B6 S4 v e46 M3 - which should I buy?

[Scotland]

As the title suggests - what should I buy?

The big pulling point for the S4 is the rear doors and the quattro drive system.

I like the idea of a smaller engine producing better results with the M3 though.

Although I don't use the space very often in the current 330 cab, with a 13 month year old and another one on the way, the extra space could come in handy if the wife's car is out of action.

Being in Scotland we get a fair amount of snow and rain which is why the quattro traction seems so appealing.

As far as I can see it the following appears to be the case:

Average MPG
M3 - 23
S4 - 21

0-60
M3 - 5.0s
S4 - 5.6s

Both top out at 155mph and will be about the same to insure?

What about service intervals and costs?

I don't do a lot of driving so the MPG isn't the be all and end all. Are these figures correct?

What about mid-range performance? Surely the 4.2V8 can take the 3.2 straight 6 at something?!

Ideally I'd like a slightly smaller engined forced induction rather than getting more power by making the engine a lot bigger! That's why the M3 seems better, although I'm sure the S4 would make up for that with some serious V8 growl grunt.

Does anyone have any experience of driving both?

Does it just come down to practicality for the S4? If so they must be glad BMW never did a saloon / tourer!

The other thing that puts me off the S4 is knowing that it isn't an RS4. It would always feel 2nd best. Fair enough you could say the same for the CSL, but I always viewed that more as a very limited special edition. The M3 is pretty much the top of the compact exec BMWs - the S4 isn't for Audis.

Thoughts?

[Pete.S]

This infamous clip might help answer some of your questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW5-Yv1G_JU

While Clarkson spouts a lot of cr*p sometimes, I reckon he got this little comparison pretty much bob on

If you're looking for a smaller engine with forced induction, have you considered the S3? Pretty much the same room inside as the S4 (which is not good for rear leg room btw), and only a tenth of a second slower to 60, plus newer technology.

[ShaneyB]

I just went through the same dilemma and went for the B6 S4 with no regrets thus far. I know there are a lot of S4's out there but they are like rocking horse <beep> compared to M3's. It seems like every other car I see is an M3 from spotty 18 year old stock brokers to born again speed freaks. That is also testiment to how the good the car is though. I liked them both but having a son I thought sensibly for once and went for more space & 5 doors. I also found the build quality of the M3 dreadful in comparison. I test drove two E46's and they both just rattled and felt really old to me. Without a doubt the M3 is quicker but you can always tweak the S4 if you want that level of performance?? Day to day driving (around town in traffic) I'm getting around 20 mpg but a little motorway work and that soon rockets up. 220 miles per tank in town and 300+ miles with a little motorway work. One of the other major factors to me not going down the M3 route was the insurance - £650.00 fully comp in the S4 - £1495.00 for the M3!! My current isurer wouldn't even quote the M3 and I'm 43 with full no claims, protected with no points! With the spare money you can get the remap and save a little for the Milltek. Oh, and I was told by a couple of insurers that the M3 is the World's 2nd most stolen car - not sure what the most stolen is.

Choose wisely mate and good luck.

[Scotland]

Cheers Shagga. VERY interesting points about the insurance, and the stolen car bit adds another dimension. When you mate tells you about guys breaking into his house with baseball bats and balaclavas to steal a Golf GTI and you've got kids in the house, you start to take these things into account, and the M3 will certainly attract a lot of unwanted attention.

I suppose you can't have it both ways. If you want a superb car that everyone knows is amazing and really has great performance, you have to accept that this can come at a price.

When I'm not doing many miles an extra £900 on insurance does seem a bit over the top.

[Scotland]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW5-Yv1G_JU

If you're looking for a smaller engine with forced induction, have you considered the S3? Pretty much the same room inside as the S4 (which is not good for rear leg room btw), and only a tenth of a second slower to 60, plus newer technology.

Cracking clip - can't believe it stops before the lap times are announced?! Anyone know what the times were for S4 and M3 round the top gear track?

As for the S3 - I considered it, and its defo more in line engine wise with what I want but its too small. If I was going smaller 2-door anyway then I'd probably take the M3 over the S3.

