YOU Make The Call! Should 001's Friend Buy A BMW M5 Or An Audi S7?

They're both great car in their respected way but if I have to choose one, I would get the BMW M5 instead of the Audi S7 base on performance and look. How about blue exterior color and a black or silver interior leather seat.

Somewhat strange comparison given the S7 competes with a 550i/650i Gran Coupe. RS7 competes with the M5/M6 Gran Coupe. I would wait a bit for the RS7 to hit US soil and get that. But if I were to stick with the given scenario I would go S7.

Agree 100%

So it sounds like his price point is about $90k. M5

I still can't get over the fact that the M5 plays a soundtrack of an amazing engine through its speakers. Thats when they lost me. The S7 is the call.

BMW M5 is what I would buy. Don't see the point of having AWD in California, RWD is much more fun anyway. Color combos I like on the M5 are Singapore Gray exterior over Sakhir Orange Interior, and Sakhir Orange exterior over Full Black interior. I always try to stick to M-specific colors.

Good luck!

The M badge is becoming a ghost of its past. Just read the very recent reviews on the new M5 with manual transmission at Car & Driver. Get the S7.

do you post just to get de-boosted? seriously, the worst comments of anyone here

I'd say the new E63. Both the Audi and BMW are due for a mid cycle refresh, hell autopsies is showing pics of the 5 series refresh now. I personally like the S6 more than the S7, it's a better looking car.

@LSIII- you're completely correct but have you seen the pricing on a 650 Gran Coupe? I'd also submit that the CLS 550/63 are still serious contenders.
T

After seeing how bad(under-steer prone) the S6 was on C&D's lightning lap, I feel like the heavier S7 would only be worse. Plus the Audis have electric steeing, and automatic transmission...not really a drivers car.

The M5 has hydraulic steering, a double clutch, RWD, and can take a corner!

M5.

I will take the M5 too.

For me, it would come down to value for money, and I'm not necessarily speaking about which one is cheaper.
If I was forced to pay MSRP, the the Audi would be a no brainer, because whilst I think the M5 is superior, its not 20 grand better. Now, if dealers are jacking up the price of the Audi by $10,000 over MSRP, and the M5 is being aggressively discounted as you stated (say 5 to 7 grand discount) the the price for both would almost be identical, and in that case, the M5 wins hands down!

They are not direct rivals so I would not cross shop them anyway. The S7 is the more practical one but the M5 is what an enthusiast would buy.I would get the M5 Individual Imola red, full black interior.

Panamera S

Having not driven either, my opinion is just conjecture. I know and have sold both brands and still tend to prefer BMW. Hotter in the LA market just means he should travel outside of LA to buy

M5

Having driven each vehicle - I would pick the S7 - much more feedback than the M

I'd rather have an M6 Gran Coupe than either car. It wasn't one of the choices, but then it's not like winning this poll will have any impact whatsoever on which car he gets anyway.

Panamera GTS if you're looking for performance only, and 4 doors. Overall drive ability, practicality, and in my opinion, looks, get the S7.

Also, the 420 hp is under rated, its initial instrumented tests show that.

Didn't realize electric steering had more feedback than hydraulic. Haha.

I like the M5's styling a lot more. Plus the M5's overall performance is levels above the S7.

You buy a car like this for status, performance, looks, quality, and most important...cachet. At the end of the day, the Audi ticks all five boxes. The Bimmer arguably does too, but today's M5 is a far cry from yesterday's. M5 used to mean race-bred (if not race-oriented) that amounted to the 911 of sedans...fast, but takes a real driver to tame the beast. Now M5 has morphed into what Audi USED to be, the do everything machine. But Audi still does that act better...everyone looks to the old M5's as better drives. For the Panamera crowd, a great drive, but fugly to the n-nth degree, no excuse driving such an expensive machine that got hit with the ugly stick. Audi in white over brown leather all day.

Not sure what you are basing your perception of the M5 on, but it laps the ring faster than a Porsche Panamera turbo, and yet is able to be a comfortable daily driver.

That is a jack of all trades if you ask me.

Also the Audi does not do it better, it has electric steering, and an automatic transmission, and the chassis balance of the S6/7 induces big time under-steer... that's about as far away from race bred or whatever you claimed M "used to be". In this match up the M5 is far superior in terms of performance.

Well, the M5 has 60 more hp than a Panamera Turbo so I would think it would be a bit quicker. Has the Panamera Turbo S ever been tested on the ring?

