Let the record reflect that Guibo didn't call Deckhook a pussy outright. He merely suggested that he could be one based on his experience as recounted.
Also let the record reflect that Deckhood
did call me stupid outright.
Deckhook, if you're going to take exception to
perceived flaming, I suggest you not start deliberately flaming others first. Otherwise, expect to be treated in kind, especially when the fantastical claims you've interjected into this thread seem to be unsupported by known independent testing bodies, who in fact have shown the opposite: that the M3 is faster in handling than the RS5 (let alone this magical S5 that you claim to own).
Now, back to the subject of testing vs what happens on the road...
On a flat skidpad or figure-8 course with no other obstacles around, a nose-heavy AWD car can be thrown around with no risk to life and limb and if it starts to understeer wildly, one can back off the throttle for it to regain the line. Out on a public winding road with bumps, undulations, or downhill gradients that can exacerbate an already heavily front-biased weight distribution, you simply have less margin to regain the line due to the fact that there may be guardrails, cyclists, other motorists, trees, curbing, etc. It is not hard to imagine that certain combinations of surface and gradient might very well push the A6 into a sense of wooliness it would not otherwise exhibit in more controlled conditions, making it feel larger than it is. Here is where a car that gives you better feel, weighs over 200 lbs less with less of it on the nose, and is more receptive to throttle inputs can be just as fast if not faster. It can
feel smaller than it is. You cannot know that it will be slower here, but that is not the point that MT were making (and indeed, they already played up the speed of the A6). They were talking not just about composure (not speed), but also about the higher levels of involvement.
Now, you might say that hammering these cars hard on twisty mountain roads is not entirely the point of owning such cars, and I could agree that is a point of contention against this test. But I think the point you raised about one car "showing a clean pair of heels" to another is even
less relevant to the ownership experience as it's pretty bloody unlikely a GS F-Sport driver is just going to happen to come upon any of these other 3 cars at just the right point during his drive. Interesting how when it's a comparison involving a Jaguar, the speed is never an issue for you yet the ride and and feel of the car is paramount. Suddenly now in this test where the Audi is fastest and not as involving as others, you cry foul.
But some (not you) just need to stop imposing their opinions on others.
