Herewith a road test from 1988 comparing the 2.3 L Audi 90 20v Quattro witht he BMW 325iX: Basically it states that the Audi is superior in every respact. Acceleration - Top Speed - Wind Noise (BM too noisey at even 170 kph) - Fuel Consumption - Handling - Road Holding - Brakes And it's only a 2.3 L against a BMW 2.5 L!!!!!! Perhaps they should have stuck the 328 iX in there. Or, as the magazine seems to suggest, an M3 iX, if it existed, would have been a fairer comparison! But as the magazine states: The X Series BMs were purely a whim of the marketing people, to compete with Audi. Whereas, quattro is in the Audi bloodstream. For some unbeknown reason they prefer the BMW 'cockpit'. Bit subjective what!
Im sure I remember something about the BMW's also eating front drive train parts due to poor alignment!
I used to have an Audi 90 20v Quattro. The best car I have ever owned, and I regret selling it. The 7a 5cyl 20v lump is an awesome engine with one of the best sounding exhaust notes ever
Hardly. The cabins of 80's BMWs really feel driver-focused, even at standstill. Then you drive them, and the layout works. Audi interiors weren't quite as purposeful so it's no surprise that under 'shootout' conditions, a journo would favour the BMW cockpit. I say that having spent an afternoon in the company of one of these...
I was being a bit ironic, as it is just about the only thing, other than which car you think looks better, that can't be measured. That is obviously a real one, with the 80 windscreen pillars! I always found that the driving position in the normal Coup body was wrong for me. The seat was too low, and, even then, I used to struggle to get in and out past the corner of the screen. I don't like the A4 for the same, low seat, reason. I love the 90, it is a so much more sit up in the cabin car! From driving my daughter's 328i, where again, I found the seat too low, the only thing I like more than the Audi, is that the gear lever is higher and closer to the wheel. I shall move the lever on my car when I get it properly stripped out and re-built! Shame they did not make a two door version, that would have been even better for kicking BMW ass!
