E9x m3 vs B7 Audi RS4

[JOM3JO]

watch Top gear....u will find the answer!!!

[adc]

Originally Posted by 1997gtx

Again, this is a track with professional driving pushing the car to the limits (speed wise, which the M3 is easily faster). In every-day driving, the cars perform differently.

I don't know about that. I would argue that in everyday driving traffic and fear of imprisonment are the biggest limiting factors in any performance vehicle.

Past a certain level of performance it's all the same.

Originally Posted by Jdub679

That said, there are things about the Rs4 that are better than an M3

But handling is not one of them - and this was the subject of the thread, wasn't it?

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

I went to the audi showroom with my buddy who was looking for used RS4 and the Sales claimed that RS4 handles way better then the m3, is that true? I havent driven RS4 but i know its 4wd. Rs4 handles better then e9x m3?

Seriously did you expect the salesman to say otherwise?

[JOM3JO]

On the track and performance= M3 for sure
Daily street driving= Both are good...RS4 better on wet condition..
if u choose RS4,i would go wagon over seden(Wagon just looks sooo much better seden)

[adc]

Originally Posted by JOM3JO

Wagon just looks sooo much better seden

But you're adding 2-300lbs of weight, it will hurt performance noticeably. It's not like the RS4 is some fire-breathing monster...

[dcstep]

Just for the record, it was wet when the BMW beat the Audi on latest Top Gear, by one-second in a short lap. Audis are superior handling in the first 100-feet, when their 4wd traction is an advantage. Once your moving, wet or dry, the superior balance of the BMW wins the day.

[kmurph]

Originally Posted by Smoltz

Wow.... blast from the past.... I used to be on Roadfly. You keeping the E46 M3? RS4 definitely a great car. Is that the exact one you're buying? Euro wheel... nice. You drive the E90 M3 or B8 S4 or was the RS4 love at first drive?


-Adam

Roadfly...I can't believe how long it's been. I'm probably one of the few who still have the e46, which I am trading in. It's time. I was all set on an e90 M3, which I have driven once. I eventually decided it might be smart to go with AWD...The hills here can be a b!tch in the winter. I wanted a V8 and 4 doors, so that pretty much left me with a S4 or RS4.

As for the RS4 in the pics, it is the car I'm buying, and it was love at first drive. The dealer offered me what I thought was a pretty good deal, so I jumped on it...hopefully, I'll have no regrets. I've been die-hard BMW for so long; it's going to feel odd driving an Audi. I'm going to steering with the rear end.

To keep it somewhat on-topic...I agree that the M3 is definitely more balanced, and would perform better on the track. Audi is, however, catching up..they finally figured it might be a good idea to push the engine back over the front axle...duh.

[White Shark]

RS4 sounds like a space ship !

[mdosu]

cool you got the Euro steering wheel! Personally, I love the idea of a AWD V8 compact sports sedan, and the RS4 is the only choice when you have if you want this combo.

The RS4's drivetrain is a very simple mechanical one with open front and rear diffs, and I believe a viscous center diff. I would have been pissed to buy this car at full sticker $80k when it was new and the diff was no different than a standard A4.

I looked at the RS4 when shopping for my M3. At the end of the day, I chose the M3 b/c:
1. it was straight up just cheaper, 2008 M3 vs 2008 RS4 of equal mileage
2. I couldn't find a low milage RS4 anywhere
3. the simple differential i mentioned bugs and will always bug me.
4. M3 is lighter
5. M3 is better in all performance aspects and in all scenarios
6. The interior and amenities are better in the M3, everything about the interior in the RS4 looks and feels dated.
7. my g/f sad the BMW looks better, though I can't argue one is better looking than the other

Originally Posted by kmurph

Well...I was never a huge fan of Audis...but was always curious about the RS4.

I have 136K miles on my e46 M3, and felt it was time to get something new. I wanted a V8 and 4 doors, so I had my eye on the e90 M3. I test drove a used RS4 last weekend and was blown away...much better than I expected. Unless you drive the car at its limits, it's not going to plow...it felt more balanced than I expected and the damping was superb...With that being said, I'm picking it up this Saturday...and it has a GMG cat-back exhaust which sounds great. I never thought I'd see myself out of a BMW...

As for Salesmen...I remember test driving a Subaru Legacy GT, and the salesman tried to convince me that it handled better than a Porsche.

[b81smith]

Originally Posted by mdosu

cool you got the Euro steering wheel! Personally, I love the idea of a AWD V8 compact sports sedan, and the RS4 is the only choice when you have if you want this combo.

The RS4's drivetrain is a very simple mechanical one with open front and rear diffs, and I believe a viscous center diff. I would have been pissed to buy this car at full sticker $80k when it was new and the diff was no different than a standard A4.

I looked at the RS4 when shopping for my M3. At the end of the day, I chose the M3 b/c:
1. it was straight up just cheaper, 2008 M3 vs 2008 RS4 of equal mileage
2. I couldn't find a low milage RS4 anywhere
3. the simple differential i mentioned bugs and will always bug me.
4. M3 is lighter
5. M3 is better in all performance aspects and in all scenarios
6. The interior and amenities are better in the M3, everything about the interior in the RS4 looks and feels dated.
7. my g/f sad the BMW looks better, though I can't argue one is better looking than the other

I believe your part about the diff is not correct. It has the beefed up torsen diff. Read about it here where they sell it for S4 and A4.

http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalo...e7a4c561f1a4f9

[///M297]

1. it was straight up just cheaper, 2008 M3 vs 2008 RS4 of equal mileage
Of course, there are only 2000 RS4 in US, there are more than 10000 M3, all the low miles RS4 are command higher price.

2. I couldn't find a low milage RS4 anywhere
See above
3. the simple differential i mentioned bugs and will always bug me.
Nope
4. M3 is lighter
Probably true due to AWD setup in RS4
5. M3 is better in all performance aspects and in all scenarios
Not really, the gearing ratio in RS4 is so much more balance than BMW, you feel power in all gear
6. The interior and amenities are better in the M3, everything about the interior in the RS4 looks and feels dated.
This I agree due to RS4 take the 2003 interior
7. my g/f sad the BMW looks better, though I can't argue one is better looking than the other
If you want flashy look then BMW, if you want low profile then RS4, I prefer low profile
Anyhow, they are head to head, I would say 49 to 51

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by ///M297

...
Anyhow, they are head to head, I would say 49 to 51

Congrats on setting a new record for resurrecting a very dead thread.

[srmast1]

If they would have made the rs4 available through 2011, I probably would have gotten one. Instead, in 2015 I bought a 2011 e90 6mt m3 with 37k miles and it's quite awesome, sounds fantastic, looks bad-ass, and handles like a dream. It just revs so freely, and with a lite action. Sometimes i forget im driving a car with a v8 engine. Since my current commuter is dying and I'm tired of driving 2 MTs, i'm about to purchase a 2008 auto A4 with paddle shifters, nicely optioned and 63k miles as my commuter from Carmax(I want the maxcare warranty). I still have the m3 but it's not good as a daily/commuter, and I don't want to put a ton of miles on it either. I don't think sports sedans are for the daily grind and A4 weighing 3500lbs with a 200 hp engine, I don't consider the A4 a sports sedan, just comfy and quick.