M3 vs RS4- The Winner May Not Be The One You Want To Own

M3 vs RS4- The Winner May Not Be The One You Want To Own
The fact that we’re even having this discussion tells you how far Audi’s come in the uber-sports sedan sweepstakes. Normally, this comparo would write itself. BMW M3 = driver’s car with super smooth, vicious punch. Audi RS4 = sure-footed supersonic GT with numb tiller. BMW fun. Audi fast. BMW wins. But since this contest was first mooted, The Boys from Bavaria have made the jump to V8 space, while Audi have finally figured-out how to make not dying entertaining. But has anything changed? 

Well, subtlety is out. The M Team’s festooned the M3 with battle-ready vents, mesh grills, bulges and quad exhaust pipes. It's a bit of a Bangle blingmobile with bells on, but the bad Bimmer’s jewelry is entirely functional; should commuting turn violent, the M3 is ready. Unlike previous iterations, the new M3 doesn’t look graceful, elegant or demure in any way, shape or flame-surfaced form. At best, it’s like the bad girl the guys don’t respect– but really, really want.

 


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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/14/2008 12:06:53 PM
+7 Boost
Good, because the RS4 is out of production.


OBieOBie - 5/14/2008 11:31:51 AM
+4 Boost
With the new RS 4/5 just around the corner, I'll have to reserve my judgement 'til then.


AlexTxAlexTx - 5/14/2008 11:32:13 AM
+5 Boost
Well the RS4 is out of production since April.....


Agent009Agent009 - 5/14/2008 11:54:11 AM
+4 Boost
You are assuming that the IS-F is really a contender right?


BremboBrembo - 5/14/2008 12:20:59 PM
+2 Boost
Yes.


hao420hao420 - 5/14/2008 6:11:58 PM
-1 Boost
Yup,IS-F is beast in it level.......


NeoReaperNeoReaper - 5/14/2008 12:00:02 PM
+5 Boost
rs4 interior is nice but dated but the new interior on the b8 platform looks great imho


M35MTM35MT - 5/14/2008 12:40:56 PM
+4 Boost
^^^I agree the only thing on that can make the A5/S5 interior better is a hot chick in the passenger seat.


goochgooch - 5/16/2008 8:34:44 AM
+1 Boost
Why even post something silly like this? Have you been drinking?


goochgooch - 5/16/2008 8:35:29 AM
+1 Boost
That was directed toward evilm's comment. Sorry.


answeranswer - 5/14/2008 12:38:54 PM
+6 Boost
You guys can fight over which one is first, and I'll glady take the loser.


chewychewy - 5/14/2008 1:00:28 PM
+1 Boost
how come they only have stock pictures of the M3? At least they have actual photos of the RS4.


AutoEngAutoEng - 5/14/2008 1:56:26 PM
+7 Boost
I don't usual chime in on these "moron conventions" as you call it, but I thought I might offer some perspective that you may not have considered.

You claim " audi will turn off production and leave the battlefield like a silly little dog withs its tail between its leg." when the next M3 comes out in 11/12.

By that logic one could state that BMW turned off production and left the battlefield like a silly little dog withs its tail between its leg when its E46 M3 was thrashed comprehensively by the RS4.

There is no "running away" as you claim here. What you are seeing is simply the progressive one-upping by competitive manufacturers with each successive generation of vehicle.

E46 M3 < B7 RS4 < E92 M3 and so on, in chronological order. It follows that the new RS4 will likely be better than the E92 M3 and the next M3 after that better still.

When we are developing an all new model we take in all the current available competition and set benchmarks against them so that our new product will match and/or surpass the current competition.

It has nothing to do with fear/intimidation or anything else. Thats just the way it works in the highly competitive executive performance car arena.



AlexTxAlexTx - 5/14/2008 2:41:15 PM
+8 Boost
Ma, I really feel sorry for you.
You make all Beemer owners look... just really bad.
I can understand that you are a fan of the BMW brand, but you are pushing this to the limit.
Not sure if you are married, but I feel for your wife.
All you do is probably drive around with your beemer with the windows down, sound blasting, big sunglasses just "pimping".... wow....

The RS4 was always going to be limited production just like all RS models before that. The RS models will always be limited production, but they will increase slightly the life span of each next RS models.
The RS4 has a chassis much older than the M3 and for the RS4 to do so well it is a statement over the M3.
Everybody expected the M3 to walk all over the RS4 and its competition... guess what?
Did not; even the latest Car and Driver gives the RS4 0.1 sec faster than the M3.
You know which car walked ALL OVER the M3?
The C63..
When the next RS4/RS5 comes out it will be that much closer to the M3...if not better.


sectorsector - 5/14/2008 9:36:05 PM
+2 Boost
BMW marketroids have rewired this bloak's brain for well over 10 years, you can see that, maybe even longer :)

Probably prays to the BMW gods with incense and myrrh every night, before going to bed in his Bimmer pajamas.


irie77irie77 - 5/15/2008 2:50:24 PM
+1 Boost
'BMW marketroids' LOL I like that. I would gave the marketroids more credit than that. In my books they'd produce an extremely better product.

It's amazing (lol) how some adults think that the stuff they have define them. You'd soon find out that there is a higher meaning than the current definitions that you currently entertain.


