[technik330]

Originally Posted by Das Johnson

The best car for my needs IS BMW, Ive grown into loving them over the years of them being the perfect vehicle for me. I think the best car for my needs will always be some kind of BMW, but if there is something better, I'd stick with BMW just because I dont wanna betray the kickass brand my families been with since 35'.

Just so you understand.

Is this real life?

[sdpauly]

I think 'brand loyalty' is a silly thing.

You are basically telling a company you will buy anything they produce, even if it's mediocre. IMHO, businesses need to win me as a customer by producing excellent products that I want to buy. Conversely, they can also lose me as a customer by deviating from producing things that I like/want.

Just, the whole notion of being a "GM family" or a "BMW family" just makes no sense to me. But, whatever makes you happy, I suppose...

I bought two VWs because (at the time) I liked what they produced. Then when their products started to stray from what I liked, I turned to BMW. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 135i, but looking forward, I'm just not that into what BMW is doing for the present and future products. Now, I'm liking Porsche and I see a 981 in my future.

But, I may not stick with Porsche after this generation if they do not continue producing what I like.

Loyalty? To a company? Hell no.

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

would LOVE to have this join the 1M in my garage as a 'family car'. The Audi 5-pot engines are something special....

Ditto, except that a) it doesn't offer a manual, and b) it likely won't be offered in the US.

I'd do the VW R again, but it has so much grip it really needs a power bump to get it moving around, and this offers that.

Shame that we're in the minority- apparently there are not enough of us to justify Audi bringing it over. Of course if Audi decides they want to bring some enthusiasts back into the fold, this would be my first audi since the UR Quattro. Always up for a little more 4wd drifting fun.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by Pete_vB

Ditto, except that a) it doesn't offer a manual, and b) it likely won't be offered in the US.

I'd do the VW R again, but it has so much grip it really needs a power bump to get it moving around, and this offers that.

Shame that we're in the minority- apparently there are not enough of us to justify Audi bringing it over. Of course if Audi decides they want to bring some enthusiasts back into the fold, this would be my first audi since the UR Quattro. Always up for a little more 4wd drifting fun.

yeah Audi has all but abolished the manual....and yes we have NEVER had RS hatches or wagons in this country. A damn shame....

To all that brand loyalty crap posted here; brand loyalty is for suckers. Buy the best car for you at any given time----the end.

[Denk]

I love hot hatch's, 3 gen GTI owner. This Audi looks fantastic!

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally Posted by Das Johnson

The best car for my needs IS BMW, Ive grown into loving them over the years of them being the perfect vehicle for me. I think the best car for my needs will always be some kind of BMW, but if there is something better, I'd stick with BMW just because I dont wanna betray the kickass brand my families been with since 35'.

Just so you understand.

Willing to bet all money that I have that you're an Apple fan.

[Das Johnson]

Originally Posted by technik330

Is this real life?

Granddad from Germany, always bought BMW, never knew why, he convinced my father who convinced me, Its just that they have made cars that have suited me and my father and his father, Ive gotten other cars besides Bimmers (Hyundai SNOTa), but I just carry on the tradition by owning at least one ultimate driving machine. I guess every family is a bit wierd.

[Simon H]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

It doesn't look awful IMO.. Just very subtle and classy.

I quite agree Colin,
Although i think a 3 door, and saloon would look slightly better.

[gtr]

Why is it so hard to find a car with a spare tire, Manual tranny and a non electronic ebrake. Cost saving is getting crazy.. and I'm disappointed to see these savings in enthusiast cars where people are willing to pay more to get more.

On the new golf R I don't see an manual ebrake also. I hope competition will open these manufactures eyes. If no manual on the RS3, Audi has already decided for me to go M2 unless they offer a manual TTRS with F80/82 level of performance.

[sdpauly]

I can see wanting a manual transmission and/or spare tire... But why does the e-brake (parking brake) matter if it's manual or electric?

[gtr]

Originally Posted by sdpauly

I can see wanting a manual transmission and/or spare tire... But why does the e-brake (parking brake) matter if it's manual or electric?

You can't depend on hill hold. Easier for winter driving and manual tranny.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by sdpauly

I can see wanting a manual transmission and/or spare tire... But why does the e-brake (parking brake) matter if it's manual or electric?

