An M3 owner talks about his S4
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:07:37 -0400, Mike Scheer <mike@plexsys.com>
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:07:37 -0400, Mike Scheer <mike@plexsys.com>
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:07:37 -0400, Mike Scheer <mike@plexsys.com>
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
wrote:
>mjcecil@gmail.com wrote:
>> I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
>> encounters with other vehicles on the street.
>
>And someone should trust your judgment because?
Because he's cross posted this to BMW and Audi groups, and he's
obviously sincere in his desire for a calm and rational discussion on
the subject.
--
Dan.
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
"Mike Scheer"
> And someone should trust your judgment because?
He never asked you to trust his judgment. He wrote his experiences with
the cars he owned...
>> It's just
>> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
You don't have to agree with it.
Pete
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
"Mike Scheer"
> And someone should trust your judgment because?
He never asked you to trust his judgment. He wrote his experiences with
the cars he owned...
>> It's just
>> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
You don't have to agree with it.
Pete
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
"Mike Scheer"
> And someone should trust your judgment because?
He never asked you to trust his judgment. He wrote his experiences with
the cars he owned...
>> It's just
>> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
You don't have to agree with it.
Pete
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
"Mike Scheer"
> And someone should trust your judgment because?
He never asked you to trust his judgment. He wrote his experiences with
the cars he owned...
>> It's just
>> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
You don't have to agree with it.
Pete
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
Nice report. Thanks.
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
Nice report. Thanks.
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: An M3 owner talks about his S4
Nice report. Thanks.
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>
<mjcecil@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183752537.465723.254640@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have spent significant time in M3's in recent years (120,000+ miles
> in an E36, and 40,000+ miles in an E46), but recently I purchased a
> 2007 Audi S4. After nearly 3,000 miles in this car, I have some
> observations.
>
> First, this is NOT an S4 versus M3 "which is better" rant. It's just
> to point out what I have noticed as differences in the two cars...
>
> For background, the cars have been as follows:
>
> 1) 1999 M3, purchased new. Ti silver with silver interior (silver
> sport "vader" seats, manual adjust), OBC, and sunroof.
>
> 2) 2002 M3, Purchased 2005 (thanks, Katrina) as a certified car. 6sp
> Carbon Black over black leather and Ti beltline trim, MkIII nav, seat
> heaters, sunroof, BiXenons.
>
> 3) 2007 S4, Purchased new. 6sp Black pearl over black/silver
> alcantara. Nav, Bose, DTM pkg, park control, BT, and the rest of the
> kitchen sink.
>
> For background, about me: I'm 38, and a systems engineer by trade. I
> like to drive fast. A lot. I do not race in any sort of formal
> sense, though I have had more than my fair share of triple-digit
> encounters with other vehicles on the street. I don't have all
> weekend every weekend to take down and modify my car. And, even if I
> did, I have little or no desire to make severe mods to cars like
> these, anyway (with the possible exception of an exhaust or a remapped
> ECU), as I feel that a team of German engineers spending 7 years at
> the design table really do have more automotive knowledge than I do,
> and thus the final compromise might actually be better than what my
> shadetree butt can come up with.
>
> That may make me seem to be less of gearhead than some, and that may
> be true, but the fact that remains is that I love my cars, and I think
> I am in a unique position to honestly compare the vehicles as a
> relatively normal driver.
>
>
> Now, on to my observations...
>
> First, the non-functional stuff:
>
> Build quality-
>
> The S4, by and large appears to have an overall better build quality
> than the either M3, at least as far as the interior goes. (The
> exterior appointments are essentially equal across the board for these
> cars).
>
> The E46 BMW had numerous interior trim pieces, most of which were
> finished in some sort of coating which was given to peeling upon
> extended exposure to heat ( I live in New Orleans, and the cars do
> tend to bake in the summer ). I replaced 3 of 7 of the interior
> beltline trim pieces, at an average cost of about $100 apeice (I
> replaced both armrests, which are also coated in the beltline
> material). Not a huge deal, but on a mid-50K car, it was just
> something that shouldn't have happened. Also, the interior window
> trim, while very attractive, was a separate piece of fabric-covered
> rubber, and very given to delaminating from the door/window frame.
> Once again, how good can you feel about a relatively expensive car
> when you're driving down the street with part of the interior hanging
> in the window?
>
> The E36 BMW had better trim than the E46, even though it wasn't as
> flashy. The trim was solid all around, with no esoteric coatings to
> peel, and the finish was a little more durable on the plastic. There
> were far fewer pieces to the fabric trim at the headliner and pillars,
> and those were apparently built better than their more modern
> counterparts.
