OK, so here is the question I am going to present you all with. If you had the choice, which would you take, E92 BMW //M3 (the newest one), W204 C63 AMG, or B7 RS4? All of these cars should be around the same price range within about 15%. They also all have V-8's in them. I want to hear what everyone thinks WILL be the pro's and con's of these vehicles since only one is out right now, the B7 RS4.

BMW //M3
Pro's
High-revving V-8 engine
agggressive body
local BMW dealer has great service
nothing handles like an //M, no joke, nothing
SMG III transmission

Con's
Too many body lines
does not do justise to the out-going E46 body style
Little-to-no torque
Must be revved very high to "experience" the vehicle
iDrive

W204 C63 AMG
Pro's
Very aggressive front
"sporty" looking interior
DISPLACEMENT!!!! 6.2L
Most HP and Torque of the bunch
HUGE brakes

Con's
WAY too many body lines
ordinary back fender do not match aggressive front fenders
Only automatic, for those who would like a choice
Historically the AMG would be the worst handling of the bunch, pure speculation
Looks very heavy
Mercedes Service

B7 RS4
Pro's
Quattro AWD
High-revving V-8
Agressive body with flared fenders
Good exhaust note
Best interior, personal preference
Cheapest of the three

Con's
Quattro AWD, more rotating mass and understeer
Only manual transmission for those who want a choice
Heavy
Does not stand out as much as others, can be good or bad
Engine does not produce much torque down low
Little more torrque than S4

 

me personally i would be all over an RS4......

the first years of new M3s have been known to have issues ever since the E36 came out..........95 and 01 M3s had their issues and then BMW got it smoothed out over time.........im not sure if i would dive into the first version of that car...........

on the other hand, i would get a 335 and mod the **** out of it for a lot less than a new M3.........the FI motors in those 335s are making gobs of power

i never have been and probably never will be a fan of Mercs so i really have no opinion there

 

I've always been a devoted BMW fan and waited for the new M3 to be released before I made my decision on a new car.
I've now got an RS4.

The M3 will without a doubt be magnificent, I just feel it looks like BMW tried too hard and I'm not into that kind of aesthetics. Basically, why advertise?

Also, I don't appreciate the direction BMW are taking the new M:s. They're moving them more and more towards a position as their status-filled money-maker range. Not necessarily catering to people who absolutely love driving. Those guys, they're sending in the direction of a developing csl range instead.

Basically, the RS4 has everything I'm looking for. Practicality, driving pleasure, experience and every-day usability.
But I' ofcourse aching to see a proper, neutral comparison between the RS4 and the M as well. If the M doesn't beat the RS4, BMW are in trouble. Even considering something like that a few years ago would be ridicolous- and that's why I like audi at the moment.

 

Do you know of any plans to bring a CSL version of the E92 to the states, that could be one sick track car if the US version isnt stripped like other performance cars like GT3 RS and RS4 for safety reasons.

 

Speaking from experience, the torque of the RS4 is MUCH greater than the S4, no matter what it says on paper. It pulls a lot harder.

Regarding your question:

BMW - I think it'll be a great car in a couple of years, but it looks really tame.

Merc - I love the way it looks, the performance is sick, but who knows how it will drive?

Audi - I traded a Carrera S for my RS4.

 

If your gonna track it get the M, dd get the RS. That would be my dilemma.

I am gonna be all over the 09 M3.

 

If I couldn't get the GT3, I would have gotten the RS4. My preference RS4>M3>AMG. I would agree with the original post about the pros/cons of each(very generalized).

997GT3
05 S4
996GT3(sold)
02 M5(sold)

 

I would go RS4 then the M then the C class...........

 

I'll tell you July 26th.

 

RS4 simply because you can actually control all that HP
the m3 will be fun to drive, but not luxurious, and the c63 will be impossible to control...

 

I think if the AMG is as good as it could be...I would be with that...then the rs4...if the AMG is like the e63...then rs4 all the way...