[BlingBling]

Not sure of the exact time but IIRC the S4 was nearly a second quicker.

[tweek]

The world's most stolen make/model car seems to be the Honda Civic? The most stolen car (according to Google) is a BMW 3 series cabrio in South Africa, stolen 12 times and recovered thanks to a tracker.

In the TG test, the S4 was 0.9 seconds quicker round the track in the dry, would like to see a wet lap

I would also point out that pretty much everyone knows an M3 and an RS4 but the S4 seems to have escaped mass attention, if you changed the badge to 2.0TDI on the back nobody would really know the difference until...

If you are test driving cars it's worth trying this trick on the S4, with the car in high gear give a dab of left foot braking and nail the accelerator into the carpet immediately after..

Pete

[Scotland]

Yip, just checked the footage on another youtube vid and its 0.9 seconds faster round the track. It might sound a bit strange, but to me that's a HUGE buying signal. 0-60 times don't really mean that much, that's why I was wondering if anyone knew the official mid range performance figures - they are the ones that matter! And if it goes faster round a track (presumably because it handles better) then as far as I'm concerned its a "faster" car.

Another tick in the S4 box - its truly "faster"!

[Pete.S]

that's why I was wondering if anyone knew the official mid range performance figures

S4 (Avant)

30 - 70 5.5
50 - 70 7.0

M3

30 - 70 4.1
50 - 70 7.7

Here's a couple of videos showing the differences in straight line performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNGoHVR16W8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQC-8CDdHog

Throw in some roundabouts and some drizzle and the story changes, as a Z4 driving 1mm off my rear bumper found out the other week

[caiss4]

Real world driving and 'average' abilities I'd go for the S4 every time. If you've driven M3's I can understand how the driving experience of the S4 will be disappointing (nose heavy understeer etc, etc) but the V8 grunt and growl with the peak torque at 3,000rpm means you can choose to extract the best or cruise at any speed from 40mph to 150+mph(in Germany of course) in 6th gear.

Running costs are 'high' but not astronomic (97 RON only). Would I like to have a RS4? You bet. But right now reasonable mileage B6's have got to be one of the best deals going ( I know I've eaten the depreciation from new) and the build quality of Audi is one of the best. Just had my insurance renewal at <£300 fully comp. though!

As already mentioned rear legroom is modest although it didn't stop us as a family of five heading down to Frankfurt for a long weekend - less time in the car?!? Large boot though.

Ultimately my view is that the M3 is more of an extrovert performance car (even if >50% of the drivers are incapable of driving the car properly) whilst the S4 is more of a Q car for those who wish to be more discrete.

[P_G]

If you have a 13 month old and another on the way, best to try and buy an Avant. I had a saloon and the Avant layout is so much more space accessible, hence why i managed to convince my better half of buying an Avant rather than my saloon...... but I also got away with upgrading to an RS4 at the same time!

[Scotland]

If you have a 13 month old and another on the way, best to try and buy an Avant. I had a saloon and the Avant layout is so much more space accessible

Yeah, that was one of the more attractive parts of the S4, the Avant option, which if possible I'd go for.

Ultimately my view is that the M3 is more of an extrovert performance car (even if >50% of the drivers are incapable of driving the car properly) whilst the S4 is more of a Q car for those who wish to be more discrete.

Yeah, its one of those things. When I go to work and go out with the guys, I'd like the flash one. But when its parked outside my house with kids, the discrete option would be the choice!

Need to sell the 330 cab first, but I need to make a decision soon...

[P_G]

Stick a Milltek with 200 cell race cats on the S4 and the soundtrack alone will make it worth buying over the bag of spanners which is the M3's straight six.

The torque delivery on it as well means it is a great round town cruiser in 2nd, 4th and 6th, use the other gears when you want to hussle it along

[p1tse]

sorry to jump on the band wagon, but which would you guys chose if it was a decision on cabriolet.

if you need practicallity, go for the avant

[Merlot]

I've had enough of RWD in Scotland in a car to be used through the winter - 4WD all the way.