2005 545i vs 2005 A6 4.2

I have a 2000 540i, and am looking to upgrade.
It looks like a dead heat between the 05 545i and 05 A6 4.2.

BMW has put me in such a difficult position with their pricing, body
design, and iDrive.

The first time I saw a 2005 545i I was like 'YUCK!!!'. I mean I really
wanted to like it but I just could not as hard as I tried. It truly
looks terrible to me, my girlfriend had the exact same reaction.

Meanwhile, the A6 is a very pedestrian Audi design - better in that it
doesnt bother me.

The Audi is limited to 130 MPH and although thats unfortunate, I think
I've only exceeded that once in the 540i anyway, and just briefly. The
540i is slightly faster in acceleration thanks to the torque if not
the HP.

I know I'll like driving the BMW more, thats what got me the 540i.
I've driven Audis - they are 'smooth' - real smooth, but Im not
looking for smooth, I like 'fun'.

Anyways - opinions?

"Seth Brundle" > wrote
>I have a 2000 540i, and am looking to upgrade.
> It looks like a dead heat between the 05 545i and 05 A6 4.2.
>
> BMW has put me in such a difficult position with their pricing, body
> design, and iDrive.
>
> The first time I saw a 2005 545i I was like 'YUCK!!!'. I mean I really
> wanted to like it but I just could not as hard as I tried. It truly
> looks terrible to me, my girlfriend had the exact same reaction.

And you like the new Audi styling with the big snoz?

> Anyways - opinions?

The latest Car & Driver likes it a lot, but they don't like the sport
suspension.

Floyd

I'm a German car fan myself (have two Mercedes) and have been looking at the
5-series (hate iDrive) and the new A6 as well. However, I've had horrible
experiences with Mercedes service, and a friend has had similar experience with
his older Audi A6. I actually stopped in and looked at the new Acura RL
yesterday, and I was very impressed overall. I didn't drive it however, and
I'm sure its 300-HP V6 isn't in the same torque league as the German V8s.
However, for $49,000 loaded with Navi, all-wheel-drive, e.t.c. (there are no
options), it's a bargin. I just wish the backseat was bigger.

Randy

On 02 Dec 2004 18:48:11 GMT, (Randy S) wrote:

>I'm a German car fan myself (have two Mercedes) and have been looking at the
>5-series (hate iDrive) and the new A6 as well. However, I've had horrible
>experiences with Mercedes service, and a friend has had similar experience with
>his older Audi A6. I actually stopped in and looked at the new Acura RL
>yesterday, and I was very impressed overall. I didn't drive it however, and
>I'm sure its 300-HP V6 isn't in the same torque league as the German V8s.
>However, for $49,000 loaded with Navi, all-wheel-drive, e.t.c. (there are no
>options), it's a bargin. I just wish the backseat was bigger.
>
>Randy

Forget the Honda's. Err, Acura's.

I looked at the TSX, TL and the G35X and found all wanting. A lot. Got
an 2004 A4 1.8 q almost fully loaded. The Japanese are too much like
American car makers: rather than finesse, they will give you too much
HP for the front wheels and hope you don't get the implications of
what they have done. And the cars themselves while priced 'well' miss
on a few key areas (those areas are largely personal). Compare feature
by feature and either Audi or BMW will win over the Japanese.

Randy, I also looked at the RL -have driven twice now.. not the same class
as BMW, but the standard features in the RL are great. Got the Blue Tooth
working with my phone the last time I drive one. I'm thinking this way too..
but doubt I'll make the move to the RL.. but have not ruled it out yet.

sc

"Randy S" > wrote in message
...
> I'm a German car fan myself (have two Mercedes) and have been looking at
the
> 5-series (hate iDrive) and the new A6 as well. However, I've had horrible
> experiences with Mercedes service, and a friend has had similar experience
with
> his older Audi A6. I actually stopped in and looked at the new Acura RL
> yesterday, and I was very impressed overall. I didn't drive it however,
and
> I'm sure its 300-HP V6 isn't in the same torque league as the German V8s.
> However, for $49,000 loaded with Navi, all-wheel-drive, e.t.c. (there are
no
> options), it's a bargin. I just wish the backseat was bigger.
>
> Randy

I think that the 130 mph limit is a bit understated. This may be done to keep
the claim within tire speed ratings.

