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#9 of 12 Go with. . . by markcincinnati

May 24, 2006 (8:31 am)

. . .either one. You will not be disappointed IMHO.
 
If you have a couple of extra thousand (MSRP, anyway) and if they have one to test drive, do try the A6 3.2 SLine -- the car with the sported up suspension, wheels and tires is amazing and further differentiates itself from the M35x and the 530xi which can't be had with a sport package for love nor money.
 
The 530xi wins if you want the stick shift. If you won't consider the stick, the choices are more difficult.
 
The SLine package makes the A6 the standout if you care about that kind of thing.
 
Otherwise these cars are VERY close to each other in so many ways -- frankly I think styling is the biggest differentiator.
 
Nothing even comes close to the Audis interior.
 
The rest is far more personal.
 
As Car and Driver said, "the Audi interior leaves the rest on the trailer."
 
Performance wise in a straight line, the Inifinit is probably the winner but as I recall it is a dirtier and thirstier engine than the two Germans.
 
The BMW seems, to me, a bit cramped in the back, but the BMW with the 18" wheels and tires AND the stick shift "seems" to be the performance leader, but cries out for a sport package that includes a tighter and lower suspension (like on the SLine Audi.)
 
Boil it all down and if you are looking at these and will only consider an automatic, go with the best deal, a few days or weeks into it, the memory of the other cars will have faded to the point of "who cares?"
 
 

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#10 of 12 Re: Infiniti M35 vs Audi A6 [sfcharlie] by blov8r

May 25, 2006 (7:38 am)

Replying to: sfcharlie (May 24, 2006 6:08 am)

I didn't pay much attention to the A6 when I was shopping last year (and chose the M35) largely because the local Audi dealer was notorious for poor service. He has since sold out and I understand things are better now.
 
That aside, I have a close friend who studies cars with a passion ... owns quite a few himself ... and for his daily drive he selected the A6 w/ the V8 because he says it's clearly the best of the best. Bart

Replies to this message:

• sfcharlie (May 25, 2006 9:50 am)
  • blov8r (May 28, 2006 9:11 am)

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#11 of 12 Re: Infiniti M35 vs Audi A6 [blov8r] by sfcharlie

May 25, 2006 (9:50 am)

Replying to: blov8r (May 25, 2006 7:38 am)

Replies to this message:

• blov8r (May 28, 2006 9:11 am)

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#12 of 12 Re: Infiniti M35 vs Audi A6 [sfcharlie] by blov8r

May 28, 2006 (9:11 am)

Replying to: sfcharlie (May 25, 2006 9:50 am)

Charlie ... I'd definitely give it a close look, but given the fact that I opted for the M35's V6 I doubt I'd go for the V8 of the Audi. It would have to be materially more appealing than my M35 for me to make the switch, however, because the Infiniti dealership is 5 minutes from my office while Audi is across town ...
 
Little question I'll rely on my friend's research ... he's the one who turned me on to the Infiniti in the first place.
 
Another factor, of course, is what else "new" will be out there two years from now and what my mood will be at the time. I'm embarrassed to admit it here but I've always craved a Jag Vanden Plas and if there's a nice gently used Jag certified one I might even go crazy and satisfy that long-standing passion. And to further confuse the answer, I'm in my late 60's and approaching retirement so a daily ride to the office becomes less important and I might even step back a notch or two in class!
 
How's that for a long run for a short jump? LOL Bart