Test drove the new M3 and S4

[luvdatbimmer]

I test drove the 2004 BMW M3 Coupe with SMG and the 2004 Audi S4 in manual, in which I'm debating with one I should get.

S4- I took this car for a test drive a few days before I test drove the M3, and must I say it was an awesome ride!!! We had a full load ( 4 people) car even though there is no room in the back for any sized person. The weather was perfect for test driving an awd car. It was sleeting, raining and snowing. The car had very crisp shifts, and was very fast. I didn't skid even when I floored it into second around a turn around. I was very impressed with it overall!!!

M3- Now this car was a lot of fun to drive!!! I put it in the most aggressive mode to see what this baby can do, and it sure lived up to the hype!!! I got up to 90mph on the highway in no time, and it was begging for me to go faster!! The ride was very harsh because of the program I had it set in, but tolerabe for a short drive. The the M3's excellent handling was just as much fun as taking this car on the highway!!!! Especially around turns this car sticked to the ground!!! The braking is excellent too, and I felt very save in this car because of it. This was deffanitly the second most fun car I have driven in, besides the Aston Martin DB7 is test drove 2 years ago.

Conclusion;

All in all the S4 is more practical for the Chicago weather that I have to deal with. But I just think the M3 is such a fun to drive car that it hooked me in and I had to have it! So if you have a back up suv for the Winter climates then I deffanitly suggest the M3. If not, get the S4 because it had such incredible grip in the crappy weather, in which I felt even safer in it then the 2 suv's I own. Think of what the S4 with all terrain tires can accomplish for bad weather, because it had performance tires on!! But there was just a magical conncetion with me and the M3. I'm sure you all feel the same way. Now I just have to suffer waiting until March until my 2004 M3 Convertible comes in.

 

[Tom]

Pretty good review and I fully agree. I have an A4 and it suits me fine for most practical solutions, but when it comes down to it, you can't beat the M3's look and performance.

 

[MrElussive]

Wait, so you decided on the M3, then?? It sounds like you really want the M3 more...just get the M3 and get Dunlop Winter Sport M3's or Blizzak LM-22's (snow tires) for the winter. They should be able to get you around the Chicago whether while offering adequate performance for the spirited driving.

 

[luvdatbimmer]

Actuallty "MrElussive," I would get the Audi S4 if I didn't have 3 awd rides already. I'm selling my 2000 Trans Am, WS6 for the M3. I crave RWD!!!

 

[Militant-Grunt]

hmm awesome, this weekend im going to test drive a 2004 m3 and If they have one im going to try the m5 !!

 

[Average Jae]

so the question is manual or smg??

 

[sarahj12]

I have only driven an E46 M3 and and E36 M3, both SMG

The SMG is very fun to use, except it's a little difficult to change gears going around 90 degree corners eg. a T-intersection.

The SMG in the E36 however is quite disappointing; there is noticeable loss of power during gear changes.

 

[Average Jae]

wouldn't you downshift before the turn? just as you would heel-toe before getting into the turn?