Panamera turbo S $180,000 550hp and 550lb-ft with over boost bumping 590lb ft laps the ringing in 7:52.
BMW M5 $90,000 560hp and 500lb-ft laps the ring in 7:55.

Times were done at different times with different drivers, but safe to say within a second or 2 of each other over an 8 mile track.

The decision may need to come down to this: which is a better, truer investment? In 5 years, which car might get a better ROI? For me, that's the M5, easily.

i really think this shouldnt even be a question.. M5 hands down !
maybe the rs7 over the M5 but no way s7.

The Audi S7 is better value for money than a BMW M5 -- as well as the Porsche Panamera GTS, Maserati Quattroporte or Aston Martin Rapide. German road tests (e.g., autozeitung.de) indicate that the 420 hp Audi S7 (4.1 seconds) should beat the new 560 hp BMW M5 (4.2 seconds) in a 0-to-62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) straight line contest between these cars with 7-speed dual-clutch transmissions. The S7’s numbers are supported by American car mag Motor Trend, which tested the S7 at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph. The Audi S7 should also beat the Panamera GTS, Quattroporte and Rapide, not just to 62 mph but also in a quarter-mile sprinting contest (according to Auto Zeitung's tests).

Part of the S7’s speed magic comes from Audi’s new twin-turbo 4L V-8 engine (also in the RS7 and S8, though with different tuning) and its dual-clutch transmission (which the Volkswagen group was a leader in developing).

The upcoming 560 hp Audi RS7 is Audi’s direct competitor to the BMW M5 (the RS6 is an estate car, not a sedan). I’m guessing that when the RS7 is released in North America probably later this year, road tests will likely show that it is about 0.5 second faster than Audi’s claimed 3.9 seconds to 62 mph (in order to match the new Mercedes E 63 AMG 4Matic S). At that speed, the RS7 will not only smoke the M5, it will be faster than the Porsche Panamera Turbo S and several supercars!

Typical of Audis, the S7 and RS7 also have the more beautiful exterior and nicer interior compared to the M5. Furthermore, the $79,000 S7 is cheaper to buy that the $90,000 M5: he could use whatever cost savings (after whatever premium he has to pay) for aftermarket mods to add what he might like in the M5, lol.

In any case, the new M5 leaves a bit to be desired: German reviewers, such as Auto Zeitung, rated the new Mercedes E 63 AMG 4Matic S better than the new M5 in their comparison tests.

In addition to being better than the S7, the upcoming RS7 has time to also improve on the available M5 and E 63 AMG. If the S7 is already hot, the RS7 will be blazing white hot when it debuts!

I guess you don't care that for only 10K more the M5 handles better, corners faster, has better balance, hits mph over a full second faster, and traps the 1/4 mile 8mph faster, and the gape just grows big time as speed climbs. Judging a car on 0 to 60 is fine, but tells a very small part of the story. lol.

Also the Turbo S's factory claimed 60 time is 3.6... faster than the RS6's 3.9. And lets not forget after they hit 60 the Panamera would be a much quicker car on a twisty road.

And the RS6's starting price in the UK is 78K pounds or about 6K pounds more than the M5, and E63...which equates to around $10K US more. Ironically the same gape you claim makes the S7 a bargain....lastly the RS7 goes against the M6 GC, and Mercedes ClS.

Sounds like the media is enjoying beating up the M5 unjustly.

The M5 remains the performance king in its category. BMW provides a superior ownership experience with complete included maintenance and better resale value.

The Germans know and care about their own cars better than anyone else. Why buy a car which is rated second best to the Germans -- and which will likely be third best when the RS7 comes out?

In this Auto Zeitung comparison test (see link, in German), the BMW M5 was placed second to the Mercedes E 63 AMG 4MATIC S. Even in the few aspects where the BMW supposedly "thrilled" (e.g., steering, comfort), the Mercedes was within a few points. In the next comparison test after the new RS7 comes out, the M5 will probably drop to third.
http://tinyurl.com/buoxubt

We can be confident about the RS7, since the S6 and S7 are already so good even in American magazine comparisons. Car and Driver rated the Audi S6 first place (213 points) ahead of the 2012 Mercedes E 63 AMG (210 points) and 2013 BMW M5 (193 points) in their comparison test. Third place was the M5. "So color us pi-sed that the M5 suffers shortfalls in three areas where an M usually excels: steering, suspension, and brakes." Hmmm.
http://tinyurl.com/6olv8mu

Car and Driver's Test Results (C&D did not do an instrumented test on the S7, but the S6 and S7 are similar in performance).

