No, your car looks like a jellybean... (archive)

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In Reply to: What amazes me... posted by TTMan on September 27, 1999 at 23:06:37:

: Is that people on some of these forums are constantly knocking the S4 for weighing 3600 lbs., and the new M3 is supposed to be the same weight or slightly less. True, the S4 may only have 250hp, but even with that 'low' bhp number, it's cutting dangerously close to the E36 M3 performance-wise. Call up TAP and get one of their varying stages of chips, and you may be able to beat the E46 M3 for a whole lot less. I've seen the projected price for the E46 listed as anywhere from $50,000-$57,000. Ummm...why pay $8k more than an S4? With that $8k, you could have TAP do a sport turbo upgrade, H&R coilovers, and upgrade the brakes. If you don't like the S4's supposedly 'jellybean' looks, call up 1552 Design and take a look at the A!Avant Garde bodykits. And if you need more room than either the S4 or the M3 offer, consider the A6 2.7T. It's only $1,300 more than an S4.

: Guys, just face the fact that BMW is actually going to have to face some competition for once. Why gripe? Both companies are going to be engaging in a horsepower war, and we can only benefit. BTW, have you guys heard of the RS4? A quattro wagon with 380 bhp. THAT sound like fun.

Nowhere have I seen that the M3 will be as much as $57k. The modification argument is stupid. I could buy a Trans Am and supercharge it and blow the doors of both cars. So what. The S4 should be exceeding the current M3 in performance but it is not. The E46 will come from the factory with less weight than the S4 and 100 more horsepower. That justifies some price differential. Also, if you prefer driving normally aspirted cars, the M3 will be the obvious choice. If the new M3 is consistent with the new M5, the handling limits should far exceed the S4.

I agree that the competition is good for both companies. I don't think Audi will ever sell the RS4 in this country. Question: why can't Audi build a 3.5 liter 340hp engine without turbocharging? I don't believe that BMW has some secret formula. I just think that bigger turbos and more boost isn't really progress in engine development.

I like Audis but I think the S4 should have gone after the new M3, not the E36. Maybe the next generation S4 will have that 380hp engine in it.

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