a BMW lol.

[andyroxs]

Dont buy the a4. Im assuming that model for 50k usd is the 120hp one. Terribly slow and horrible transmission not to mention it will be replaced soon. I would go for the A3, or if you are willing to wait unti later this year, the new facelift 316i will be out. I would not buy an audi unless it is a higher-spec/quattro model. Keep in mind the 316i has a great transmission so likely feels as fast if not faster than either audi

Hi,

I am 35 years old, a father or two young ones, and looking to buy a fast yet comfortable german car. The complications I face are that I live in a country:

1. where roads have potholes galore,
2. Anything above 1800cc gets taxed 300% of the price.
3. I cannot test drive vehicles.

So the only three options I have are:

1. Audi A4 1.8TFSI priced at 50k USD
2. Audi A3 1.8 TFSI priced at 45k USD
3. BMW 316i priced at 53k USD

I know Audi A3 has smaller boot but I don't really need a boot, anything which can fit two bags is enough for me and family. The concerns I have with all three are list below:

A3:
- Road Comfort as compared to A4 and BMW?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Cabin Space as compared to A4 and BMW?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

A4:
- CVT?
- Front Wheel Drive?
- Slightly slow as compared to A3?
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

BMW:
- 135 hp, I mean wtf :)
- How much power gain I can get by "chipping" the car without voiding warranty and damaging the engine in long run?

I would appreciate any feedback, I can get.

Thanks

[hussain]

the a4 is the 170bhp model, is it ok to buy 316i with manual transmission?

[hussain]

bumpty, bumpty, bump