m3 > Rs4

[eabbott1972]

Hi

Thinking of moving to the dark side. Have a E46 m3 (not the v8 version). Whilst i read up on here about what to look out for, will this be an upgrade or a side step? My mechanic friend has told be that the engines on the RS4 clog up with gunk after 20k miles and start getting slower with age. Also they are always down on power so wont be any quicker than my m3 in a straight line at least and that i should go for a new shape m3 (which according to him are much quicker than the rs4 when he had one in at his dealership) but i fancy a change and the new shape looks a bit boring to me?

Any thoughts please

[Sims]

Any thoughts please

Do you have the SMG?

Have you driven an RS4? It's quite a different experience to the RWD E46 M3. IMO, the M3 is more involving ( I will get flamed shortly ) and the RS4 is more reassuring at all times and in all weather conditions. The RS4 cabin is far better than the well dated E46 one.

420ps against 343 (but I think the M3 is 100kgs lighter & feels it)? You will sense the RS4 is more powerful, and perhaps the M3 CSL is better matched in power terms.

Fuel economy will be better in the M3.

The E90/92 M3 may look dull, but is it dull to drive? I don't think so and provides the similar eight cylinder power with a lively rear axle. And can be had with the DCT if manual was not preferred & EDC.

[eabbott1972]

Hi sims,

no my m3 is a manual. I am sure the new m3 is good to drive but it sounds a bit grown up. Maybe the rs4 is a good compromise between the two. My main worry is the lack of straight line speed in the RS4 and i quote my friend- 'the rs4 is by far the slowest 414 hp car i have ever driven' whats up with that?!

[Sims]

Hi sims,
no my m3 is a manual. I am sure the new m3 is good to drive but it sounds a bit grown up.

I understand that view, it's really a modern E39 M5 and all that entails. It's too clever for itself unlike the E46 or the 100% pure E30 M3.

Maybe the rs4 is a good compromise between the two. My main worry is the lack of straight line speed in the RS4 and i quote my friend- 'the rs4 is by far the slowest 414 hp car i have ever driven' whats up with that?!

Have no fear, it will be plenty fast in straight line. Clearly there is debate about whether the engine makes the stated power (there are a lot of threads on here) but drive one and decide if what you feel is enough for your needs.

It's a great overall package, and that's my approach to the RS4.

I should mention that most cars will soon be out of manufacturer's warranty. The Audi extended warranty costs £1655, nearly twice what the zero excess warranty would cost on a E46 M3. I do think that's expensive, but I took a view.

Feel free to ask specific questions, nice & experienced bunch of people here

[HYFR]

the RS4's do not get slower with miles (too young for age yet)...mines on 70k and believe me, its fast....i've owned x2 RS 6's and x2 S4's and its is 100% faster than the S4's (344bhp) and not far off the RS 6's (450 - 500bhp)

I have also had a bit of a drag race with a V8 M3 and there was nothing in it, yes not scientific, but enough to make me happy its quick

with respect to your mechanic, his opinion is not based on fact

test drive one and see for yourself

[sonny]

smashed plenty of e46s.

[klauster]

I have never accelerated hard in my RS4 and been wanting for much else... then there is the looks of the thing, the cabin, and the fact you can use the power pretty much everyday regardless of the weather... I have been tempted by the new M3 too, but a look inside one but me off... the cabin also felt alittle cramped...?

[Sims]

..I have been tempted by the new M3 too, but a look inside one but me off... the cabin also felt alittle cramped...?

Agree with that, problem also afflicts the E60 M5 (it's BMW's way of cosseting you - you feel you are sitting in arm chairs, rather than car seats), but does not seem as bad in the new F10 5 series.

[lengster1]

M3csl would be a fairer comparison,even in good conditions an e46 will struggle to hang on to an rs4,rs4 quite a bit better to 60 and slowly pull away from there to flat out,the cabin in the rs4 blows away the e46 and new shape m3,I much prefer the exterior of the e46 m3,the new one has somehow lost all it's m3ness,one of the biggest things I love about the rs4 is how involving it is to drive,it feels like a smaller lighter car than it is,the steering is very precise at all speeds,I pick and hold lines in it like I'm on my bike it's awesome,it all just works so well together as a package they really are hard to beat

[scaghead]

M3csl would be a fairer comparison,even in good conditions an e46 will struggle to hang on to an rs4,rs4 quite a bit better to 60 and slowly pull away from there to flat out,the cabin in the rs4 blows away the e46 and new shape m3,I much prefer the exterior of the e46 m3,the new one has somehow lost all it's m3ness,one of the biggest things I love about the rs4 is how involving it is to drive,it feels like a smaller lighter car than it is,the steering is very precise at all speeds,I pick and hold lines in it like I'm on my bike it's awesome,it all just works so well together as a package they really are hard to beat

having crossed from a 46 m3 i think lengster1 has summed it up perfectly.... the only thing i would add to that is when i test drove the new m3 it did not sound v8ish, until higher in the rev range. and the car in general has not gone down well with bimmer punters cause despite arriving two years later it is at best only as good as its rival... but it does handle really well for a rwd imo...

[psg001]

My dad has an E46 M3 coupe (since 2002) and I loved this car when he got it, was quick / fun to drive, handled well. It still looks pretty good (he had it resprayed same colour and all the alloys refurbed last yr)

what is incredible is how bad the E46 now feels to drive after the RS4. It feels slower (noticibly), the steering feels really wooly, the handling / grip isnt anywhere near as reassuring / comforting as the planted feel from the quattro, the V8 sounds 100x better than the gruff / mechanical raspy V6. I prefer the Audi cabin over the E46 and E92, this is something audi do Very well.

your mate is talking rubbish. I've driven both these cars hard and straight line performance is much stronger in the RS4 everytime, well into 3 figures (on your private test track! )

I think you will notice a big difference between the two cars, the RS4 is a big improvement, but then again it is a competitor to that M3s successor, the E92 and it holds its own well against the E92.


PS - in the recent big freeze, my dads car got stuck 3 x when he was at work and he had to abandon it there. not many quattros had that problem!!

[guffy]

I've owned an E46 MR manual, didn't like the gear box, the seats were woeful and the engine had to be constantly thrashed to get the best out of it (Worst of all... no cup holder!!!).

Having said that it was a finely balanced car and i don't think there's much difference in straight line speed compared to the RS4, M3 being slightly slower, but as i said, you really had to cane the M3 as it often felt weedy due to a lack of grunt.

I would give the RS4 8/10 and the M3 7/10

[psg001]

not the most scientific of comparisons but gives u a little idea.

dont think its shown in this video but on the same test they do straight line drag races and I think the RS4 wins each time, track is a bit wet tho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IwgAX3j ... re=related

with german dubbing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultwFlD9b3A

[richie82]

I recently traded in my M3 convertible with the SMG, and i must say that the RS is faster, not much but still, the RS pulls in another way than the M/// did.
I also had it like you that i needed a change, and i had always said to my self that if i were to move away from the M/// series it would be to an RS.
I will agree with some people that the steering feel much better in the RS and the interior is much nicer (it's also a newer model).
When i'm not driving the audi i miss my M/// but when i hit the start button and hear the V8 i forget all about it, the cars are so different so it's hard to compare them to each other, but go for a drive in one, and if it doesn't thrill you then stay with the M///...... but i doubt it

[ChrisCSL]

I recently traded in my M3 convertible with the SMG, and i must say that the RS is faster, not much but still, the RS pulls in another way than the M/// did.

Not much faster? re you kidding. My mates E46 M3 convertible looks like he's in reverse when I blast off in the RS4. The RS4 is MUCH quicker!