quickersilver

Might you be so kind as to post a link to a car mag test (or a scanned sheet) where a Euro-spec M3 ran a 13.1 1/4 mile? The only online test I've seen for one is here:

http://www.bcw3design.com/m3/m3_32_perf.htm

As you can see, in this test, the Porsche 911, rated at 300HP, was 0.2 sec faster to 100 km/h (62 mph), and 0.4 sec faster to 160 km/h (100 mph).

Now, the _US-spec_ Porsche 911 (with 296 HP, only 4 less than the Euro version in this test) has been tested extensively by US car mags, and the fastest 1/4 time I've found for it is 13.4. If the M3 was 0.4 sec off of this, that would make it 13.8, a far cry from 13.1.

The 0-100 km/h time for the M3 in this test was exactly what www.bmw.de claimed for the car, 5.5 sec. They're claiming 5.2 for the E46 M3, which if true would probably put it in the mid 13's, with the US version coming in slightly behind that due to slightly lower power (330 vs 343)...<p>'00 S4
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quickersilver

<p>'00 S4
Silver/onyx
6-speed, convenience, Bose w/changer,
cold weather pkg, unchipped
Valentine One :-)

CraigB

<p><a href="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/a4main.htm">
<img SRC="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/cwb_ottosig.jpg" BORDER=0></a>

quickersilver

<p>'00 S4
Silver/onyx
6-speed, convenience, Bose w/changer,
cold weather pkg, unchipped
Valentine One :-)

CraigB

...the debate is futile. There will always be competition between Audi & BMW and it will always swing in favor of the other side every few years. This is good for us as consumers though, because they'll always be trying to top each other. Of course, it's not too good for my wallet. In a few years, we'll be debaating over whether the 600hp Audi RQS4 can beat the 622hp BMW M3Xi Sportwagon. 8^) BTW - my comment wasn't meant to sound as flamey as it did. Sorry.

CraigB
'99 M3 Coupe and...<p><a href="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/a4main.htm">
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quickersilver

<i> ...the debate is futile. There will always be competition between Audi & BMW and it will always swing in favor of the
other side every few years. This is good for us as consumers though, because they'll always be trying to top each
other. </i>

Yeah, I definitely agree. The next S4 should certainly be interesting...although, I do wonder about one thing: in Europe, the S4 is no match for the E36 M3 in acceleration, because the Euro version of the M3 came w/a 321-hp motor and a 6-speed. Audi obviously wasn't trying to match the car blow for blow, and were it not for the fact that BMW deprived their US E36 M3 customers of one gear and 80 HP, it would be a different story here as well.

So, I'm wondering if in the next generation, the S4 _will_ match (or, hopefully better :-) the E46 M3, or will it be a bit behind, but still better than the current gen?

<i> Of course, it's not too good for my wallet. In a few years, we'll be debaating over whether the 600hp Audi RQS4
can beat the 622hp BMW M3Xi Sportwagon. 8^) </i>

Yeah. :-)

<i>BTW - my comment wasn't meant to sound as flamey as it did. Sorry. </i>

Oh, no; it wasn't taken as such.

Happy motoring!<p>'00 S4
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Valentine One :-)

BM3car

Your points about the euro M are very good, but the data can be twisted many ways. You put it at 13.mid and I agree, but as in the case of M5, BMW= 5.3 quoted 1st then tested to 4.7 and 13.2-3 if you use this reasoning and E46 at 5.2, 1/4 times for M3 would be 13.1-.3... Playing with the data this is possible but im not counthing on it (at all)... 13.5 is where I would like to see it.

I cant wait for the car to be tested by someone else to see what they get and then all the comparos can be made. And as far as the next gen S4, you know its going to be a killer car, Audi as with BMW do not make their S (or M) cars worse from gen to gen. I would guess it to be 300-360 hp. GUESS...

NASA racer

...you’d make them different:

S4...low-end punch, nice comfortable compliant ride with good brakes and high ultimate handling limits...a refined high-performance sedan.

M3, skittish wanna-be racer for those who like that sort of ride. Peaky and sensitive like a ricer..uh mean racer. The prestige of owning the same thing as everyone else.

New M3, no match for equivalently priced corvette but the prestige of having paid alot for the honor of having your hat handed to you at every stoplight by “lesser” cars.

Of course I’m not biased or anything ;-P<p><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/carssmall4.jpg">
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quickersilver

<i> Your points about the euro M are very good, but the data can be twisted many
ways. You put it at 13.mid and I agree, but as in the case of M5, BMW= 5.3
quoted 1st then tested to 4.7 and 13.2-3 if you use this reasoning and E46 at
5.2, 1/4 times for M3 would be 13.1-.3... Playing with the data this is
possible but im not counthing on it (at all)... 13.5 is where I would like
to see it. </i>

I think that it'll probably be pretty close to the M5, probably coming in at
around 0.3-0.5 sec slower to the 1/4. Reason: the power/weight ratios, 7
torque:

M5 = 4024/394 = 10.21

M3 = 3350*/330 = 10.15

* used 330ci weight, since no official figures available. this figure is
actually 47 lbs. _lighter_ than the Euro-spec E36 M3 in the test I posted in my
first post...

Anyway, since p/w ratios will probably be about the same, and since the M5's
motor makes lots more torque down low (there is no substitute for cubic inches,
as they say), I'm figuring the 0.3-0.5 sec slower times I predicted above.

But, we'll see!

<i> I cant wait for the car to be tested by someone else to see what they get
and then all the comparos can be made.</i>

Yeah...we should start seeing test data in the car mags within the next few
months.

<i>And as far as the next gen S4, you know its going to be a killer car, Audi
as with BMW do not make their S (or M) cars worse from gen to gen. I would
guess it to be 300-360 hp. GUESS...</i>

I hope so.<p>'00 S4
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BM3car

340 or 335 I would guess. I would love to get a M5 but there is no way in he%% could i aford one now, and even if I could I think then it would be time to call for a 911 (or 25k in go-fast stuff for M3).
I hope someone gets their hands on one soon and tests it....