[E92TTKING]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

Is there something that you don't like about your 335xi or something? Why the switch?

I want more power. Simple as that. haha

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by footie

Having owned arguably BMW's finest steering car currently available the E92 M3 and now own the B8 S4 I can say that the difference between them isn't dramatic. Yes the S4 feels a bit lighter but neither offered anything one could remotely call genuine feel.

For what it's worth the S4 is probably one of Audi best awd cars, especially when combined with sportdiff and driven in a rally style it can be very entertaining and some genuine drift ability. But it's not real replacement for a good rwd car if that is what you are looking for, so probably a better option would be a used GTR or even Carrera 4S if your money can stretch this far.

BMW's steering is very very good...but its not as pure as even the Porsche Panamera, forget the 911 or Cayman. For a luxury barge, it has "purer" steering than the 3 series, I can't speak to the m3 though. On a sidenote, the steering is also so much better, faster, and more responsive on the panamera. diff price bracket though.


BMW's XDrive (I have a 335xi), is decent, but the DSC intervenes far too early, unlike Audi's quattro...which seems to be made to drift on snow. with DTC on they are about the same, Quattro having an edge.

I would think the Subaru STI is probably the car to look at here. DOn't be a hero and start buying up GTRs and Porsches...those things require big money to keep straight.

I did however find the S4's steering to lack feel that BMW had. Overall, there isn't much with 6MT and all wheel drive + luxury in this price bracket, only S4 and 335xi.

[Elie335]

S5/GTR

[footie]

Originally Posted by TheRox

BMW's steering is very very good...but

V Good in it's linear movement but it offers little more genuine feel than the Audi which was the point I was trying to make and this is the opinion of most roadtesters. What the Audi needs apart from extra feels is a bit better linearity of weight as you turn the wheel instead of how it is at the moment. Hopefully Porsche can help them with this.

P.S.
I agree with your comparison between quattro and x-drive, I reckon the reason why quattro doesn't engage the DSC/ESP as much is possibly the reaction speed of quattro compared to x-drive as it's proactive instead of reactive, maybe those extra milliseconds do make a difference after all.

[Tortfeasor 335xi]

Fastest AWD cars under 60k are used and hard to find. 996 TT X-50 and GT-R, as has been said already. These are really the only two that will make a ton of power as they are.

If you are only looking at new cars then its a toss up between 335xi, S5/S4, EVO and STI. The EVO and STI are more modifiable than the 335 or S cars. But it takes a lot of work on an STI or EVO to make X-50 or GT-R power. The STI especially will require a turbo swap.

I agree with the poster above who said it looks like you have some test drives to do to see what sort of car you like best.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by Nikkahtropolis

I'd get a B8 S4, no question.

[JIM E92]

Panamera Turbo. It's faster around the Top Gear track than a Lambo.

[SoFlo335]

Originally Posted by Nikkahtropolis

I'd get a B8 S4, no question.

333awhp/334awtq stock too. good amount of boltons available too, and chips are starting to come out (noticeably apr), plus there are actual aftermarket headers. with the headers and apr software on race gas, the car dynod 122whp over stock.

[footie]

Originally Posted by SoFlo335

333awhp/334awtq stock too. good amount of boltons available too, and chips are starting to come out (noticeably apr), plus there are actual aftermarket headers. with the headers and apr software on race gas, the car dynod 122whp over stock.

The real srprise is that even against an RS5 or M3 the S4 is left behind in a sprint race, even when stock. Yes it's a bit slower but not that much and with a moderate tune will be as quick if not quicker than the pair of them.

[SoFlo335]

Originally Posted by footie

The real srprise is that even against an RS5 or M3 the S4 is left behind in a sprint race, even when stock. Yes it's a bit slower but not that much and with a moderate tune will be as quick if not quicker than the pair of them.

Ive had a couple incomes with M3s (both friends) and we did 30mph rolls to about 100ish and its always a 1/4 car length win for me. I want to try a roll up to about 120 and see what the outcome will be. But low/mid speed, the s4 holds it own.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by JIM E92

Panamera Turbo. It's faster around the Top Gear track than a Lambo.

Someone can't read

[footie]

Originally Posted by SoFlo335

Ive had a couple incomes with M3s (both friends) and we did 30mph rolls to about 100ish and its always a 1/4 car length win for me. I want to try a roll up to about 120 and see what the outcome will be. But low/mid speed, the s4 holds it own.

I've tested both my M3 and S4Avant with my iPhone and up to the 1/4mile the difference it's that much but after this is where the M3 really gets into it's stride and will take the S4 with a tune to compete.

The surprise for me was that up to the 330m mark the S4 reached it first, admittedly normal roads instead of a sticky track.