Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 09:29:56 +0200 From: "JP Roberts" <1234nospamo.com> Subject: Re: Cost of repair Audi BMW Saab...(crossposting)
> > I think it is precisely BMW that produce the most efficient petrol engines > > available, given similar power figures. Turbos could arguably be driven > more > > efficiently at low speeds, but then again, this is not so clear an > argument > > under normal driving conditions. And everyone knows a nice torquey > > 6-cylinder or bigger engine is always preferable to a turbo engine, > because > > of the inherent turbo lag and poor low-end performance. The problem with > > most BMWs is they are useless in bad weather and if you want to have fun > on > > the dry you may want to spend big bucks on visiting the tyre shop as often > > as the filling station. This is why I am an Audi driver. > > > > SAAB 4 cylinder turbo engines are far more fuel efficient that a BMW 6 of > similar displacement. If you compare equal power engine and you thrash the engine, the BMW will always give you better mileage, so obviously you know nothing about BMW engines. > The SAAB (when fitted with a full pressure turbo) also has more peak HP and > torque than the BMW. And huge lag and less driveability and the BMW would still beat the SAAB on acceleration, which is what counts. Peak HP won't drive you anywhere. > Turbo lag is minimized in the SAAB ecopower designs as compared to most > other turbocharged engines. Ecopower engines are designed specifically to > provide best performace at relatively low rpms. > SAAB low pressure turbo engines, which make somewhat lower hp and torque > than the BMW six have *no* detectable turbolag. Audi's 1.8T should not have any detectable turbo lag but I can spot that easily, now I can't think Saab turbos can be very different. > All BMW 6 cylinder engines (with the exception of the old ETA 2.7) are all > designed to spin to much higher rpms to make their power. And their torque is way much linear, which makes them better all round. Their smoothness alone qualifies. > BMWs handle superbly in snow (when outfitted with proper snow tires) due to > their optimum 50/50 weight distribution and rear wheel drive. Your definition of handling superbly does not tally with the fact when I go skiing I can often find BMW drivers stranded or looking for their chains. I've driven RWD and can tell you again it's pretty close to useless in really bad weather. Think of slopes uphill. The proper tyres will give you more fun under very specific hyper-controlled conditions but can't do much in real life winter driving on icy roads. > BMWs by and large handle better than either Audi's or SAABs in dry > conditions. Quite probably true, except for the by and large. > Z rated tires for any of these cars cost the same amount of money and are > available at reasonable prices. Tires for BMWs are no more expensive. But you will need to replace the rear ones much more often, if you enjoy spirited driving on winding roads, that is. We all know it is winding roads that are good fun. > Apparently, you made your automobile choice by listening to other people's > hype about SAAB's horrible turbo lag and BMW's rear wheel drive being bad in > snow. Too bad for you. You probably have a single set of all-season > radials on your Audi Quattro and think that you have the ultimate all > weather machine. I have a set of fully dedicated winter Vredesteins to be able to enjoy my quattro in the winter, and a set of Sport Contact 2 that my car is already "wearing" now. > I personally would rather have a BMW with a nice set of low profile wheels > and Z rated summer tires and second set of wheels and winter snow tires. My > second set of wheels and tires would cost what, $600? vs. buying an AWD car > and being crippled in handling for 95% of the year? I can take my snow > tires off in the summer. Can you take off your AWD hardware? At the end of your BMW life you will probably have spent more money on tyres for your BMW than I will have on my Quattro gear. The difference is you'll have left your BMW parked when there was snow on the road, while I'll have been driving my Quattro all year round. JP Roberts
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