It's came down to two - M3 or S4. My final decision (I think...) - LONG

[808MGuy]

Coming from an older generation S4, I can tell you that it has always been a direct competitor to the 330/335. For some reason the S4 always gets compared to the M3 because of the price which falls right between the 335 and M3 but it is not as much a purpose built car like the M3. The M3 has always been designed as a trackable street car while the S4 is a sporty version of an A4 which kind of matches the description of a 335. I had my S4 for 9 years and I loved it. It was a great daily driver that was fun to drive but in stock form it was not a track car. In all honesty, if the B8 S4 came out a year earlier when I purchased my M3 I probably would have ended up with an S4 simply because of price. I don't track my car and being in Hawaii, there aren't to many places to drive it to its limits so the M3 is really too much car for me. I think I would have been just fine with the S4. Your decision will probably have to take how you're planning to use the car into consideration. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong with these two choices.

[bobbyd1961]

m3 sedan all the way . i said that in 5 words

[sameh]

Let me tell you my experience and you decide if that was helpful or not:
I went thru the same agony but deciding between S5 and an M3 since I didn't mind driving a coup. After I test drove both and I was empressed with both ( in different aspects) my brother asked me a question that made my decision easier. If you buy the Audi and you stop in a traffic light with an M3 next to you would you feel some regrets? How about if you buy the M3 and you see the Audi next to you, would you feel regrets? Next day I bought the M3 knowing that I like the Audi but nit enough to drive it next to an M3 feeling no regrets. Since I bought My M3, I have been next to an Audi and all I thought was " nice headlights!!". Hope that helps

[Robertyu]

Originally Posted by Neon01

Be warned, this will be long and very detailed.

The one thing I didn't care for was the soft touch plastic trim around the shifter. I actually like the aluminum in my 335i better, and it found me wishing that that piece had received the same trim as the dash, since over time the plain black plastic will probably show wear quickly.

I believe the area you are referring to is not soft-touch plastic, but leather-wrapped. I came from an aluminum 335i to the E92 M3 with premium package, and also though this was plastic until I looked much closer.

[signes]

Originally Posted by Neon01

As a note, I'm planning on doing a Euro delivery if I get the M3, and with the options I'm looking at the price difference between the two cars is about $3k at most.

Regarding the sedan vs. coupe topic, I did a little search for info, but couldn't find anything worthwhile. If anyone has any good links or info they can share, that would be appreciated.

If that is really the price differential for comparably equipped cars, you would have to be out of your mind to take the S4. Don't get me wrong, not a BMW fanboi as I have owned and enjoyed Audis in the past. And I do like the S4, very impressive car. My read of your original post says you want to get the S4 because it suits your needs better. If the price differential was more like $10k+ then I could see getting an S4. But at $3k? Not a chance.

And one more point: Just because the S4 may outperform a 335 doesn't mean it is a competitor to the M3, it just is not in any way.

[sameh]

I re-read your post trying to look for where you say the steering wheel feel on the Audi is too mushy and disconnected compared to M3, but you didn't. I didn't drive the s4, I drove s5 not once but three times and aside from many pros I could list about the S5, the first con I would mention is the steering wheel feeling " could have been on my 65 years old uncle's Lexus" that was a major turn off for me. Now on my M3 I keep it on medium and it feels like a real sport car and once I hit the M button with my preset ultra sport settings the car becomes an extension of mybody. I doubt that S4 is much different than S5 in this area.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by Robertyu

I believe the area you are referring to is not soft-touch plastic, but leather-wrapped. I came from an aluminum 335i to the E92 M3 with premium package, and also though this was plastic until I looked much closer.

There was another poster that mentioned that too. I meant to reply - just to be sure, I'm not talking about the back side of the shifter itself. I'm talking about the large black piece of trim that surrounds the shifter, the EDC/power buttons, the Idrive knob/buttons, etc. In the 335i it gets the same inlay material that the dash panel gets.

Originally Posted by sameh

I re-read your post trying to look for where you say the steering wheel feel on the Audi is too mushy and disconnected compared to M3, but you didn't. I didn't drive the s4, I drove s5 not once but three times and aside from many pros I could list about the S5, the first con I would mention is the steering wheel feeling " could have been on my 65 years old uncle's Lexus" that was a major turn off for me. Now on my M3 I keep it on medium and it feels like a real sport car and once I hit the M button with my preset ultra sport settings the car becomes an extension of mybody. I doubt that S4 is much different than S5 in this area.

I have to admit, I didn't feel completely disconnected from the road with the S4, but I'll definitely say that the steering feel in the M3 is one of the major draws. It just feels _right_ in the M3.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by sameh

Let me tell you my experience and you decide if that was helpful or not:
I went thru the same agony but deciding between S5 and an M3 since I didn't mind driving a coup. After I test drove both and I was empressed with both ( in different aspects) my brother asked me a question that made my decision easier. If you buy the Audi and you stop in a traffic light with an M3 next to you would you feel some regrets? How about if you buy the M3 and you see the Audi next to you, would you feel regrets? Next day I bought the M3 knowing that I like the Audi but nit enough to drive it next to an M3 feeling no regrets. Since I bought My M3, I have been next to an Audi and all I thought was " nice headlights!!". Hope that helps

A very appropriate question, and certainly one I've been asking myself. Most of the time I come up with the same answer you did, but the S4 does offer a lot.

