Hi all,

Auto Motor und Sport has testet the new Audi S4 vs the C 32 AMG and the BMW M3.

Performance test:

0-100 km/h:
Audi: 5,7
BMW: 4,8
Mercedes: 5,0

0 - 200km/h:
Audi: 21
BMW: 16,8
Mercedes: 16,9

First place was the Audi because it´s more sporty on the track than the Mercedes and more comfortable than the BMW.
Mercedes get´s second cause it´s the fastest car on long distance. No car has ever been so comfortable and sporty like the C 32. Only problem was that Mercedes isn´t offering this car with manual transmission. And the sound of the engine is not that good as it´s on the other cars.
BMW gets 3rd (last but not least) cause the suspension is too hard. Thats not a luxury car - it´s just for the track. If you drive it under 5000 rpm you won´t notice that its a M car. BTW you can drive the M3 with 10 liter/km.

The problem on these tests is that the company which has the newest car pays allot of money to be the best one...
I´m for sure that I would beat the Audi on every track with my benz. And also I´m for sure that the BMW M3 is faster in the curves that my C 32. But we all know that

I will leave tomorrow for vancation to kitzbuehel/austria. I wish you all merry chrismas and a happy new year!

Is this a head to head comparsion of the three cars? Meaning with photos of the 3 cars during testings? Road and Track often times would just pull old data of cars when doing a new car write up.

A few questions about the article you read.

1. Is the S4 auto or manual?
2. Is the M3 SMG or 6 speed?
3. Can you provide us with the handling & braking data of the cars?
4. You mentioned the C32 is the fastest car in long distance. Do you have testing data to support this?


Thanks and have fun! Merry Christmas everyone!

Hi,

donīt have the mag with me so I will post that tomorrow. I will tell you the handling and break data.

The S4 and the M3 are both manual...

Great to hear the story.

If would be better if you can scan the mag and post the pictures

Audi is making some great cars these couple years.

Those numbers are pretty good for a C32, specifically 0-100 and 0-200 because MB for the C32’02 claimed 5.2 and 18.3 respectively. Even more, the RS4 makes 0-193 in 16.5. Moreover, using the data of 1/2003 AutoSport article (RS6/M5/E55) the M5 does 5 and 17.1 sg. respectively too. Thing to meditate

heyhey...we got the same picture from MBUSA in the sig...

don't tell me your is Obsidian blk too...

now I changed it...

Something's wrong with the test. The M3's suspension is not THAT hard....... And there are so many other factors the test didn't consider..... Price, customer service, reliability bla bla bla. Plus AMG had supplied a more powerful SL55 to AMS during their old test, just to raise the topic once more.

Anyway, it looks like BMW has been refining their M3...... well according to the results. Looks slightly faster now.

that's a great pic. but it looks like Midnight blue though.

Yes! , and dNA3D the C32 too!

as you can see, i'm trying to make my own sig picture. But i can't make the picture to show up very good because i shrunk it down from a REALLY BIG picture. Do you know how do i make it work?

OK, here´s the promised data:


[Accel. 0-200 KMH]

0-------------80-----100-----120-----160------200-----KM/H
Audi---------4,5----5,7-----8,2-----13,2-----21,0
BMW--------3,5----4,8-----6,5-----10,9-----16,8
Mercedes--3,7----5,0-----6,7-----11,1-----16,9
--------------------------------------
Quater mile (400meter):
Audi: 14,0
BMW: 13,0
Mercedes: 13,2
--------------------------------------
Max speed: all 250 km/h
--------------------------------------

[Brakes]

100 km/h cold m(m/sē):
Audi: 35,7 (10,8)
BMW: 35,7 (10,8)
Mercedes: 37,8 (10,2)

80% V/max:
Audi: 145,6(10,6)
BMW:145,6(10,6)
Mercedes: 142,5(10,4)

100 km/h warm m(m/sē):
Audi: 37,1 (10,4)
BMW: 35,7 (10,8)
Mercedes: 37,5 (10,3)
--------------------------------------

