Edmunds: Audi RS4 vs. BMW M5 6MT

[GTaudiophile]

And the winnar is...

Hint: The winning HQ is north of the losing in Bavaria

 

[AMCRambler]

That's not even a valid comparison. They're comparing a full size sedan to a mid size.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
That's not even a valid comparison. They're comparing a full size sedan to a mid size.

5 series isn't full size.

and a4 is barely midsize, if not a large compact.

 

[DougK62]

Nice. I'd take the RS4 over the M5, too.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: DougK62
Nice. I'd take the RS4 over the M5, too.

Any day of the week!

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: DougK62
Nice. I'd take the RS4 over the M5, too.

Any day of the week!

as was stated before, they are two different classes...
but thats really sad about the M5's tranny and DSC....

 

[Aharami]

RS4 is a badass car. well both are badass cars but RS4 is more pleasing to look at

 

[Cobalt]

M5 with SMG > RS4 any day of the week. The S85 was designed to work with SMG, the manual was an afterthought by BMW just to please the American drivers who just don't get it.

 

[Shyatic]

Thing about the M5... it's ugly. And heavy. And given that weight and ugliness, I can see the RS4 being a winner

For the record though, I prefer BMW as a brand, but in this comparo I like the RS4

 

[SSSnail]

Originally posted by: cobalt
M5 with SMG > RS4 any day of the week. The S85 was designed to work with SMG, the manual was an afterthought by BMW just to please the American drivers who just don't get it.

"More disturbing than the stability control was the warning that flashed up on the iDrive screen after just 12 miles of fast driving. Transmission temperature was escalating, so the M5 announced that it was taking matters into its own circuits by reducing engine output. The redline then steadily crept down. And down. By the time we got fed up and pulled over to let it cool, the redline had dropped to 6,000. Apparently the manual transmission just doesn't have the cooling capacity to deal with 500 hp.

Suddenly any notions you might have of flinging the BMW M5 around a local road circuit at a track day turn to vapor. Apparently the Germans are unaware that track days are pretty common in America, and that a BMW M5 driver is just the sort of guy who knows this. "

Yup!

 

[overst33r]

High revving V10>high revving V8

Although BMW's gearboxes are apparently not up to the challenge in this model.

 

[mb]

I don't think that I've ever seen any BMW lose in any comparison on edmunds before.

 

[Jahee]

Wow the North American RS4 steering wheel is horrible :thumbsdown:

Edit: http://www.audiforums.com/models/rs4/images/2007-Audi-RS4-Interior.jpg

I hate ugly steering wheels, it ruins the whole interior in my opinion.. e.g This

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: cobalt
M5 with SMG > RS4 any day of the week. The S85 was designed to work with SMG, the manual was an afterthought by BMW just to please the American drivers who just don't get it.

QFMFT.

BMW M5 with SMG > RS4.

 

[imported_Mike]

E39 S2 M5 > RS4 > E60 M5

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Mike
E39 S2 M5 > RS4 > E60 M5

On what grounds? For me it is solely the styling...and maybe the interior, because they offered the stitched leather dash. However, the Audi is a sexy beast, in and out.

 

[Cobalt]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Mike
E39 S2 M5 > RS4 > E60 M5

On what grounds? For me it is solely the styling...and maybe the interior, because they offered the stitched leather dash. However, the Audi is a sexy beast, in and out.

I think the M5 looks pretty good in person, I think Bangle has some merit when he says his cars don't look good in pics. Doesn't save the E90 though or even the regular E60 5 series. Case in point - M6. Hideous in pictures, IMO, but every time I've seen/sat in that car I was just in awe...

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Mike
E39 S2 M5 > RS4 > E60 M5

On what grounds? For me it is solely the styling...and maybe the interior, because they offered the stitched leather dash. However, the Audi is a sexy beast, in and out.

Obviously based solely on my opinion. The E39 is one of the sexiest sedans ever produced. It has more power, more torque. Like the RS4, it was designed around and only manufactured with a 6spd MT. Ive never driven either, but the E39 M5 is renowned for it's handling. Add in the fact that you can get it for about $20k-$30k less then the RS4, if I could afford either, I would seriously have to consider the E39 S2 M5 as a powerhouse option.

 

[vetteguy]

I disagree about the steering wheel...I think it's hot.

And isn't an Audi vs. BMW thread kind of like an nVidia vs. ATI thread? Audi fans will never concede to a BMW being better, and vice versa.

Man though...I really want an RS4.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
I disagree about the steering wheel...I think it's hot.

And isn't an Audi vs. BMW thread kind of like an nVidia vs. ATI thread? Audi fans will never concede to a BMW being better, and vice versa.

Man though...I really want an RS4.

It's a little different just b/c most of the people here have never even driven either...so they can't be so confident in their hatred.

 

[ballmode]

Id take either, but I'm sure that even with the extra 200 lbs, the M5 would probably feel lighter having just RWD and not AWD

 

[DanTMWTMP]

isn't a more valid comparison the RS4 vs M3?


either way, i think RS4 is the sexy and i'd get that over anything.

 

[RiDE]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
isn't a more valid comparison the RS4 vs M3?


either way, i think RS4 is the sexy and i'd get that over anything.

Everybody is waiting for the new M3, I think the C63 will be faster than both.

 

[kumanchu]

am i an oddball for thinking that the e30 m3 was the greatest bmw ever? man i love that thing......

i think that generally, the rs4 has been highly praised by every automotive journalist that has fairly reviewed it.

i think it would be harder decision for me between a mint e30 and an rs4 than a rs4 and the m5

 

[jamesbond007]

I'm not too hip on Audi news, but do the electrical problems still plague VW/Audi, such as the RS4? If they do, I'd be wary to purchase one.

I think the BMW is the sexier car...I'd hit that M5 clear into the next millenium! :thumbsup: