Teutonic Trio - BMW M3 E46 vs. Audi S4 B6 vs. Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG W203 - The Oppo/Forza Comparison

"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
04/03/2018 at 11:00 • Filed to: Oppo Review, Forza Review, Forza 7, BMW M3, Audi S4, Mercedes AMG C32

I was going to have a better picture here, but it didn’t work out.

Since the dawn of the new millennium, in the luxury game, one name has certainly stayed king: BMW. Their non-stop dedication to balancing well-equipped cars with a pursuit to be the, “ultimate driving machine,” as their ads say, has made them the favorite amongst many buyers, and even though the latest 7 Series and 5 Series may make us question their design choices, we can’t help but love them ourselves. However, it seems to be that most luxury automakers have said, “Enough,” and are really chasing down that roundel and they’re hitting hard, too. So, that’s why we gathered two of Germany’s other finest in a three-way match with the BMW M3 to see if maybe BMW isn’t all its cracked up to be. M3, meet the S4 and the C32.

3. Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG

Pros: Mini-S-Class looks, attractive package overall, highest power in the class. Cons: Handles like a pig, interior fittings aren’t quite up to snuff, price is way too high. Price: $50,400 base.

While all three brands here have certainly been chasing down the crown in the sports sedan segment, Mercedes-Benz’s efforts mostly feel rather recent in comparison to the other two. While their AMG brand is most-certainly not a new thing, for the largest part of the 20th century they were reduced to aftermarket tuning of Mercedes’ finest models. It wasn’t until just a few years ago when Mercedes officially slapped an AMG badge on a tuned C-Class and sold it through dealers. The old C36 was a cracking car, and now we’re onto the latest generation, coded W203, the C32.

The C32, on the surface, looks no different than any bargain basic C-Class, which means that AMG certainly has the sleeper aesthetic done right. It sports the baby S-Class looks that we loved while testing a C320 back in ‘00, as well as the smart-looking interior that looks about $20k more than it feels. Heads will certainly turn if you drive one of these down the street, and mere Kia Sephias and Toyota Corollas will bow out of your way when you belt down the highway.

And belt down a highway it most certainly can do. Powering the C32 is a supercharged 3.2-liter V6, sporting 350 bhp and 332 lb ft of torque, mated to a five-speed automatic. The use of an automatic is quite solemn, but it’s nothing new for AMG, and it does sprint the car from 0-60 in approximately 5 seconds which is nothing to scoff at at all. But while the Mercedes may be the fastest in a straight line, it dips severely when you come to a corner.

There’s two modes to the C32. If you turn traction off, it will slide around corners like crazy, leaving a powerful trail of smoke in its wake. If you turn it on, it will plow into corners as if the front wheels straight up refuse to turn. This creates quite a headache, as either way makes you feel sickening like you’re driving a car that’s 5x the size and 3x the weight, even though you know you aren’t. This is due to the fact that the C32 is basically structured the same way as a base C-Class, it features an architecture that doesn’t really support such power going to the wheels. It also doesn’t help that the Mercedes only offers an optional limited-slip diff, which of course our car did not have. Basically, handling is no bueno.

Honestly, such imbalance just makes this car not worth its $50k, and couple that with the rather weak build quality than what Mercedes is known for, the C32 becomes a bit of a sour buy. It definitely receives the 3rd place pick here, even though all it would take was a bit of a re-work to get it back up the ranks. It’s weird when you expect better out of Cadillac’s upcoming CTS-V than what you’ve got out of a Mercedes.

2. Audi S4

Pros: Conservative, yet attractive looks overall, cracking quattro system. Cons: [crayola smell inensifies] Price: $46,650 base.

The S4 has been Audi’s answer to everything involving an M badge for just over a decade now. The original S4 wasn’t quite what it is today, being basically a trim level on the Audi 100, later named the S6 when the 100 became the A6. It was powered by a choice of either Audi’s 2.2L Inline-5 or a 4.2L V8. It wasn’t until the actual Audi A4 debuted in 1997 that the S4 as we know it today arrived, a small, performance sedan featuring all of Audi’s best technology, the car that cemented the S4 as Audi’s best selling performance model.

Audi’s latest S4, which was revealed just last year, is a completely different thoroughbred all around. It’s smarter, sleeker, and feels far more professional and up to the job than the generation before. Audi seems to be keen on capitalizing on this new era of “Vorsprung Durch Technik,” as along with the sedan and Avant (wagon) models, they’ve added a convertible to the mix, basically to create an S4 for everyone.

Audi certainly talks a big game, but all this supposed complete reworking only really comes into view when you get the S4 on the track. It feels far more complete and intuitive than the previous generation, far more balanced. Cornering is flat with only a slight tinge of that infamous quattro understeer. You can competently flick the S4 around a track in solemn comfort and not have to worry about meeting a wall, which is certainly an improvement.