Can't pull the electronic brake while driving (unless extreme emergency). It's either fully on or off...no in between like with a manually operated e brake. BMW is one of the few remaining companies with manual e brakes

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by gtr

Why is it so hard to find a car with a spare tire, Manual tranny and a non electronic ebrake. Cost saving is getting crazy.. and I'm disappointed to see these savings in enthusiast cars where people are willing to pay more to get more.

On the new golf R I don't see an manual ebrake also. I hope competition will open these manufactures eyes. If no manual on the RS3, Audi has already decided for me to go M2 unless they offer a manual TTRS with F80/82 level of performance.

I hear ya. But I just hope that you realize how much of the minority you are about the manual tranny thing. For 90% of buyers it's not going to matter. The GTR has no manual transmission and last I checked plenty of enthusiasts like it just fine

Remember, one of the most popular passenger car sold in America is the Toyota Camry which by most car magazines and enthusiasts is actually one of the worst cars people buy. Sometimes human behavior can't be explained

[sdpauly]

I haven't had any problems with the hill hold in my 6MT 135i...

I also think it's kind of a misnomer to call your parking brake an e-brake. I don't think you should yank on the parking brake in an emergency situation... It's likely to just lock up one rear wheel and make you lose control.

If you have a manual trans, you can downshift/engine-brake to slow down. I can't say I have ever encountered a situation while driving where I would need to use my parking brake as an emergency brake.

So, I guess the electronic parking brake thing doesn't bother me.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by CONTROL ONE

Willing to bet all money that I have that you're an Apple fan.

And?

Android user?

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by sdpauly

I haven't had any problems with the hill hold in my 6MT 135i...

I also think it's kind of a misnomer to call your parking brake an e-brake. I don't think you should yank on the parking brake in an emergency situation... It's likely to just lock up one rear wheel and make you lose control.

If you have a manual trans, you can downshift/engine-brake to slow down. I can't say I have ever encountered a situation while driving where I would need to use my parking brake as an emergency brake.

So, I guess the electronic parking brake thing doesn't bother me.

Drifting? 180 degree turns? Manual e-brake and manual + rwd is a match made in heaven. For AWD cars a manual e brake is less important

[sdpauly]

Doing a lot of 180 drifts on public roads are you?

OK, maybe if you're buying a new BMW as a drift car, then you have a point. But if you're going all racecar anyway, I'm sure you could retrofit a manual e-brake if that's your thing...

For the majority of people out there that just use it to immobilize the car when parked, I doubt it will make any difference.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by sdpauly

Doing a lot of 180 drifts on public roads are you?

OK, maybe if you're buying a new BMW as a drift car, then you have a point. But if you're going all racecar anyway, I'm sure you could retrofit a manual e-brake if that's your thing...

For the majority of people out there that just use it to immobilize the car when parked, I doubt it will make any difference.

What's the point of buying a "fun" car if you don't have fun with it? Not saying doing it on public roads but there are plenty of parking lots and such to have a little fun. My m4 has a manual e brake and I haven't really used it other than for parking but I still like to know it's there vs. the RS5's electronic e-brake.

Your mentality (which I'm not not saying is wrong) is exactly why there are so few cars with manual transmissions and manual e-brakes. Now unlike a few other "manual only" folks on this forum, I've adapted to the new world and I've embraced the efficiencies that the digital world provides particularly DCTs. Can't say that I miss driving manual much at all

[m981addicts]

Nice clean shape. Would fly under the radar and be a great sleeper.

[JustChris]

Pretty decent Audi indeed. M2 looks much much better.

[gtr]

Originally Posted by sdpauly

For the majority of people out there that just use it to immobilize the car when parked, I doubt it will make any difference.

I guess "electric" would be only a parking brake but the manual hand brake can be used as a parking brake or emergency brake. Maybe I'm much older than you but pulling that brake is like your brake pedal. Activated hard and it will lock up.

For winter driving for people who live in snow area it makes it more convenient to drive. Traction control doesn't work on ice. Sometime holding the E-Brake and limit torque, slowly gets you out. Performance car has too much torque and with a hand brake you can get going like a 100hp torqueless car. Also helps make controllable turns on low traction surfaces by pulling on the brake.

On the lancer evolution I believe the hand brake opens the center differtial for the 180 degree turns. I wonder if Audi got rid of that to save the drivetrain on the haldex center clutch system? Probably more cost saving by getting rid of the center diff. At lease audi kept their nice interiors.

[vladberca]

I guess we'll see a 365 bhp M2, better on track but not as fast in straight line (0 to 62 mph)