>
> My S4, by contrast, has carbon fiber trim that is really very durable
> looking, and the polished resin that makes up the bulk of the trim
> pieces appears to be very resistant to scratching. The whole setup is
> molded-through, not a coating, so I'm not worried bout peeling or
> nicking, etc. The pillar and window trims are integrated with the
> headliner, and the fabric appears bonded to the rigid structure of the
> headliner. All in all, it seems to be a more durable approach. The
> cleanability of this setup has yet to be determined.
>
> Creaking armrests... From the moment I got the E46, the armrests, both
> door and center, creaked in a very plasticky way when any pressure at
> all was applied. This was eminently annoying, and really should have
> been worked out before the car saw the light of day. Yes, the
> replacement armrests creaked in exactly the same way. Now, I admit,
> this is not part and parcel to the performance of the car, but I use
> the armrests in some way EACH AND EVERY time I use the car. They
> should do their work silently.
>
> The E36, on the other hand, had zero in terms of armrest creak. It
> was just nice in this way.
>
> The S4 has rock solid armrests, but the center armrest does creak a
> little. I plan to take the armrest apart, and apply paraffin lube to
> the plastic joints in an attempt to quiet that down. The difference
> with this armrest is that it will creak a little as you first lay your
> arm on it, but it's quiet after that.
>
> As far as the window and feature controls, the E36 really had the best
> of the lot. The center mounted push-only swtches were heavy-duty and
> positive feeling, and the pushbuttons and ***** throughout the rest of
> the cabin were equally solid feeling.
>
> The E46's push-pull window switches are notoriously weak, and I
> replaced three units in the console (two driver and one passenger) in
> the two years I owned the car. I was not happy, overall with the
> switches and such in the E46 steering wheel, and did not appreciate
> the move of cruise control from a stalk on the lower right of the E36
> wheel to the wheel spoke-mounted buttons on the E46. I thought that
> the stalk was virtually perfect for its task, and required exactly
> zero in terms of looking at the control to use (I did spend three
> years driving 120 mile round trips to work, so the cruise was, indeed,
> an important feature for me).
>
> The S4 has its cruise on a stalk, as well, but on the left side, so
> it's slightly harder to use. And what the hell's with putting the
> markings on that stalk such that you can't read them from the driver's
> position if you were to need to do such a thing? The window push-
> pulls are much beefier in the Audi than the E46, and I expect them to
> outlast my ownership of the car. I am not as confident in the top-row
> buttons that make up the small number of controls in the center
> console.
>
> And as for the six buttons in teh instrument cluster? Well, let's
> just say that reaching them while driving might be a dangerous
> exercise, and thus, they will probably neer be used.
>
> Seats -
>
> The S4 has pretty damned good seats. The recaros are forgiving, but
> very laterally supportive. And the Alcantara is gorgeous both to the
> touch and to the eyes. HOWEVER...
>
> Both the E36 and E46 had better seats, overall. The E36 Vaders were
> very supportive with huge bolsters, and were at that time the best
> seats I'd ever sat in. The E46 was even better. despite all the
> electric controls, the E46 M3 seats have to be the most body-hugging,
> comfortable, confidence inspiring factory seats in any car. At least
> that's my personal experience. Man, I miss those seats. (AND I miss
> the bolster-width adjustment!)
>
> Audio -
>
> People talk about how unimpressive the Bose(tm) audio setup in the A4/
> S4 is, and maybe it's not the Levinson system. I encourage THOSE
> people to try spending an extra grand on the Harmon/Kardon from BMW,
> and THEN tell me how much better they feel about the Audi.
>
>>From a feature perspective, BMW's H/K stereo (not to mention the stock
> one) was the single most unimpressive feature of the car. It was, to
> be kind, worthless. MB Quart makes a ton of money selling upgrade
> drivers to these systems, and for good reason. It REALLY pissed me
> off when I got in my girlfriend's Accord ( V6 with the 6sp manual...
> if it's going to be an Accord, might as well be one with some juice! )
> only to find that its audio system was so much better as to be
> noticeable even by my lousy ears.
>
> Yes, I know, the M3 is a performance car, and the focus should be
> there. Fine. But, at this price point, it's really a LUXURY
> performance car, and any creature comforts BMW has gone to the trouble
> to add should reflect that.
>
> Misc-
>
> Do you know how pissed I was when I found out first hand what a
> useless piece of work the M-mobility "System" was on the E46 M3? My
> E36 had a full-size spare and so does the S4. BMW, what gives? Gimme
> a damn wheel!