Also an improvement is the powertrain: gone is the 2.7L twin-turbo V6, replaced by a new, healthy version of Audi’s 4.2L V8, producing 339 bhp to all four wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission, the only manual we were blessed with today, with a 6-speed automatic available for those who want something more on the comfortable side. All this together sprints the S4 to 60 faster than 5 seconds, making it quicker than the C32 and about on par with the BMW. Nothing to scoff at indeed.

Upon your first drive in the S4, it becomes hard to really justify only putting it in second place until you really look at some of the details. The interior, while smart and quite handsome, does suffer from some dodgy Volkswagen quality issues, and there is that small nibble of long-term reliability that we could be considered, “worried,” about. But the S4 is definitely a wise choice to consider if you’re not too affected by those basic complaints. For the price, you couldn’t get a better all around package.

1. BMW M3

Pros: Great looks, beautiful balance, gorgeous sound. Cons: SMG gearbox is a little lame. Price: $47,100 base

It also becomes quite clear why the S4 is in second when you get behind the wheel of the undisputed king of the small sports sedan market, the BMW M3. We’re coming into the third year of this generation of the M3, and it’s still smiles for miles, no matter if you get the coupe or the convertible version.

We’ve covered the M3 time and time again, so we’ll only go over a small rundown as to why it is near automotive perfection. On the outside, it’s familiar, but it’s still attractive, clean, and head-turning no matter who you ask. It looks good both cruising down a street at night and hitting the corkscrew at 120 on Laguna Seca.

If you had to rank the C32 and the S4 as ranging from, “Completely unbalanced,” to, “Nearly in the middle,” the M3 is definitely right at the edge of balanced in corners. The FR architecture, coupled with the beautiful suspension work done by BMW’s M position provides such a well-sought out distribution of weight and power that makes cornering such a breeze. You can simply flick the M3 through corners with such great response, any driver can feel nearly professional behind the wheel.

Helping the car along is a tried and true variant of BMW’s famous I6 line, producing 333 bhp to the rear wheels through either a 6-speed manual or BMW’s SMG sequential manual gearbox, which our car was equipped with. While it is a smart transmission, we would much rather prefer a proper manual for extra enjoyment. But even a strange and odd transmission can’t ruin the fun the M3 provides.

When you drive the M3, everything becomes perfectly clear when it comes to this segment. It is the purest of definitions of, “Ultimate Driving Machine,” which explains why it’s the leader in sales, and the favorite of so many enthusiasts around the world. BMW knows exactly what they’re doing, and even though some brands might give their best shots, it’s undoubted that the roundel will hold the crown for a long time, and it provides us with a lot of hope for the future.

DISCUSSION (15)

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 11:03

I approve of first place, but jkm might send you to gulag for second place.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
04/03/2018 at 11:04

It’s not my fault the C32 is dogs**t.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 11:06

Oh no, I mean about the S4 not being first.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 11:15

I think the M3 is in a different class than the S4, Car and Driver pitted the S4 against a 330xi.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
04/03/2018 at 11:19

It’s got similar power and features to the M3, I say it goes with the M3.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
04/03/2018 at 11:21

It’s not my fault the M3 is better.

S65 > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 11:34

You should compare a NSX and a 355 or 348 next, if they’re in Forza 7

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > S65
04/03/2018 at 11:42

*Hoovie intensifies*

Kinja'd!!!

Discerning > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 11:57

The battle of the wallet crushers. Do you want to have all of your electrics fail, replace a timing chain in the back of an engine, or repair your rear sub-frame and replace your rod bearings.

There must be an option 4. I’d rather replace all the suspension bushings and strengthen the rear diff in a rattle trap V1 than deal with any of those cars.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Discerning
04/03/2018 at 12:07

This was written from the point of view of 2004, with the excuse that the CTS-V wasn’t really available yet.

The real reason is that the V1 isn’t in Forza 7.

Discerning > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 12:11

The complete absence of a V1 is somewhat sad when you consider all the cars they have and that Forza has had the car in the past. Guess it wasn’t popular enough with the kids. What do they know anyway?

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Discerning
04/03/2018 at 12:15

Turn 10 doesn’t really care about Cadillac it seems, because the new Vs handle like ass, the Escalade is in dire need of an update, and no one really wanted a limo yet here it is.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 12:20

The Cadillac shifts on a geological timescale in 7 compared to every previous game and also bucks like an angry horse when you do shift.

The ATS-V gear change motion is for a paddle shift one when it’s a manual modelled in game.

The CTS-V is forgettable.

The limo is pointless.

Discerning > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
04/03/2018 at 12:25

That’s disappointing to hear. I enjoyed using the V2 in F6 on occasion.

Still haven’t pulled the trigger on F7, but I don’t exactly have time to play anyway.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Discerning
04/03/2018 at 12:26

The V2 is still there and is probably the best Cadillac in the game.

Don’t. It’s really not worth it. I’m switching to PS4 soon.