2013 BMW M5
- Braking, 70–0 mph: 160 ft
- Zero to 30 mph: 1.6 sec
- Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 sec
- 1/4-mile: 11.9 sec @ 123 mph
- Test Notes: Launch control is difficult to engage: DSC off, manual shift to “S3” setting, step on brake lightly, hold gear selector forward—but not too long or it drops out—and floor it.

2013 Audi S6
- Braking, 70–0 mph: 157 ft
- Zero to 30 mph: 1.2 sec
- Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 sec
- 1/4-mile: 12.1 sec @ 115 mph
- Test Notes: Launch control is activated in D sport with ESC off. Just stomp the gas with the brake, and it zings to 5000 rpm; lift, and it moves out.

bmwm6, virtually all of your driving in the real world will be done well under 100 mph. But I guess you don't care that in the real world outside of the track your M5 will probably be impounded long before it is able to use all that "climbing speed" from the M5's greater horsepower. Unless you live on a race track, what you consider "a small part of the story" really makes up the whole story in real world driving, lol.

Motor Trend tested the BMW M5 on its Figure Eight course at 24.9 sec @ 0.81 g (avg). In comparing with Porsche Turbo, Motor Trend stated:"Around our figure-eight course, the BMW got nipped by the Panamera Turbo. The M5 turned in a very unsedan-like 24.9 seconds at an average of 0.81 g. The Porsche did it half a second quicker with the same average g. The difference comes down to cornering speeds. The Panamera Turbo can pull a full 1.00 g in lateral acceleration and claws out of corners quicker, while the M5 creates 0.94 g of sideways tug while building higher straight-line g forces."

In a separate test, Motor Trend tested the Audi S7 on its Figure Eight course at 24.8 sec @ 0.81 g (avg). In comparing with Mercedes-Benz CLS 550, Motor Trend stated:"The S7 is four-tenths of a second quicker to 60

Oops, here is the remainder of my post, if interested...

In a separate test, Motor Trend tested the Audi S7 on its Figure Eight course at 24.8 sec @ 0.81 g (avg). In comparing with Mercedes-Benz CLS 550, Motor Trend stated:"The S7 is four-tenths of a second quicker to 60 mph and half-a-second and 2 mph quicker in the quarter. It pulls higher sustained gs on the skidpad, is faster around the figure eight, and even gets better fuel economy. In fact, the S7 will even run with Mercedes' big stick, the CLS 63 AMG. The two are dead even to 60 mph and the AMG gains only two-tenths of a second on the Audi in the quarter-mile, though it's traveling nearly 10 mph faster when all that extra horsepower hits its stride. The Audi, though, pulled high gs, was faster around the figure eight, and out-stopped the AMG from 60 mph by 10 feet, needing only 103 feet to come to a standstill. So, how 'bout that RS7, huh? Clearly, we've established that the S7 is punching above its weight class. How does it translate to the street? Pretty well, thank you very much."

Auto Zeitung tested the Porsche Panamera Turbo S at 3.8 seconds to 100 km/h, which is 62 mph (so its manufacturer claim of 3.6 seconds to 60 mph is precise). Audi claims the RS7 will be just 0.1 second slower to 62 mph -- i.e., 3.9 seconds. It's logical to expect the RS7 to be slightly faster than 3.9 seconds, probably 3.4 to 3.6 seconds to compete with the new E 63 AMG 4 Matic S, which is also AWD. Furthermore the RS7 and S7 share the same basic V8 engine: since the S7 in independent tests sprints 4.1 seconds to 62 mph (0.6 second faster than the manufacturer claim of 4.7 seconds) with just 420 HP and 405 pounds-feet of torque, we can expect the RS7's 560 HP and 553 pounds-feet of torque to propel the RS7 about 0.5 second faster than the official 3.9 seconds to 62 mph. As I said, if the RS7's real speed is this fast it will beat the Panamera Turbo S.

German Car Magazine Test: Audi S7 vs Porsche Panamera GTS (the Gran Turismo Sport is considered the best all round Panamera)
http://tinyurl.com/chydg5m

Once you add the cost of the options on the M5 and the E 63 AMG to make it comparable to the nicely-packaged RS6, the Audi is better value for money :)

The Audi S6, S7, S8 and RS7 share the same basic engine, tuned differently.

