I suspected this question might be coming, and here it is. The The M3 vs the RS 4 vs the C63 AMG: which is best?
There isn’t one. Technically. But I can still help.
Question
Mike–
I see you’ve given the M3, RS 4 and Mercedes C63 all 8 scores. But is there one you’d want? I find it a cop out to not at least have a favorite.
I think all three are around the same price used, and all three can break.
– Jack
Answer
Jack is correct on all fronts. I do have a favorite, and it’s the M3. I bought one, duh. But that doesn’t make it the best.
Instead, I’m going to break down some things – remember that a Soul Score isn’t a performance score, so while the BMW might be the best on track or the AMG might be the fastest, I uh, I don’t care.
What’s fun?! And what’s cheap…
I want as much attention and anti-social behavior as possible
While all three cars have V-8s, they are all quite different in terms of personality.
The M3 is actually the quietest of the three, with its baby diaper muffler hanging off the back. The RS 4, though louder than the M3 and more “bassy”, is tame. Both of these cars need exhausts to match the expectations you probably have in your head.
Not the Merc. It’s loud right out of the box. That 6.3 liter is up at least a full two liters on the other cars here, and any high-pitched F1 inspired noises that come from the other cars is replaced by the sound of ripping silk with a machine gun.
But it’s not just the sound. The C63 is a dog on a leash, and that leash is made of Twizzlers. The back end wants to go every time you hit the gas. Turn off traction control for expert mode and big stinky burnouts. Lament the fact that no manual was available, but that makes this car’s singular mission of straight-line speed much easier to achieve.
Add aftermarket bits to this, and you’ll have a fun, loud, obnoxious car that your neighbors will hate. Call the HOA right now, Karen.
I want to use it like a pair of grey sweat pants
As Jack quickly approaches the line for 40, he may find that these cars are just fine the way they are. Maybe he simply doesn’t want to be bored driving a 330i every day. For this kind of work, the RS 4 is best.
First, it’s the only one with all-wheel drive. And since it’s Quattro, it’s the best kind of all-wheel drive. Grab a set of snow tires for winter, and you have a year-round runabout that can handle anything.
This 4.2-liter engine sounds wonderful, but goes away as you drive down the highway. It makes 7 more horsepower than the S65, and 22 lb-ft more of torque, so there’s plenty of juice. Hell, the RS even gets the best fuel mileage of the three.
Inside, there’s typical Audi brilliance, by far the nicest. You sit a bit tall, but that’s a sin the M3 commits as well. And though the handling is nose-heavy and a bit understeery, you’ll never notice unless your daily commute is on Silverstone.
I want the most balanced car
Out of the box, the M3 is perhaps the most subdued, and driving it around really does feel like driving around in a regular 3 Series. Remember, the 335 at the time had more torque.
But it’s also the lightest of the three by almost 300 pounds, and is the only one to offer a DCT. As a result, it’s the easiest to control at the limit and feels the most responsive.
You can turn it into an anti-social device by adding a supercharger and exhaust, or you can leave it be and have pretty much the same experience as the Audi, minus the all-wheel drive.
The Audi’s engine is just as good, and the Merc can be more exciting, but I find that the M3 has the ability to do everything the others do while feeling just a bit more special.
I’d still get this one.
The M3 vs the RS 4 vs the C63 AMG – used car prices
A good rule for all three of these cars is the more rare the color, the more it’ll cost. Let’s use Bring a Trailer, and just focus on pricing for the past two years.
We’ll start with the Audi. Unlike the BMW and Merc, there were no special editions.
- A high mark is an Imola Yellow, sold for $70k
- A normal color with higher miles will go for the low $20s.
Next, the Merc:
- The high mark is about $52k for a mint sedan (sedans go for more because they are more rare)
- A normal color that’s been questionably modified can go for as low as $24,000
We should mention the Black Series, which really is unique with its wide body and more power – those can go for close to $200k, or as little as $70k.
Finally, the M3. Frozen Paint or the Lime Rock Editions go for more, but offer nothing special in terms of performance:
- Here’s a 5k-mile Lime Rock for $100k
- And an atrociously-modded convertible for $18,000
Speaking of, the M3 and RS 4 were available without a top, but not the Mercedes.
And the winner is…
A majority of these cars can be had for a good value – $30k or less, and though some might need work, I presume you love it so it’ll be worth it.
They built the most M3s, and right now the market is flooded, but search long enough and you can find a good deal on all three.
So Jack, no cop outs here – I wouldn’t kick any of these beauties out of bed, and the sad fact is, cars like this will never be made again.
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