BMW M3 vs. Audi RS4, Your Comparison

[kentuki]

So guys I thought I'd make an easy one for you, Out of the 2 I would pick the BMW cause It's what BMW do, create sporty boxer racing cars for the road.

So you know, everyones view is different so let's hear it

[Kooper]

Both are good, though I'd probably settle on the M3 as well. No big reason for me apart from the fact that the M3 is rear wheel drive and the RS4 is 4WD. Nothing wrong with 4WD, I just prefer rear wheel drive.

[Ferrer]

I haven't driven the Audi, but I have driven the M3.

It was a very good car, it did everything it was supposed to do. It was fast, handled well, the steering was nicely balanced and the gearbox was nice. It was a saloon so you could almost mistake it for a sensible family saloon. And the noise was spectacular.

But it didn't impress me. Somewhat it left me a bit cold. Very, very capable car indeed, but the magic was gone a bit. The same day I also drove a 335i. And that really impressed me. Very fast, no turbo lag and much comfortable than the M3.

I don't really like Audis, so I'd go for the M3 with a manual gearbox. Altough in truth against the 335i the M3 is hard to justify.

[acfsambo]

Id get the RS4 Avant. Speed and practicality.

[kentuki]

Altough in truth against the 335i the M3 is hard to justify.

True, cause in all honesty it's not always the fastest and most powerful car that ends up being used everyday, mainly as just a play thing

[Ferrer]

True, cause in all honesty it's not always the fastest and most powerful car that ends up being used everyday, mainly as just a play thing

And the 335i is probably almost as fast as the M3 in real life conditions. In fact:

M3 + 335i = Alpina B3. Which probably is about the best of both worlds. With more exclusivity to boot.

[Kooper]

I remember a local magazine doing a head-to-head comparison between the M3 and 335i. They performed the tests both at sea-level and places where the air is much thinner.

At sea level the difference was tangible with the M3 being the quicker car, but going more in-land there was virtually no difference between the two. If I remember correctly the 335i's in-gear (overtaking?) acceleration was actually better than the M3.

I heard some stories of the 335i's kW easily being upped to M3 levels with just an ECU swap, with N.m being much higher. Of course there goes your warranty if you do that, but still, kind of makes a good case for the next generation of M cars to go the turbo route.

[Dino Scuderia]

Until Audi loses the AWD drivetrain which dictates the too far forward mounting of the engine making them nose heavy....I would always choose the M3 for performance.

RS4 weight distribution - F 58.3/R 41.7%

M3 weight distribution - F 51/R 49%

Both cars really really nice, tough choice.

[acfsambo]

Audi have (not sure about now) put the engines further forward to get as much cabin room as possible without lengthening the car, though i could be wrong.

And sure the M3 is the better perfoming car, but which would you live with as a daily driver?

Id go RS4 Avant as a daily driver, but the M3 for the weekends/track days.

[Dino Scuderia]

Audi have (not sure about now) put the engines further forward to get as much cabin room as possible without lengthening the car, though i could be wrong.

A pal of mine is an Audi mechanic, he says it's because of the drivetrain configuration. But cabin room could also be a factor.

[Ferrer]

And sure the M3 is the better perfoming car, but which would you live with as a daily driver?

I doubt there's much difference between the M3 and the RS4 in terms of comfort.

[mclaren_crazy]

the Audi means no second car for winter driving up here

[ruim20]

The RS4, i can't bring myself to like BMW lines these days, wich is a shame, i'd love an M3 or a 335i in 'old' E46 lines.

[NSXType-R]

Audi RS4. Basically a Subaru STI or Lancer Evolution for rich people.

[LTSmash]

I’d go with M3 on this one even though I'm not a fan of either of them. I don't really take any car seriously as a road going sports car if it's AWD (excluding the Turbo), unless its ideal purpose is to go off road such as the STi or Evo. I can't picture rallying the Audi. However, the Audi makes sense if you live somewhere where there are seasonal weather changes.