New shots of the Audi RS4

First of all, BMW might come out with a 400hp V8 in the 2007/8 M3 not a V10. Even if they did it still is not AWD, as it sits now it will be 20 hp less, and it won't have a DSG tranny that I’m sure the RS4 will have next year. And M3's now go for $60K anyways, so what is a new one with a V8 going to go for?? $75/$80K? Not worth the $ IMO. BMW is always trying to play catch up with Audi...

...can't afford :(

Herb, first of all Audi dominated the 80's with the Audi S1 that was 320 HP 5 Cyl and sold for $72K. Look it up. Where was Beemer? hmm...Some years later they decided to come out with a 200 hp E30 M3.

BMW then came out the E36 M3 and Audi had a 350hp RS2 , the 230hp S4 and the 250hp S3. Still Beemer playing catch up…

Then Beemer had the E46 M3 and the M5...and what did Audi have??? Oh, only a 380 hp WAGON! That dominated both cars. We won’t even talk about the RS6 BUILT by COSWORTH or now the 420hp RS4.

Don't get me wrong, this rival has been going on for decades and I am very glad BMW is making cars or maybe we wouldn’t have the cars we have now, but please don't try to put up facts without putting up ALL the cars Audi actually had.

Come on guys.. Chill out..
Both Audi and BMW are world class marquees!!
But I dont think it's fair to either manufacturer
to make side by side comparisons.
The BMW M3 is a coupe and the Audi S4/RS4 is a sedan and it has quattro.
The BMW may be a tad quicker (just a tad) because
it's a lighter car.
But the Audi has the advantage when it comes to
foul weather performance and safety.
It all depends on whats more important to the individual driver.

I was just at the LA auto show and I was quoted $85 grand for the RS4. Dealer was accepting deposits at the show.

I just bought a '06 S4 in December. I test drove an M3 during that spending spree as well, and it's a VERY nice ride. The S4 just had more of what I was looking for in a car. 4 doors (which accounts for some of that extra weight), AWD (it snows on occasion where I live), the rich sound of the V8 as opposed to a whiny I6. It also has a smoother ride and it's a little quieter which makes it #1 for long road trips. The M3 does have alightly better performance due to the RWD and lighter weight, but the difference is negligable unless the driver REALLY knows what he/she is doing. As far as I'm concerned, the cars are evenly matched and it's up to the drivers to decide who can drive better and faster. I've only seriously raced one M3 since I got my S4, over the Grapevine on I-5 before X-mas. I toasted him after about 10 miles, he just couldn't hang. He was a decent driver and had probably owned his M3 for a couple of years, where as I had been driving my first Audi for less than 2 weeks. It was great fun, and I have no doubt that a better driver in an M3 would give me a serious run for my money. I've seen a few M3's around, but the traffic conditions were not good enough to allow for a friendly competition between 2 great cars that are both capable of doing much more than the average driver is capable of doing.

Fact: Audi sells more cars in Germany than BMW or Mercedes.

Fact: As of right now there is no indication from BMW that a V8 is going to go into the M3. I haven't heard a peep and thus I don't see there being a V8 M3 until at least 2007, and the existence of this car is pure speculation as of now and has no basis in fact, only baseless rumors. Meanwhile, Audi has purchased Lamborghini and is tapping their V10's.

Fact: There's an M5 killing RS6 on track for 2008 that will have an upgraded version of the V10 that IS going to debut in the 2007 S6 which WILL be available later this year, so we will get a hint of what the RS6 is going to be all about when we see it's cousin later this year.

The RS6 is going to have a 550hp V10, and right now I'm seeing it as my next car unless BMW can do better for a comparable price.

If you don't believe me about the V10 S8, check out http://www.audiworld.com/features/tests/d3s8.html and imagine what an RS tratment would do to THAT car. Picture Lamborghini's best in a car that seats 4 fat Americans comfortably and is stiff enough to be able to reach 200mph on a track. The new RS4 with it's V8 and a defeated chip can push 185 according to track tests, so I don't think that # is far fetched at all.