Recently I needed to replace my Acura RL. For quite some time I have wanted to get back into a convertible and so this was opportunity knocking. The three most likely candidates were the Audi A4 (3.2) Quatro, the BMW 328 (or maybe a 330) or the Mercedes C class. Each vehicle has some real benefits and a few drawbacks. I chose the Audi and I will do my best to explain this decision while I simultaneously compare and contrast some of the main competitors.

Price
In the used car market there are so many choices. This is also a place where you really begin to see the good and bad of depreciation. As it happens I came across of lease return 2007 Audi with just under 16,000 miles for around $26,000.00 (US). By way of comparison a similarly equipped BMW 330 or Mercedes CLK 350(neither are all wheel drive) were averaging around between 6,000 and 8,000 more than this particular Audi. It is worth noting though that many of the Audis I looked at were in-line price wise with the other vehicles.

Interior
All of these cars have remarkable fit and finish. The Audi is in a burl wood (I think its fake, but it looks pretty good). To my eye it is in all the right place without being over the top (AKA Mercedes). The Audi’s interior is very interesting compared to its German brethren. To me it has jus the right balance of technology and controls, it is an exercise in precision. While the BMWs of this era seem almost spartan inside with few buttons to detract from the large sections of wood paneling, the Mercedes on the other hand is something that would make Bay Area – Silicon Valley Tech-head grin and then look for the owner’s manual.

The Audi has most of the bells and whistles of the Mercedes and a few more than a BMW. Interestingly enough the stereo system is both a plus and a huge minus. My Audi came with the Symphony System (Bose), but no GPS Nav unit. The sound from the 7 speaker system is absolutely incredible. The volume control is automatically adjusted as the interior noise level changes. This is key for a convertible.

The ugly part though is the all important IPOD Connectivity. This is the Achilles heal of the Audi sound system and something anyone considering this vehicle should know up front. While the only thing required to connect an IPOD to the Symphony system is a cable ($120 from Audi) mine system was not prewired to the glove box. That little section is an additional $450 (from Audi) for parts and labor. Also, much to my surprise (for this price) the system does not support TEXT from the IPOD so the display on the head unit will simply read Track 1.Track 2…Track 3…. And so on. Not Good. I am considering replacing the whole head unit with a Pioneer AVIC 700BT – but more on that at another time. The BMW shares a similar fate with its IPOD connection, the Mercedes on the other hand has a system that seems built for the IPOD with full text display and playlist control.

It is also worth noting that the Audi is the quietest of the group. The ’07 and newer Audi come with an improved soft top which makes them very quiet. It goes down with a touch of a button and folds neatly away in a trunk that will easily hold my golf bag and shoes. In fact, my A4 has a quieter ride than my older RL. The Mercedes is also very quiet with almost no exterior wind noise, but the BMW has a rather loud exhaust growl. I know this is by design, but when driving around town and talking on the phone the BMW can be downright distracting.

Exterior
Keep in mind that I am looking at 2007 models so the new BMW body is not applicable here. Again the Audi seems to be a mix of the two Germans. The body is rounded in front and rear but less so than the Mercedes and more than the BMW. As I write this my car is parked next to a 328Ci BMW and looking out my window at the back of them they are almost identical with one major difference – exhaust. The Audi has dual exhaust which is split equally on either side of the back. Both the BMW and Mercedes have side by side dual exhaust. This is purely a visual and audible difference. The sound of the Audi growl is very specific and makes it sound like a much more powerful can than it really is.

Handling
This is where the rubber meets the road (yes I am so punny). OK – let’s just say it, the BMW is a drivers car. There I said it, if you plan on going fast off the line and taking corners like your on a slalom course, get the BMW. That said, that is really not the truth though. The Audi Quatro makes the heavier A4 feel planted, some might call it dull and unengaged. To me though it is confident, the car is attached to the road. Where the BMW can change lanes with a mere thought and slight flick of your left finger, the Audi requires you to engage your entire hand and move the steering wheel. There are no unintended lane changes. Many will say that the Audi drives like a heavier car and I agree whole heartedly. The Audi’s weight is the key to its rail like precision. The BMW will beat the Mercedes and the Audi off the line hands down. In this area the Mercedes is a distant third from the other 2, but this is not a car designed for that purpose. Again it rides the line of balance between the other two cars both in handling and speed.

What really matters…
The Audi provides enough of each quality to make it a more well-rounded daily driver than the other two. It handles the roads well with enough stealth snob appeal to get looks but not sneers. When I drove up to my office, it didn’t have the effect of making my coworkers think I just another overpaid executive type (image is everything right?). I like that the Audi is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing even if this wolf is not the leader of the pack. It also doesn’t hurt that on those abundant sunny Texas days; I can touch a button, put the top down and clear my head in the wind.

Sunny Days :)
Amount Paid (US$): 26000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2007
Model and Options: 3.2 Cabriolet