rs4/m5

[d-rock]

Hey everyone im new here from miami florida !

Im selling my bmw 330i.

I was wondering your thoughts on the rs4 and how you like it! Or even an m5 if you have driven one.

Im debating for a 2006 m5 the m5 would be way out of warranty and with around 35k on miles. As for the rs4 2008 would have around 11k-22k. I can get both for around the same price for under 51k

The rs4 would be the sedan. The rs4 i think has a nicer body. Would be cheaper on gas as well as insurance, not many people know what it even is.

Anyone know how many rs4 b7 ever made?

Thanks for your help if you can help me out !!

[SwedishRS4]

I know that I'll be fried for saying this but for brut force i would go for the M5. Having driven one for a while i fell in love with the power delivery that's regardless of speed. the acceleration in 100 mph is as impressive as from a standstill.

But the agility of the RS4 is lightyears ahead and that's what made me chose the RS4 in the end. While the M5 is a fantastic car the RS4 is the more fun to drive, not as fast but fast enough.

Then (atleast in Sweden....) you can't beat Audis service. Audi is simply amazing when it comes to customerrelations. Something BMW is stuck in the stoneage with.

Then for how many B7 RS4s that was made i have no clue, i just know that i see more M5s then RS4s

[W8PMC]

Woohoo, a question i'm qualified to answer

I came from an E60 M5 (DMS Tuned) to a B7 RS4 & will say for sure it was the right move to make, although certain aspects of the M5 i do miss, such as Launch Control, that SMG gearbox, so many toys & a better sound system etc.

Saying that, i always stated that if i lived in warmer/drier climbs, ironically like Florida, California or Dubai, then the M5 would be the better all round machine.

The simple fact is that in the UK we have poor weather, with probably 2/3rds of the time being non dry days, so this makes driving the M5 a tad tricky when pushing on & even pulling away from lights can be tough to do with any enthusiasm.

The opposite applies to the RS4, which i can drive much closer to it's limits all year (excluding snow/ice of course) & that makes it more rewarding to drive in the UK.

I was also able to get my RS4 round the Nurburgring/Nordschleife a full minute quicker than my M5, as the confidence you get from the Quattro traction over traditional RWD means pushing on is easier, plus the car is 300KG lighter & although it doesn't make the RS4 any quicker in most situations, you just feel more at ease throwing it around than i did in the M5.

Both fantastic cars, but if i was living in the Sunshine State, i'd probably take the M5.

[P_G]

I would agree, outright speed and interior abin space would be the M5 but the rest would be RS4. The thing that put me off the M5 was it is still a bit of a bulky car and more importantly the service schedule, standard service £1100 here in the UK, service schedule 2 £1500 IIRC. That and I couldn't get to grips with the SMG box around town, too notchy.

And Clarkson did get one bit right about the M5, it does sound like a tractor from start up, you have to rev it to get the sound wheras the RS4 jusr sounds great all the time.

[aidanjaye]

Both are great cars - I looked at the M5 (estate version) but the size of it put me off. It has loads more interior space though.
In the end got the rs4 - maybe not as fast but in all honestly, still faster than most stuff on the road.
Either way - don't think you'll be disapointed. Try both and see what suits.
I know in the UK the RS4 is cheaper on the wallet (stillhefty though) than the M5 and depreciation is much greater with the M5.

[Les]

Ok I have never owned a BMW, just don't like them, very common these days, used to be quite a rare site, now see one every other car, including the "M" classes
They are clearly very good cars, just not my thing is all but my concern would be in your confidence to enjoy its full 507bhp and the reason I say that is that when I had my Cayman S I had several "tail out" moments that were not planned plus a few that were Now it "only" had 296bhp and without doubt is the best handling car Porsche make........ and they know a lot about handling having mastered it in the 911

We mere mortals can't make use of these cars full performance, pure and simple My guess would be that's why BMW gave the car the option to be run on lower power around 400bhp I think, as it would scare the s*it out of most owners in full fat mode

