S4 vs M3...?
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 236
From:
RE: S4 vs M3...?
yes , she is very beautiful but that never answered his question.. lol ... Now they are both (M3 & S4) great cars.... its just too bad the comparison isnt against a B5 S4 
Anytime you can have 4 doors AWD, & Turbo .. receipe for success
Anytime you can have 4 doors AWD, & Turbo .. receipe for success
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
RE: S4 vs M3...?
the m3 is really nice and personally im a coupe fan but a big audi fan too. id have to agree with uber on the 2 door preformance side if you have a winter car or u live in a warm climate. but im hoping that the new tt will be like the concept and have the turbo 6 in the rs verson and just the 6 in the s version would be good competion for the m3 and gotta lover that snow shreadding quattro
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 57
From:
RE: S4 vs M3...?
I have a b6 s4 and am always curious about people's opinion about this ( E46 vs,..)
I think both cars are superb machines-
but for the daily Los Angeles day to day I believe the S4 to be a more desirable choice.. this is for me..
I think if your gonna put it down, really squeeze out of the car what its really able to do.. then I believe the E46 M3 is a superior vehicle..as far as it having somewhat of an edge...
BUt for everything short of the max I believe the S4 triumphs..and maybe people would disagree about the s4 begin inferior when put to the limit
like this armenian guy that told me my car would smoke an M3 if there were turns in the test...he said he saw some video
anyways..smoke i think was a very large exageration
Quattro is amazing, absolutely.. but in really aggresive driving I feel the v8 is somewhat awkward in really intense constant high revs, downshifts and repeated redlines...i just feel like soemthings gonna break-- where the M3 when pressed to the limit comes to life as to what it really is truly about--
although conversely the M3 on the opposite end of the spectrum- putting around town, I think is basically completely dormant..where the s4 with power and torque early on is a real delight just with a little throttle....
Other considerations I think are:
The S4 v8 engine sound is amazing, just sounds so good
where the M3 is raspy almost tinny sounding until mods are done- and someone tell me if Im wrong ( be there some mechanical /performance benefit otherwise unachievable) But i think 4 exhaust pipes for an inline 6 is almost silly
In Los Angeles M3's are probably more easily found than cabs, definately so on the west side of LA- e46's
I barely ever see S4's- probably because everyone bough M3s instead
Ugh I am tired, its 3 in the morn .BUt I got the meat of what I meant to say out
someone tell me if they agree or what they think about my rant
And why was the production for the B6 so short? 04 05
And who else feels like its the end of the world
when are we gonna have a s4 meet or a euro meet bring the porcupiines out too
http://www.e.ramsden.dsl.pipex.com/tg/m3s41.jpg
I think both cars are superb machines-
but for the daily Los Angeles day to day I believe the S4 to be a more desirable choice.. this is for me..
I think if your gonna put it down, really squeeze out of the car what its really able to do.. then I believe the E46 M3 is a superior vehicle..as far as it having somewhat of an edge...
BUt for everything short of the max I believe the S4 triumphs..and maybe people would disagree about the s4 begin inferior when put to the limit
like this armenian guy that told me my car would smoke an M3 if there were turns in the test...he said he saw some video
anyways..smoke i think was a very large exageration
Quattro is amazing, absolutely.. but in really aggresive driving I feel the v8 is somewhat awkward in really intense constant high revs, downshifts and repeated redlines...i just feel like soemthings gonna break-- where the M3 when pressed to the limit comes to life as to what it really is truly about--
although conversely the M3 on the opposite end of the spectrum- putting around town, I think is basically completely dormant..where the s4 with power and torque early on is a real delight just with a little throttle....
Other considerations I think are:
The S4 v8 engine sound is amazing, just sounds so good
where the M3 is raspy almost tinny sounding until mods are done- and someone tell me if Im wrong ( be there some mechanical /performance benefit otherwise unachievable) But i think 4 exhaust pipes for an inline 6 is almost silly
In Los Angeles M3's are probably more easily found than cabs, definately so on the west side of LA- e46's
I barely ever see S4's- probably because everyone bough M3s instead
Ugh I am tired, its 3 in the morn .BUt I got the meat of what I meant to say out
someone tell me if they agree or what they think about my rant
And why was the production for the B6 so short? 04 05
And who else feels like its the end of the world
when are we gonna have a s4 meet or a euro meet bring the porcupiines out too
http://www.e.ramsden.dsl.pipex.com/tg/m3s41.jpg
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,558
From: Mass
RE: S4 vs M3...?
http://gofastvideo.com/gallery/item/...udi-s4-v8.html M3 straight away, S4 takes it on the track from the all wheel drive huges the corners
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 111
From:
RE: S4 vs M3...?
I had almost exactly the same problem when I was looking for The New Vehicle (TM)
It was pretty much down to three contenders, the top two being an M3 (droptop) and S4 (Droptop), and they would be factory-fresh, built to spec. (Hey, it was a 'congratulations on surviving a war' present)
As you can imagine from the roof requirement, *****-out speed was not an issue. Fast is good. Eking out the extra fraction of a second over other cars is not a pre-requisite.
