Road and Track Comparo of the Audi RS 4, BMW M3 Sedan, Lexus IS F and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

The late, great Mark Donohue is credited with saying, "It will never have enough power until I can spin the wheels at the end of the straightaway in high gear." This response, to the Porsche engineers of the Can-Am-dominating 917-30, was tongue-in-cheek (the car's turbocharged flat-12 may have produced as much as 1400 bhp, depending on boldness with the boost control), but it's a sentiment that echoes through the engineering halls of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz when it comes to their production cars. "If 350 bhp is good, wouldn't it stand to reason that 450 bhp is better?" That's a foregone conclusion with us at R&T.

So here we have an incredible crop of normally aspirated aluminum-block 4-cam V-8 engines, ranging in displacement from 4.0 to 6.2 liters, with an average specific output of 90.2 bhp/liter and a redline average exceeding 7600 rpm! With a world-conquering power-to-weight ratio being more easily achieved by reducing the "weight" part, these manufacturers elected to cram these V-8s into some of the smaller 4-door bodyshells in their lineups. So with the shoehorn that is modern computer-aided design, these optimized air pumps were finessed into the engine bays of the Audi RS 4, BMW M3 Sedan, Lexus IS F and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG — some fitting more easily than others.

Read Article

Rupert - 4/30/2008 9:53:30 AM

+4 Boost

1. Merc - they love the awesome power and good handling, bit of a cheap dash, heaviest, fastest 1/4 mile.
2. BMW - they like the excellent handling, light and responsive, but it was the slowest and has little torque, and they dash was cheap-feeling, 4th fastest 1/4 mile, best slalom.
3. RS4 - great grip, great looking inside and out, 2nd lightest, 3rd fastest 1/4 mile.
4. IS-F - good power, good gearbox, poor interior materials, didn't like exterior styling, harsh ride, 2nd heaviest, 2nd fastest 1/4 mile, 2nd best slalom.

adamm3k - 4/30/2008 10:40:34 AM

0 Boost

Good article. I wonder if the new DCT transmission in the BMW would have changed the results. But credit is due to Merc for building this capable monster of a C-class.

IamEvilHomer - 5/1/2008 10:40:43 PM

0 Boost

you meen the audi dsg trans that they coppied?

adamm3k - 4/30/2008 11:22:16 AM

+4 Boost

In addition they also docked points for the ride quality 'jiggly' in the IS-F, along with the styling.

0to60 - 4/30/2008 1:22:14 PM

-2 Boost

An african car magizine!?! I wouldnt read that!Reminds me of the Chris Rock standup when he visted Africa and was stuck on an elevator with one. Funny stuff.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/30/2008 1:45:32 PM

0 Boost

In these tests, it's basically a given that the cars will have very similar performance, so it all comes down to the more minor details.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/30/2008 1:45:49 PM

0 Boost

In these tests, it's basically a given that the cars will have very similar performance, so it all comes down to the more minor details.

pushrod27 - 4/30/2008 9:50:07 PM

+1 Boost

0to60: Chris Rock didn't tell that joke. It was Jamie Foxx. I guess they all look so much alike, you can't tell 'em apart, huh?

swiff - 5/1/2008 11:34:25 PM

+1 Boost

There ARE actually African car magazines. Dont forget that a lot of the Bimmers and Mercs are assembled in South Africa... Its not not as primitive as the average ignorant American thinks...

polkbkk - 4/30/2008 11:37:12 AM

+2 Boost

Interesting how 3/4 of this comparo was on Top Gear this week in the states. Sad that this was originally aired about a year and a half ago on BBC. I hate being stuck in the states and being so far behind the rest of the automotive world!

EL34 - 4/30/2008 11:51:42 AM

+2 Boost

Congrats to the IS-F for coming in 4th place.

After all, it's better than 5th place.

EL44 - 5/1/2008 5:01:08 AM

-2 Boost

Shut up EL34

S4cabriofoxone - 4/30/2008 1:48:16 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, duh. That's what's so great about it. You may not live in a place with heavy winters, but for the northeast or Midwest, the RS4 is perfect.

JRobUSC - 4/30/2008 8:18:25 PM

+4 Boost

Quattro is great but an RS4 isn't geting around in snow on the stock summer performance tires any better than the other two wheel drive cars in the test. All four vehicles would need different tires.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/1/2008 9:27:43 PM

+1 Boost

Well, OBVIOUSLY, but the RS4 with winter tires will blow the others (with winter tires) out of the water. If the new RS4 was already out, I would have one on order; alas, I'm more interested in a new M3 or C63 than a late model B7.

S4cabriofoxone - 5/1/2008 9:28:15 PM

+1 Boost

"Just go to Audiworld.com and A8 owners will tell you that you just can't fly through bad conditions just BECAUSE you have quattro, good tires are essential for it to work properly."

Captain Obvious.

