BMW M3 coupe vs Audi RS4 cabrio

Well the M3 wins but its because it more than 100kgs lighter than the RS4 cab.....

What i find interesting is that the previous gen M3 was Nice & Round & Organic in its Shape & Packaging, Only its quad exhausts really gave away its potential while its parked on the streets and yet it was a monster.

This one is all Lumps & Vents and details to let you know how AARD it's supposed to be and yet it is not as raw and as hard edged as the outgoing model.
(I did not mis-spell AARD, its a more serious spelling for Hard)

One of the many reasons the outgoing mode did so well was that Stock Brokers & Estate Agents & Footballers & Well to do Street Pharmacists alike could drive it without looking too Chaav, It somehow managed to look comfortable in any location; Car park on Fleet Street, Canary Wharf, Charlton Football Club or Peckham.

This one i fear will look out of place in Canary Wharf or Fleet Street. it is trying too hard in my opinion. RS4 Cab has a much more understated look for anyone who does not wish to scream "look at me, i have a high performance version of what you have"

Absolutely perfectly put. Old M-cars were like wolves in sheep clothes, very discrete and understated cars.. the M6, M5 and M3 don't have this anymore..

But then again if you look at the RS-models from Audi or the new AMG from Mercedes you won't find anything subtle about it. Compare that to early C36 or C43 AMG... true sleeper cars. Or even the RS2 quattro..

God I miss those days. :(

well how bout no, cause if it were the m3 cabrio with its hard roof it will also cost more and closer to the 60k price range of rs4 cabriolet. please note also this: "But a £50k RS4 saloon or the fabulous Avant? That could be a whole different story." so why dont they compare something more similar

I guess they have to make sure the M3 wins, otherwise they could have easily compared apple to apples ...

"The RS4 comes only with a proper manual too, Audi’s DSG transmission having only been engineered for transverse applications, but the change is quicker and more positive than the M3’s."

Well that's a first for Audi.

Well it would be boring if BMW always took the trophy home.

neither. I'm no fan of these kind of cars except the classic camaro and chevelle convertables.

To prove that BMW has not lived up to its expectation with this M3, here is a following quote:
Here’s the really odd bit though: for once Audi has managed to produce a car that’s more satisfying to steer than its rival. To be honest, no M3 since the E30, and I include the CSL in that, has steered as well as it might. This new car suffers the same problem, not being positive enough in those first few degrees of movement. At 2.3 turns between locks it’s not slow and it does respond immediately, but the Audi’s weighting just off centre gives you far more confidence.

An Audi RS4 cabriolet giving more confidence than a BMW M3 coupe??????

This is just terrible news for BMW. When the 335i coupe was released in all its 300 horsepower and 300 lb.ft of torque glory to bring hell on the competition, BMW serves up an M3 that does not live up to the brilliant standards set by the E46 M3.

If that's on a sunny track, figure it out when you are driving in the wet/snow. No competition there. I guess the RS5 will be killing the M3 easily.

Audi fans... keep dreaming.

dreaming about what?

There wasnt one bad review about the RS4, yet we have had 2-3 subpar reviews on your precious M3. And dont comeback with the CSl coming out, it will probaly be around 100k.

We know the RS4 blew the doors off the old M3, and they are saying the new one is not as good, so how is the new one gonna be better then the RS4.

I'd stick with the 335i and just chip it and some other mods(testpipe,exhaust, coilovers,ETC) for alot less the the M3.

I agree with the jmrA480. The 335i can win over the M3 easily with just a chip and some suspension work. And maybe with a differential. No more than $5k overall, you get the same car like the M3 cheaper. Maybe even better since with the new chip they have out there for the 335i they can get up to 500 hp and 450 tq. So the M3 is quite ...useless.

You know - it's sad that people can't except facts. The RS4 beat the last M3 in almost all comparisons and now the brand new M3 barely beats the RS4 convertible (which is the heaviest). The question is then how close will the M3 Convertible and the RS4 be?? Also I agree witht the others - the 335 sets the bar too high - that's why the M3 doesn't overwhelm - though of course it is a great car in it's own right.

hmm maybe you should actually wait till the RS4 is compared to the M3? then decide?

Hey guys, one of the main reasons that tell us all, that this Bimmer fails is, that the most of the bimmer fans are not here and the few that comes here, now are presenting feelings or motivational reasons without any arguments. M3 is a loooosssser. Even the Coupe 335 is better car for less money. My recommendation for Bimmers loyalist: Buy a 335i Coupe and then invest the rest of the price of the M3 addings accessories and improving the car and then you will have a good bimmer. Even the CSL will not be a good car unless they change the engine. Normal C63 will kick both M3 and CSl. C63 with Special Sport Package will be a lot better. However we need to see those cars in the track, because Audi and C63 have excelent qualities but you can't bend the physics laws, both are very heavy if you compare them with this bimmer and inertia rules "less weight is big edge". Next RS4 will let the M3 in the dust. But this is not bad. I know BMW, they will create another M3 and will avoid those errors, and for sure, it will be better than the competitors so they will have to improve and so on...life is so sweet.

I was wondering the same thing....where are all of the BMW fans. Tell the truth - I think it's because they know the RS4 beat the last M3 - so they want to stay away. Regardless of what they want to say about benchmarking the 911 - the RS4/5 will be it's main competition as they will come in the same body styles (except I don't think the M3 will come in a wagon).

The article compares the Audi convertible to a BMW coupe, and calls the cabriolet "too wobbly, too heavy." Well, duh! When you take the hard top off, the body flexes more, so manufacturers have to add extra reinforcement, which shows up as extra weight.

I make no claim as to which vehicle is "better", only that the article compares apple to oranges, and then determines the orange does not make as good an apple, as an apple does :-/