So Car and Driver has done a test that auto-enthusiasts have anxiously been waiting for.
The BMW M3 is tested against the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Audi RS4.
The BMW M3 wins this comparison because, although it may not be the fastest, it offers the most sporting driving experience and thrills in this group.
The Audi RS4 finished in third place, which is kind of surprising considering it won the last comparison test Car and Driver did between it, the Mercedes C55 AMG and old E46 BMW M3. The car has great acceleration and handling, but it was too easy to drive. Although the easiness to drive is a plus, the reviewers noted running the M3 and C63 AMG hard brought great rewards and thrills that the RS4 couldn't match. The Audi RS4 has clearly been carefully reviewed by Mercedes and BMW and both companies brought more power to the contest this time around.
The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is the clear extrovert of this group. Where the RS4 is understated luxury, the C63 screams "look at me." With its creases, bulges and vents indicating that it is a true high-performance Benz, this car looks worlds apart from a standard C-class. The car has the most horsepower and torque out of this trio. Although it doesn't come with a manual transmission, the C63's automatic is a brilliant 7-speed. The 0-60 mph dash is cleared in....get this.....3.9 SECONDS! The BMW M3 and RS4 were easily outgunned in the straights by the C63. However, the downfall of the C63 was its ride. The ride is extremely harsh and unforgiving.
The winner is the BMW M3. Armed with a 420 horsepower V8 and manual transmission the M3 offers sportiness and thrills the Audi RS4 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG can't produce. The M3 is more of a challenge to drive than the Audi RS4. The RS4 is too composed and easy-natured for its own good against the M3 and C63. The M3 due to its manual transmission is more involving than the automatic trasmission C63 AMG.
However, the M3 shouldn't rest comfortably. Audi has just announced it will end production of the B7 Audi RS4 by the end of this year and a new RS4, based on the B8 platform, should debut in about one year from now.
This segment keeps getting better and better.....
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