Audi S4, RS6 and BMW M5 E39 - how do all compare

[matth76]

Hi

How do the following cars all compare - performance wise (which is fastest 0-100mph specs and fastest round a track etc) and overall handling and driver feedback: the 2004 S4 sedan (with one with the N/A 4.2 V8 340bhp) to the BMW M5 E39 (also with a V8 and 400bhp) and the sedan RS6?

What modifications are available for the N/A S4, which is far less tunable than the bi-turboed RS6?

By the way how come Audi never made a sedan RS4 but only an estate/avant?

Thanks for any info.

[skiwi]

comparisons are the domain of magazines. hunt around the usual suspects and you will find these. but basically the s4 is a "b" segment car, the other 2 are "c" segment cars. different markets...

[Avus-RS6]

Here's my take. All IMHO (in my humble opinion)

I'm pretty sure the RS6 is fastest to 100, and probably fastest around most road courses.

Handling and driver feedback I would guess would go to the M5 which has the best balance of the trio.

The S4 you can go from exhaust, intake and chip all the way to MTM supercharger for serious power.

Here in the US, we only get the RS4 in sedan form.

Take this for what it is, opinion from a guy who has owned for a short time an RS6, ridden in an E39 M5, and haven't even sat in a B6 S4. ;)

[Leadfoot]

Again only an opinion.

The M5 is the most dynamic with the most options in a corner be it oversteer or understeer all controllable with your right foot and I reckon will be join quickest with the RS6 on a track with the S4 only yards behind.

But the roles will be reversed on a road which is twisty and bumpy. There the more nimble S4 will rule the roost followed by the RS6 and then the M5.

Fastest to 100mph is the RS6 for sure, but it's any one's guess after that, from personally experience the S4 matches the M5 up to 120mph at least so it will be close maybe M5 just in the dry and for sure S4 in the wet.

If comfort is important then the M5 wins easily, one of the most comfortable sports saloons ever and something the new version could learn from the former. Followed by the S4 and than the RS6 which is quite hard, though again only on poor surfaces.

[matth76]

Thanks for your replies and comments. Really helpful. Does anyone know the factory stats 0-60mph and 0-100, and quarter mile times etc? Do all have oil temp gauges either on the dash board or in the trip computer?

[AuditudeA642]

in my opinion the RS6 cannot be compared to the E39 M5. Its just simply a different animal. In every video i have ever seen the RS6 handling and straight line destroys an M5. This is also the Case on paper.

RS6: 0-60 4.3 Seconds
M5: 0-60 5.1 Seconds

RS6: 1/4 Mile 12.4 Seconds
M5: 1/4 Mile 13.4 Seconds
And around the course of course the :rs6kiss:
The S4 doenst fit into this class but it is also a great car.

[Leadfoot]

in my opinion the RS6 cannot be compared to the E39 M5. Its just simply a different animal. In every video i have ever seen the RS6 handling and straight line destroys an M5. This is also the Case on paper.

RS6: 0-60 4.3 Seconds
M5: 0-60 5.1 Seconds

RS6: 1/4 Mile 12.4 Seconds
M5: 1/4 Mile 13.4 Seconds
And around the course of course the :rs6kiss:
The S4 doenst fit into this class but it is also a great car.

With those figures the RS6 is well out in front, but M5 against S4 it's all pretty even 0-60 for a S4 is just under 5secs and the 1/4Mile in 13 something. As for the RS6 walking a S4 on the track, check out the times for both on the ring and Hockenheim, the RS6 just beats the S4 on the ring but loses to it at Hockenheim. It too close to call in my opinion.

If you were to ask me if I would prefer the RS6 over the S4 I would say give me the RS6's performance in the S4 package.:D

[dab]

the car mags have the m5 as 4.1 to 60 and everything i have seen is 4.6 for the beast to 60.

[Leadfoot]

dab, we are talking about the old v8 M5 not the new v10 one.:doh:

[skiwi]

search the autoweek site and they did a test with the rs6, m5 and e55 where the rs6 won. ditto the car & driver mag...

[dab]

still have never seen the 4.3 for the rs/6.

[Leadfoot]

still have never seen the 4.3 for the rs/6.

I must agree with you on that one, the best I have seen is 4.6s for a RS4, 4.99s for a S4 and 5.1s for an M5.

[ruxprncd]

4.3 might be referring to the Stratmosphere O.CT modified car - IIRC audiworld clocked it at 4.3 0-60 and 12.3 in the 1/4 mile.

[matth76]

Here in the US, we only get the RS4 in sedan form.



Sorry I meant the earlier RS4 not the lastest one which is in sedan form. The earlier versions (B5 I think is the version before the latest one) all seem to be in estate/avant version with no sedans for some reason. Were any sedans every made? If any were were they only available in Germany?

The figures I have seen for the E39 M5 is 4.9 secs 0-60 and some sources have stated 4.7 secs. However I haven't seen any quoted figures for 0-100 mph? Anyone have stats for all three cars?

What years was the E39 made?

[skiwi]

no b5 rs4 sedans were made. ditto the rs2...