There not being an Audi dealership near my demobilisation station, I drove down to San Luis Obispo to the BMW dealership there, and started checking things out. (They're very nice, I'd recommend buying from them!) The Beemer (No, I don't care what Americans say, 'Bimmer' doesn't exist!) is a cool car on the exterior, it's fast, it's fun... Engine is a little 'stressed' (Both in sound and nature), and the interior wasn't bad at all.
Very nearly bought it, but decided for the sake of completeness to check out the competition, and I'm glad I did.
Sitting in the Audi made the BMW's interior look like my Chevrolet's. There was just no comparison. The engine may not be as worthy as the BMW's (More cylinders for pretty much the same horsepower), but it doesn't scream at you, and seems to effortlessly propel you at high warp factors. Incredibly smooth, Clarkson was right. The engine in the S4 is a masterpiece.
Yes, the steering's kindof dead. Actually, the whole handling deal is kindof boring. You can't get the tail out on a whim, you can't screech off as easily when four wheels are applying the traction. It's certainly safe though, and I've taken the car beyond my 'comfort' limits without as much as a peep from the tyres. My puny 200hp V6 Camaro is more 'fun' than the S4. But it's nowhere near as good a car. Not as fast, not as comfortable, not as smooth or quiet, not as safe, not as..well.. driving the S4 is an event. I don't 'drive' it places, I 'cosset' places in it. Very quickly!
NTM
It was pretty much down to three contenders, the top two being an M3 (droptop) and S4 (Droptop), and they would be factory-fresh, built to spec. (Hey, it was a 'congratulations on surviving a war' present)
As you can imagine from the roof requirement, *****-out speed was not an issue. Fast is good. Eking out the extra fraction of a second over other cars is not a pre-requisite.
There not being an Audi dealership near my demobilisation station, I drove down to San Luis Obispo to the BMW dealership there, and started checking things out. (They're very nice, I'd recommend buying from them!) The Beemer (No, I don't care what Americans say, 'Bimmer' doesn't exist!) is a cool car on the exterior, it's fast, it's fun... Engine is a little 'stressed' (Both in sound and nature), and the interior wasn't bad at all.
Very nearly bought it, but decided for the sake of completeness to check out the competition, and I'm glad I did.
Sitting in the Audi made the BMW's interior look like my Chevrolet's. There was just no comparison. The engine may not be as worthy as the BMW's (More cylinders for pretty much the same horsepower), but it doesn't scream at you, and seems to effortlessly propel you at high warp factors. Incredibly smooth, Clarkson was right. The engine in the S4 is a masterpiece.
Yes, the steering's kindof dead. Actually, the whole handling deal is kindof boring. You can't get the tail out on a whim, you can't screech off as easily when four wheels are applying the traction. It's certainly safe though, and I've taken the car beyond my 'comfort' limits without as much as a peep from the tyres. My puny 200hp V6 Camaro is more 'fun' than the S4. But it's nowhere near as good a car. Not as fast, not as comfortable, not as smooth or quiet, not as safe, not as..well.. driving the S4 is an event. I don't 'drive' it places, I 'cosset' places in it. Very quickly!
NTM
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 674
From: Saratoga, CA (UCSB)
RE: S4 vs M3...?
This is a very common comparrison. I had to ask my self the same question, or more my parents asked me. But I test drove both the cars with my dad, heres my impression.
BMW Pros: More aggressive styling, straitline speed, car to be SEEN in (really more of a con)
Cons: Engine feels overworked, only a 2 door, more expensive, 2WD, o yeah and 2WD!
Audi Pros: 4WD, stealthy, plush interior, V8!, low end torque, less expensive, 4 doors, and 4WD!
Cons: Your friends might get really jealous
After my test drives, it was a no contest, I was seduced by the silky smooth V8 and amazing interior.
BMW Pros: More aggressive styling, straitline speed, car to be SEEN in (really more of a con)
Cons: Engine feels overworked, only a 2 door, more expensive, 2WD, o yeah and 2WD!
Audi Pros: 4WD, stealthy, plush interior, V8!, low end torque, less expensive, 4 doors, and 4WD!
Cons: Your friends might get really jealous
After my test drives, it was a no contest, I was seduced by the silky smooth V8 and amazing interior.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15
RE: S4 vs M3...?
how is having 2wd or should i say rwd a con? thats where all the fun in driving is, the traditional rwd. the e46 inline 6 does not feel overworked. it feels great throughout its powerband. whom ever asked about the exaust, i think its very feesable. the motor is worked, it needs to move that exhaust fast, its high compression creating 333hp needs to breath. the m3 is not a straightline car, its a great handling car, to me the only edge the s4 has is its interior, otherwise comparing awd and rwd is outta question. overall the m3 out performs the s4 in every aspect, even 1/4, handling, top end, braking and etc. also, m3 should not be a weekend car since it only has 333hp .
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