I had both an SMG M3 with a competition package and a C55. Magazine testers are comparing the RS4 against the M3 and C55 and at least one chose the M3, that would be the old E46 M3. I am very sure that it is a great car, but my argument is that for 73,500 and being a "brand new" car it should trounce the others in its segment and it does not.

Like the RS6, you are buying exclusivity and a great package no doubt. What you are not getting is the class leading performance which IMHO is why you buy stuff like this to begin with. If you have other priorities, exclusivity, brand loyalty or just an undeniable passion for this car then by all means go get it and post some pics.

 

you can buy a used B5 S4(biturbo) and put money into it and it will be faster and handle better, for alot less money. One thing to consider is that with that $70K price tag you don't get the Euro seats or Euro steering wheel, start button, etc... Those euro features are 10x nicer then the B7 S4 interior that it comes with. Other then that the car is beautiful in person, fender flares, brakes, everything, the interior for the price should be a little more setoff then the stock S4. Rode in one at Streets of tommorow, handled fairly well, but it was an autox style 30 sec ride, understeer obviously a problem, this car is best suited for spirited highway use and occasional track duty! IMHO

 

I'll let you know what I think in roughly 2 weeks when my friend's RS gets here.

 

It will also be faster than a 997S. You cannot measure a car in pure speed. I threw an RS4 around hard at triple digit speeds and came away impressed. Definitely handled better than my S4. It is a more useable car than the M3 since it has 4 doors. The M3 is going to handle better since it is better balanced and RWD ultimately.

 

Paul,
come back to LA. Pacific still owes me a drive.

 

Wow you're fast. I deleted that message- just figured i'd call you
thanks

 

suspension work needed, read a little closer... Out of the box it is going to spank a b5 or b6 s4 handling and speed, not sure about the e46 m3, those handle very well out of the box. A stage III s4 with no suspension mods isn't even going to be close to overall performance of an rs4. But a well setup b5s4 with a well thought out suspension can hang on the track with alot of cars. "threw around an RS4 hard at triple digit speed"?? doesn't give me the best picture, i picture violent jerks of the wheel at high speed, never a good thing...

 

Actually, that was the M3 'CS' the same 'comp pkg' we get over here. A CSL vs RS4 battle would be very fun, and I'd put a big pile o' money on the CSL.

 

I had KW v3's and HSport sways on my S4. The RS4 still handled better. I have also driven highly modded B5's and the RS4 was better than those as well.

You might want to wait until you actually drive an RS4 before you tell us which is better.

Also, if you would are in Socal and would like to head out to a Kart track let me know. We can talk about driving skill after that.

 

This might help.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/122116/2007_audi_rs4

 

Salespunk, Are you serious with the Kart track thing? I don't doubt that it takes good skill and you would probably spank me, since I have never done it, but C'mon is that supposed to impress me?? If you read my first post I don't Sh$t on the RS4 I say it how I see it, I rode in it 2x for 30 sec it didn't blow me away, but then again how many cars do for a 30 sec autox run. I also go on to say IMHO the car is probably best suited for everyday driving with track duty, can't beat that. Unlike a 997S which is not the ideal daily but a good car for the weekend and track. C55 great everyday car but IMHO not all that well suited for the track. You went on to insinuate with your 997S comment that all I was looking at was HP and top speed, very insulting since I do 6-7 track events a year and would take handling over speed anyday. I could think of a ton of cars I can mod for cheaper that would be faster in a straight line then both a B7 RS4 and a B5 S4, what's your point? the fact you explain that you had KWV3 and H sports would help me if you said still handles better then my S4 w/...... Anyway, you my friend are a tool

angryswede (not hostile), I think in one of your previous quotes you hit it on the head, the car even though it is $70K it will depreciate alot slower, and that in of itself might be worth the larger price tag, its rare. I see it as this, very similar to RS6, limited release stateside, people will pay $60K for a used one in a couple years and $50K, maybe more, for a pristine one in 2-3 years will probably be a great price for a car enthusiasts. THere is alot of performance and presitge in the car for someone who knows what it is. I just wish it had the Euro interior!! the car is a beautiful car in person and I doubt you or anyone would be disappointed,. I contemplated selling my B5 S4 and getting one, but with the price tag I decided to keep the S4 convert to track and get 2003 M5 for the daily. I just wish I had the funds to keep the s4 and buy a new RS4, that would be ideal.

One other thing, yeah its cheaper then an M3... but I see M3's almost everyday on my commute and at least a half dozen every track event. How many RS4's on the street will you seen in the next 5 years???
Good luck and let us know what you decide.

ast78

 

A well set up B5 S4 with suspension and engine work are very nice and capable of some serious performance numbers. GMG just purchase one as their race car which in and of itself speaks huge volumes of what the B5 chasis is capable of. The RS4 is a bit heavier in the front but also has better power out the box. Stock vs stock RS4> B5 S4 .. But a well put together STG3 B5 is still going to cost less money and outperform the new RS4. Just having the components of the suspension doesn't nessesarily mean that you have reaped all the benefits. Corner balancing, alignment etc... all need to be optimised in order to see all the performance enhancements of said upgrades.

I have seen many well set up B5 S4's hang with some very fast cars both on the track and off. AST78 is a VERY GOOD driver. I've seen him run and give hell to much more seasoned track guys. FWIW....

 

wont ever be a true RS4 w/o these...guess you have to drop another 70 on a gallardo for the cool (similar) seats, wheel, and startbutton...arrghh!

 

The RS4 is clearly faster than the C55 and the M3 in both a straight line and on a track with curves.

Evo magazine did a head-to-head comparison between the RS4, M3 CS (competition package), and C55. Around their benchmark 1.8 mile track, the results were the following:
RS4: 88.6 seconds
M3 CS: 89.8 seconds
C55: 90.1 seconds

The RS4 was a full 1.2 seconds faster around this short twisty track, while the M3 CS and C55 were neck and neck with only 0.3 seconds separating them.

Sport Auto has also tested the RS4, M3, and C55 on the Nurburgring. Their times are published and considered be a very good measure of a car's overall performance, as they have the same driver testing the cars all the time.
RS4: 8.09 minutes
M3: 8.22 minutes
C55: 8.22 minutes

The RS4 is indeed a monster. It's lap time around the ring is the same as the M6 (8.09 minutes). It is faster than the current BMW M5 and Dodge Viper around the ring (both 8.13 minutes). As a perspective, the 911 Carrera S does the ring in 8.05 minutes.

So is this performance superiority worth the extra $$$ over the M3/C55? It is clearly faster, but would you spend so much on a pumped up Audi A4? Totally subjective decision......

 

I just saw one today...that was truly amazing...black...The owner just saw me having pics with my mobile phone and said me if I wanted to have a drive...I was about to fall down for the happyness!!
If I can post them I'll do it...
Have it my friend, if you can