BMW E36 M3 vs. Audi S4 vs. ?

Mercedes Benz C36 or C43. I'm looking at a C43 and found a comparo from 99 putting the Benz up against the other two germans you mentioned and a Saab Viggen. The Benz took last place based on a higher price and the suspension was too tight for them. The Saab came in third, main complaint being extreme chassis flex, but it was the cheapest. Second was the E36 M3. First was the S4, so maybe your gut about the S4 is right. I want a V8, so C43 for me. Not to mention, I'm young and I can handle the tight suspension and its no longer the most expensive after excessive depreciation.

 

M3s are nice and whatnot, but I'm biased towards Audi so my suggestion is pretty obvious! Thing is, alot of the TT V6 examples have been hacked up and ragged on by 18-22 yr old college kids who don't all keep the vehicle's longevity at the forefront. If you decide on Audi, I would at least keep the search narrowed down to a stock or near stock S4.

I'd rather have one with the V8, but different strokes for different folks!

 

I have a friend who bought a TT S4 not long ago and had the turbos crap on him not long after he got it. Changing the turbos on those is an engine out process, so if you aren't working on it yourself, obviously it can get expensive.

 

I've always wanted the B5 S4 Avant since the RS4 is pretty much not possible (a few in the US). I would go for the S4 over the E36 M3 only if you can find one in good condition. They can get pretty expensive to maintain as said above because of the TTs.

 

I have an 01 Nogaro Blue S4 thats Stage II+ (thats chip, exhaust, and downpipes) with alcantara interior and its a 6spd.........absolutely LOVE it.....bought it CPO'd from the dealer with all the upgrades and of course made sure to have them note the aftermarket parts on the bill of sale...no problems yet...all wheel drive, and not too many people know what it is

 

I have an E36 M3, love it! I use it as a daily driver, last year did 15k miles or so never had any problems with it. You are pretty much going to get biased opinions no matter what, if you go to a Bimmer board they are going to tell you that the E36 is better, if you go to an Audi board they will say the Audi is better.

I have made some subtle changes, BBS wheels and a suspension upgrade, along with an intake and headlights, it makes it just that much more fun to drive, and looks different compared to other E36's.

Drive both and find out, I have never driven an S4, only an A6 (I'm sure it is VERY different).

Cheers,
-CT

 

i would say go with a c32. pricey but great car

 

Hands down S4. Nothing even comes close. M3 is not even in its league.

I've owned them both.

 

Car and Driver, September 1999

"Sports Sedans; The state of the art at the end of the century"

Mercedes C43 AMG:
Highs: Sexy-sounding, powerful V8; beautifully crafted interior; ample road grip
Lows: Twitchy steering response, stratospheric price, stiff suspension that rides over bumpers instead of absorbing them.
Verdict: AMG rediscovers the 1960s Detroit muscle car.

Saab 9-3 Viggen:
Highs: Hatchback versatility; nimble, throw-it-around handling; low base price.
Lows: Sloppy clutch and shifter; chassis flex, torque steer that verges on the ridiculous
Verdict: An exciting drive, but not for all the right reasons

E36 BMW M3:
Highs: Punchy, sweet in-line six; peerless handling dynamics with right-now reflexes; stout structure
Lows: Dated interior styling, tight rear-seat accomodations, features challenged for the price.
Verdict: BMW's superb sports sedans is finally toppled in a C/D comparison test, but a new version is just around the corner.

Audi S4 Quattro
Highs: Mannerly but powerful twin-turbo six, four wheel drive traction, smooth ride, long list of features.
Lows: Steering needs more feel, shifter needs more precision, tires need more lateral grip.
Verdict: A technological tour de force thats fast and practical, with a price that's easy to justify.

I've got the article laying around since I am looking at C43's, so if you want any particulars, let me know.

 

I'd lean towards: Mercedes C43 AMG:
Highs: Sexy-sounding, powerful V8; beautifully crafted interior; ample road grip
Lows: Twitchy steering response, stratospheric price, stiff suspension that rides over bumpers instead of absorbing them.
Verdict: AMG rediscovers the 1960s Detroit muscle car.

 

You've really got to drive an older (W202, which is the C43 chassis code) Benz to determine whether you like the feel of the controls. I see that you have a W203, and while similar in feel, there are some difference. I would say that the auto in the W203 is one of the slickest as far as just how solid and smooth it feels as you move it through the gate. I don't think it is as smooth in the C43. The weight of the steering is something else that can feel odd in the Benz, but that should be pretty close to how your newer C-Class feels. Other than that, I like the Benz and thats what I plan to pick up this winter.

 

It is sad that the American e36 M3 was toned down

America: 240 HP
Europe :280 HP and you could opt for 320 HP

I am a BMW guy and I would select the M3 without any hesitation but the lack of power might be an issue....although 240 is not a horrible figure.

 

Man, you are destined for my car! Seriously, take a look!

http://6speedonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52501

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=381606

 

I'd recommend the mercedes 190E Cosworth 16V. They are somewhat rare, and difficult to find, but it's not impossible. This car a does come with a manual transmission, and this is also the car that mercedes created to compete with the M3. I also like the C43 amg or C32 amg. I recently drove the C32 amg, and although it doesn't have a manual transmission, it does have the best automatic transmissions i have ever driven. Very impressive and very quick shifting. The car is astonishingly quick, and it felt faster than the E46 M3

 

Sadly, Mercedes has decided that manuals only belong in their cheapest models, so even the SLR McLaren has an auto. The C36, C43, C32, and C55 all come with autos. I'm not very familiar with anything pre-W202, so I'm intrigued by the 190 Cosworth. I'll have to look into that more.

 

I owned a '95 E36 M3 (Arctic Silver / Black) and a '00 S4 (Nogaro Blue / Blue Alcantara). Both were manual transmission cars.

I really enjoyed both. I think the BMW had the better suspension. I did a couple of track days with it. A lot of fun. The Audi was more comfortable and I liked the meaty gear shift. The steering is better on the BMW -- the torque of the twin-turbos and the turbo whine is fun on the Audi.

I think the E36 M3 is pretty dated now. It's fine-looking car, but the interior is way behind the Audi's. The Audi is the more civilized car and I appreciated the useable back seats accessible from the rear doors.

If I had to go back and re-own one of those -- I'd go back and get another S4. It just seemed more well-rounded to me.

Maintenance will be an issue on either one -- but the Audi can really get expensive. I sold mine because 1) I got a really good offer for it, and 2) I was afraid of getting hit with a big bill for service.

If I can make a suggestion -- it's not an Audi S car or a BMW M car, but if I was going to get something fun and sporting for daily use today -- I'd just spend $23k for a new GTI with a full warranty. I know it's FWD, but it's a pretty fun little car. It's German & you can have your pick from a 3 door or a 5 door. It won't have the bragging rights of the S4 or the M3, but it also won't break your wallet.

 

I'll see if I can hunt it down online, otherwise I will scan all of the pages in and shoot it your way.

 

My desktop is being a pain and that is what the scanner is hooked to. I'll see what I can figure out tomorrow and get you the article.

 

BMW all the way.

Better weight and balance and for a E36 M3 there is a tone of parts you can upgrade if you want too.

Or you can get a E46 M3
Image Unavailable, Please Login