In step the RS4 as the clear choice, why? Well here's what I think:

As said above it is still faster than just about anything you'll ever meet (most faster cars spend their lives in heated garages, under silk covers - don't see the point )
It is fast in any weather and rumour has it that it even rains in Florida once in a while
It's much rarer and this means lower depreciation and more exclusivity for you as the owner
It's big enough to carry 4 plus luggage in refined comfort.
You will have a warranty
Can you afford to replace a knackered V10
It's more economical than the Beemer (not that important I know but it's more in your pocket)
The M5 is fugly
It's not a BMW

Just my view on it but, did I mention, I don't like BM's so not an entirely impartial viewpoint........ sorry

PS I'm still right though

[d-rock]

Thanks for everyones quick and helpful replys. Brakes on the m5 are $3500 as well as many other things that will go out when the service is not free anymore. Gas is $3 a gallon here with the m5 getting only 9mpg is not very helpful. Sure the m5 is fast but so is the rs4. I rather lose some hp and have a car that is funner to drive. Also I herd with a chip and intake the rs4 does the same time on the 1/4 well that's what I here.

[pad125]

d-rock, out of interest have you posted any similar questions on any of the BMW forums. Would be very interesting to hear what the BMW fraternity think about it?

[sonny]

I would go with you gut instinct and go for the RS4 bud, the saden will be a good move.

[Adam]

both great cars, to be honest I buy the smallest car I can that fulfils my needs as bigger = heavier = worse styling; so for me it was RS4 v M3. I did consider the M5 but it was a bit too old-man for me, but for the 4 tail pipes it does not stand out from any 5 series with sport pack and is just not that attractive looking whereas I love the compact RS4 styling. Sounds nicer too.
Most of the time RS4 would be as fast, M5 has better rear space and better tech though

[d-rock]

^^^ I feel the rs4 is smaller and more of a younger car witch is what i want! But i did not know that the audi service was not free !!! With bmw everything is free brakes even oil change. How are you guys with service and payments. If you dont mind me asking? I'm going to test drive a convertible since thats all they have near me at the dealerships. They are letting them go for 52k new!!


I found an 2008 rs4 with 4,000 miles for 51k.

[sonny]

Damn nothing is for free in the UK, we have to pay for every service etc etc, we do have dealer Warranty, if any thing was to go wrong then that would be FOC.

Thinking about your Early post, hell get the RS4, we don't by RS4s for the pure practibility of it (well was not for me any way) if I did I would by a Toyota Hilux lol...get the RS4 yo wont be disappointed. If your road over in Florida are as bad as the Roads in Houston TX, then I would steer away from the sports suspension plus package or any car that has aftermarket suspension that is set up for race/fast road. The call is yours

[m5killer]

Thanks for everyones quick and helpful replys. Brakes on the m5 are $3500 as well as many other things that will go out when the service is not free anymore. Gas is $3 a gallon here with the m5 getting only 9mpg is not very helpful. Sure the m5 is fast but so is the rs4. I rather lose some hp and have a car that is funner to drive. Also I herd with a chip and intake the rs4 does the same time on the 1/4 well that's what I here.

d-rock if you are stuck for choice between the two i will throw in another coin and get your head spinning i am a member of the m5 board and have been for years and have owned several m5s and we have an e60 m5 in the family, take a look at the alpina b5 if you really want a bmw its a better all round car than the m5 i also have an alpina b10 bi-turbo running over 550 brake and 690nm as well as my rs4 cab, if you can get to test the m5 and b5 you will love the b5 but like the guys on here will tell you the rs4 is a really fun car...

[PaulF]

If you live in Florida you have a shortage of the things that the RS4 is good at, namely bends. I would put up with that crippling expensive petrol at $3 a gallon and get the M5. Here in the UK a different storey.

[d-rock]

m5 board says 5m all the way.. Even talk to an employ at audi he said m5. But god i want this car its sooo sexy. I will just have to drive it. There is only 3 in miami.