BMW under attack..

[Garageaholic]

as it stands the bmw M3 is STILL the measuring stick by which ALL performance cars are compared to.

Actually the new Audi RS4 is much better than the E92 M3... in many categories. I think that's mainly because the RS4 is AWD, so handling is superior...

[Jon325i]

you can take this as a compliment towards BMW. they make the cars that everyone else aspires to. pretty much every company has been comparing themselves to BMW lately.

This particularly true with the 3-series. When you read articles from car mags doing a "top 5" or "top 10" comparison of a specific niche vehicle, the writer(s) have stated that BMWs bread-n-butter car (the 3-series) has been the benchmark by which many other brands strive for and have been for over 10 years now. Sure one can nit-pick on singled out characteristics (price, mileage, truck space, legroom, etc.) but as far as how the entire package is put together and performs the 3 comes out as the favorite of the critics who test them.

There's a Pontiac commercial out now which advertises some new sport SUV thing they have and their claim to fame is that it out-accelerates the X5. Ok fine, but how about braking, handling, fit & finish, reliability and resale value five years from now? Hmm?

Jon

[craig4ie]

Actually the new Audi RS4 is much better than the E92 M3... in many categories. I think that's mainly because the RS4 is AWD, so handling is superior...

heh, is that what the numbers are saying?

[SpunkyE30nOk]

Actually the new Audi RS4 is much better than the E92 M3... in many categories. I think that's mainly because the RS4 is AWD, so handling is superior...

how can you say that and the new M3 isnt out yet. and we know awd doesnt = to superior handling. the only true benifit of awd is at launch but at speed the awd bcomes a liability b/c of weight and powertrain hp loss. I don't ever recall the Audi Rs4 being a benchmark for sports coupes...but the M3 has been ever since it was created. The Audi Rs4 might perform the e46 M3, but i know the new one will walk all over it b/c the rs4 outperforms the e46 M but barely

[craig4ie]

how can you say that and the new M3 isnt out yet. and we know awd doesnt = to superior handling. the only true benifit of awd is at launch but at speed the awd bcomes a liability b/c of weight and powertrain hp loss. I don't ever recall the Audi Rs4 being a benchmark for sports coupes...but the M3 has been ever since it was created. The Audi Rs4 might perform the e46 M3, but i know the new one will walk all over it b/c the rs4 outperforms the e46 M but barely

word

[mtechnik]

Power to the Bimma'


lol

[colombacho]

how can you say that and the new M3 isnt out yet. and we know awd doesnt = to superior handling. the only true benifit of awd is at launch but at speed the awd bcomes a liability b/c of weight and powertrain hp loss. I don't ever recall the Audi Rs4 being a benchmark for sports coupes...but the M3 has been ever since it was created. The Audi Rs4 might perform the e46 M3, but i know the new one will walk all over it b/c the rs4 outperforms the e46 M but barely

not only that also when you are pushing the car to the limmit a RWD will loose grip and just drift. in the other hand an AWD when it is pushed past the limmit you will wipe out, is ither yes or no. Look at Lambourgini murcielago, same thing. just my

Also didn't audi do the same thing with an evente where they compared the s4 to the new e92 335i that had the oil cooling problems. so they could tow it out of the race when the turbos overheated. Now that problem has been resolve with BMW but still, its just gimmics.

[Garageaholic]

not only that also when you are pushing the car to the limmit a RWD will loose grip and just drift. in the other hand an AWD when it is pushed past the limmit you will wipe out, is ither yes or no. Look at Lambourgini murcielago, same thing. just my

Oh really? you've personally pushed an AWD to it's limits and ended up wiping out?

Do you know what you're talking about?

[nando]

Oh really? you've personally pushed an AWD to it's limits and ended up wiping out?

Do you know what you're talking about?

I haven't crashed, but yes. lol.

I wouldn't say that RWD > AWD or AWD > RWD. there are situations where both have advantages, and they must be driven accordingly. But AWD certainly doesn't mean better handling by default...

also audis tend to be VERY heavy cars, with a 50/50 power split and most of the weight over the front tires. the RS4 is probably better tuned than their other models, but it usually means they have understeering tendancies.

I should probably disclose that I'm not a fan of Audi, at all. :p

[colombacho]

no never, just read a lot. care to counter point?

[Garageaholic]

First of all, you can't compare the RS4 or the M3 with Supercar exotics. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Secondly, I've seen plenty of videos on either youtube or even links posted here on this forum that shows many rear wheel drive cars such as the e36 m3 (jordan lookalike) losing control at high speeds and I saw no evidence of drifting, just wiping out.

[LINUS]

Drivetrain configuation aside, anybody who buys an Audi gets to know their dealership service manager well enough from all the warrenty work, that you will know him on a first name basis, and probably know some of his kids' names as well.

I had an Audi. They suck.

[Garageaholic]

Drivetrain configuation aside, anybody who buys an Audi gets to know their dealership service manager well enough from all the warrenty work, that you will know him on a first name basis, and probably know some of his kids' names as well.

I had an Audi. They suck.

Haha, that's an interesting way to introduce your point. lol

[craig4ie]

Drivetrain configuation aside, anybody who buys an Audi gets to know their dealership service manager well enough from all the warrenty work, that you will know him on a first name basis, and probably know some of his kids' names as well.

I had an Audi. They suck.

It's good to know the kids' names. Your money is what's gonna put them through college once the warranty is up.

[Jscotty]

That's the way it was with my sister and her new Kia. She got so acquainted with the girl that works at the front desk at the dealership that both of their families are going on vacation together.