hi all,
this is my first post here, and i'm in the market for a new AWD car. since there're so many of u here with lots experience on different cars, hope i can get some advise here.

comparing the IS250 and the A4....i really have a hard time to decide which to go for. i know one is more luxury and one is more fun to drive, but does anyone of you have any other comments that might help me make the decision. also, i've heard audi isn't really reliable.. is that true or just a sour lemon once in a while. also what is the maintainence cost on both cars...like service charges ..etc.

Thanks alot.

 

if you going to mod it then the a4 2.0t all the way... but audi cost more to maintain and the AWD on the audi is excellent. is250 cheaper to maintain that's about it. and nav on the lexus is way better than the nav on the audi

 

Audi AWD is the best. Other than Subaru I don't know where you can get a better AWD system.

 

I can only compare lexus awd to Honda... I drove hondas(3) in the last 3 yrs and prior had about every manufacture 4wd systems
I was impressed with Honda's awd... never felt so sure footed in snow!
I test drove the lexus in a snow storm we had back in feb here in chicago and except for the lower height issues over the honda pilot, the 250 system hands down is the best. I was driving thru 10 inches of fresh snow and t never slipped, nothing... punch the gas & go! Of course you need to practice saftey.. nothing stops on ice! Although lexus does assist better than most

 

There are many factors you need to tell us before we can help you out.

1) How long are you keeping the car? Every 3 to 4 years? or beyond that?
2) What are your priorities/needs other than AWD? Want a manual? need power? handling? Modability? etc.

if you are going get a new car every 3 to 4 years, reliability isn't an issue since it would be covered by factory warranty. So you can go for an A4 quattro or a 3-series Xi model without concern about reliability. However if you want to own the car beyond factory warranty expiration then you'd be better off with Lexus, and at least a Japanese make like subaru.

If you need more power (stock or aftermarket) and require a manual transmission then Lexus IS250 AWD isn't for you because it has neither, and very few aftermarket power parts for it as well. The A4 Quattro and 3-series Xi model ranges comes with better power (A4 3.0 Quattro and 328xi or soon to come 335xi). Of coures the Audi and BMW's are much more pricier.

There's also the Volvo S40 T5 which is an AWD that can be had with 5AT or 6MT, as well as the Mazdaspeed 6 AWD 6MT which is the same price as the IS250 AWD but has close to IS350 hp (280hp) for less money.

There a ton of other things to consider, so here's what i suggest you should do.

Writedown a list of things you look for in a car, let's say 10 things, then for each attribute gave a subjective rating of 1-10 for each of the car you're considering like Car and Driver magazine style. It helps you to prioritize your needs and let's you see the big picture, rather than just being blinded with one or two features you like but overall doesn't suit your needs.

 

you dont really need all wheel drive in cali huh? unless you like awd

 

ha..sorry guys.. i don't live in CA, i'm in vancouver..and recent years have been experiences more snow than every..that's why i figure i should get an AWD.
this car i will be keeping at for awhile..more than 3-4years..and requires to be A/T, since sometimes i swap cars with family members. i'm not really going to modi the car and for power...who doesn't want more power, but i can live with what the 2.0T and 250 is offering. i've test drove the audi yesterday..the handling and driving is solid, but power wise i found it a bit slower than my current Prelude. but i can still live with it, since i'm past the age thinking about just speed. i can sarcifice some speed with luxury and comfort. i will test drive the IS today and see how it goes.

yes...i've heard audi's awd is one of the best, awd is one of my first priorities, but the reliabity and maintainence is also one of my top priorities. ...meaning the cost to own.

Lexster mentioned that he had no problem driving the IS in snow..anyone else experienced the IS in snow?

 

(Daisy's husband here..)

We have both cars, A4 Quattro and Lexus AWD. Since Lexus is only week old I can't tell you about AWD yet but Quattro is a great thing to have but be aware that Audi will release B8 platform next year and A4 will go from B7 faceliift to new B8 body.

From the driving / fun / engine point you can't compare IS250 AWD to Audi A4 2.0T Quattro. FSI engine is moreresponsive and easier to mod with minimal funds. There is plenty of software programs for 2.0T engine not to mention Turbo upgrades. If you like heavy mods you can get even 350-400hp out of 2.0T engine with better turbo. It was done before without any problems.
If you want just more torque and few ponnys more ....I would suggest to get REVO for $300-400 and you will feel the difference. Overall A4 will be faster than Lexus because japanese cars usually luck on torque and power.

Community and aftermarket parts field is way bigger for Audi too.


Now Luxury / equipment side.
Luxury is hands down to Lexus. Lexus offers features theat are affordable priced and some of them are not even available on Audi (vented seats for example). You will pay less for extremely loaded Lexus than loaded Audi. I can't even argue here.

Someone said that Lexus NAV is better than Audi....it is not true. I have great experience with Audi NAV installation and features and they are very comparable. Audi NAV has SD card slots for built in MP3 player and it is RDS ready for upcoming live traffic feature. On teh other side Lexus offer DVD player within ML package (It is descent feature if you liek to watch DVDs in teh car).

Fun factor is on the Audi side. If you are fan of moding you will find this car very responsive to your ideas. Plenty of hi end aftermarket parts and elements for great tuning. I moded my A4 B6 to match my taste and I wouldn't trade it for a Lexus, but Lexus as a second car makes great addition to our family garage.



When we bought IS250 I was looking for IS350 for myself, and if Lexus would decide to sell it with AWD option I would seriously consider this car against Audi. But since they don;t sell it with AWD and Audi released Ausi A5/S5, I will stick to Audi brand with my pre-ordered A5

 

only reason why i'd go with lexus over audi is because I like lexus over audi.

performance wise Audi tops Lexus

on reliability Lexus wins

But both companies have sludge issues on engines. especially audi's 1.8 T

 

We live in North Dakota. You will not have any problems using and IS250 AWD in snow or ice. We got around all winter without any problems handling the snow. The system works very well.

 

I'm sure lexus wins over audi on reliability...and probably wins over any other car.. but just how UN-reliable is an audi. like what are some typical problems an audi would be having.. anyone have extensive repairs done to an audi just for normal wear and tear condition? i'm planning to keep to car past warrantee. Also, the audi is a turbo engine..does it require major maintainance over a long period of time or needs to be replaced?

I test drove the audi and lexus this past weekend.. right now i'm leaning towards to audi for the driving performance and cargo space and ...seating space..i'm 6'-3"..sitting inside the lexus feels kinda cramped. but again..reliability is a major concern for me and this could sway me to the lexus. ...i still really love the look and the interior of the lexus, top notch.

 

Is not as reliable as Lexus (based on from what I heard about Lexus) but nothing major. During last 3 year I had 5 times coipack replaced under warranty (this is 10 minutes process) ant that's it. But take in consideration that I have B6 and you will probably get new B7 platform

for more complete view I would check:

www.audizine.com
www.audiworld.com