JD’s archives: Rare Breed (S4 vs. M3 vs. C43 AMG vs. 9-3 Viggen)

[Dobes]

[jamerican1]

Loved this article! I remember reading it and feeling like the S4 winning was a personal victory for me

[Tuneman7]

The S4 is the only one at this point that doesn't look badly dated.

[Omnilith]

Ten years ago, the S4 would top the list for me, now it is the M3. Simpler and more reliable.

I'd love the Saab for the quirky factory and my addiction to torque steer.

...The Merc never had any appeal. Soulless German speed appliance with the visual appeal of a Buick.

Flamesuit on.

[MAG58]

The S4 is the only one at this point that doesn't look badly dated.

In defense of the W202 it looked dated when it came out in 1994

[NoDubJustYet]

WUT? The M3 didn't win a C&D comparo?

[SchnellFowVay]

I remember reading this article back in 1999. It's so wierd how time flies.

I still remember lusting after that S4. To this day I want to own one -- but the only thing holding me is the legendary unreliability of the 2.7TT.

[BagelConsultant]

I'm amazed the Viggen beat out the Benz. It's definitely the black sheep of the bunch and I have a real soft spot for it

[Iroczgirl]

I remember driving the Viggen...and how awful that torque steer was. It reminded me of the torque steer in the old Chevy X11.

[Waarp]

WUT? The M3 didn't win a C&D comparo?

This was I think the first time a Bimmer lost, and the Audi S won. And it stayed that way.

Notice how slow the M3 got, no faster than an RX8.

[NoDubJustYet]

This was I think the first time a Bimmer lost, and the Audi S won. And it stayed that way.

Notice how slow the M3 got, no faster than an RX8.

To be fair, the M3 was on its way out and the S4 was pretty new at this point.

[SchnellFowVay]

To be fair, the M3 was on its way out and the S4 was pretty new at this point.

This is accurate.

Not to mention that shortly after this article was written (within 18 months), the e46 M3 was released. It was a superior car to the S4 in almost every way (although I do love that S4).

[Omnilith]

I remember driving the Viggen...and how awful that torque steer was. It reminded me of the torque steer in the old Chevy X11.

Sounds like a perfect car for me.

[VWturbonium]

E36 M3 always a solid choice, the Viggen flex/torque steer can be remedied fairly easily with an aftermarket steering/bulkhead brace kit.

[Shomegrown]

This is accurate.

Not to mention that shortly after this article was written (within 18 months), the e46 M3 was released. It was a superior car to the S4 in almost every way (although I do love that S4).

Sort of. The B5 S4 came out in 1997 so it was already halfway through its run.

In 18 months from the article the B5 S4 was basically out of production.

[VarianceVQ]

The S4 is the only one at this point that doesn't look badly dated.

None of those cars look exactly fresh.

Loving the quaint headlight wipers on the Benz and Saab.

[bzcat]

Adjusted for inflation, the prices of these cars have pretty much stayed the same but performance have improved leaps and bounds.

To put it in perspective, the 1999 M3 was $43k, which is about $60k in 2012 adjusted for inflation - about the same price as 2012 M3. But performance wise, the 2012 F30 328i is about equal match to the 1999 M3 (actually, it is faster and better handling than the 1999 M3...)

[Waarp]

Not to mention that shortly after this article was written (within 18 months), the e46 M3 was released. It was a superior car to the S4 in almost every way (although I do love that S4).

Even that lost to the S4. Not that I care, just sometimes its hard to follow C/Ds logic, they kinds make their own rules--them break them, etc.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...mparison-tests

[BattleRabbit]

Something I noticed in this test that I miss: body colored seats. The S4 has them in the test, and they were available in the Saab(in blue AND yellow as I remember). BMW offers red leather now, but that's nowhere near as mental as yellow and blue!

Also, just for curiosity, I'd like to see a Viggen with Abbott Racing's Viggen Rescue Kit tested. Owners love the kit, and I wonder what it does for the drivetrain lash and lap times.