Before I can start this thread, I feel some background is in order. I bought my first BMW in 1995, an M3 coupe. Over the next seven years the following cars went in and out of my automotive stable: 1997 M3, 1997 540i, 2000 M5, 2001 X5 4.4, 2002 M5 and 2002 X5 4.6 (still own). I was in the final 25 in BMW’s Search for the Ultimate Driver. So, you see, I’ve been quite the BMW fan.
A good offer for the 2002 M5 sent that one on its way and it was replaced with a 2002 Audi A6 4.2 sport. I really wanted AWD for northwest winters and I wanted an automatic transmission. The A6 was a really nice car but no M5.
So, I complained to my dealer about the lack of “sport” in the A6 and the very sloppy shifting automatic. Eventually, they talked me into an RS6. And, almost a year later, the RS6 is now here. The dealer sold the A6 on consignment.
The RS6, M5, Mercedes E55 and even the Jaguar S-Type R are all very credible cars. In my opinion, they are all excellent machines aimed at slightly different markets. None of them are “bad” and, frankly, I could not care less which would “kill” which or which is faster to 60 mph. For my daily driving, performance wise, they are about equal. Since I don’t race my cars, .1 second or .1g lateral means nothing to me one way or another other than bragging rights. Since I’ve owned two M5’s and now the RS6 (but not the Mercedes or Jag), I’ll confine my opinions to the cars I know well.
The first thing I noticed when I drove the RS6 is how flat it corners. The DRC works – and it works very well. Forget skid pad numbers and transient response specs, the RS6 is flatter through corners than the M5 and easier to handle in everyday driving. It may or may not be true that the M5 is better at the track but I’ll take the way the RS6 corners any day for my daily driver. Big win for the RS6.
The second thing I noticed was the “surging” or “hesitation” the RS6 has just off idle. I’m sure this is a function of the turbos spooling up so, for off idle response, the nod goes to the M5 for its instantaneous response. However, at about 2000 rpms, my opinion changes. By then, the RS6 turbos are spinning and the response is not only instantaneous but far stronger than the M5. Must be the flat torque curve in the RS6. Call this one a tie.
Which brings me to the third point – Quattro. The M5 will oversteer if the throttle is engaged too heavily in a low gear. I drive single lane farm roads daily and about once per week in the rainy northwest winters, someone winds up in the field, sometimes upside down. So, when I hit the M5 to pass and feel the rear end trying to get in front of the front end, I have a sphincter muscle that gets a big workout. With the RS6, the car just pulls straight. No drama, just speed. It’s additive. The M5 may be better at the track but, for my daily driver, AWD is better than RWD. Big, big, big win for the RS6. This alone would cause me to choose an RS6 over an M5.
Manual vs. automatic. I can feel the flames from the M5 guys about the control a manual provides and how wimpy an automatic is. And, they are right. But, I never did get good with the M5 manual and even occasionally stalled it in traffic. My shifts were rough and sometimes embarrassing. OK, I’ll take some heat. I’m not Michael Andretti and don’t claim to be. But, the M5 manual was the most difficult manual I’d ever owned. I’m told there was some kind of pollution control device that changes the way the engine responds during gear changes. Maybe so. But, I never liked it and the manual was a major reason why I let the M5 go. After two years, it was time. The RS6 automatic is just what the doctor ordered for me despite not being as controllable as the manual. For me, another big win for the RS6. Others may disagree.
The E39 M5 and the C5 RS6 are about the same vintage (I think) but the M5 felt older and more dated. Let’s look at interior first. The M5’s felt cramped. I had to remove a clip to get the driver seat to go all the way back and, when I did so, there was very little leg room behind me. The RS6 seat has sufficient travel and a reasonable sized adult can fit behind me. However, both my M5’s had the beautiful luxury interior with leather covered dash and console. This was much nicer than the fake stuff in the RS6. I find the RS6 seats more comfortable, maybe because they don’t hold as tightly as the M5. Maybe I’m just getting old but the looser seats feel better even if they don’t hold as well. The parking brake in the RS6 will hit the center armrest if the armrest is down. What were the Audi designers thinking??? The navigation in the M5 beats the RS6 with its display and map but it is much slower to program and impossible to read with polarized sunglasses. The RS6 is visible with sunglasses. Still, neither car has a nav that can match Acura or Lexus. The RS6 Bose audio system is clearer and much simpler to operate than the M5 with tone controls and DSP (why both???). The M5 bass options kicks. No such option on the RS6. Cool carbon fiber available in the RS6; no such option in the M5. I like them both for different reasons with a slight nod to the RS6 for comfort and ergonomics.
As for exterior, I like the boxy look of the M5 and the quad exhaust was very cool. The RS6 is a little more bubble shaped but pleasing nonetheless. The RS6 black sound enhancing exhaust integrates nicely with the bumper for a cleaner look than the M5. I love the bulging fenders of the RS6 and the deep dish wheel look of the M5. My wife prefers the RS6 but, frankly, I like them both, again for different reasons. Call this one a tie.
Sound. Can anyone argue with the RS6 sound enhancing exhaust??? Nod to RS6.
Price. A lot has been said about the high price of the RS6. It did cost about $10,000 more than the M5 (both M5’s and the RS6 were optioned to the max). The RS6 came with Quattro, an automatic and DRC. For me, that’s worth the $10,000 right there.
If I had to do it all over again and if both the M5 and RS6 could be ordered new right now, I’d take the RS6 for Quattro, automatic and DRC. The rest is icing on the cake. The M5 is a great car; the RS6 is better suited to me.
Will a 500+ hp E60 M5 change my mind? Probably not. The RS6 is quick enough. Would a 500+ hp M5 with SMG and x-Drive get my attention. You betcha.
And then the next generation RS6 will come along and get my attention again. Isn’t this fun?
I hope you enjoyed reading these opinions.
Regards,
Bob
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Interesting to read. 
