b6 s4 or e46 m3?

[XwalkerX]

im having quite the hard time making a huge decision for my next car. just wondering what kind of thoughts you guys have. it really comes down to a b6 s4 (prob black avant) or e46 m3 (prob white with red leather). both are amazing cars and both drive totally different.

i drove an s4 a few times and it has its ups and downs. the plus' include the luxurious interior, the awd makes it seem very forgiving (esp for the winter in buffalo), the sound. the downs that stick out are the terrible fuel milage and the fact that it feels heavier than a tank. the power doesnt slap you in the face like the m3 as much as you just end up going 80 in a 45 cause its so smooth.

the m3 i drove the other day has an interior that definatly lacks what the audi has. everything is a lot smoother in the audi but the m3 lets you know you are connected to the road. plus the i-6 feels more powerful and just wants to keep revving. the fuel milage is prob considerably better than the opposing v8. the only thing that makes me curious is the rwd in the winter in a place like western ny. the car is certanly a beast when you lock the rear diff, turn on the sport button and turn off the traction control. all i could do is smile from ear to ear.

lastly the price is going to be a huge factor i figure i can pick up an s4 for like 28-30k but the m3 would be like 35-37k the only other thing that im worried about is the service and reliability for either car as its going to be a year round daily driver....

what does audizine think?

[PenguiN]

Well you basically broke it down for yourself. You said exactly what the difference is, and you ultimately are gonna be the one driving the car. I think most people in here would say buy the S4, since you are in an Audi community asking to pick between an audi or its arch nemisis. I believe the difference really depends on your needs as a driver. If you need an excellent daily driver that has some good power, the s4, and for a car that like you said "feels more connected to the road" and don't need AWD, then get the M3.

[XwalkerX]

haha thanks its just hard for me to be on the fence...

[Auditude2.0T]

Since your in NY the S4 is your choice. There is no way you can drive an M3 in Upstate NY. IMHO the S4 is your choice but the M3 is a great car too. The one huge complaint about the M3 for me is the sound, i think its the worst sounding performance car, it sounds like its broken.

[ruckus]

AWD! you definitely don't want to be thinking to yourself, as you're uncontrollably sliding towards a snow bank, that you should have gotten the S4!!!

[likewater]

im having quite the hard time making a huge decision for my next car. just wondering what kind of thoughts you guys have. it really comes down to a b6 s4 (prob black avant) or e46 m3 (prob white with red leather). both are amazing cars and both drive totally different.

i drove an s4 a few times and it has its ups and downs. the plus' include the luxurious interior, the awd makes it seem very forgiving (esp for the winter in buffalo), the sound. the downs that stick out are the terrible fuel milage and the fact that it feels heavier than a tank. the power doesnt slap you in the face like the m3 as much as you just end up going 80 in a 45 cause its so smooth.

the m3 i drove the other day has an interior that definatly lacks what the audi has. everything is a lot smoother in the audi but the m3 lets you know you are connected to the road. plus the i-6 feels more powerful and just wants to keep revving. the fuel milage is prob considerably better than the opposing v8. the only thing that makes me curious is the rwd in the winter in a place like western ny. the car is certanly a beast when you lock the rear diff, turn on the sport button and turn off the traction control. all i could do is smile from ear to ear.

lastly the price is going to be a huge factor i figure i can pick up an s4 for like 28-30k but the m3 would be like 35-37k the only other thing that im worried about is the service and reliability for either car as its going to be a year round daily driver....

what does audizine think?

As Penguin said, it sounds like you've already done your homework on the two brands. However, to me this is an easy decision. You want a daily driver and you live in an area that snows, S4 all the way brother. I've never driven mine in the white stuff, but even in the heaviest of rains there's nothing I'd rather be in - period.

Also, I agree with Auditude, the M3 sounds harsh or broken, like it's about to explode when driven hard. It'll never be able to duplicate the glorious tones of the S4's V8.

[Cargo8]

s4 for weather, m3 if it can handle the climate year round (since its dd)

also if you need the avant space then s4

[Lugi20]

This was the EXACT same descision I had to make... I live in Chicago and I went with the S4... best decision ever after having driven in the snow with snow tires on.

