AMG + 4matic = problems for Audi

General Discussion
#1

One of the reasons I have never really considered the AMG cars is because I live in Canada. Simply put having 350, 400, 500 hp to the rear wheels up here is pretty much useless when it snows unless you want to run multiple cars. I like cars, but not that much to have one hide in a garage. I want one car that does everything very well.

So when looking around a few years back, I ended up paying a lot of attention to the Audi S cars. Bought a B7 S4 after also owning a B6 A4 Avant for a while. Then a B8 A4 Avant and for a fun car, a B7 RS4.

Now the AMG boys are adding 4 matic to the mix, on the E and CLS AMG platforms. Same goes for the CLA and A class AMG platforms.

That’s pretty interesting.

I know someone will pop in to say 4 matic isn’t as good as TorSen quattro, just as people always pop in and complain about haldex etc. Bottom line is we’re not trying to climb 3 metre snowbanks in our S/RS cars that ride 5 inches from the ground. We’re just looking for something to allow the car to be fun in 99% of all the weather we see. Also, with the MASSIVE power these cars are making, we’re also looking for something to allow us to put the power down when conditions are great (something that in my opinion you just can’t do in normal driving with the modern monsters…from 30mph if you gun it in just about any M car, you’re spinning and lamenting the purchase)

So when Car & Driver tested the new RS7 vs. the CLS63 AMG 4matic…i was very interested to see the results.

Bottom line? The mercedes matched the Audi. Same trap speeds and 1/4 mile ET for both cars (11.6 @ 123 MPH).

From 0-60 MPH the RS7 8 speed trans had to shift 1-2 and 2-3 which may have slowed it down (lol) a hair , meaning it could only turn the 60 mph trick in 3.4 seconds.

The gearing on the Mercedes allowed it to do 0-60 in 2 gears…and it did so in a staggering 3.2 seconds!!!

Subjectively, they loved the RS7 and not the MB or the M6 (my how M have fallen) but at the end of the day, the biggest drawback of these awesome MB cars, traction, seems to be a non-issue going forward if they introduce 4matic to the entire range. Unfortunately I fear the C63 will be left as a ‘fun car’ that needs RWD for hooliganism, but hopefully they change that up soon. I mean if the A and CLA have AWD…it seems only natural for the C.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/9677553691_ab7c935c17_o.jpg

#2

Looking at the spec sheet, why is the max mph in 8th (RS7) and 7th (other two) lower than 7th and 6th? It has a lower gear ratio and thus should be able to go even faster (albeit hit the 190mph limiter or wind resistance). Yet it shows 160mph (or thereabouts).

Also, someone school me on gear ratios. I feel like I could accelerate way faster if I had similar gear ratios to the ones shown in the spec sheet.

Somehow, they have 4.x 1st gear ratios, lower redline (6600 instead of 7000) yet achieve similar mph speeds (37-41mph which is about the same for my B7 S4). How is that possible? I have a 3.667 1st gear (I’m basing this on the B6 but I’m assuming the B7 has the same tranny as the B6). These cars are between 4.38 to 4.81 1st gear ratios, hit the same max mph but have a lower redline.

I’m confused so please school me. Thanks.

#3

I have no doubt the E63 AMG wagon will be a hit with wagon aficionados. Merc interiors aren’t my cup of tea though. A bit too old man for my taste.

#4

Friend of mine is waiting on his CLS AMG63 he just ordered, but I told him that he has to check out / test drive the RS7 before he buys.

Much respect to MB but the Audi just looks that much better

Edit:

That’s it! Bango nailed it with that phrase

#5

My friend has an ML diesel and it’s nice inside. Today he has a loaner because of a CEL (lol he has had like 9 problems already) and they gave him a GLK diesel (their Q5) and it was very nice inside. Not sure what you mean banger. I like the black wood.

#6

Nothing wrong with it. Just not my taste. I test drove a diesel GLK250 - what a great little engine. High quality materials with respect to the interior. Same with the ML350 diesel. Same with the C63 AMG.

I’m just a big sucker for VW/Audi interiors and I consider interior to be a very important consideration for my car choices since it’s what I notice the most.

#7

as long as the seats are comfy, and it has the important stuff (heated seats, memory seats, NAV, sunroof that works, good audio interface) I’m very happy. I don’t fret about materials and ‘ooooh this plastic isn’t good enough’. I think that’s people trying to hard to be magazine reviewers.

Has to be black and dark inside too. I don’t like our B8 at night. It’s all light in the roof and pillars. The RS4 and my S4 before it are nice and dark.

#8

I guess no one noticed my post/question lol

#9

The 4matic system has zero problems in the snow. It doesn’t really matter which AWD system you have now. It’s all regulated by a TC system so you’ll never notice a difference.

#10

Axel gotta compare final drive ratio that’s why the speeds are similar within the gears.

#11

You mean the pillars and roof material are light? In the S cars and I imagine RS they are black. Much nicer

#12

I mean in general I like it dark all over the interior.

I was referring to my 2009 B8 A4 Avant 2.0T quattro A.K.A. the diesel tractor.