RS6 or BMW M5 (2002-03 vintage)

[Bieldside]

Have backed off an RS6 for several months but now considering again but have the BMW M5 as a potential alternative

Both around the same money for a good one but any guidance here - any experiences of both would be appreciated

No doubt most of you support the RS6 but objective comments welcomed

Many thanks

[estrop77]

in 2002. EVO tested the RS6 against the M5 and the RS won hands down.

The RS is far more brutal imho, rarer and faster !!

[HYFR]

i can vouch for faster

[mattler]

My mate has an E39 and I can honestly say that it is absolutely miles slower than my RS6. My 6 is remapped but his E39 is tweaked by the same increase that mine is so I guess the difference is still stock.
On a normal service he always seems to get stung for more dosh than you will spend on an RS6 and IMHO the Audi looks a lot more purposeful.
Also in the wet, if you`re in an M5 you can completely forget it!! Not just against an RS6 but I`ve know my mate to get <beep> on by a focus RS beleive it or not!

[paul_23]

I currently have a RS6 (with coilovers) and used to own an E39 Alpina B10 V8 (and have driven a few E39 M5s too). Read the few comparison reviews on Evo - I would not agree with Rich that the RS6 won hands down but they give a good view of each car's character and I read it that they thought M5 was the better balance of power/tactility/feel than either the RS6 or the Jag (or Lotus Carlton)

I can vouch for the fact that the E39 is more "articulate" and feels more tactile and handles better when push hard to limit. However, the better grunt and turbo push of the RS6 is much better for real world driving and even though the handling is a bit heavy handed due to the bulk/quattro it wins my vote most of the time as I favour more grunt than finesse at 10/10ths.

Day to day servicing on the BMW would prob be about the same but brakes are much less than RS6. There are some major pitfalls with M5 (they have a Nikasil type cylinder liner that I heard breaks up) and clutches are their weakest link, but RS6 has its own problems like DRC and auto boxes. RS6 is easy to get much more power with a remap whereas an M5 will not get any decent tuning gains. M5 is only manual whereas rs6 is only auto so that may influence you. M5 is smaller and only in saloon but the boot is much smaller than a rs6 saloon, so is legroom in the back.

Drive both as they are both impressive cars. Get both checked very carefully as they are still GBP50k cars to maintain even if they are only Ford Focus prices now.

[andyt]

I currently have a RS6 (with coilovers) and used to own an E39 Alpina B10 V8 (and have driven a few E39 M5s too). Read the few comparison reviews on Evo - I would not agree with Rich that the RS6 won hands down but they give a good view of each car's character and I read it that they thought M5 was the better balance of power/tactility/feel than either the RS6 or the Jag (or Lotus Carlton)

Yeah, IIRC they concluded with giving the M5 5 stars and the RS6 4.5 stars

[Daveperc]

There was a good thread on this a while back - see http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... highlight=

It was started by edcase - when I bought his RS6 - which I might add goes from strength to strength, and now even quicker having been to MRC!

Dave

[Wolverine]

Depends on how you drive and what yu want from you car IMHO.

If you prefer a manual gearbox, doing track days, powerslides, then buy an M5.
If you prefer auto box, 4-wheel drive safety, and drag racing, then buy an RS6.

If you want to buy an estate, then RS6 really only choice.

[Balchy]

I am with Wolverine. If I had wanted a saloon, I would have very seriously considered the M5, though the Vanos (?) issues on the early models is a scary proposition.
I'm generally a bit cynical about magazines and comments about handling etc, as the RS6 seems to go round corners as well as any other car I've owned, but having had (3 Series) BMWs in the past, I think they get the compromise of ride/handling better than Audis of same era and type (my wife's 04 A4 for example)

[GregR1]

I often think about 39 M5s, and looked at one as it passed me this morning (I was walking, before anyone says that's a eprformance indicator!). I have the upmost respect for anyone with an E39 M5 and did look at some on pistonheads. In my (humble) opinion, the E39 has dated quite badly. The wheels look small, and the front end looks dated. It is also very hard to tell one from a standard 5 series unless you see the alloys or the quad pipes.

Also, they are thirsty on fuel for 'only' having 400 horses

[Cornishmoocher]

sound nice tho with a kellener zorst....

[philroach]

I often think about 39 M5s, and looked at one as it passed me this morning (I was walking, before anyone says that's a eprformance indicator!). I have the upmost respect for anyone with an E39 M5 and did look at some on pistonheads. In my (humble) opinion, the E39 has dated quite badly. The wheels look small, and the front end looks dated. It is also very hard to tell one from a standard 5 series unless you see the alloys or the quad pipes.

Also, they are thirsty on fuel for 'only' having 400 horses

blimey , thats a bit pot and kettle , bearing in mind our thirst , even if we do have 450hp !!!

as an aside , which would have more power at the tyres ??

btw i spent 14 months looking for the right spec of M5 as my dream car ,then took a test drive in an RS and bought mine two days later , RS6 for me all day long

[Bieldside]

I would add that I have a 996 Turbo S as my second car so it could be that the RS6 would give me the same "kick in the back" experience

Just fancy a new toy for fun and for not that much money both the RS6 and the M5 fit the bill

The RS6 does look the meaner car in the saloon version + the auto box would be a change from the 996 Turbo S manual

[philroach]

the rs6 has also dated a lot less than the m5 , imho

[paul_23]

I think the RS6 looks more menacing from the front but I still don't like the back of my saloon - it is too rounded - but overall it does look less dated than an E39.

Bieldside - I am in the same boat as I have a 911 Turbo (but the widow-maker air cooled rear wheel drive-no traction control 3.6 version from '94) so you get addicted to the turbo push of these and an RS6 is the same - an M5 will feel a bit shallow on the power curve. It is easy to drive the rs6 fast on all roads while an m5 is less easy as you cant throw it around or it gets leery. However, I still have not mastered the heavy, understeering tendancy of a rs6 on a tight corner and have tried various ways to get the most out of it (slow in fast out, trail braking then late on power, power round and let the quattro sort it out) but with a E39 I never had this and you knew when you hit it right - probably just my sh##e driving technique!