Audi S5 vs BMW M3
- Thread starter valkia
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
This is purely down to branding though - Audi decided to stick a seperate brand on the 'not quite top of the range' model whereas BMW did not. An Audi S5 is to an Audi A5 2.0TFSI what a 335i M Sport is to a 325i M Sport. To further confuse issues they always tend to have slightly, but never significantly, more power than the equivilent BMW.
The RS models are the elite.
[TW]Fox;24754358 said:
Isnt that the point. Audi has decided it needs 2 sub brands for their vehicles, an S and RS; and i agree its the RS which equates to the M3/5 etc.
However an S model Audi just isnt the same as a M-Sport trim level; thats what the S-Line is for.
I think it would be great if BMW had a sub brand for their top end "normal" model/engine combinations which you couldnt get on a 320d.
S5 for looks, M3 to drive
This is very true, the S5 is a stunning car to look out and they even sound great when just moving around at 5mph.
The M3 is not so bling and really needs opening up to make some good sounds.
Essentially if you want style, S5, if you want substance M3, but I think someone already said this.
If you want both, Porsche!
Would you say that's also in part due to the engine and exhaust combination of the E46 M3 vs the E92? To me the noise from the E46 is higher pitched and racy whereas the v8 in the newer grumbles along without the excitement and raspyness.
On that note I find it a bit sad when people change the E46 M3 exhaust for ones that are louder/deeper, that's just wrong. Eisenmann being the exception
This.
I have a colleague who's recently moved from an E46 M3 to an S5.
I know that the E46 most certainly is NOT the same as the E90 series, but some thoughts are valid.
Overall, he prefers the S5. His comments included his preference for the interior, the exterior looks and the much softer ride quality.
He did also comment on the engine noise, but that is probably more than rectified with the v8 in the E90 M3.
Hi all,
I'm the "guy" who is interested in the V8 power of the M3 or the S5. My old COD mate Valkia was helpful enough to start this topic. I have been reading your replies and it is interesting.
A.t.m. I'm up to my neck in work but ill get back later today about my motivations, or let's say desires to get one of these machines. I do thank you for your comments so far.
Cheers
Straycat
I'm the "guy" who is interested in the V8 power of the M3 or the S5. My old COD mate Valkia was helpful enough to start this topic. I have been reading your replies and it is interesting.
A.t.m. I'm up to my neck in work but ill get back later today about my motivations, or let's say desires to get one of these machines. I do thank you for your comments so far.
Cheers
Straycat
What is it fundamentally that's so different then?
Forget the badge for a bit.
In my view the only difference is that Audi gave the top end SLine it's own new name whereas BMW didn't bother.
The S5 is essentially an A5 4.2 S Line. It's not the bespoke machine an RS or M3 is.
Absolutely true what has been said about the S5 just being an A5 4.2 S line.
However even when you start putting an RS5 against an M3, the M3 always wins for pure driving pleasure. Obviously if you want a car for its amazing interior, sharp looks, noise etc then there are a few to choose from. You could throw in a C63 AMG into the mix and get insane noise, speed and handling with an interior to match
However even when you start putting an RS5 against an M3, the M3 always wins for pure driving pleasure. Obviously if you want a car for its amazing interior, sharp looks, noise etc then there are a few to choose from. You could throw in a C63 AMG into the mix and get insane noise, speed and handling with an interior to match
[TW]Fox;24755045 said:
i think you probably know every detail already and just want to argue the point of whether its bling vs fundamental. I dont really think thats the point. The point is that an S5 cant be easily confused with a 1.8 A5 unless you really couldnt care less about cars.
However a 320d coupe and a 335i coupe could easily be confused by anyone who doesnt know every detail. I could pull 2 ads from autotrader and you would be hard pushed to know which is which looking at the front 3/4 of the vehicle.
But as you got me thinking about it, and off the top of my head... seats, grilles, valance, mirrors, diffuser, interior general, clocks, thresholds, exhausts, quattro system, diff, suspension, brakes, colour choice, wheels.
id guess some of those arent S model specific, but without looking i dont know.
The quattro system is not exclusive to the s5, the grilles and diffuser are such a negligible difference (seen in person), Differential and suspension changes are options on the s5 and are available on other engine models as are the wheels.
Really based on exterior differences like a 335i the only real way most people could tell is the rear exhausts. Joe public wouldn't know an s5 from a 2.0 tfsi black edition from the front 3/4 either.
It's fairly easily to mistake an S-Line for an S5, though. Sure, a 1.8 base you won't mistake but then you won't mistake a 335i M Sport for a 320i SE either.
Some of that stuff is optional, some of it is clearly also present on the S-Line models (Quattro) and all it really does is confirm my point.
Audi simply gave the top end non-specialist model a bling name, BMW didn't.
If BMW had decided to call the 335i M Sport the 'M335i' then we'd likely not be having this discussion even though the differences would remian the same.
It's all about branding.
Well you can dodge, conflate, alter or misdirect the points as you like. All I'm saying is that the s5 is "special" and a 335i is not when compared to the normal cooking versions of the vehicle. This is due to the s5 spec being not available on an a5 that's all. Yes im sure some things are, but not all. A 320d m-sport looks absolutely identical to 335i m-sport, not just similar, but all but identical from what I can see. Maybe bmw should do something similar as it can't cost too much, as we agree that audi separated the s model out and bmw didn't. They separated it by giving it a list of standard fit stuff which isn't available on the a5.
I think you have high thresholds for what makes something different, or roundel spectacles. I mean its hardly going to have a completely different dash, bodshell, interior layout etc is it...
ID also argue that all the stuff I mentioned is optional on an a5. Be interested to see that a5 with all the things I listed out...
I think you have high thresholds for what makes something different, or roundel spectacles. I mean its hardly going to have a completely different dash, bodshell, interior layout etc is it...
ID also argue that all the stuff I mentioned is optional on an a5. Be interested to see that a5 with all the things I listed out...
In terms of driveway bling or actual driving experience? If the latter, then obviously you've driven neither a 320d nor a 335i. They are very, very different to drive.
Spec like pretty mirrors and 'S4' on the seats? So if BMW had embroidered 'M' logos onto the seats, given the 335i a different seat of wheels and a big wing or something to set it apart suddenly thats all it would take to make it special
It's not quite identical, the 335i has a different exhuast setup. I agree they are otherwise similar, but guess what, it's not like an S5 looks totally different to a 2.0TFSI S-Line is it?
Most people wouldn't know one was different to the other.
So, I re-iterate - The S5 is a 335i M Sport alternative, not an M3 alternative
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