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Tough decision, I know. I have an S5 with a modded suspension, wheels, and exhaust. In hindsight, I personally would prefer the M3 because I think it is more livable. Let me explain.
It is much easier to get in to and out of the M3. The door opening is taller and the coupe doors are actually shorter, so they don't swing out so much. The interior on the S5 looks nice, but it rattles, A LOT. If you want to mod the suspension, plan on an increase in rattles. The fit and finish on every BMW I have owned or test driven is better than the S5. Also, you can get extended leather with the carbon leather finish on the M3, which gives it the stitched leather dash making it look like a high end sports car. The leather on the M3 is much softer and nicer feeling than the standard feeling leather in the S5. Assuming you mod the suspension, the ride will get bouncier. On the M3, I have ridden in one with the most aggressive RDC springs and the ride seemed smoother and less jittery than the KW V2s on my car. Finally, the road noise on the S5 is more than I was expect. The M3 will be quieter on the highway than the S5 because the S5 lets all kinds of wind noise and road noise into the car.
Now, it might seem like I am bashing the S5, but that is not my intention. I like my S5. It gets lots of attention and better gas mileage (though barely) than the M3. I just wanted to give you a few non-performance points of comparison where I think the M3 exceeds the S5.
Interesting take...its good to hear a comparison like this rather than arguing over tenths of a second here or there.
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'01.5 Stage 2 Brilliant Black S4 w/ sport package (might be selling...PM if interested)
Been thinking about the S5 as a DD myself. AWD in Minnesota is a good thing. Personally prefer the look of the S5 over the M3.
__________________ '02 GT2 - Coming soon '07 Z06 - TX Mile - 189.9 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 0-186 = 26.01 secs - Slightly used 6 spd tranny for sale. '08 427 Edition Z06 - #227 - stock '01 Prowler '69 Olds 442 coupe - #'s matching '69 Olds 442 convertible - #'s matching '69 Olds 442 coupe - project car
The interior on the S5 looks nice, but it rattles, A LOT. If you want to mod the suspension, plan on an increase in rattles.
I'm 20k miles in and definitely don't have the same experience, maybe something you can get covered under warranty? Sizzle from az/a5oc said he had one or two rattles, but he has an '08 with like more than double the mileage as me. I'm on KW V3's which I'd imagine are not largely different in road feel from your V2's. I commute across Santa Monica Blvd from Glendale to Beverly Hills, which through most of it is definitely not a smooth road at all, and the only time I ever thought I had a rattle, it turned out to actually be my sunglasses in the sunglass compartment.
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The leather on the M3 is much softer and nicer feeling than the standard feeling leather in the S5.
I agree with this, which is why I opted for the alcantara seat centers (much less leather overall).
__________________ 2009 Audi S5 - Work VS-XX - Milltek Sport cat-back - KW V3 - STaSIS anti-roll bar 1992 Toyota Supra Turbo - Work VS-SS - 2JZGTE + GT35R - sold 2000 Mercedes C230 Kompressor - Wald + lots of Mcintosh - sold
I just purchased an S5 and my salesman is hooking me up with a PES supercharger kit. The car wont arrive until Nov but the Kit will be available in Oct he says. 10k atleast.
I just purchased an S5 and my salesman is hooking me up with a PES supercharger kit. The car wont arrive until Nov but the Kit will be available in Oct he says. 10k at least.
That's funny, Patrick at PES doesn't even have a release date, and yet your salesman does.
__________________ 2009 Audi S5 - Work VS-XX - Milltek Sport cat-back - KW V3 - STaSIS anti-roll bar 1992 Toyota Supra Turbo - Work VS-SS - 2JZGTE + GT35R - sold 2000 Mercedes C230 Kompressor - Wald + lots of Mcintosh - sold
Well atleast there is one being made. Man you like to jump all over everything. Take a chill pill or something. My salesman made a few calls and was told it should be avail around Oct. I'll be getting the car in Germany and he was trying to find the best options for me since i wont have the car in my possession until Nov or DEC depending on shipping. He did find a location to remove the speed limiter near the Audi forum where you pick up the car so he must know somebody out there.
Well atleast there is one being made. Man you like to jump all over everything. Take a chill pill or something.
Sorry you're right. Too much caffeine.
__________________ 2009 Audi S5 - Work VS-XX - Milltek Sport cat-back - KW V3 - STaSIS anti-roll bar 1992 Toyota Supra Turbo - Work VS-SS - 2JZGTE + GT35R - sold 2000 Mercedes C230 Kompressor - Wald + lots of Mcintosh - sold
Raydius
Now that we are somewhat on the same page. I looked at euro delivery for both vehicles and the S5 will be more exclusive. we all realize this is a detuned R8 motor with much more potential. I plan on visiting some local shops in Germany while i'm picking up the car and i'm sure I'll find something that will boost HP. I drove M3 and it is a bad axx car for sure. The S5 feels more like home to me.
Raydius
Now that we are somewhat on the same page. I looked at euro delivery for both vehicles and the S5 will be more exclusive. we all realize this is a detuned R8 motor with much more potential. I plan on visiting some local shops in Germany while i'm picking up the car and i'm sure I'll find something that will boost HP. I drove M3 and it is a bad axx car for sure. The S5 feels more like home to me.
The motors in our S5's are not simply detuned R8 motors. In fact, one of the few things they have in common is the displacement. I'm not completely sure, but the similarities might end there.
I'd say S5 for the following reasons:
-looks better
-better interior
-slightly roomier (for us bigger guys)
-doubts about the M3 reliabilty. SOme overheating and oil burning concerns. Audi hasn't been a superstar in reliability either but I haven't heard anything negative about the S5 engine.
M3 still a winner but my cash would go on the Audi.
The motors in our S5's are not simply detuned R8 motors. In fact, one of the few things they have in common is the displacement. I'm not completely sure, but the similarities might end there.
+1. there's been threads about it before but basically the primary difference is in the rods (rs4/r8 have a lighter version), cams, and software allowing it to rev higher (most of the additional power is a higher revs, incluing 1400 rpm higher redline). Fuel and software would be trivial to add on, but the tedious and expensive part would be the higher revving lightweight bottom end, and what are likely different cams on higher flowing heads.
__________________ 2009 Audi S5 - Work VS-XX - Milltek Sport cat-back - KW V3 - STaSIS anti-roll bar 1992 Toyota Supra Turbo - Work VS-SS - 2JZGTE + GT35R - sold 2000 Mercedes C230 Kompressor - Wald + lots of Mcintosh - sold
Linear Mode
