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lmao. Horrible review. $60k S4 versus $40-45k 3-series? Thanks edmunds for comparing two cars that aren't in the same price point. I suppose they're taking clues from Car & Driver Magazine on that. I love the S4 and RS4, as well as the rest of the Audi performance line-up, but to compare any car to them that is 25% less expensive seems outright wrong. Reminds me of the Car & Driver article in which a Viper ACR kicked it's competition's butt all over the track (mind you it was a track-based test article, not road driving / cruising article) but placed second to last because it wasn't as refined as cars like a 997 GT2 or Murcielago.
I think power numbers and engine size mean very little when reviewing cars. The most important factor first and foremost should be price. Two $60k sedans is a much better comparison than HP figures only. No one buys a car saying "I have a 410 hp budget - what can I get?" while on the opposite, everyone is always interested in the best car (for them) for the money. If a 30hp difference + drivetrain difference (AWD versus RWD) makes it fair, then they should compare a 335i coupe vs a madzaspeed 3 I feel the lotus Elise can be compared all day to C6 vette's as can a Viper be looked at against a 997. Different strokes for different folks for sure, but IMHO, this is the single biggest factor in comparing two vehicles. Simply looking at HP numbers doesn't tell the full story. I can't imagine saying the SLR McLaren should be compared to an F1 car or a Carrera 4S is the perfect match-up against an Evo. I think the 3-series is a great car. I doubt I'd ever purchase one, but I have a lot of respect for them in their category. I'd much rather have an S4 or RS4 like most others, but that doesn't mean I think they're a great comparison.
I think the primary reason that they compared the two is because the type of buyer each car will attract tend to be those who are cross shopping between the S4 and the 335. That said, I would probably go with the BMW just because I think it looks more sporting and I am a big fan of turbo setups.
At least be a little more "fair" and compare it to the 335iS. Since that is the "sport" version of the 335 and the S4 is the "sport" version of the A4. Even though the S4 should really be compared with the M3 since the sedan starts at 55k but... again I don't think it would compete. The "S" line has seemed to dropped classes in recent years since it was previously compared to the ///M's and AMG's but now they rely on the more expensive RS line to pick up the slack in those comparisons. Which again would be more fair comparing it to BMW's CSL/GTS lines or AMG's Black Series. But I digress haah. Main point is cars should be compared at the same level.
2010 S4 Base Price: $45,900 2010 335i Base Price: $40,600 Audi rearranged their cars a little bit. You can't get an A4 with a V6 engine anymore, so the A4 2.0T compares to the 328i. The S4 compares to the 335i. As Edmunds.com said, both cars are sedans with forced-induction V6 motors in the same size category and similar price tags. Audi is specifically going after the 335i with their new S4, but this time the Audi actually costs more than the BMW....no big deal since it's usually the other way around. Pretty fair comparison if you ask me.... The upcoming RS4 will be the one that compares to the E92 M3.
reaks of deja vu to me more than 5 years ago, Audi release their M3/C55 competitor in the S4 - an AWD V8 sedan it fails miserably being slower around corners and in a straight line than the 6 cylinder M3 so Audi goes back to the drawing board, makes an even bigger engined S4 and the marketing people call it the RS4 -and production of the old S4 slows to a trickle - finally with 50hp more than the M3, 2 extra cylinders and 1 Litre more capacity it can beat the M3 in a straight line. But it's too late, the E46 M3 has been out for 7 years and now BMW are putting the finishing touches on their next model Audi uber FAIL
huh? Confused but this would be unfair. And I was unaware of the Audi redid there line up. If that is the case I vote for a 335iS vs S4 comparison. That would would be a very fair match up. Hopefully this RS4 (are they coming out with one?) is cheaper than the last. All I have heard about lately is the new RS5 which has a base of 77k euros ( i don't know before or after the 19% tax), the M3 coupe is 58 euros before and 68 euros after 19% tax. I'll have to admit the RS5 is a pretty sexy car one of the most aesthetically beautiful cars of this generation.
