[Debaser]

The 2012 A7 has received a ton of good press. Seems most of the reviews even favor it over the current gen. 5.

I'm in the market for a new luxury sedan and keep going back and forth between these two. What made you opt for the 5-series?

[alex_c]

You can only fit 4 adults on the A7, the F10 fits 5 comfortably.

Also, equally configured the A7 was at least $10K more expensive than the 535, and the Audi dealers would not move from MSRP, which made that difference more like $15K in real world pricing. Other than that, the A7 is a beautiful car... but not $15,000 better than my 535.

[dunderhi]

The "cadillac-style" afterthought looking pop-up NAV screen eliminated the A6, A7, & A8 for me. I don't think the A7 looks as good as its sedan siblings either.

I picked the 550xi because of the stying, comfort, cost, tech, and available Dinan mods. After 28kmi's it is still rattle/squesk free (I can't say that about my previous A6) and brings a smile face often.

[joey5622]

4 seater, and in my opinion cheaper looking and feeling interior.

the car stands out at first but gets really old to look at after...

[gatoman39]

The leather & seats in the Audi isn't anywhere near the quality of the leather in the BMW. It's something you sit on and touch every time you get into the car. Look at the pictures of the doors, there's not a stitch of leather on the A6/A7

The killer is the pop up navigatoin screen. The Nav screen pops up out of the dash, everytime you start the car. It is utter insanity. OK, say you put it away cause you don't want to look at it. When you throw your car in reverse, it pops up automatically, engaging the back up camera. If you're trying to attempt to get out of a parking spot and have to drive forward and back a couple times the pop up screen, does the same, goes up when you reverse, down when you engage drive, and so on. Kill me!

[ATOMBOY]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

The leather & seats in the Audi isn't anywhere near the quality of the leather in the BMW. It's something you sit on and touch every time you get into the car. Look at the pictures of the doors, there's not a stitch of leather on the A6/A7

The killer is the pop up navigatoin screen. The Nav screen pops up out of the dash, everytime you start the car. It is utter insanity. OK, say you put it away cause you don't want to look at it. When you throw your car in reverse, it pops up automatically, engaging the back up camera. If you're trying to attempt to get out of a parking spot and have to drive forward and back a couple times the pop up screen, does the same, goes up when you reverse, down when you engage drive, and so on. Kill me!

Cannot agree with you more!

[Estimated Prophet]

I looked long and hard at both the 5 series and the A6 which is pretty much identical mechanically to the A7. I had not owned either BMW or Audi so I had absolutely no brand loyalty to influence my decision.

Both cars have their strengths and weaknesses. The 5 series wins on exterior looks for me. The A7 is a nice looking car except I can't get over the massive grill on the front. It really detracts from the rest of the car IMHO but I could have lived with it.

The 5 series has a solid feeling I didn't get in the Audi. Both on the road and in the interior. I found the interior build quality and workmanship to be much better in the BMW. I spent a lot of time in the A6 and from the very first moment I sat down in one I was underwhelmed at both materials and solidity of the interior while being equally as impressed with the BMW. The A6 has a lot of panels that have a hollow, tinning feel to them. The BMW has a vault like feel in comparison. The 5 series is also much quieter with a better highway ride. But hands down the worst feature for me were the Audi seats. They are low quality leather/leatherette, hard, flat, not very supportive, ugly and have no business in a $60k-70k car. The multi-contour seats in the 5 series put the Audi to shame. I don't know why Audi choose not to make their sport seats an option on the A6/A7 in the USA but I know it has cost them sales.

I found the 3.0 s/c V6 in the Audi to be more responsive and quicker than the 535i but since I ended up with a 550i that point became moot.

I think what best sums it up best for me is a quote from the MT comparison article.

"Whereas the A6 tried really, really hard to feel like a $60,000 automobile, the BMW didn't even break a sweat."

After spending extensive time shopping for both I came away with the same impression.

[paulbazo]

Originally Posted by Debaser

The 2012 A7 has received a ton of good press. Seems most of the reviews even favor it over the current gen. 5.

I'm in the market for a new luxury sedan and keep going back and forth between these two. What made you opt for the 5-series?

Really? I have had 5's for the last 15 years, I am a BMW loyal customer since 1972, I have tested Audis and never felt the need to corss over.

[joey5622]

Debaser, how do you feel about the 6GC? Seems like 4 seats isn't a problem for you and this car is absolutely beautiful!! Had some time in one the other day and it blew me away! It feels like so luxurious inside! It would make the a7 seem like a civic haha

BS how it's 130k in Canada tho....

Also, the stupid rear plastic hole in the middle of the back seat of the a7 is just nasty!!!

[Lee]

I spent quite a bit of time considering the A7. Three main reasons I went with BMW: 1) Audi didn't offer a V8 at the time; 2) number and quality of seatings; and 3) us military guys in Europe get pretty significant discounts from BMW.

If a V8 was offered at the time, I may have been an Audi owner as 5 series are a dime a dozen around here.

Look forward to hearing your decision.