[$4c@b]

for the sound, reasonable exclusivity and the price...S4. There are a million e46M3's out there. I have seen very few black B6 Avants.

Take the $$ saved and put it towards an exhaust and gas.

[nimski62]

I have a b7 s4 and dad has a 2003 e46 m3/SMG.. Let me tell you.. .SMG is the WORST thing in the world.. i absolutely HATE it. so if you plan on an m3, 6spd.. no smg =X

Im going to be completely honest here, the m3 seems SO MUCH FASTER than the s4.. it feels like it throws you back in the seat much more than the s4.. But from a dig, at the trafic light, i can almost ALWAYS take my dad.. i just have to launch good.

You being in NY, def would go for the s4 if the gas isnt an issue, but plan on buying snow tires and driving VERY cautiously in the winter with the m3. All in all the m3 is a very powerful car, and IMHO looks better than an s4, specially the b6. interior deff wins in the s4 though.

AND i agree with the broken car sounding thing.. it doesnt sound great at all.. the s4 with an exhaust will make you wet everytime you drive it.. m3 is a high pitched weird sound.. and he has a DINAN exhaust

[tatarin]

i think for the part of the coutry that you are at, i would go with the S4, seems very practical if you are using it everyday. I live in chicago and had the same delima, m3 or s4. ended up with s4. love the car. i think if i was in the warmer part of the coutry i would get the m. Also if you go with the M don't the SMG, you will hate your life.

[Maverick]

S4 man, since price is a huge factor.
when you get a M3, trust me, you will mod!!!!!
compare to some of the mods such as exhaust on the M3 and S4, s4 is cheaper.
S4 is very good all the way, you got to love the recaros!
and you live in NY, AWD will help you a lot.

[nimski62]

Although s4 is the obvious choice on the s4 board, go to bimmerforums.com and ask them.. im sure they'll try to pull you the M way.

[$4c@b]

Although s4 is the obvious choice on the s4 board, go to bimmerforums.com and ask them.. im sure they'll try to pull you the M way.

good point. I'd love to hear their reasons.

[GR-RALLYE]

ultimately IMO what it comes down to is if you want more luxury or more performance. personally i would get the m3 after owning my s4 but since its your DD I would go with the s4 so you can drive it in the winter too

[sykotoyRS4]

take the BM

[XwalkerX]

thanks for the responses everyone

[EuroB6]

s4..b/c u live in NY..if you lived down south, id say M3

[quattro.it]

If you drive in snow, ice get the quattro, otherwise E46 M3. I'm confused by the Avant statement, if you need avant then audi period.

[91gl]

which would be better for your lifestyle?

s4

[b spot]

I can give you my unbiased opinion as I did the same comparison a few months ago when I bought my car.

I live in a winter climate too, so AWD was a huge plus. The BMW interior felt very very cheap to me. The shifter and clutch were quite clunky too.

The M3 definitely does have a lot going for it though, more agile, totally different power delivery, sportier looks.

I won't lie, the 1.9% financing through Audi swayed me a lot compared to the 8% at BMW. Really though, what sealed the deal is I took an S4 with 100,000km on it for a test drive and then an M3 with 80,000 on it to see how they held up with age. The S4 felt like a brand new car still. Nice and tight, and felt and looked the same as the one I bought that had 40,000km on it. The BMW rattled, had loose trim pieces and felt like a used car.

For a while I wondered if I made the right choice, but after getting a chip, snub mount, DP's, exhaust, and a rear sway, it really left little advantage to the M3. Now it revs to 7500rpm, sounds like a beast, is more responsive and the sway made a wonderful difference in handling. I can't wait to get my coilovers on! And AWD in the winter is amazing. You will have so much more fun on those crappy snowy days you get in Buffalo.

Can't go wrong with either car though...

[blur510]

for the sound, reasonable exclusivity and the price...S4. There are a million e46M3's out there. I have seen very few black B6 Avants.

Take the $$ saved and put it towards an exhaust and gas.

I agree I see about 4-5 M3's on my 8 mile commute to work... I have only seen 2 S4 avants in the year+ I have owned my car.. one was at a show the other was on my way to mammoth mountain (about 350 miles from home)