Vs Motor Magazine: Audi S4 vs BMW 335i vs. Ford FPV F6

[Ozzie Bone]

Hi All.

A post from Down Under that may be of interest.

Motor Magazine (August 2009 edition) recently compared Audi S4, BMW 335i (RWD) and a Ford FPV F6 (Australian built car).

Transmissions: Audi - 7 speed DCT; BMW 6 speed auto and Ford 6 speed auto.

Results:

0-100kph – Audi (5.08), BMW (5.58) and Ford (5.31)
400m – Audi (13.24), BMW (13.77) and Ford (13.31)
80-120kph - Audi (3.1), BMW (3.5) and Ford (2.7)
100kph-0 - Audi (34.36m), BMW (37.12m) and Ford (39.06m)

Test conditions:

Location (Wakefield Park, Australia)
Elevation (652m)
Weather (cool and dry)
Surface (firm and smooth)

Racetrack results (2.2km) – Wakefield Park:

Audi (1.09.7), BMW (1.11.3) and Ford (1.10.9)

Other notable Wakefield Park track results:

BMW M3 M-DCT coupe (1.07.80)
Mercedes SL63 AMG (1.08.10)
BMW M3 M-DCT sedan (1.09)
Audi TTS coupe (1.09.3)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (1.09.3)

Comments:

The S4 won the trial by quite a large margin. “The last S4 was so far off where it should’ve been that the wonderful RS4 felt like a completely different car. Now, the all new S4 is so bloody impressive, its almost too painful to imagine just how great the next RS4 could be …when Audi’s sporting arm finally lets it lose.”

And by the way, I have decided to purchase the new S4 and eagerly awaiting delivery!

 

[greg964]

Can you scan and post it here?

 

[Sayyaaf]

Ohh my god. I am impressed by Audis numbers. topped the Beemer in all categories.

 

[Zafiro]

What can BMW do about this?
First the 335i is underpowered compare to S4, BMW offer a power package for 335i which give you 325 hp instead of 306hp so in straightline it would be closer with the PP.
But on the track the 335i will remain last forever, as long as BMW wont equip the 335i with a diff(LSD) the S4 will be the better tracktool. BMW think to much of the M3 therefore they are afraid to give the 335i a proper LSD.

 

[Sayyaaf]

thats one thing Andereas, brakes are lousy too.

 

[Monster]

Welcome mate, it is always good to have more aussie members here !

 

[Zafiro]

thats one thing Andereas, brakes are lousy too.

I wouldnt say they are bad but not good as Audis though.
BMW offer other brakes for their performance package which are better than the standard ones. Unfortunately you need to pay extra to get them. LSD isn't even an option from BMW.

 

[NarutoRamen]

LSD isn't even an option from BMW.

And that's pretty retarded for a company that likes to be called "the ultimate driving machine."

 

[Ozzie Bone]

Greg 964

My scanner is not in good shape - but will try do do so.

Ozzie Bone

 

[Mr Robert]

And that's pretty retarded for a company that likes to be called "the ultimate driving machine."

They are on the fast track of loosing that title... I even have an LSD on my MINI... and I think my car is a better drivers car than the 335i.

 

[NarutoRamen]

They are on the fast track of loosing that title... I even have an LSD on my MINI... and I think my car is a better drivers car than the 335i.

I've never driven a mini or a 335i, so I'll take your word for it.

 

[ACE]

And by the way, I have decided to purchase the new S4 and eagerly awaiting delivery!

Welcome to GCF and the S4 owner's club. Thanks for posting the details of the article. I have a found a link to a scanned version of the article for anyone interested.

MotiveMag Forums: Audi S4 vs FPV F6 vs BMW 335 Sedan

I liked the Motor Magazine quote: "the S4 is an unexpected weapon in a straight line"
0-100km/h in 5.08 is a good test time for an S4 with DCT at 652m elevation. Motor Magazine also has great illustrations in the test showing acceleration times. They show a 4.28sec 0-90km/h (at 652m AMSL) and show in a separate illustration that the S4's 2nd gear max's out at 99km/h, i.e. 3rd is required for a true 0-100km/h run in the S-tronic S4. This should help convince some of the doubters of my 0-62mph (indicated, 0-90something in reality), 4.2 sec run on Youtube.

how great the next RS4 could be …when Audi’s sporting arm finally lets it lose.”

"lose" instead of "loose", that's one hilarious typo

The next sentence after that one sums it up for me: "Near M3/C63 levels of performance and track ability for tens of thousand of dollars less, dressed in arguably the stealthiest clothing of any Euro sports sedan."

 

[braaf]

I'd like to think that the Audi's quicker cos of it's 4 wheel drive and LSD, otherwise not much difference between the Audi and Beemer. I wouldn't even consider a Ford in this company.

 

[Mr Robert]

The next sentence after that one sums it up for me: "Near M3/C63 levels of performance and track ability for tens of thousand of dollars less, dressed in arguably the stealthiest clothing of any Euro sports sedan."

Near, but not close. It is firmly positioned between the 335i/C350 and the M3/C63, so one could just as well say that you get near S4 levels of performance and track ability with those cars.

 

[ACE]

Near, but not close. It is firmly positioned between the 335i/C350 and the M3/C63, so one could just as well say that you get near S4 levels of performance and track ability with those cars.

Do they have a different version of English is Sweden? "Near" and "close" mean exactly the same thing in the version of English that I know.

The M3 is the track ability performance benchmark for small family saloons and the C63 is probably the benchmark for straight line performance at the moment, so it makes sense to me for this magazine to compare where the S4 is in relation to them. Comparing where other cars are in relation to the S4 wouldn't be as useful, imo, but I accept your point.

 

[Mr Robert]

Do they have a different version of English is Sweden? "Near" and "close" mean exactly the same thing in the version of English that I know.

Haha, no different version of English, not that I know of. Sorry for that. I really thaught "near" meant not as close as "close". Silly me

However, one interesting word is "superior" that mean both "just better" (bättre) and also "far superior" (överlägsen).

 

[DaSilva]

Hi All.

Comments:

The S4 won the trial by quite a large margin. “The last S4 was so far off where it should’ve been that the wonderful RS4 felt like a completely different car. Now, the all new S4 is so bloody impressive, its almost too painful to imagine just how great the next RS4 could be …when Audi’s sporting arm finally lets it lose.”

And by the way, I have decided to purchase the new S4 and eagerly awaiting delivery!

*
Hehe, Congratulations on the purchase & a very much welcome to GCF ...
But I am very curious about the color you've chosen ..
Best of luck

 

[Beemer B773ER]

I wouldn't even consider a Ford in this company.

Look past the badge.... you'll be pleasantly suprised with what some cars are capable of regardless of what brand name they have pasted on the front and back.

Try it some time.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Look past the badge.... you'll be pleasantly suprised with what some cars are capable of regardless of what brand name they have pasted on the front and back.

Try it some time.

Exactly. I'm glad someone said this.

 

[braaf]

Problem is I have driven a Ford on numerous occassions, and its really not a bad car at all when you compare it to cars in it's class. But like I said in this company. I'm sorry if I'm hurting any one's feelings but Ford, VW and the like run with this crowd, and for that reason the badge does make a differrence.