The Audi RS7 (560 hp from 5700 rpm, maximum torque is 516 lb-ft available from 1750 rpm to 5500 rpm, approx. 4500 lbs weight) has the manufacturer’s claim of 3.9 seconds to 62 mph (i.e., 3.7 seconds to 60 mph). However, it’s logical that the more powerful RS7 could sprint to 60 mph half a second faster (than Audi claims) in independent testing, easily.

- The Audi S6 (420 hp, 406 lb-ft torque, 4398 lbs) has been clocked at 3.7 seconds to 60 mph (0.8 seconds below manufacturer’s claim of 4.5 seconds).

- The Audi S7 (420 hp, 406 lb-ft torque, 4508 lbs) has been clocked at 3.9 seconds to 60 mph. (0.6 seconds below manufacturer’s claim of 4.5 seconds).

- The Audi S8 (520 hp, torque: 481 lb-ft torque, 4641 lbs weight) has been clocked at 3.5 seconds to 60 mph (0.4 seconds below manufacturer’s claim of 3.9 seconds). In a comparison with the BMW Alpina B7, Motor Trend stated: “This third-gen S8 is one of the quickest sedans we've ever tested. And by "one of the quickest," I don't mean it was actually the third or fourth quickest; I mean that it tied with the other quickest, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S. Just like the stupid-fast Porsche, the S8 devoured 60 in 3.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.8 at 118.3 mph. (The Panamera's trap speed was actually 0.3 mph slower.)… Evans: "AWD has so much grip you can roll hard into the throttle coming out of any corner, and it just goes." Lago: "To the S8's credit, its acceleration is absurd. The torque delivery feels like you've just driven the car off a cliff; it induces the same sensation in your stomach… Dubbed "EA 82," the S8's new 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 is a monster, making it no wonder Bentley shoehorned it into the Continental GT V8.” “

- Common sense indicates the more RS7 -- with a more powerful, higher torque version of the same engine -- will be faster than the S8, S6 and S7.

Time for the M5 addicts to wake up and smell the roses – it’s not the M5. Denial and voting down my posts won't change these facts.

You make a lot of assumptions, which means very little. You say track performance means very little, but what is a track...just a fast road. These are high performance cars, and the only way to compare a performance car is by all its performance metrics. If you try to rationalize it by saying you never go over X mph, which maybe true, then you could also conclude why not just get a base version of one of these cars?

You try to write off high speed performance, but than rattle off a dozen 0 to 60 times....which are ALL achieve using a launch control function...which is equally irrelevant. I have NEVER seen a person do a Launch controlled start on a pubic road, and it would be quite silly to do. So the performance focus has to be on the track which is the only place you can come close to using any of these cars performance potential. When on a track when do you do 0 to 60? LOL once if not never. You are in constant motion, when coming out of a corner your in motion.....not using a launch control novelty.

If you actually look at the C&D issue where the S6 did 0 to 60 in 3.7 the same time as the M5 which "only" uses RWD...which I prefer. But look at the S6's 5 to 60mph time it was only 4.9 seconds, which is a clearer indication of the S6 true pulling power without using a novelty LC. The S6 being out gunned big time performance wise is also apparent in 1/4 mile trap speed where the Mercedes and BMW were nearly 8-9mph faster FROM A STOP with ONLY RWD!!!

Also have you seen C&D lightning lap issue??? The M5 lapped VIR 5 seconds faster than the S6!!! 5 seconds is HUGE! Something 140hp would not be able to make up.... plus the S6's problems run deeper than a quick hp bump. The chassis is not balanced, and C&D stated this by noting the car had chronic under-steer. Not a desirable trait in a high performance car. Yes, a Panamera should be faster than the M5 in a figure 8 test....its a tight turning test done in a parking lot...lol. Not sure what it demonstrates, but Its fairly obvious an AWD car would accel at such a test...does that make a car better than another? NO.

Also the RS7 will NOT be faster than a Panamera Turbo S....the Panamera is lighter, and has considerably more torque, and equal power....if you think otherwise your just letting your fanboy show.

Yes, the S8 is quick in a straight line, but did you see the Fifth Gear video? They slam the S8 for being horrible under-steer, no steering feel, and rolling like a bus. But hey to goes to 60 quick lol.