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 5/14/2008 3:40:57 PM
-1 Boost
when is this M3 vs RS4 thing going to stop the M3 has beaten the RS4 several times already as has the C63, and ISF...i mean seriously this isnt getting old to anyone....im not even going to read this article


AlexTxAlexTx - 5/14/2008 3:49:31 PM
-1 Boost
And the RS4 has beaten the M3 as well.
Both are incredible cars.


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 5/14/2008 8:37:41 PM
0 Boost
stop wining the audi crazed fans are really over doing it.....again like i said these are getting old how many times can you test these cars it has been months....the M3 always wins, they the RS4 always get last, and the ISF and C63 place 2nd or third depending on the mag....this has been going on for months give it up


VISOVISO - 5/14/2008 10:38:47 PM
+2 Boost
Until the new RS4, not to mention RS5 arrives of course. Then it's lights out M3.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 5/14/2008 4:18:35 PM
-1 Boost
If the way to beat the RS4 and the C63 is with emotional comments, you are right, but I don`t care about emotions as much as numbers, And numbers said M3 lost against the RS4 and C63 several areas , Put the M3 in closed circuit and it will be really good, but in open road it will stay behind, even the ISF will kill it. but I do undersand you: "M3 is At best, it’s like the bad girl the guys don’t respect– but really, really want". M3 is a great car but face it, not every body likes it, in the same way that not every body likes RS$ or C63. M3 is a great car in several ways and honestly I thing that is the best if you do not have the capability to handle the drifting and you enjoy twisted roads. C63 and RS4 demmand more expirenced drivers due both are heavier than the M3 and more powerful, and that is the main reason that make us to enjoy those cars. I know you can drift with M3 but do not requires too much expertise to do it in that car and again that`s great, but again that`s Ok for you not for every body.


simmonsdpsimmonsdp - 5/14/2008 5:08:18 PM
-1 Boost
I will stay with a C63...........


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 5/14/2008 8:42:07 PM
0 Boost
many have argued the M3 is the best car period....It doesnt do somethings well it performs well in all things that it does, and right now better than the competition, maybe the next go round the RS4 will be alot better, but right now its not...the M3 is the reason for this class, it is the reason why these cars exist in the first place, it is the one to beat, like the other 3 series.....competition makes each generation better and better why cant the Audi people get over the fact that the M3 is better than the RS4 and certainly the best car in this class...its odd they skip the fact that the RS4 has been beaten by the C63, and ISF in test but only focus on the M3 beating it, why not trash the ISF, or the C63...hell why whine at all...Audi has a new platform coming out that will help improve the RS4 dynamics, but right now it has been beaten and is last place in this pack....maybe next time


HeyhuubHeyhuub - 5/15/2008 3:17:12 AM
0 Boost
Just like the E46 M3 was beaten by the RS4.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 5/14/2008 10:04:47 PM
+3 Boost
Ok emotions are proper for faint hearted or even for ladies.....please talk to us with numbers and we will understand you...ups...may be they are to complex for you and that´s why you talk with your emotions.
>;-)....Sorry with all my heart M3 is good, with all the numbers is not the best. In fact there is always something to trade, I like luxury and power and awd I´ll gain weight and that means that the car will need more expertise to drive it, if the car have less amenities it will be lighter with better behavior on track but then you´ll lose luxury and amenities...get over man there is not such thing as absolut winner...Just God is absolut. If you like Bimmers , enjoy...Mee too but defintely I prefer C63 and RS4..
and learn math, and stop reading romantic books..it is ok if like the bad girl, remember: most people want to play with her, even if she is bad girl...under some circunstances....even me....>:-(__


goochgooch - 5/16/2008 8:41:09 AM
+1 Boost
What the hell are you talking about?
Driving is not just about numbers -- it does involve emotion and feel. If it's all about numbers for you, you're missing out -- big time.


AudiphileAudiphile - 5/14/2008 11:28:29 PM
0 Boost
As the B7 version of the Audi RS4 is no longer in production, the point is moot for people shopping for a car right now. The B8 RS4 probably won't be available for another year. I recommend that prospective buyers wait until then, so they can compare the best that Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz can offer.


Yonder7Yonder7 - 5/15/2008 5:45:27 AM
+1 Boost
CSL is a more striped version, so it will be lighter and a goog car for high speed driving, at least on the track, but not a proper every day car.


nsmattnsmatt - 5/15/2008 10:37:45 AM
+4 Boost
M3-Sublime
RS4-Civilised
C63-Insane

-Clarkson


minimalistminimalist - 5/15/2008 6:20:32 PM
+1 Boost
no comment as to the preferred choice, but i did particularly enjoy the style in which this article was written. Witty and perfect fit analogies.

"Unlike previous iterations, the new M3 doesn’t look graceful, elegant or demure in any way, shape or flame-surfaced form. At best, it’s like the bad girl the guys don’t respect– but really, really want. The RS4 is like the nerdy girl with a devilish streak ready to let her hair down and set the library on fire."

heh. truth.


rjagrjag - 5/15/2008 7:28:15 PM
+1 Boost
Who cares, they are both amazing cars.

Some people like the RS4 because of the stealth look and some like the M3 because of the vents and scoops and stuff.

At the end of the day, 99.5% of these cars will never ever see a track and will never be pushed to their limits. Some people buy them just to enjoy them and theres nothing wrong with that.

Gotta say tho' BMW forums are more into Audi bashing than the other way around. They must be scared or something.....


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