It depends on what you want. The A4 will be fun to drive in corners. The IS will be fun to drive in straight lines. If you went for the S4 or 335i, you'd get the best of both worlds (but at a significant cost).

As a potentially helpful aside, I just added F-sport sway bars, and that has drastically improved the handling on my 350. The 350 will definitely be the most bang for your buck (especially in this economy). I, however, would personally prefer the s4 or 335i coupe, but both are way too overpriced and unreliable.

 

My daughter has an 03 Audi A4 Cabrio 3.0. It has the CVT transmission. I don't know if they still use that trans. If so, I would try to avoid it. There's just something about it that fails to inspire confidence.

She has about 80k on the car and hasn't had any big mechanical issues - other than the convertible top separating from the rear glass. It always feels like you're waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Also, unless you pop for the S4 or RS4, the IS350 is WAY more fun to step on the go-pedal!!!

Finally, I don't have any real statistics to support this. BUT, I'm convinced that the IS350 will hold its value much better than the Audi.

 

I've owned S4 and IS350 in the Past....S4 is more fun to drive but more electronic issues and S4 is not faster than IS350 in the 1/4 mile

 

vote for new audi...i would try and get a5. im tired of is350..

 

Get the Audi, it is fresh.

 

There are some good thoughts here.

We also have a Car Chat Forum and are lucky enough to have a member named mmarshall who posts his reviews of various cars that are requested.

Below are a couple of links I found for a 2008 IS350 and a 2009 A4 2.0T ( I know your looking for a 3.2 but I think you'll agree there is some good stuff in here).

2008 IS350

2009 A4 2.0T

Good luck with your search,

TripleL