Car & Driver Article: E46 M3 vs. C32 vs. S4

[Oaktree]

Originally posted by J.M3
It was a total car comparo. The M3 beat both the S4 and MB in every performance test, but they took points off cause someone didn't order the M3 with a leather interior.

The new S4 is a total pig at 3860 lbs, Its performance numbers stunk, I wouldn't even consider it as a alternitive purchase option to someone shopping for an M3.

alternitive purchase option to someone shopping for an M3?
That was my original post (did you read it?), they are not an equal car, AWD vs. RWD, electric seats vs. manual seats, 2 door vs. 4 door (avant version) it all equals more weight. Take out the spare, manual seats, quattro and then complain it is heavy.
Even EVO doesn't classify the cars in the same category. M3 is a coupe/GT whereas the S4 is a sports sedan.
Performance numbers stuck? I would say those are pretty good numbers for a car weighing in at 3860 lbs. It is what it is.

[Oaktree]

Originally posted by cmac's 325i
Looks to me like Audi just had bigger pockets to pay off the CAR and DRIVER editors for this month. They also had the RS6 beating the M5- no manuel tranny? EVO (Uk) and Top Gear both had the M5 still on top regardless of the huge horsepower of the competition. We just need to wait for the new M5!

Both engineered and built in Germany and if you can't realize the benefits of both cars you need to grow up. I know the Audi board does not complain that the M3 won the other 99% of comparison articles.

[Hornswoggler]

Too bad the new S4 is UGLY!!!

i like the look of the new A4, but all that stupid chrome (bling bling) and the gray bumper-looking thing on the bottom of the doors make the S4 look stupid. I think the M3 looks a lot better.

I think Audi did a great job targeting the M3. After all, they DID already have a target... just add a little more HP and a little more TQ and a little more roadholding and you can tie or beat the leader (performance # wise). Audi came out second with the last generation S4, and they did the same thing with the RS6 (which I would love to have one!). BMW carves the niche, and Audi tries to trump it.

So who wins when there are horsepower wars? Thats right, the consumers. If MB and Audi and BMW weren't trying to "one-up" each other, their cars would probably not be advancing or evolving like they are.