C&D: Audi S6 vs BMW M5 (M/T) vs Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

[cawimmer430]

Guess who won?

Hint: NOT THE BMW M5 

[Catman]

Nice.  Does anyone think the BMW's interior looks like crap?  Love the S6 but I think Audi should make it look a little more aggressive like the S4.

[Submariner]

The E-63 PwNz you all. 

[Lebowski]

I still think I'd choose the M5 out of this bunch. 

[saxonyron]

I can't get that grin off my face!? In a troll-like way, I'm calling this an Audi win ? - $19,000 less, 80 or so HP less, and only missed first by a hair?? Switch the bogus "gotta have it" factor around, and it wins!? (Hell, in my case, I "gotta have" the S6, so the MB wouldn't get all 5 points for me!)

I do agree that I wish Audi would make the S6 even more aggressive - the front end could use a little more RS4-like? fascia work, but knowing the guys at Audi, they revel in the fact that this is the ueber-sleeper sedan.? All that for a piddling $36k more than my $36k car.? Hmmm, better start working on that Brinks truck hit job.

[pommes-t]

To me all 3 cars are very appealing. The M5 is the 4-door serious sportscar. You can hammer it over any racetrack and have a lot of fun. IMO it doesn't really compete with the other cars. More the Alpina B5! ( )

The E serious is a very quick, but still comfortable ride. Also nice, but in a different way.

The Audi is something in between I'd guess. But it'S not that brutal. It'S time for Audi to release the RS6... 

[dazzleman]

Nice.? Does anyone think the BMW's interior looks like crap?? Love the S6 but I think Audi should make it look a little more aggressive like the S4.

Greg, I remember when you went for a ride in my car back in April, you said the interior looked at lot better in person than in the pictures you'd seen.

The M-5 interior is a lot like my interior, minus the wood grain and with a different steering wheel.? Maybe it just doesn't photograph well.

Interesting article.? I'm flirting with the idea of an Audi S-4 as a 'toy' second car, but I probably won't do it, because it's hard to justify the expense of a second car when I'm only putting 8,000 miles per year on the car I have.

As far as those three cars, I'd take any one of them...

[cawimmer430]

What surprised me was that they said the E-Class had the "best fit and finish". I usually give props to Audi for having the best interiors in this class. But hey, if C&D says so, it must be right. The Benz owns you all. 

[JYODER240]

I'd take the E63 out of these 3. Hopefully I can convince my dad to get one

[850CSi]

The 5's interior is just brutally ugly in light colors. Why the hell would BMW not allow you to switch off DSC? It's just insane - There's no way I'd ever buy a 6MT M5.

Gimme an E63.

[Lebowski]

The M-5 interior is a lot like my interior, minus the wood grain and with a different steering wheel.? Maybe it just doesn't photograph well.

My boss just got an M5, I think the interior looks pretty good in person.

If you do end up getting a 'toy' 2nd car, why not a 2 seater?

[JYODER240]

Greg, I remember when you went for a ride in my car back in April, you said the interior looked at lot better in person than in the pictures you'd seen.

The M-5 interior is a lot like my interior, minus the wood grain and with a different steering wheel.? Maybe it just doesn't photograph well.

Interesting article.? I'm flirting with the idea of an Audi S-4 as a 'toy' second car, but I probably won't do it, because it's hard to justify the expense of a second car when I'm only putting 8,000 miles per year on the car I have.

As far as those three cars, I'd take any one of them...

Screw an S4 as a toy car thats a daily driver! How about a slightly used Boxster S

[the Teuton]

I'm boycotting the whole comparo.  Stick in a Dinan E39 M5 instead of the E60 and I'm sure the results would have ended up differently  .

[dazzleman]

My boss just got an M5, I think the interior looks pretty good in person.

If you do end up getting a 'toy' 2nd car, why not a 2 seater?

That's probably a good idea.  Just throwing some ideas around.  What do you suggest specifically, in addition to the obvious choice?

[cawimmer430]

Just so you guys know, I'd take an Infiniti G35 over these Krautboxes. 

[Andaluz]

Audi S6: Great Q car. Lots of power under a quiet and dignified body. But why only 435 Bhp?

BMW M5 (M/T): It's like selling the Z4 M Roadster with a Diesel engine; there ain't no point!

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG: It's an Iron fist in a Titanium glove. Shame about the fuel gauge.

[Lebowski]

That's probably a good idea.? Just throwing some ideas around.? What do you suggest specifically, in addition to the obvious choice?

Well my obvious recommendation would be a C6 since I love mine so much 

But generally speaking, as a 2nd car you can consider options that would be totally impractical.  Without knowing your price range, I'd throw out ideas like the Elise, S2000, and 911.  Even a Boxster wouldn't be bad (although I'm not a huge fan of the boxster).