At an on track driving 'school' last spring I was driving a friend's '04 S4 4.2
(which is also supposed to have a limit of 130) and was hitting 150+ on the
straight with a lot of room to go.

Tony

Seth Brundle wrote:

> I have a 2000 540i, and am looking to upgrade.
> It looks like a dead heat between the 05 545i and 05 A6 4.2.
>
> BMW has put me in such a difficult position with their pricing, body
> design, and iDrive.
>
> The first time I saw a 2005 545i I was like 'YUCK!!!'. I mean I really
> wanted to like it but I just could not as hard as I tried. It truly
> looks terrible to me, my girlfriend had the exact same reaction.
>
> Meanwhile, the A6 is a very pedestrian Audi design - better in that it
> doesnt bother me.
>
> The Audi is limited to 130 MPH and although thats unfortunate, I think
> I've only exceeded that once in the 540i anyway, and just briefly. The
> 540i is slightly faster in acceleration thanks to the torque if not
> the HP.
>
> I know I'll like driving the BMW more, thats what got me the 540i.
> I've driven Audis - they are 'smooth' - real smooth, but Im not
> looking for smooth, I like 'fun'.
>
> Anyways - opinions?

"Tony" wrote
> At an on track driving 'school' last spring I was driving a friend's
> '04 S4 4.2 (which is also supposed to have a limit of 130) and was
> hitting 150+ on the straight with a lot of room to go.
>
> Tony

According to the US specs, the S4 is electronically limited to 155 mph.
And of course you can remove that limit by getting an aftermarket
chip/software as well.

Cheers,

Pete

In article >, Pete > wrote:
>
>"Tony" wrote
>> At an on track driving 'school' last spring I was driving a friend's
>> '04 S4 4.2 (which is also supposed to have a limit of 130) and was
>> hitting 150+ on the straight with a lot of room to go.
>>
>> Tony
>
>According to the US specs, the S4 is electronically limited to 155 mph.
>And of course you can remove that limit by getting an aftermarket
>chip/software as well.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Pete

Although I haven't taken mine up past that value, the limiter on the
US S4 is on paper only (not actually turned on in the ECU software),
according to some reputable sources on the AudiWorld forums. The car
should top out at or around 170 (assuming you had a place that you
could actually reach that speed).

- Charlie

In a previous posting, (Charlie
Giannetto) had the audacity to say:

: Although I haven't taken mine up past that value, the limiter on the
:US S4 is on paper only

<Japanese voice>

Ahh, rawsuit protection! ;}

</Japanese voice>

not actually turned on in the ECU software),
:according to some reputable sources on the AudiWorld forums. The car
:should top out at or around 170 (assuming you had a place that you
:could actually reach that speed).

Are you sure it's not actually limited at all, assuming the
source rumour is correct? 'Cause I believe even the (original)
Euro spec cars have a 155 mph governor... which I personally
don't think is outrageous[ly low], but clearly a small
proportion of owners does.

--
E.R. aka SJG aka Ricardo
present location: vancouver bc canada
refugee from the european union's evil bureaucracy

In article >,
E.R. > wrote:
>In a previous posting, (Charlie
>Giannetto) had the audacity to say:
>
>: Although I haven't taken mine up past that value, the limiter on the
>:US S4 is on paper only
>
><Japanese voice>
>
>Ahh, rawsuit protection! ;}
>
></Japanese voice>
>
>not actually turned on in the ECU software),
>:according to some reputable sources on the AudiWorld forums. The car
>:should top out at or around 170 (assuming you had a place that you
>:could actually reach that speed).
>
>Are you sure it's not actually limited at all, assuming the
>source rumour is correct? 'Cause I believe even the (original)
>Euro spec cars have a 155 mph governor... which I personally
>don't think is outrageous[ly low], but clearly a small
>proportion of owners does.

I've read of people exploring the limits of the car on AudiWorld,
although I have no first hand experience. I believe that the limiter
value is indeed set to 155 in the ECU but the limiter flag itself is
actually set to false, which disables the function. The lack of a
speed limiter isn't really an issue since the speed (even at 155)
is still well beyond any legally acceptable level on any public road
in the US. 155 is something that the European community has agreed
on I believe so I'm not sure the fact that it might not be implemented
on a US spec car would be all that significant.

If you would like to look into this further, I suggest going to the
AudiWorld.com or B6S4.com web sites and searching for information on
"speed limiter" or "governor".

- Charlie
04 S4 MT6