[Amleto63]

Originally Posted by Debaser

The 2012 A7 has received a ton of good press. Seems most of the reviews even favor it over the current gen. 5.

I'm in the market for a new luxury sedan and keep going back and forth between these two. What made you opt for the 5-series?

The comparison is not fair. The A7 faces to 6GC

[Debaser]

Thanks, guys. Your feelings reflect why I prefer the 5 myself. It just feels richer, better in almost every way - better architecture, more solid interior, more masculine and serious overall.

I guess at the end of the day the few milliseconds or metres the A6 has on the 5 in those professional test drives mean little. I did enjoy the A6's responsiveness and smoothness during the test drives I did, but I had a feeling my main quibble with the ride in the 5 was the run flat tires.

I'll go with my gut. I love BMWs.

[The X Men]

The leather in the A7 is actually higher quality than the BMW Dakota leather, the price is about $5000 more for the A7 similarly equipped. Each car have its plus and minus, the A7 has a better power train and more high tech toys, the 535xi feels more solid and it is a bit more stable on the highway. In the end, you cannot lose with either car. To say one is better than the other is just a matter of opinion, it all depends on one's priority in their car.

[Alan l.]

For me i was really digging the A6 until i sat in one.

What killed it for me:

1980's flip out navigation screen (reminds me of my old alpine flip out radio)
Interior layout (F10's interior is better designed and more classy)
Dealers expecting msrp for it (i got 6K off msrp for my 2013 535xi)

Exterior was a toss up as they both look amazing (a6). Personally i love how the front of the A7 looks but not the back. Just not a fan of that rear end.

Alan

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

For me i was really digging the A6 until i sat in one.

What killed it for me:

1980's flip out navigation screen (reminds me of my old alpine flip out radio)
Interior layout (F10's interior is better designed and more classy)
Dealers expecting msrp for it (i got 6K off msrp for my 2013 535xi)

Exterior was a toss up as they both look amazing (a6). Personally i love how the front of the A7 looks but not the back. Just not a fan of that rear end.

Alan

I have to agree, the A7 rear is horribly designed.

[Russkey]

A7 is more expensive than 535? Are you serious? I just can't believe it! 5 series m sport wins in every category for me!

[kave]

I just love the looks of the A7. But a quick drive inside reveals that it is very far from a BMW. The seats dont provide any side support at all. The instruments looks cheap, I hate the flip up display. Next car will most certainly be yet another five series.

[Andrey]

did anyone mention history???
BMW 5 series has come a long way to be where it is right now... where Audi A7 came out of nowhere.
Everytime i see e39 or e34 or even e28, (e12 are extremely rare) i want to stop and look at those BEAUTIFUL creatures, and it make me proud to drive the new 5 series, I always let its elder sisters get in front of me just so that i can look at them. Owning a BMW or 5 series in this case makes you feel like you belong and contribute to something greater, bigger, better then just owning a car.
I have imagined this before: I bought an audi a7, driving down, and one day seeing black F10 drive/fly by with e60, e39, e34, e28 and e12 lined up behind it............ and it would be the worst day of my life, because audi hasn't got that heritage like BMW.
Oh yeah price, hp, weight,......i totally forgot about that didn't I...

No, i am not a hater, and i am sure audi is a good car, but BMW has soul!!!!
The most important option on a car is = Soul! and my BMWs had it as a standard equipment.
I got carried away a bit, sorry

[half man half amazin]

BMW feels richer better built, looks better in AND out and... It's a BMW.

[smashhell]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

The leather & seats in the Audi isn't anywhere near the quality of the leather in the BMW. It's something you sit on and touch every time you get into the car. Look at the pictures of the doors, there's not a stitch of leather on the A6/A7

The killer is the pop up navigatoin screen. The Nav screen pops up out of the dash, everytime you start the car. It is utter insanity. OK, say you put it away cause you don't want to look at it. When you throw your car in reverse, it pops up automatically, engaging the back up camera. If you're trying to attempt to get out of a parking spot and have to drive forward and back a couple times the pop up screen, does the same, goes up when you reverse, down when you engage drive, and so on. Kill me!

Oh wow that picture really shows the difference. The interior of the A7 scream cheap to me.

[TimeFor]

I liked the A7 until I sat in one too. There is a cheapness in the interior that shouldn't be.

I loved the matte wood trim but I couldn't get over that the plastic parts felt like plastic in the Audi. I don't feel that even in my 528i. Forget the NAV popup, even the screen quality itself was low.

I sat in a S430 at the same auto show and to my amazement I felt even that interior was on the cheap side. As soon as I sat down the seat made a loud and repeatable squeak. I heard a softer but still noticeable squeak too in the S63 they had. I asked the rep about it and he said some comment about all the people sitting down wore out the seat. I might have believed that if it wasn't the first hour of the first day of the show. Also, none of the other car makers had cars with seats that squeaked.

IMO BMW has the best interiors across each of their classes. Not necessarily in aesthetics, but in quality.

-Time

[delvek]

Because they are slower