Then there's the ultimate in completely impractical 2nd car "toys": The Ariel Atom. 

[Champ]

I just can't stand that the S6 doesn't look that much different than the A6.  Same with the S4/A4, they look too plain and common.

I guess around here everyone likes Audi and they start to just blend in, I don't even really notice the S4's anymore.

[Catman]

Greg, I remember when you went for a ride in my car back in April, you said the interior looked at lot better in person than in the pictures you'd seen.

The M-5 interior is a lot like my interior, minus the wood grain and with a different steering wheel.  Maybe it just doesn't photograph well.

Interesting article.  I'm flirting with the idea of an Audi S-4 as a 'toy' second car, but I probably won't do it, because it's hard to justify the expense of a second car when I'm only putting 8,000 miles per year on the car I have.

As far as those three cars, I'd take any one of them...

I was thinking the same.  I like the wood in your car.  My Aunt's 7 series is awesome too.  That picture here looks bad.  Maybe it's the black.

[Catman]

Audi S6: Great Q car. Lots of power under a quiet and dignified body. But why only 435 Bhp?

Yeah, the point of a V10?  Seems like 500hp should be the minimum in this class.

[Lebowski]

Yeah, the point of a V10?? Seems like 500hp should be the minimum in this class.

But the M5 has a measly 383 lb-ft of torque and that available only at 6100 RPM?

I've spawned pieces of shit with more than 383 lb-ft of torque, and IMO a sports sedan should have more available at the low end.?

[1 BAD 7]

I would take a 7-speed SMG M5 over all 3 of these cars .

Iam disappointed that BMW didnot develop a better 6-speed manual unit that could handle the V10 engines thrust with DSC off.  Anyways I had a feeling that the M5 might not be as good with the 6-speed manual as it is with the 7-speed SMG.  After all the M5/V10 was developed with 7-speed SMG in mind. It makes M5 what it is. Also to be honest on my recent drive of 2006 M5 7-speed SMG I was truly impressed with how blazingly fast the SMG tranny shifts in fastest manual settings. To me I would have it no other way.

Looking at the stats M5 is the lightest of the group with best weight dist%. Also in SMG version the M5 is as quick as the latest E63 AMG. Not to mention it is the best looking of the trio.  Specialy in that first pic of all 3 cars side by side from front view.


My second choice would be Audi thanks to its cheaper price and better looks. I dont know why but Benz is looking very dated to me. Even tho I love its monster AMG V8. 

[nickdrinkwater]

Not to mention it is the best looking of the trio.  Specialy in that first pic of all 3 cars side by side from front view.

I disagree.  For me the Bimmer is by far the ugliest.  The Audi however is very handsome.

[r0tor]

i've never been to fond of BMW interiors, but I did sit in a M5 last year at the NY autoshow and loved it as it was covered almost completely is scrumptious alcantara

[MrH]

Interesting comparison.  I'd definitely take the S6 over the other two.  It's fast enough for a sedan.  If I had the money for a car like that, I'd probably have a second weekend car for when I needed to go really fast.  The E-class never grew on me, and just looks dated now, and I can't say that I'm a fan of the 5-series at all.

[dazzleman]

I was thinking the same.? I like the wood in your car.? My Aunt's 7 series is awesome too.? That picture here looks bad.? Maybe it's the black.

I don't like the black.  Still, I suspect it looks better in person.

If I were to get an M-series, it would be an M-3.  First off, I can't afford an M-5.  Also, for a true sportscar, my rule is, the smaller the better.

That's also why I favor the S-4 over the S-6.

I never knew your aunt had a 7-series.  This is the one who drives you crazy when you try to plan a get-together? 

[omicron]

E63! How wonderful.

[VetteZ06]

Too bad. I think the E-Class is a very boring car in general. I don't think I'd ever plunk my money down on one.

I'd probably take the M5.

[TBR]

I haven't read it (I'll wait for my copy), but I agree with the order anyway. If I had that kind of dough I would get a real sports car and a real luxury sedan, not one car trying to do both.

[PuertoRico1978]

God damn it man, when you post pictures could you make sure that it doesn't have any advertisments for porn sites. I unsupectingly clicked on the C/D pictures and this came up: "Watch Me Get Naked
Nude Web Cam Girls Get Wild and Fun".  and also:  "Sexy videos: Watch hot girls have sex with their hot friends"

Let's just say I have an addiction and I have been trying really hard to avoid porn sites.  Seeing these ads made me go on a 4 hour late night porn binge again.