DEBATE: E92 M3 vs. Audi S5 V6T

[MWMM3]

Thinking of getting a dailyE92 M3 or S5 (B8.5 facelift 2013-2016). Looking to get one around $25k-27k. I like performance, like full bolt ons but I don't fuck with meth, e85, supercharge, etc since it is my daily and I'm not that into performance. My question is, which one would you take home? In terms of the car overall looks and performance not the fact that ones better in what weather and rear seat space etc. just the looks and performance ability, feelin of driving each, etc. MPG doesn't matter. What will I miss out on if I chose one over another?
Questions (Extra)
1. Insurance cost today?
2. Reliability? 2008-2010 M3 vs 2013-2014 S5.
3. Tune potential and comparison to N54335i?
4. Cheaper to Mod?
Of course I have a lot of information about both but hopefully I learn something I didnt before I make my choice.

[wyatth]

Boring drive to work? Audi for DD.
Somewhat fun drive to work and into fun on weekends? E92M.
Audi maybe a hair more reliable, BMW just more exciting and superior performance.
Depends what you want. The wants of this forum are obvious.

[dparm]

This is an M3 board, I'm pretty sure most people will recommend the M3.

I owned a Stasis-tuned B8 S4 (same car as the S5) for a year prior to buying the M3. The tune wasn't even that aggressive and it was around 450hp -- definitely faster than the M3. Pretty comfy and luxurious car but in the end it felt more like a fast A4 than a real sport sedan. Kind of a shame because the old S4s (I had a B6 which was the 4.2L V8) were muscle cars.

I traded the S4 for the M3. No regrets.

[MWMM3]

Hw would you define one as being more boring as the other? For me it's mostly straight line cause I live in a cali usually no wide curves for the most part. A little more traffic than usual so taking off to the redline would require me to do it late at night or on the highways where it's usually crowded. Lots of cops around and they'll get ya too. I plan on lowering the S5 on the higher end coilovers, pulley, tune, and a few more mods. Would it still feel "inferior" to the M3? If I got the M3 probably just a tune and then exterior mods since supercharge is the only way to go in my eyes

[PKL]

Before I bought a 2011 E92 M3 in early 2011, I was positive I was going to get an S5 instead, which would have been my first Audi, after 2 E46 M3.

During my test drive of the S5, I literally laughed out loud at how much I HATED the feeling of the steering and the AWD. I don't care about AWD as it related to winter, but the difference in feel between RWD and AWD was enough for me to ditch my consideration of an S5 entirely, I got an E92 M3.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by RyanTran328i

Hw would you define one as being more boring as the other? For me it's mostly straight line cause I live in a cali usually no wide curves for the most part. A little more traffic than usual so taking off to the redline would require me to do it late at night or on the highways where it's usually crowded. Lots of cops around and they'll get ya too. I plan on lowering the S5 on the higher end coilovers, pulley, tune, and a few more mods. Would it still feel "inferior" to the M3? If I got the M3 probably just a tune and then exterior mods since supercharge is the only way to go in my eyes

Because the Audi V6 has no personality -- it's used by Audi in tons of non-S cars. Even with an intake and exhaust it is not very exciting to hear. It's just not very satisfying to wind it out, and at low speed it's too quiet and smooth. The M3 has a glorious and very unique engine that isn't used in anything else. Even driving around at low speed you can tell the M3 is something special.

If all you care about is daily driver stuff and blasting off the line at a stoplight, a lightly-tuned S5 will be faster than the M3.

I really suggest you go drive both and you will immediately see the differences. Remember, the S5 competes with the 335/435, not the M3. If you wanted an Audi that competes with the M3, you have to look at an RS4 or RS5.

[MWMM3]

Originally Posted by PKL

Before I bought a 2011 E92 M3 in early 2011, I was positive I was going to get an S5 instead, which would have been my first Audi, after 2 E46 M3.

During my test drive of the S5, I literally laughed out loud at how much I HATED the feeling of the steering and the AWD. I don't care about AWD as it related to winter, but the difference in feel between RWD and AWD was enough for me to ditch my consideration of an S5 entirely, I got an E92 M3.

Do you track/drift it around? I drive my car aggressively but I dont drift or make hella edged turns

[MWMM3]

Originally Posted by dparm

Because the Audi V6 has no personality -- it's used by Audi in tons of non-S cars. Even with an intake and exhaust it is not very exciting to hear. It's just not very satisfying to wind it out, and at low speed it's too quiet and smooth. The M3 has a glorious and very unique engine that isn't used in anything else. Even driving around at low speed you can tell the M3 is something special.

If all you care about is daily driver stuff and blasting off the line at a stoplight, a lightly-tuned S5 will be faster than the M3.

I really suggest you go drive both and you will immediately see the differences. Remember, the S5 competes with the 335/435, not the M3. If you wanted an Audi that competes with the M3, you have to look at an RS4 or RS5.

From what I heard thats true but people said that the S5 is actually better than the RS since the V8 is limited and not worth the price differential. Sound isn't everything for me as an expensive exhaust may fix it, although v8 vs v6. My friends FBO 335i has a pretty nasty exhaust for a V6

[dparm]

Originally Posted by RyanTran328i

From what I heard thats true but people said that the S5 is actually better than the RS since the V8 is limited and not worth the price differential. Sound isn't everything for me as an expensive exhaust may fix it, although v8 vs v6. My friends FBO 335i has a pretty nasty exhaust for a V6

Again, if all you care about is straightline speed, then get an S5 and a tune. Or a 335i and a tune.