[Slalom]

Slalom 18 m empty/loaded km/h:
Audi: 65,5/64,2
BMW: 66,8/65,3
Mercedes: 63,2/62,9

ISO Wegtest:
Audi: 129,4/126,9
BMW: 135,2/134,2
Mercedes: 129,8/127,3
--------------------------------------

[Price]
(no options)
Audi: 52420.- Ī
BMW: 54000.- Ī
Mercedes: 57130.- Ī


Result:
1. Audi: Very good V8 engine and very good riding quality is making the norm in this class of topclass sport sedans. But more comfort would fit better here. The manual transmission is not as good as the BMW one.

2. Mercedes: With automatic transmission and comfortable chassis the C 32 is not representing the uncompromising sporty vehicle like the other competitors. The only deficit that makes it get the second place is the high consumption. For large disctances the C 32 is the first choice!

3. BMW: A very good sport sedan - very fast, very loud, very hard (chassis). It needs less fuel than the other competitors but the high fixed costs foil this advantage. For long rides the BMW chassis is too hard and the endine is too loud above 5000 rpm. This car is more for the track - not for the streets.


My info:
In every car test the newest car wins! The companys are spending lots of money for their propaganda! Don´t forget that. The results are not very important. Everyone should drive all the cars and should make his own opinion.
I drove the new and all the old M3. I don´t like them cause they are too sporty for the street and not sporty enouht to beat a porsche. If you want a sporty sedan you sould buy MB (my opinion). If you got enough credit: buy a porsche 996 turbo or GT2 and be one of the fastest in your country. Cause porsche makes real sport cars.


I´m going to Kitzbuehel/Austria today, so I wish everyone here merry X-mas and a happy new year!

It's hard to believe the M3 is faster than the C32 in that comparsion. In Autocar magazine, the C32 ran 13.0 sec and the M3 ran 13.4 sec to the quarter. From any other speed tests, the C32 beat the M3 in every bracket. I am very suprised to see the S4 losing ground that quickly.

All great cars...wish I can drive the M3 on Fridays, C32 on Saturdays and S4 on Sundays... Yup, I am dreaming again.

I have the PDF file if anyone is interested. The M3 rode on 17" wheels for the winter, not the std. 18".

Ian, I also think that a Porsche and MB in the garage is an unbeatable combo!

that was the Automobile Mag, right?...i forgot where i put that issue. I saved it because it was a very good article.

av2, it never hurts to dream ...i think we all have that dream.

anyway, test done by different magazines can vary. it's all good.

My mistake, the PDF file I have is with the previous S4.

FrankW, this is not my car as you see does not have Bi-xenon (sig picture). Nonetheless, your car looks really sweet! Unfortunately, I do not know how make it smaller and cool!
Bye
Thanks

6 cylinders M3 (normally aspirated) vs. 8 cylinders in both MB and Audi. Cost? 20k less. Winner M3.

guess i don't know as much about mb as m3.

but the mb has a supercharger...The C32's intercooled helical-type supercharger was jointly developed with IHI, a Japanese company known for turbocharger and supercharger applications. Mercedes says the supercharger can generate up to 14 psi of boost pressure, a much higher pressure than most other production supercharged engines make. The supercharger also features an electromagnetic coupling that allows the supercharger to disengage during partial load conditions. With the supercharger disengaged, the engine operates purely as a normally aspirated engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and noise.

Wonder what the m3 would be like if supercharged???

Maybe you should stop throwing out ideas before you embrass yourself further.

i'm not the one driving a c class

uh oh...justin you drive a c32 thats faster than a m3 you should be ashamed ..derek your worthless.

I told you to stop posting son, as you embarrassed yourself in four consecutive posts. I'm betting that you are 15 years old (no offense to either Vishall on this board). Your cutting and pasting skills are complete (as evidenced by your post before last).

I do not reflect the opinions of others on this board, so please feel free to stay and embarrass yourself again.