[335iPSI]

This forum MAY be a bit biased , but after much research, I'm down to these 2 cars listed in the subject. Here are the mods/breakdown of cost I'm trying to factor in:

2009 BMW 335i X-drive Coupe
Sport Package w/ 18" wheels - for stock oil cooler
AT - needed for the type of driving I do
Would need full suspension (perhaps Eibach/Bilsteins/Sways) ~$1,000
Would need new wheels (for a square setup - 255/35/18) ~$1,000
Would need a set of tires (Dunlop Direzza Z1's) ~$1,000
Procede ~$1,000
Meth Kit ~$500
FMIC ~$600
Total Perf-related Mods: ~$5000

Result: A wicked-fast car that rides/handles very well with good MPG as well. Probably runs in the range of a low 12-second 1/4 mile trapping 117+. The unfortunate side, is this car is $100/month more on my insurance than a 2010 S4.

2010 Audi S4
DCT - Love this tranny
Stock suspension with ADS (audi drive select) is awesome.
Stock with torque vectoring rear diff
Would need set of tires ~$1,000
APR Tune - $1,400
Total Perf Related Mods - ~$2,500

Result: Nearly the same as the 335xi. The new APR tune is putting down 77awhp more at redline, really wakes the cars up. Stock they are running 12.8's at ~111mph. With this tune, they will be very close to the JB3/V4 335i cars (I can't wait for some of these videos ). I think I would give the handling nod to the Audi, the all-out speed nod to the 335xi, and the drivability nod to the Audi (instant S/C boost + DCT).

APR Tune Vid 6spd (tuned) vs. DCT (stock) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMZvP8u-0do

REMATCH Vid - Both Tuned - Badass! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRM-N-kfIDY

All things considered, I only keep my cars for about 2 years. I would have to put $2500 extra in mods into the BMW, and over 24 months pay roughly another $2500 in insurance. The S4's carry roughly a $5k premium over the '09 BMW's for a mileage to mileage comparison. I can not decide what the hell to get (I still have to test drive the S4). Can anyone add more insight?

[DarkRider23]

You're in Florida, right? If so, why are you going for X-drive?

[335iPSI]

Originally Posted by DarkRider23

You're in Florida, right? If so, why are you going for X-drive?

I drive the car in tons of conditions, including a 35 mile commute in THE HEAVIEST rain you've ever seen --- every day during the summer on the way home. I like the safety, launching, and versatility of AWD.

[DarkRider23]

Never really figured someone would go for X-drive because of rain. A good set of tires and a good head should keep you safe the entire way, but I'm not judging. Personally, I would go with the BMW, but like you said, I'm a bit biased. I never really liked the front end of Audis, nor do I like their damn 4 ring symbol. It just annoys me to be honest.

[335iPSI]

Originally Posted by DarkRider23

Never really figured someone would go for X-drive because of rain. A good set of tires and a good head should keep you safe the entire way, but I'm not judging. Personally, I would go with the BMW, but like you said, I'm a bit biased. I never really liked the front end of Audis, nor do I like their damn 4 ring symbol. It just annoys me to be honest.

Haha, I'll take the "damn 4 ring symbol" into consideration... I dont care for it either.

AWD helps in rain, helps for launching, helps for safety (trips to mountains in winter etc). Plus, when you have over 400wtq and 1-wheel drive, you're not going anywhere until 60mph. Even with an LSD, you'd want some very sticky tires out back, and I'm not running DR's.

[jaybird124]

Are you looking at the Audi over at Reeves?

[DarkRider23]

I guess I'm a little biased toward that too. I haven't driven in rain like you have. I do drive AWD and have no complaints, but I do wish I had gotten RWD. I initially got AWD for snow, but after driving through almost all the NJ snowstorms last year in my dad's pickup on RWD, I kind of regretted getting AWD on my BMW. Should have went without xdrive and just gotten a decent set of snow tires. Oh well. Ya live and ya learn.

[335iPSI]

Originally Posted by jaybird124

Are you looking at the Audi over at Reeves?

Eh, I wish... not going to buy one until Jan timeframe.

[jaybird124]

Originally Posted by 335iPSI

Eh, I wish... not going to buy one until Jan timeframe.

Not that i'm a big Audi person, but I know one of the Client Advisors at Reeves Audi. Really solid guy, totally chill.

[335iPSI]

Originally Posted by MERCSUk153

Have you test driven the 335xi? It is not close to the S4 when driven hard. BMW can't figure out how to give the xi cars sport suspension yet. I was in your shoes about the 335xi, M3 and S4 and ended up with the S4 because the M3 had no AWD and I am up in Canada so the AWD just gave me the extra little bit more grip. For the 335xi and S4 the S4 handles way better than the 335xi and that is one of the reasons C&D did the review on the S4 vs 335i because they indicated that the 335xi had no chance against the s4 because the xi suspension and awd system us just inferior. In my opinion if I was going to get the 3er than I would only consider the RWD not the AWD.
Another reason to get the S4 is the fact that a new 3 is coming out soon so the current one will look old pretty quickly.

Yes, all very good points. I think the XI suspension with sways/bilsteins and eibachs could put up a close fight... but you can't beat the adjustable shocks and the torque vectoring rear diff... those items can't be replicated on the BMW.

[BenTrovato]

AWD does help in the rain and other conditioins although taking a few classes with an instructor may make you appreciate RWD in different conditions, maybe.

I live in Canada and used to only consider AWD because the snow and ice, but since enrolling myself in a few different driver trainings, I can't see myself going back to AWD. I'm not saying that AWD is better than RWD or vice versa, they're different experiences but it could open you up to what's possible with some new techniques.

And yes I would agree, the AWD in Audi's do feel much more responsive.

[OwnAge]

I love e90/e92 in every way but i say go for s4. So far i only heard good things about the new s4 and just found out about that chip a week ago. Awesome mod. My main reason for saying it is because you are looking into awd car.


LoL Im in Canada driving rwd while you in FL going for AWD. Wanna switch locations for winter? Im sure you will appreciate your AWD so much more here :P

[A4rings]

if you need AWD go with the s4, its really as simple as that. the xdrive is garbage compared to the quattro (especially with the sport differential).

Quattro= designed for performance/sport

xdive= more ground clearance/more grip for rain and snow/ worse handling/not performance oriented

[Brey335i]

The X Drive was never intended to have performance in mind... that's why I don't understand it when people buy it. I would say that if the weather is so bad that you can't get grip with a pair of nice, sticky runflats, then perhaps it's not a good idea to take your BMW out in it... in snow, it doesn't matter if you have X Drive if your front is so low it acts as a snow plow...

Oh... and for the price you paid for X Drive, you could have had an LSD....

[335iPSI]

Originally Posted by Brey335i

The X Drive was never intended to have performance in mind... that's why I don't understand it when people buy it. I would say that if the weather is so bad that you can't get grip with a pair of nice, sticky runflats, then perhaps it's not a good idea to take your BMW out in it... in snow, it doesn't matter if you have X Drive if your front is so low it acts as a snow plow...

Oh... and for the price you paid for X Drive, you could have had an LSD....

There aren't any runflats out there that will grip 400+wtq anything below 60mph. There are drag radials and/or very sticky street tires... which all work like shit in the rain. I've had a 550whp Cobra and a 450whp EVO IX... I'd take the EVO IX all day... nothing beats the feeling of AWD traction all the time.

The RWD cars are always tons of fun, but you have to make sacrifices in either dry traction or wet traction --- I'm tired of that.