The RS5 (and the M3) is more visceral. It's a high-strung V8, so yeah, you aren't getting a car that's hugely faster than the S5. Tuning potential is limited, but it's amazing the way it is...why mess with a good thing? You are getting an 8000rpm+ V8 and the RS pedigree! Sorry, but no exhaust will make the S5's V6 sound like that.

There's no shortage of fast cars out there. There is a shortage of cars with personality -- and those are the ones that beg to be driven more and more.


BTW your friend's 335 is a straight/inline-6, not a V6. :-)

[BOOF-M3]

Maybe I misread your OP but why are you only looking 2008 to 2010? I have space gray and Mineral White. Both good choices. Mineral white a little harder to find but the superior color if you ask me.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Maybe I misread your OP but why are you only looking 2008 to 2010? I have space gray and Mineral White. Both good choices. Mineral white a little harder to find but the superior color of you ask me.

Good point, Mineral White is a pretty rare color and was only available in later years.

[anerbe]

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1492707

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Maybe I misread your OP but why are you only looking 2008 to 2010? I have space gray and Mineral White. Both good choices. Mineral white a little harder to find but the superior color if you ask me.

He was limiting his budget.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

He was limiting his budget.

Ok makes sense, but as dparm stated, they didn't make MW until 2011 so there goes that color. Still good choices on the other two.

[yarosus]

I was the same dilemma M3 vs S5 + i throw e89 Z4 into it.
First I drove back to back 2010 E92 M3 and Audi S5 2015 just because I wanted to experience Audi and I liked the design.

Audi S5:
I tell you this, for straight line Audi S5 surprised me especially supercharged engine sound.
Audi has way better interior.
Room in back seats is less.

BMW M3:
More power
V8 is a totally different beast compared to other V8 that I drove. The sound amazing when you understanding it.
It felt just right. Special car.

Overall:
I really wanted to convince myself to get Audi, but after driving 4 or 5 (don't remember already) Audi S5 2013+ felt every time just normal car. "boring" compared to M3.
M3 is a special car and I am very happy with my decision.
If I could have both and need to commute I would get S5 for commute and M3 for a weekend car.

In my opinion:
M3 > S5 > 335i

PS. I haven't driven RS5.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by yarosus

PS. I haven't driven RS5.

RS5 is similar to an M3 but isn't quite as balanced. It's a bit nose heavy and the front end pushes when you are on the track. Aftermarket support isn't even one-half of what the M3 is.

It's still an amazing machine and is much rarer than the M3, hence the higher prices. If I had to DD in a city with bad winters, but still needed something that gets the blood pumping, I would look at an RS5.

[kyrix1st]

Most iconic compact performance coupe of the generation vs. boring AWD. No contest unless RS5 is brought up.

[xander_g]

You should be cross-shopping the rs5 to the m3 and not the s5

[MWMM3]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Maybe I misread your OP but why are you only looking 2008 to 2010? I have space gray and Mineral White. Both good choices. Mineral white a little harder to find but the superior color if you ask me.

TBH cause those years are usually the ones in my price range. The 2013 or so ones are around 30s but yeah. I know there might be a deal around year 2011 that I might be able to get. I bet I actually have a F30 Mineral White, it looks great in cloudy days

[MWMM3]

Originally Posted by yarosus

I was the same dilemma M3 vs S5 + i throw e89 Z4 into it.
First I drove back to back 2010 E92 M3 and Audi S5 2015 just because I wanted to experience Audi and I liked the design.

Audi S5:
I tell you this, for straight line Audi S5 surprised me especially supercharged engine sound.
Audi has way better interior.
Room in back seats is less.

BMW M3:
More power
V8 is a totally different beast compared to other V8 that I drove. The sound amazing when you understanding it.
It felt just right. Special car.

Overall:
I really wanted to convince myself to get Audi, but after driving 4 or 5 (don't remember already) Audi S5 2013+ felt every time just normal car. "boring" compared to M3.
M3 is a special car and I am very happy with my decision.
If I could have both and need to commute I would get S5 for commute and M3 for a weekend car.

In my opinion:
M3 > S5 > 335i

PS. I haven't driven RS5.

Thanks for the insight! Yeah I respect that you drove multiple ones to try them out and wasn't pleased, and I know that an M3 stock probably beats S5 easily overall, but what are your thoughts on a lightly tuned S5 to a M3? Maybe Tune pulley and intake?

[MWMM3]

Originally Posted by xander_g

You should be cross-shopping the rs5 to the m3 and not the s5

Reason being why im cross-shopping these two is because they are around the same price range. I was curious, if a tuned S5 would be as fun as a M3 and worth buying over. Because the interiors nicer and all, but the performance seems way off from what everyone is saying. But im assuming theyre comparing stock on stock. keep in mind I dont drift and live in the cities with street lights almost everywhere.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by RyanTran328i

Reason being why im cross-shopping these two is because they are around the same price range. I was curious, if a tuned S5 would be as fun as a M3 and worth buying over. Because the interiors nicer and all, but the performance seems way off from what everyone is saying. But im assuming theyre comparing stock on stock. keep in mind I dont drift and live in the cities with street lights almost everywhere.

Sounds like your mind is already made up. Shouldn't be hard to get a test drive in both though.