OT: What's the fastest/best handling/best looking car with 4 doors?
06-06-2008, 12:39 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
Based on my experience with my new ckl63AMG Black Series, I would look closely at its 4 door brother, the C63AMG. The car may be somewhat smaller than ideal for you, but it will have horsepower, torque, handling, comfort, lots of gears, rock-like solidness, and reliability. It will also burn donuts at will. Compared to the price of the 2 door clone, it is also a huge bargain. AS
06-06-2008, 06:52 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
I just bought the new M3 sedan. I was cross shopping the M5. Both have about the same acceleration but the M3 has twice the handling (because it's lighter) and much better gas mileage.
06-06-2008, 06:54 PM
#18
Rennlist Member
It's as small as an M3, so you will probably write it off, but many enthusiasts and journalists agree that the RS4 is, by most accounts, the best-handling, most fun-to-drive 4-door sedan available. If you were able to wait 2 years for the new model, you would have a car that would drive even better and have a significantly roomier interior. If size is as important as you say, the Maserati is supposed to be great for it's size - more so than the m5 and E63.
I just went from an S4 to the new M3. I crossed shopped the M3 and Rs4 and the M3 beats it in acceraltion, braking and handling. The RS4 has a lot more understeer than the M3.
06-07-2008, 01:49 AM
#19
Rennlist Member
The problem with the M3 is absence of torque. That meams "great on the track" and "sucks on the street". There is no, let me say that again, no, replacement for cubic inches. Nobody would want F1 performance in a daily driver, because nobody wants to cruise at 16,000rpm. What makes a car feel fast on the street is "power when you want it", and that is power at the bottom end of the rev range. That type of power only comes with displacement.. Sometimes magazine reviews are like movie reviews. i wouldn't cross the street to see a Bergman movie, and I wouldn't buy a low torque street car. AS
06-07-2008, 10:09 AM
#20
Rennlist Member
The problem with the M3 is absence of torque. That meams "great on the track" and "sucks on the street". There is no, let me say that again, no, replacement for cubic inches. Nobody would want F1 performance in a daily driver, because nobody wants to cruise at 16,000rpm. What makes a car feel fast on the street is "power when you want it", and that is power at the bottom end of the rev range. That type of power only comes with displacement.. Sometimes magazine reviews are like movie reviews. i wouldn't cross the street to see a Bergman movie, and I wouldn't buy a low torque street car. AS
06-07-2008, 10:27 AM
#21
Three Wheelin'
Back to Back the C63 Smashes the M3.
Same horsepower, however the C63 has 600 Torq's.
It's an animal!!
Same horsepower, however the C63 has 600 Torq's.
It's an animal!!
06-07-2008, 08:09 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
With a Boxster, 996tt and CLK Black Series waiting for my choice daily, the BS gets the nod consistently. At the price, I don't see how you go wrong with a C63, unless you think you can get one with 5,000 miles for $12,000 less. With MB depreciation, you probably can, so waiting might be reasonable. AS
06-07-2008, 10:08 PM
#23
Three Wheelin'
Here Here!!
I drove the new M3 last week and from 2000 - 5000 rpm the car was weak, from 5000 - 8000 rpm it did start to boogie.
Not my cup of tea at all, who wants to ring the guts out of a car each and everytime you drive it?? Not me...
After I drove the M3, I jumped into the 335I and although it ran out of legs in the end of the top rev range, it was a much more driveable car on the street.
Let's not forget, the C63 is cheaper than the M3 as well.
I drove the new M3 last week and from 2000 - 5000 rpm the car was weak, from 5000 - 8000 rpm it did start to boogie.
Not my cup of tea at all, who wants to ring the guts out of a car each and everytime you drive it?? Not me...
After I drove the M3, I jumped into the 335I and although it ran out of legs in the end of the top rev range, it was a much more driveable car on the street.
Let's not forget, the C63 is cheaper than the M3 as well.
06-10-2008, 04:09 PM
#25
Still plays with cars.
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
M3, Lexus - yawn. The Audi S6 with the v10 engine tops them all in my book. Neither the M3 nor the Lexus are real 4 passenger cars. The Audi is a decent size car with power and handling and the engine sounds soooo nice.
06-16-2008, 05:07 PM
#27
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Lexus IS F +1
06-16-2008, 06:17 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
One of the mags we probably all subscribe to (Autoweek, I think) has loved their long term tester S6. Seems like a great car for a 4 door daily driver, especially if the roads get a little slick.
06-21-2008, 06:32 PM
#29
Pro
Thread Starter
Excellent discussion.
I needed AWD, so that limits my choices. In the world of AWD cars, I found the best bang for the buck to be the 335xi (it's bigger inside than I originally thought-- the 3 series has really grown over the years). This cae handles great, 300 hp, 0-60 in slightly over 5 secs, and the price-- fully loaded with M aerodynamic kit (air damns and side panels)-- comes in at about $50k. The S6 is about $30k more (albeit a bigger car) and the S8 is double the price. The 535xi has same engine but is a few hundred pounds heavier, so perfomance suffers. So, that's where I ended up. GBG
I needed AWD, so that limits my choices. In the world of AWD cars, I found the best bang for the buck to be the 335xi (it's bigger inside than I originally thought-- the 3 series has really grown over the years). This cae handles great, 300 hp, 0-60 in slightly over 5 secs, and the price-- fully loaded with M aerodynamic kit (air damns and side panels)-- comes in at about $50k. The S6 is about $30k more (albeit a bigger car) and the S8 is double the price. The 535xi has same engine but is a few hundred pounds heavier, so perfomance suffers. So, that's where I ended up. GBG
06-21-2008, 11:42 PM
#30
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I'm biased but I like my M5 (gratuitous picture follows 
)
I don't drive it in the winter so AWD is not an issue for me (I have other cars for doing the dirty work) or the Audi S8 might have been a consideration. But having driven both the S8 does not have the same performance envelope as the M5. The major downside for me is the M5s ridiculously small gas tank (cruising range is pathetic) and its weight. But for hauling 4 adults around in supreme comfort and safety without sacrificing nimble handling and robust acceleration, there are few 4 door sedans I would take in its place. It never fails to put a smile on my face (or its other occupants). And did I mention the incredible 7-speed SMG? The SMG makes that high revving V10 come to life (the 6-speed manual does not come close to extracting the V10s potential).
At any rate it is fun to talk about any of the cars of this caliber; it always comes back to personal preference. Have fun shopping
)I don't drive it in the winter so AWD is not an issue for me (I have other cars for doing the dirty work) or the Audi S8 might have been a consideration. But having driven both the S8 does not have the same performance envelope as the M5. The major downside for me is the M5s ridiculously small gas tank (cruising range is pathetic) and its weight. But for hauling 4 adults around in supreme comfort and safety without sacrificing nimble handling and robust acceleration, there are few 4 door sedans I would take in its place. It never fails to put a smile on my face (or its other occupants). And did I mention the incredible 7-speed SMG? The SMG makes that high revving V10 come to life (the 6-speed manual does not come close to extracting the V10s potential).
At any rate it is fun to talk about any of the cars of this caliber; it always comes back to personal preference. Have fun shopping
