BMW M3 vs. Audi RS4. CarThrottle compares them!

[Mark]

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BMW M3 vs. Audi RS4. CarThrottle compares them!

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Full review on CarThrottle
Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi. The Hatfields vs. McCoys. M3 vs. RS4. These are the classic rivalries, and in the case of the BMW vs. Audi, I don't think it will ever go away.

For good reason, as we know its not just a matter of brand pride but these cars seem to more evenly matched up then ever.

Luckily the folks over at CarThrottle have gotten their hands on both cars and done a thorough comparison.

We've summarized some notes which stand out, but make sure to read the full review which has more indepth thoughts, opinions and of course photos of the two

Audi RS4
The howl you experience while winding it all the way up to 8250rpm immediately becomes addictive. It may be lacking the low-down torque of the M3, but it’s responsive and provides more than enough shove if you leave your gear changes nice and late. The shifts from the dual-clutch ‘box add to the theatre, too, with a delectable chuff firing out of the exhaust pipes with every squeeze of the right-hand paddle.

Predictable understeer is the order of the day if you start to push beyond the RS4’s limits, although it is possible to get a wee bit of movement from the rear. Steering isn’t usually Audi’s strong suit, but in the RS4 it’s accurate and just about on the mark in terms of weight.

For all its big wheels and aggressive bodykit, if you quickly glanced at the RS4 or just saw one passing by, it’d be easy to miss those bulging arches and mistake it for one of the thousands of S Line-kitted A4 Avants.

BMW M3
At 425bhp it may be down on power compared to the 444bhp Audi, but its 406lb ft of torque makes the RS4’s 317lb ft look a bit limp. It also sounds like an utter savage (they really didn’t need to bother with that daft, synthetic nonsense piped through the speakers) with what surely must be one of the loudest production car exhausts around today. Oh, and there’s no fake tailpipe malarky like on the RS4; you just get a socking great back box with four pipes sticking out the back like an automotive firing squad.

You might have noticed I was a little quiet about drivability all the way through the ‘pros’ bit. That’s because to drive, the M3 is surprisingly flawed. First there’s the steering which, for me, is weighty but in an oddly artificial-feeling way.

Source: CarThrottle

[sworks335i]

GIMME THAT WAGON!! In the M3 of course....

[AKRAPOVICOWNS]

Huh..that was wierd..he didnt like the steering but liked the sound..pretty much the oposit of other reviews

[Bahn360Photo]

rs4 looks nice but not m3 territory plus 44 hp and not substantial speed for $

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by Bahn360Photo

rs4 looks nice but not m3 territory plus 44 hp and not substantial speed for $

but it has room to carry items, awd, and an understated look so honda fanboys dont try to race you at every light.

[onatuesday]

Rs4 is old gen. M3 is new gen. Snoozeeee. Wake me up when the B9 arrives. Then we'll have a real comparison

[krnnerdboy]

Originally Posted by AKRAPOVICOWNS

Huh..that was wierd..he didnt like the steering but liked the sound..pretty much the oposit of other reviews

I share the same sentiments as the reviewer. But the steering is quickly forgotten once on track as it does convey enough feedback for a fast lap

[bluekn8286]

I think it was EVO magazine that had the same qualms with the M3. It was too unruly in less than favorable weather. Although the M3 is a great car, it needs to be a great car in all types of conditions. Maybe BMW should consider an x-drive version of the M3?

[Danyutz]

Is CarThrottle even a serious reviewer? I thought they just post memes.

[brava09]

Looks like they would take home the RS4.

[BlackCobra08]

Thanks for posting. Was not a fan of these 'reviewers' at all, obviously I am biased since I have the M3 but come on they make it sound like a GT2 that its super squirrely and uncontrollable when you put the power down. I have been blasting mine all winter so far and in the wet, ice, and snow with no more spin/slip than most other powerful RWD cars. More complains about the steering....yawn what's new. Its a damn good electric steering rack IMHO and as he mentions the payoff is in the MPG

[Alex_bm]

Audi's steering is better than the bimmer? Is that for real?!

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by Alex_bm

Audi's steering is better than the bimmer? Is that for real?!

No it's not even close. M3 has much better steering than the rs4/rs5...one of the few aspects that isn't up for debate

[Damasconian]

I don't discount the comments from the UK reviewers stating the M twins are tough to drive in anything other than dry conditions. I head to the UK a lot for work and it rains almost through the year, regardless of season. To them, a car that performs well in the wet is much more important to them than it is to us.

I live in Texas. We love rain in Texas. But I get 330 days a year of sun and no rain so the "wet" aspect of the car was never considered even once. Maybe some of our Pac-NW members can chime in on this. I got nothing.

[Bahn360Photo]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

but it has room to carry items, awd, and an understated look so honda fanboys dont try to race you at every light.

that is true, in that case its apples to oranges comparison.
not sure why audi didnt make sedan version in US to have a closer specs

[nbennettksu]

that thins is so quiet

[Zeroblade]

I Can't take Audi's seriously anymore because they look the same for years now. The super wagon formula makes me grin. The design needs a refresh.

[E90M3JETS]

Got love Audi commitment to wagons over the years. I'd buy one if offered in the US. Audi is sticking to their guns while BMW is trying too hard to appeal to more people and forgetting the enthusiasts who put BMW in the map in the 1st place. Strange times...

[Crisp]

Originally Posted by BlackCobra08

Thanks for posting. Was not a fan of these 'reviewers' at all, obviously I am biased since I have the M3 but come on they make it sound like a GT2 that its super squirrely and uncontrollable when you put the power down. I have been blasting mine all winter so far and in the wet, ice, and snow with no more spin/slip than most other powerful RWD cars. More complains about the steering....yawn what's new. Its a damn good electric steering rack IMHO and as he mentions the payoff is in the MPG

I'm sure whenever that's mentioned by reviewers, they are not driving it with traction/stability on. The car has A LOT more torque available much earlier than the already 'powerful' V8 M3.

PS. The 996 GT2 did 0-60 in 3.9, while the F30 does it in 4.1. Owners of the 996 GT2 used to call it a death trap if you didn't know what you were doing... back in the day when an M3 only had 333HP.

Keep traction and stability off for a whole day in winter and try putting your foot down when you're getting out of turns or on on-ramps... start off with that.
Or not, so the general population can feel safe.

[VMRWheels]

Awesome comparison, thanks for sharing !

[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by Damasconian

I don't discount the comments from the UK reviewers stating the M twins are tough to drive in anything other than dry conditions. I head to the UK a lot for work and it rains almost through the year, regardless of season. To them, a car that performs well in the wet is much more important to them than it is to us.

I live in Texas. We love rain in Texas. But I get 330 days a year of sun and no rain so the "wet" aspect of the car was never considered even once. Maybe some of our Pac-NW members can chime in on this. I got nothing.

Good point....it does rain A LOT in the UK and rain is important for them...the reviews are biased with that in mind but for me here in SoCal...I get 360 days of sun to ring out the M3

But, to me, the RS4 was too quiet and didn't sound all that special. I feel that way about the RS7 too. Not a lot of theatrics in the sounds department which is a shame because the R8 does sound decent in both V8 and of course the V10.

[MKE_M3]

Originally Posted by trinim3

Rs4 is old gen. M3 is new gen. Snoozeeee. Wake me up when the B9 arrives. Then we'll have a real comparison

So when the new RS4 is released, it will be snooze because the M3 is old?