Just received the Feb issue of Motor Trend featuring a german car shoot-out between the E63 AMG, BMW M5 SMG, & Audi S6. Here are the performance figures for the three:

E63 AMG

0-30 1.8
0-40 2.5
0-50 3.3
0-60 4.3
0-70 5.5
0-80 6.8
0-90 8.3
0-100 10.1
1/4 mile 12.7 @113mph

M5 SMG

0-30 1.8
0-40 2.5
0-50 3.8
0-60 4.4
0-70 5.6
0-80 6.9
0-90 8.3
0-100 10.0
1/4 mile 12.7 @114.6mph

S6

0-30 1.6
0-40 2.8
0-50 3.8
0-60 5.1
0-70 6.7
0-80 8.4
0-90 10.2
0-100 12.5
1/4 mile 13.6 @104.4mph

They also tested the 3 at Buttonwillow Raceway Parks East Loop. The M5 was the quckest here.

M5 58.66 seconds
S6 58.76 seconds
E63 60.06 seconds

The writing was pretty weak in my opinion, nothing very insightful. They did mention the smallish size of the tires was holding the E63 back at the track.

Final results-

1. Audi S6
2. BMW M5
3. E63 AMG

Cheers!

The S6 is pretty quick around the track for having the least power. It must make it up by having more grip?

I'd happily take the 3rd place E63 =) I wonder if Audi will make an RS6 again with wide fenders, etc. I'm not a fan of the new one - just looks like a big Passat IMO. My female friends all love it though, then again, they like all Audis.

Any pictures/scans from the article?

How was the 63 rated third, when the comparative times up to a quarter mile shows the 63 in first place?

subjective opinions of testers.

(for the guys who bought #1 & #2)

jk. different strokes for different folks.

i never understood why the hell E AMG cars have such a small tyres... I bet if AMG wanted to 285 and 255s set up would make it great handler!!!! Sad that AMG IS ghey.

Car & Driver:

1. E63
2. S6
3. M5 (6-speed manual)

So that tells me what these comparisons are worth..
No matter what car you drive, just keep on looking for the magazine that puts your car on the top spot...

Even if you ignore subjective opinions of the magazine editors, you cannot ignore the handling advantage the other cars had on a twisty track. Performance isn't only about straight line speed and acceleration.

Having said all this, I agree that these magazine comparisons are all over the place when ranking these three cars.

You almost get the feeling that MT is involved in some type of pissing contest with Car and Driver.

M

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes about "Motor Trend."

Motor Trend magazine is as good a car magazine as Cosmopolitan.

I wonder if <our resident> M-trolls are on the Audi boards arguing about the S6 winning this comparo?

S.

The only way to judge these cars are for to go out there and drive each and every one of them, then you come to your own conclusions...

I wouldn't kick any of them out of my garage. 1 second diff around a track is pretty tight and something I don't really pay much attention to.

usually MT will off-set C/D....

from 0 to 100 the M5 and E63 are too close to call...

but the trap speed tells the story....

So in 6sp manual or SMG.. under 100.... E63 is faster or even...

and lots not compared other mags or other test....

this is a head to head comparison on the same day... same track.

Very well said.

If we let the magazines completely dictate which car we buy, we'll be buying a new car every year or so.

The E63 did quite well when you factor in the final drive ratio which is around 2.8 for the MB and 3.6 for the M5. I didn't see the article but I bet the MB got a couple miles more MPG.

Well I "hang-out" at the Audi and BMW forums and it seems the BMW guys are the most shocked by these reviews. I just posted on the Audi forum that in my opinion I would put the comparison in the following order:

1) E63 AMG
2) S6
3) M5

I think the BMW following (Of which I am/was one) have been caught off guard by the amazing improvements in performance from AMG and Audi in terms of handling and poise..and the crazy power the AMG's bring to the dance. The M5's although great cars are simply too complicated and over-done technically to enjoy like the old M cars (I had an E36 M3 way back in the 90's...simply put a smile on my face whenever I drove it).

I happen to love BMW's as well ( I own two), but when it comes to big sedans I always prefer the comparable Benz. The m5 with 21 different transmission settings and Idrive just doesn't do it for me.

Those quarter-mile times & trap speeds seem very low for the M5. They consistently run low 12's & trap 116 - 117ish.

Personally I still aspire to own a V8K E55 & E39M5 above all those cars.