Also im not surprised the E63 amg S was faster beat the M5 in a comparo...it has 580hp and 590lb ft of torque...90 more lb-ft than the M5. The new Mercedes is very impressive, and will be the class leader in terms of straight line performance...which not even the new less powerful Audi RS cars will be able to touch. The E63 amg S is factory claimed to hit 60 in 3.5 almost half a second faster than the RS6. And you know in real world test the Benz will go faster, and so will the RS,

.. but no way it will touch the Mercedes. The E63 Amg S performance numbers are just flat out superior.

By the way the M5 comes Very well equipped with very few options left for the customer, and you would have to get quite a few options to get it over $105K..still cheaper than the RS6. And the FACT the RS6 cost more is a major ding. The RS6 77,800 pound price actually translates to $120K us well more then the $90K us price for the M5, and you can bet the RS7 will have a 10K premium over the RS6.

In the end the M5 is still the drivers choice, and the Mercedes with the S package and AWD is the acceleration king.

M5 vs Panamera Turbo S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWNNV98ZjN4

F10 BMW M5 vs Audi RS6 Sedan V10 BiTurbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SzO15N5Krw

M5 VS Nissan GTR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVBr4VmW1c0

Bmwm6, the purpose of this blog is to provide useful information to help 001's friend make a smarter decision on whether he should buy a BMW M5 or an Audi S7. Ultimately 001’s friend needs to understand the big picture: the overall value of each car and specifics are most important to him.

In its July 2012 issue “in search of the world’s best sedan”, Car and Driver compared the Audi S6, BMW M5 and Mercedes C63 AMG. C&D assessed first place to the Audi S6 with 213 points (out of the maximum 240 points). The BMW M5 was in third place with only 193 points. 001’s friend should find it useful to review C&D’s Complete Specs and Performance Data in the third link to understand why the M5 ended up clearly in third place despite bmwm6’s arguments and why the Audi was rated best overall. No car is better than another car in every measure, but the better car is better is more measures Out of the 22 measures, the BMW was better than the Audi in only 4 measures – by only 1 point in each instance, so Audi was very close even in those areas :) On the other hand, the Audi was better than the BMW in 13 measures and tied in 5 measures, so it’s obvious why the Audi was rated higher than the BMW. I’ve posted some of the data below.
http://tinyurl.com/cjeobqt
http://tinyurl.com/6olv8mu
http://tinyurl.com/cqntdwx (PDF)

Grand Total (240 points): Audi S6 (213, first place), BMW M5 (193, third place)
- Fun to drive (25): Audi (20), BMW (18)
- Steering feel (10): Audi (8), BMW (7)
- Brake feel (10): Audi (8), BMW (7)
- Handling (10): Audi (8), BMW (8)
- Ride (10): Audi (9), BMW (9)
- Transmission (10): Audi (9), BMW (8)
- Performance (20): Audi (18), BMW (19)
- 1/4 mile acceleration (20): Audi (19), BMW (20)
- Interior styling (10): Audi (10), BMW (7)
- Exterior styling (10): Audi (9), BMW (8)
- Ergonomics (10): Audi (10), BMW (7)
- Fit and Finish (10): Audi (10), BMW (8)
- Driver comfort (10): Audi (10), BMW (10)

Even in 2006, the previous generation Audi S6 was placed higher than the M5 – in a German comparo (Auto Bild).
http://tinyurl.com/cxxzvse

Since the S7 is similar to the S6, the comparison results indicate the overall package of the S7 would be the more intelligent buy than the M5. Of course 001’s friend should think very carefully about what’s most important to him in such cars and whether the BMW’s few marginal advantages make it worthwhile.

To be continued when I have time later…. So much to respond to, such as bmwm6’s “what is a track...just a fast road”. Lol, you omitted to mention ‘just a fast road without the real world of cops, incompetent drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, pot holes and other factors that limit full use of the speed and power of these high-performance cars’.

Lol, I doubt 001's "friend" would use anything said on this blog to make a decision, and the whole scenario is most likely made up...Audi fanboys cling to that C&D comparo with desperation. 7 of the categories you listed above where the S6 scored higher in that comparison than the M5 was SUBJECTIVE. You can keep cherry picking quotes and select comparison tests to try and convince someone a less powerful S6 is better car for this or that. But at the end of the day the M5 faster, and a higher performing machine end of story.