>
> Along those lines, I'll tell you this... I loved the look of the
> staggered wheels on the M3's, but I'm really kind of looking forward
> to a real tire rotation for the first time in 9 years
>
> And let's just talk exhaust note here... I know it's a little quiet
> for all of your tastes, but I zip through my parking garage at work
> and I roll down the windows EVERY time just to hear the car. It's
> really truly a gorgeous sounding engine.
>
> Now, on to the performance...
>
> This is the part the Audi guys are not necessarily wanting to hear...
> I place the overall performance of the B7 S4 on par with the E36 M3,
> and marginally better, but not as confidence inspiring (from the
> inside) as the E46, but the car FEELS more modern and mature than
> either of the two at speed.
>
> The acceleration of the E46 was simply brutal when you wanted that
> (Not Z06 quick, mind you, but as quick or quicker than 99% of cars out
> there). The S4 is strong and silky smooth, but lacks the neck
> snapping response that I really loved about that E46. The E36 was the
> same way... Not to say there is no power - quite the opposite. Just
> the delivery is different. In the S4 and the E36 both, it feels as if
> at any point, in any gear, you could step into it and it would pull
> you strongly right up to the red line. And, if you hit a downshift
> right, they will always push you squarely into your seat.
>
> But the E36 and the S4 both have a rev-response delay that the E46
> never had. I don't know if that is due to a heavy flywheel in the
> Audi, or what, but it takes (relatively) FOREVER to spool that V8 up.
> The E46, on the other hand, would bump its redline way before you were
> ready, if you weren't paying attention... I mean it would spin up
> Right... Freakin... Now.
>
> Of course, each of these cars is artificially limited in top speed,
> but I don't actually care about that, since I rarely bump that
> territory. Oh, I have definitely pegged both M3's (several times for
> significant lengths of time) but I have yet to have the S4 above 125.
>
> The M3's both had better bodyroll characteristics than the S4 does,
> and both were essentially flat in 95% of turns, whereas there is
> limited bodyroll in the S4 in all sharper-than-sweeping turns. (the
> roll is always there, but it's always of very limited magnitude) BUT
> the S4 holds a line in a turn better than either of the BMWs. This is
> probably a direct result of the Quattro system. Both the E36 and E46
> tended to push in a turn, and I think that the S4 will, as well, when
> pushed harder, but the front wheel pull on the S4 helps keep that in
> check by providing that correcting force vector.
>
> All that said, I think that I would rather be driving the M3s on
> smooth mountain roads. They just seem slightly more telepathic in the
> turns than does the S4. The S4 has an overly light steering touch
> that keeps the driver a little too out of the loop, feedback-wise.
> Note I said "light", not "inexact." The car does *exactly* what you
> tell it to. (I expect I will get used to it after a while... And if
> not, maybe I'll just sand my fingertips)
>
> The E46, like the E36, was very comfortable as a smooth-surface car.
> If you were on any sort of rough pavement, though, you could
> essentially read it with your butt like braille. Both the E36 and the
> S4 are somewhat more compliant, with the S4 being much closer to a
> standard sedan ride. In almost any other environment, I would say
> this puts the S4 at a disadvantage, but *I* live in New Orleans.
> These roads are the worst in what can still be called the civilized
> world, and I am somewhat crazy for driving any sort of tightly-sprung
> vehicle on them. For this reason, I like the S4's ride here better
> than the M3s.
>
> Now having said that, the M3's track over road irregularities with
> disturbing aplomb. They made a lot of racket when you inadvertently
> hit a bump or crack, but contact with the road was seemingly never
> lost. The S4 behaves a little less predictably under these
> conditions. There are a couple of spots of light washboard on my way
> to work every day, and the M3's tended to get real loud and would
> essentially shake your fillings loose over them, but the car never
> lost its vector. The S4, in the same territory, gets a little
> "squirrely" instead, and floats a little over the irregular surface,
> despite being somewhat more comfortable and quieter in that situation.
>
> In the end, it may sound like I prefer the M3 over the S4... That's
> simply not the case. I absolutely LOVE the S4, and I have no regrets
> about making the change. I sometimes wish the S4 had the Camaro-
> crushing quickness, or the incredible seating of the E46 M3, but not
> often enough to make me want to go back. And, I LOVE THE QUATTRO!
> (Did I mention it rains more here than in Seattle?) But, conversely,
> I wish the M3 had the quattro system, creature comforts, and the fit
> and finish of my S4.
>
> Oh, did I mention... I also happen to like the way my Audi looks a
> good bit more than either M3.
>
> Will I wait and see about the E92 M3? Sure. Am I ready to switch
> back? Not really.
>