Originally Posted by signes

If that is really the price differential for comparably equipped cars, you would have to be out of your mind to take the S4. Don't get me wrong, not a BMW fanboi as I have owned and enjoyed Audis in the past. And I do like the S4, very impressive car. My read of your original post says you want to get the S4 because it suits your needs better. If the price differential was more like $10k+ then I could see getting an S4. But at $3k? Not a chance.

And in truth, the difference is only that much if I buy. The lease is almost a wash since the residual on the M3 is so much higher (on account of the much higher US MSRP price).

[Robertyu]

Originally Posted by Neon01

There was another poster that mentioned that too. I meant to reply - just to be sure, I'm not talking about the back side of the shifter itself. I'm talking about the large black piece of trim that surrounds the shifter, the EDC/power buttons, the Idrive knob/buttons, etc. In the 335i it gets the same inlay material that the dash panel gets.

The exact large trim piece surrounding the shifter boot, idrive knob, DCT mode button, etc., is exactly the piece I'm talking about. In your post, you were referring to it as soft-touch plastic, and in reality it is leather-covered, which I like quite a bit. My 335i had aluminum for this piece, which looked good, but it sure did add quite a bit of glare from the sun reflecting off if it on a not day. I do miss the aluminum on this piece, but not on a sunny day.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by Robertyu

The exact large trim piece surrounding the shifter boot, idrive knob, DCT mode button, etc., is exactly the piece I'm talking about. In your post, you were referring to it as soft-touch plastic, and in reality it is leather-covered, which I like quite a bit. My 335i had aluminum for this piece, which looked good, but it sure did add quite a bit of glare from the sun reflecting off if it on a not day. I do miss the aluminum on this piece, but not on a sunny day.

Ahh, gotcha. I really checked it over on the test drive and I thought it was plastic. Glad it's leather!

[brava09]

Originally Posted by Neon01

As a note, I'm planning on doing a Euro delivery if I get the M3, and with the options I'm looking at the price difference between the two cars is about $3k at most.

This is no brainer then. For $3k more you can get the top dog...don't hesitate.

M3 all the way. you're gonna have a V8 and a blissful soundtrack

[BMWMFAN27]

Just from listening to that engine all day since Sat I will have to say the M3.

[GnokGnik]

If you live in the U.S, the S4 (or any Audi) is not worth the premium it demands vs. BMW or MB. The difference in price between a S4 and M3 are very small.

M3 all the way.

[saeedg48]

for performance m3 for comfort S4... but seriously its a f**king MMMMMMM3, S4 is an overpriced C350 imo

[Hoyt]

Originally Posted by sameh

Let me tell you my experience and you decide if that was helpful or not:
I went thru the same agony but deciding between S5 and an M3 since I didn't mind driving a coup. After I test drove both and I was empressed with both ( in different aspects) my brother asked me a question that made my decision easier. If you buy the Audi and you stop in a traffic light with an M3 next to you would you feel some regrets? How about if you buy the M3 and you see the Audi next to you, would you feel regrets? Next day I bought the M3 knowing that I like the Audi but nit enough to drive it next to an M3 feeling no regrets. Since I bought My M3, I have been next to an Audi and all I thought was " nice headlights!!". Hope that helps

i went thru the same thing and came to the same conclusion. the S5 was great, BUT in the end i just didn't want the regrets i knew i would feel every time i saw an M3 drive by.

my vote is the M3!

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by saeedg48

for performance m3 for comfort S4... but seriously its a f**king MMMMMMM3, S4 is an overpriced C350 imo

Those cars aren't even the same brand...

[warzilla]

Just get the M3, stop wasting time thinking about it.

[1MORELAP]

Same boat here. BMW appears to have much better deals on leases... and sunroof delete is important for me.

[BMWMFAN27]

The M3 is nicer, has better lease deals and just looks better in my opinion.

[1MORELAP]

Is there a C&D comparo of the S4 and M3?

[adc]

OP, were the M3's you test drove broken in? We're both in MD so if you want I can give you a test drive - see what the M3 would feel like 1-2 years from now.


I was in a similar dilemma, choosing between the 135i and M3 after a 2 year stint in a JB-modified 335i. The 135i should have been perfect in theory - smaller and lighter and cheaper and with the same engine I loved. But the 135i felt like a tippy and understeery 335i, where the best way to describe the M3 was in the words of an online magazine writer: a discounted supercar.

It felt expensive, bespoke, fast, roll-free, understeer-free and with an incredible throttle response. On track, it's all of the above except even more so - a symphony and you are the conductor.

Get the special car, there's always time for the merely competent when you're older.


And if you go for Euro Delivery, I don't have to tell you where you need to take it - or do I?

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by adc

OP, were the M3's you test drove broken in? We're both in MD so if you want I can give you a test drive - see what the M3 would feel like 1-2 years from now.


I was in a similar dilemma, choosing between the 135i and M3 after a 2 year stint in a JB-modified 335i. The 135i should have been perfect in theory - smaller and lighter and cheaper and with the same engine I loved. But the 135i felt like a tippy and understeery 335i, where the best way to describe the M3 was in the words of an online magazine writer: a discounted supercar.

It felt expensive, bespoke, fast, roll-free, understeer-free and with an incredible throttle response. On track, it's all of the above except even more so - a symphony and you are the conductor.

Get the special car, there's always time for the merely competent when you're older.


And if you go for Euro Delivery, I don't have to tell you where you need to take it - or do I?

YGPM