JCH335i - 4/30/2008 2:46:05 PM

+2 Boost

yeah when i lived in michigan i had 2 audi S4s... glorious

autopro - 4/30/2008 2:51:06 PM

-2 Boost

I'll take the ISF,its my style.

pushrod27 - 4/30/2008 9:52:20 PM

+3 Boost

none?

EL44 - 5/1/2008 5:01:58 AM

-3 Boost

Me too

simmonsdp - 4/30/2008 4:34:42 PM

+5 Boost

Man I love that C63,,,,,,

RandyM - 4/30/2008 4:56:48 PM

0 Boost

Audi design, fit and finish, performance, quattro, Northwest rain etc etc.. were all reasons why I purchased the RS4 and I drive it daily.

AdHominem - 4/30/2008 8:10:43 PM

+5 Boost

Have you driven the ISF back to back against the others? It has little to no steering feel and engine that sounds good and has low end torque so it is easy to jump in and go. It simply isn't meant to be rewarding or challenging for the true driving enthusiast. The expected trade-off of better comfort in the Lexus isn't there. It has the worst ride. It posts good numbers but would you enjoy exploring those capabilities in the Lexus? Probably not. The Benz has power that makes you laugh spontaniously and the M3 is so sublime you get shivers. The Lexus is easy to get in and step on the gas and make it sound good.

People want joy or happiness from a performance car and they use performance numbers to predict if a car will do this for them. The issue to keep in mind is that joy and happiness are complex experiences and don't come from such a simple equation. You simply cannot get that experience from a magazine or other media, you need to have the experience yourself. The feelings of precision, control, tactility, etc. that a driver gets from a Ferrari, Porsche, or BMW are some of the reasons people are seemingly devoted to these marques.

simmonsdp - 5/1/2008 2:55:33 AM

+4 Boost

I wouldnt drive any of these cars in bad weather anyway, they are the cream of the crop and should be taken care of. To drive an C63 AMG or an M3 in unpleasant weather to me is stupid.....

S4cabriofoxone - 5/1/2008 9:31:17 PM

+2 Boost

Are you trying to make me look dumb? It's not working. That's ridiculously OBVIOUS. No sedan, AWD, RWD, FWD or five-wheel-drive, will get through one foot of snow easily. However, even the R8 (without winter tires!) was able to make it through a big snow fall in a Motor Trend (or AutoWeek? Both did road trips) road trip up north.

Designer1 - 5/1/2008 3:34:47 AM

0 Boost

Clearly he IS-F should've been #2 here, and here is the prove from the article AUTHORS themselves. So unfortunately the authors complained like kids about the INTERIOR??? it has the BEST quality of all others, and the front wheels being narrowest of all???? What in the hell is all this crap. Please read their own words below and judge for yourself.

Germen fan boys, this will shut you off completely and if you say a word that proves to your further stupidity.

IS-F:
“Its explosive 0–60 and quarter-mile times of 4.2”
“12.6 seconds put it second in the test, just a tick slower than the Mercedes.”
“A slalom weave of 70.9 mph also puts it in second, behind the BMW.”

S4:
“but with a slightly lower trap speed; both will be viewing the taillights of the Lexus and Benz at 1320 feet.”

MBW:
“The M3's V-8 is a very special piece, but it just doesn't have the punch of the Mercedes, or even the Lexus”

“the M3 was the tail-ender in 0–60 acceleration (4.6 sec.) and couldn't crack the 12s in the quarter mile”

MB:
“But even in Manual, the shifts seem a bit lethargic compared to the Lexus”

sector - 5/2/2008 12:12:55 PM

0 Boost

Throw in Lexus reliability, and it should be tied for 1st... remember these car mag clowns don't have to consider long term ownership at all, that's where it can really hurt your wallet, especially for the BMW.

But since BMW is a "lease and return" vehicle, people leasing a BMW will not care about that either.

EL44 - 5/1/2008 5:04:41 AM

0 Boost

I Love the ISF. This car is the most beautiful when you see it in reality.

ChicaneShooter - 5/1/2008 7:32:08 AM

-4 Boost

i was ALMOST gonna buy this issue of R&T just a few hours ago.

glad now i did not waste my money. NOR support bias.

njshift - 5/1/2008 8:48:25 AM

0 Boost

So which one of you clowns is going to bring up gas mileage?

answer - 5/1/2008 2:02:27 PM

+4 Boost

Guess it was you.

njshift - 5/2/2008 3:16:00 PM

0 Boost

Answer = Buttboy

njshift - 5/2/2008 3:22:12 PM

+1 Boost

This is coming from the guy who drives a Prius...

1evlaudi - 5/1/2008 10:25:53 PM

0 Boost

"Huu76"
I drive through a foot of snow with standard all season tyres with both my Allroad and my Q7, I drive on ice, I drive through almost 2 feet of water and I "race" (meaning having safe fun) in the canyons and mountain roads with the same cars on the same tyres.
So, what's your point?