E46 M3 or B7 S4 Convertable?
Discussion
I've decided my next car will be a convertable, and within my aprox 10k budget I fancy either a BMW E46 M3 or an Audi B7 S4. Both great cars with pros and cons, but which one and why?
For me I love the drive of the M3, performance wize it is the better of the two and I love the cabin layout. However it is starting to look a little dated now and they can draw the wrong croud! The S4 is a V8, and I've always wanted to own one, the drive is great and the noise from the engine is divine, but it lacks feedback and doesn't feel of much of an occasion to drive. It looks stunning though, and I like the understated looks.
I would love to hear other people's thoughts and experiences?
For me I love the drive of the M3, performance wize it is the better of the two and I love the cabin layout. However it is starting to look a little dated now and they can draw the wrong croud! The S4 is a V8, and I've always wanted to own one, the drive is great and the noise from the engine is divine, but it lacks feedback and doesn't feel of much of an occasion to drive. It looks stunning though, and I like the understated looks.
I would love to hear other people's thoughts and experiences?
Yes, it does rain near me, my current car is a B7 A4 Saloon 2.0T Quattro and I love the sure footed feeling you get from power going down on four wheels.
I do worry about the reputation the M3 has, it is driven by knobs and wanna-be drug barrons near me! Great car tho!
I do worry about the reputation the M3 has, it is driven by knobs and wanna-be drug barrons near me! Great car tho!
Edited by AudiSport on Sunday 29th July 10:40
Edited by AudiSport on Sunday 29th July 10:45
billywhizzzzzz said:
Ignore subframe crack thing - a complete red herring - and although the m3 isa (much) better drivers car, the s4 suits the convertible and very much is an event to drive at low and medium speeds - more so than the m3
Why is the subframe thing - a complete red herring?MMT said:
billywhizzzzzz said:
Ignore subframe crack thing - a complete red herring - and although the m3 isa (much) better drivers car, the s4 suits the convertible and very much is an event to drive at low and medium speeds - more so than the m3
Why is the subframe thing - a complete red herring?St John Smythe said:
Because it's highly unlikely it does have any problems with the subframe and if it did they were fixed under warranty.
Without trying to start an argument, on what basis do you say this because mine had a cracked floor pan which has been repaired and strengthened and there are some people that think that potentially all E46 M3's (and some others such as the 330) could suffer this at some point. There is even talk about BMW withdrawing the goodwill repair on sub 10 year old cars. I'm a member on M3cutters and there are numerous threads covering this subject and generally several people having the repair carried out every week. The company who repaired mine seem to have quite a long waiting list for this work as well. Now I repeat, I am not trying to start an argument but, I would genuinely like to know the source of your information.
M3 for me, the engine is a masterpiece compared to the Audi lump which has 2 extra cylinders and 1000cc more to achieve the same power.
4wd is in Audi's favour, my M3 was rubbish in the snow, as are most RWD cars, but 99% of the time its the better car to drive.
Both are not without problems, M3 subframes and S4 Timing chains are the main ones.
4wd is in Audi's favour, my M3 was rubbish in the snow, as are most RWD cars, but 99% of the time its the better car to drive.
Both are not without problems, M3 subframes and S4 Timing chains are the main ones.
nottyash said:
Both are not without problems, M3 subframes and S4 Timing chains are the main ones.
Th S4 timing chain issue is not an issue at all, it's one of those silly performance car myths that lead people to say "in the end I didn't buy it because of the timing chain issue" It isn't common, the engine (and the S4 in general) is pretty bulletproof and low maintenance for a 350 bhp AWD lump. There was one PH member who had a chain issue, and off the back of that thread in true Chinese whispers style it became the cars main weak point.
I love the E46 M3, but the B7 S4 is such a nice looking car and very rare. The S4 however won't ever scare you like an M3 can though.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff