M5 Comp vs RS4

Author
Discussion

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Monday 4th April 2022
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Currently weighing up options for a fast family car. I’ve owned fast BMWs and Audis before but mostly coupes. Need room for 2 adults and 3 kids (on occasion) so find myself looking at c.2018 B9 RS4s and F90 M5s which broadly hover around 55-57k (+/- 5k).
Seems depreciation has been less kind to the M5 which offers a lot more car for the money - but also more cost to run.
The RS4 seems more expensive by comparison but looks a little more nimble whilst offering tons of load space if I ever need it.
Overall I am leaning towards the M5 and might need to save a few extra £££ to stretch to an M5 comp.
Given the similarity in price and application, anyone considered these two? Appreciate M5 is rarely seen as a direct competitor to the RS4.

BlueJ

326 posts

46 months

Monday 4th April 2022
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Not tried the RS4 but I'm 2 months / 3,000 miles into ownership of a used F90 (non-comp). I absolutely love it! If practicality is a consideration, split-folding rear seats are an option worth having.

Take a look at the M Power section of the forum for more feedback - as you'd expect a lot of F90 owner views on there.

SWoll

18,512 posts

259 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
Rear space in the RS4 isn't great, any reason why you aren't comparing to the RS6 as you can get a low mileage 2017 car in budget and it's a lot more car in every way than the RS4?

Pixelpeep 135

8,600 posts

143 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
IMO, one is hugely practical, safe, predictable, faster than you'll ever need (with massive scope for tuning if you get bored) subtle and stylish, the other is an M5

They are both amazing cars, but if you plan on doing daily duties 95% of the time get the all rounder.

I'm not saying the M5 can't do it all, i'm saying the pros to an M5 are weighted to driving it hard, performance is 99% and everything else is like 85% - where as the audi does everything at 95%


Jamescrs

4,501 posts

66 months

Monday 4th April 2022
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Comparing them s0ace wise the M5 is a level above interms of space for rear passengers, I think ot would be tight in an RS4, never owned one but I did own the boggo S line A4 which will have the same space in the cabin.

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

Have decided to pass up the previous gen RS6’s (C7) because the platform and tech feels a bit too dated for me now - consider that the C7 platform was likely being designed at least as early as 2011, barely 4 years after the iPhone was first released. Current gen RS6’s are crazy money although I personally think it’s the best looking car by a mile.

The rear bench space is a factor where three kids are concerned, especially when 2 will need boosters to sit on…


SWoll

18,512 posts

259 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
Ted_Striker said:
Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

Have decided to pass up the previous gen RS6’s (C7) because the platform and tech feels a bit too dated for me now - consider that the C7 platform was likely being designed at least as early as 2011, barely 4 years after the iPhone was first released. Current gen RS6’s are crazy money although I personally think it’s the best looking car by a mile.

The rear bench space is a factor where three kids are concerned, especially when 2 will need boosters to sit on…
M5 the better option then as the RS4 is going to be a squeeze, and they'll only get bigger. smile

How about a 2018 E63S Touring? More modern inside than the RS6.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...

Tall_Blk

376 posts

192 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
SWoll said:
Ted_Striker said:
Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

Have decided to pass up the previous gen RS6’s (C7) because the platform and tech feels a bit too dated for me now - consider that the C7 platform was likely being designed at least as early as 2011, barely 4 years after the iPhone was first released. Current gen RS6’s are crazy money although I personally think it’s the best looking car by a mile.

The rear bench space is a factor where three kids are concerned, especially when 2 will need boosters to sit on…
M5 the better option then as the RS4 is going to be a squeeze, and they'll only get bigger. smile

How about a 2018 E63S Touring? More modern inside than the RS6.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...
+1 for the E63

ZX10R NIN

27,678 posts

126 months

Monday 4th April 2022
quotequote all
Tall_Blk said:
SWoll said:
Ted_Striker said:
Thanks for all the replies, really helpful.

Have decided to pass up the previous gen RS6’s (C7) because the platform and tech feels a bit too dated for me now - consider that the C7 platform was likely being designed at least as early as 2011, barely 4 years after the iPhone was first released. Current gen RS6’s are crazy money although I personally think it’s the best looking car by a mile.

The rear bench space is a factor where three kids are concerned, especially when 2 will need boosters to sit on…
M5 the better option then as the RS4 is going to be a squeeze, and they'll only get bigger. smile

How about a 2018 E63S Touring? More modern inside than the RS6.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202032...
+1 for the E63
+2 for the E63

Technoholic

490 posts

67 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
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I think the M5 is a more fair comparison to the RS6 than the RS4. I haven't experienced the RS4 to drive but I'm currently waiting for my C8 RS6 to arrive. If the M5 came as a tourer, it would be a very difficult decision between the two.

I think outside the boot size issue, they are both very similar. Objectively, the M5 is the better car, it's faster, sharper and more of a driving tool. But for me, that's not what I want out of my daily car, so I picked the RS6, which is 99% as fast as the M5, not that the extra 0.3s to 60 would even be noticeable on the road. It's got more midrange punch in my opinion which actually helps on the road. Most importantly it rides so much better than the M5 for daily driving, it's supple and smooth whereas the M5 is harder and more direct. That's a good thing in a lot of cases but not for me in a daily.

In short, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the cars in this segment, but it's just down to what type of driving you want to do - M5 is hard edged, E63 is other end of the scale (though still a weapon) and the RS6 is somewhere in between

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
If I could jump into a C8 RS6 at this price point I would almost certainly take that option but they are out of my budget.

Will take a look at the Merc as hadn’t really considered it until now.

My most enjoyable car to date was my F82 M4 Comp. Whilst not quite practical enough as my daily, I think I need to land on something that gets me closer to that experience but with enough practicality for the family, enough civility for the missus to drive now and again, and with enough pace and handling to make the B road drive home enjoyable. So basically the perfect all-rounder. The M3 Touring might be perfect but it’s a long way off and, again, unlikely to meet my budget for a while yet.


SWoll

18,512 posts

259 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
Ref the E63S, this is probably worth a watch. Dynamically better than the RS6 apparently.



A massive step forward and a very complete car according to Mr Harris.

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
Awesome. Not sure how my wife and the neighbours will feel about the “Stuttgart flatulence” but sounds tremendous!

Pixelpeep 135

8,600 posts

143 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
Ted_Striker said:
Awesome. Not sure how my wife and the neighbours will feel about the “Stuttgart flatulence” but sounds tremendous!
looks like you picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue.

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
Surely you can’t be serious!? biggrin

Ted_Striker

Original Poster:

12 posts

25 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
If I could jump into a C8 RS6 at this price point I would almost certainly take that option but they are out of my budget.

Will take a look at the Merc as hadn’t really considered it until now.

My most enjoyable car to date was my F82 M4 Comp. Whilst not quite practical enough as my daily, I think I need to land on something that gets me closer to that experience but with enough practicality for the family, enough civility for the missus to drive now and again, and with enough pace and handling to make the B road drive home enjoyable. So basically the perfect all-rounder. The M3 Touring might be perfect but it’s a long way off and, again, unlikely to meet my budget for a while yet.