On a track the M5 smokes the S6. On in the real world going the speed limit there is NO difference between the cars, because only 20% of the cars performance can ever be use, so its irrelevant to even discus. You will never reach its lateral G limit, do a launch controlled start or a 1/4 mile run.. Unless you want to talk about ride quality LOL. And if that is the case just get a Lexus. Most likely 001's friend should test drive the cars hims self (think for himself) and picks what he likes best. Instead of listening to a lounge chair "enthusiast" like you who copies and pastes select articles. Objectively the M5 is superior, Subjectively... to each his own.

bmwm6: "You make a lot of assumptions". Actually you make a lot of assumptions such as "I doubt 001's "friend" would use anything said on this blog to make a decision" even though this is a blog requesting advice from posters to help his friend make a decision.

bmwm6: "the whole scenario is most likely made up...Audi fanboys cling to that C&D comparo with desperation". Lol. To help you see the light -- while your head is in the sand -- I'll show you other tests besides the Car and Driver test. The results of several tests indicate that not much separates both cars, and in some tests the M5 was slower than the S7.

Motor Trend tests:
- the S7 was 1.2 secs and the M5 was 1.6 secs for 0 to 30 mph!
- the S7 was 3.9 secs and the M5 was 4.0 secs for 0 to 60 mph!
- the S7 was 6.4 secs and the M5 was 6.5 secs for 0 to 80 mph!
- For 0 to 100 mph, the S7 was 9.8 secs while the M5 was 9.5 secs (only marginally better, after almost 10 seconds of acceleration).
- For the quarter mile, the S7 was 12.3 sec @ 112.1 mph while the M5 was 12.4 sec @ 114.2 mph!
- On MT's figure-eight course, the S7 took only 24.8 sec @ 0.81 g (avg) while the M5 took 25.2 sec @ 0.78 g (avg) to complete the course, lol.
- And the S7's braking distance is superior to the M5, consistently in all tests.
- As well, the S7 is superior to every performance figure tested of the Porsche Panamera GTS (see second link)].
- Motor Trend has also tested the A6 and A7: "we've tested the regular flavor A6 and A7 and found them to be much quicker than Audi claims, with both hitting 60 mph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds" which are lower than the manufacturer's estimate of 5.3 for the A6 and 5.4 seconds for the A7.
[img]http://tinyurl.com/abw8j3k[/img]
[img]http://tinyurl.com/bm546ov[/img]

bmwm6: "But at the end of the day the M5 faster, and a higher performing machine end of story." LOL. There are enough independent tests out there that indicate it's really you with your head in the sand.

Auto Zeitung (German car mag): S6's 4.1 secs vs M5's 4.2 secs for 0 to 100 km/h
[img]http://tinyurl.com/aewlrs3[/img]
[img]http://tinyurl.com/buoxubt[/img]

Auto Motor und Sport (German car mag): S6 vs M5 times for km/h (e.g., deduct 0.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h time to get 0 to 60 mph time)
- S6's 3.1 secs vs M5's 3.2 secs (0 to 80 km/h or 50 mph);
- 4.4 secs vs 4.3 secs (0 to 100 km/h or 62 mph);
- 6.8 secs vs 6.4 secs (0 to 130 km/h or 81 mph)
- Braking: S7 34.3 meters vs M5 35.7 m
- Turning circle: 11.90 m (39 ft) vs 12.60 m (41 ft)
[img]http://tinyurl.com/adg3ydf[/img]
[img]http://tinyurl.com/cjw6p9x[/img]

bmwm6: "7 of the categories you listed above where the S6 scored higher in that comparison than the M5 was SUBJECTIVE." So you're trying to tell us that your BMW-biased subjective and questionable opinions are more credible than the subjective assessments of these so-called experts whose job is to test hundreds of cars? Who do you think we believe?

bmwm6

bmwm6: "0 to 60 times....which are ALL achieve using a launch control function...not using a launch control novelty". Lol, launch control does not explain the comparable acceleration results. Launch control is supposed to enable faster, smoother acceleration at launch (with reduced wheel spin) while exploiting as much of the M5's greater horsepower and torque as possible -- so theoretically the M5 should have accelerated faster, which it did not. No, the Audi's impressive acceleration results come from its All-Wheel-Drive (especially), superior engine technology (and possibly under-rated engine), gearing of the dual-clutch transmission, wide torque curve, etc. With or without launch control, the Audi's AWD enables it to accelerate faster from standstill than the M5's rear-wheel drive is able to do, despite its greater power and torque. Indeed, the M5's numbers will probably be more difficult to replicate given the traction variables on the street. [Mercedes has also switched to AWD for the its E63 AMG, in anticipation of the forthcoming Audi RS7. The superior traction of AWD is part of the reason why the Mercedes E 63 AMG S 4Matic launches 0.6 seconds faster than the BMW M5.]

The RWD M5 needs launch control to achieve the best posible launch -- without launch control (just stomping on the gas pedal) the M5 with RWD will probably be at a greater disadvantage against the S7 with AWD. The M5 simply can't put all its power/torque on the road. On the other hand, you really don't need launch control on the S7 since it doesn't help traction as much on an AWD vehicle. (To add insult to injury, launch control is much easier and faster to activate on the S7 than on the M5. Motor Trend testers admitted "launch control is difficult to engage [on the M5]") .

The S7's overall package makes the M5 look obsolete and overpriced, so no wonder one of the few M5 advantages on the C&D test was "rebates" (maybe because smarter people are unwilling to waste their money on the M5 given the alternatives with better overall value for the price). The S7 is the superior year-round, all-weather car car for daily driving, where it can hang with much more powerful RWD cars due to its better traction.

Since you're so obsessed with the time you spend on a track, if you want a track car then go get a Lambo, Ferrari, R8, Mclaren or another car that's superior to the M5 -- but use the S7 as your daily driver. In the real world, how often do you accelerate in a city past 50 mph or on a highway past 100 mph? Rarely. All that extra horsepower/torque goes to waste. Besides you'll get more looks in an S7 than in an M5.

Audi commercial: The 2013 Audi S6 - "3.7 seconds"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5dlQaS-ik

bmwm6: "On a track the M5 smokes the S6"??? Lol, you spend too much time racing with amateurs on no-name tracks. Let's compare the results of the M5, S6 and S7 on recognized tracks.

Poor M5 can't perform in wet conditions. Autocar Wet Handling Track (Great Britain): BMW M5 (F10) is placed 67 out of 74 cars because its RWD cannot handle the wet conditions. Even the lowly 2006 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI (8J) was placed 13th out of the 74 cars, lol.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/autocar_wet_handling_track.html

If the S6 and S7 can go this fast on a dry track relative to the M5 and E63 AMG, imagine how much quicker the 2014 RS7 will probably be.

- Virginia International Raceway (USA) is the only track officially lapped by all three cars: 2012 Audi S6 (3:09.80), 2011 BMW M5 - F10 (3:05.20), 2009 Mercedes E63 AMG (3:06.90). The S6 was just 3 seconds behind the E63 AMG and 4 seconds behind M5.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia_international_raceway.html

- Autozeitung test track (Germany) is the only track officially lapped by all three cars: 2012 Audi S7 (1:41.90), 2011 M5 - F10 (1:39.80) and 2010 Mercedes E63 AMG T (1:41.40). The S7 is just 0.5 second behind the E63 AMG Touring and 2 seconds behind M5.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/autozeitung_test_track.html

Auto Bild Video: 2009 German comparison test of Mercedes E63 AMG vs. BMW M5 vs Audi RS6. Only the 2009 RS6 was AWD. Although the video was in German, the picture paints a thousand words.
http://www.autobild.de/videos/das-magazin-20.08.09-1--1322375.html

Not sure why you quote tests from 2009, and earlier as it has nothing to do with the current cars. Just reference the you tube links above where the M5 out accelerates the panamera turbo s, rs6, and gtr. The s7 us slower than the m5 end of story. Also you leave out the MT test where the 650 beat the S7,b/c in there expert opinion they thought it was the better driving car. And C&D came to the same conclusion, but only picked the s7 b/c of price. Also the m5' lap around VIP was closer the 5 seconds faster. To put it frankly the S6 was an embarrassment on the track, and on the actual video it under steered off the track into the grass!!!!!! Lol. Keep try to judge a car on 0 to 60. You'll find out the means nothing when determining what car is better or not.

Lol I also like how you cherry pick the slowest times for the m5 from a select MT review. When MT tested the M5 in march 2012 their first instant test it hit 60 in 3.7, 100 in 8.4, and the quarter mile in 11.9 at 120mph!!!! It did the figure 8 in 24.9 at . 81 g identical to the AWD s7, yet the m5 is "only" RWD!