I've got an LCI 550 Sport on order. It's fairly well loaded (pretty much all options except the silly new technology stuff: active cruise, night vision, lane departure), and although US pricing is not yet released, I'm presuming that it will sticker for around $75K.

But now I'm thinking about the Audi S6. I know that it is supposed to compete against the M5 (and has in fact beaten the M5 in recent US car mag tests), but comparably equipped, it stickers for around $78K.

V10? M5 handling? $3K more? Am I crazy? Should I / could I really buy an Audi instead of a BMW?

 

Given you are in snowy Boston, it really is a no brainer - get the S6!

Or at least test drive it (and report back with impressions )- one car mag said it handles much better than they could have expected.

 

Call me biased but from me it's RWD number 1 and bmw handling no 2. So bmw all the way. I for one couldn't care less about mags overall even if the M5 comes as the king of all or vice-versa for the competition. Drive them and get the one that rocks your boat more.

 

I had this discussion a few weeks back. The thread is here:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=35868&hl=

I test drove it. The Audi is a bit faster, is much nicer inside (and easier to use) and the exhaust note is sick. But at the end of the day, the exterior of the Audi is just unimpressive. I was in a position to trade my 17k mile '05 550i in and so it wasn't worth the upgrade. If I was considering buying a new 550 or a new S6, it would be tough. But go see one in person because the exterior (at least for me) just is blah. At the end of the day, I would say if you are happy with the S6 exterior then get the S6.

Instead, I just traded my 550i in for a demo '06 MB CLS 55 AMG. Never been titled and 3000 miles. That car is as fast as an M5, exhaust sounds identical to a V10 plus the interior and exterior is gorgeous. It was a bit more money than the S6 or 550i.

Good luck. Doesn't seem like you can go wrong with either.

 

The S6 is a much better car than the 550. It's quicker, has a better interior, much more usable grip, more usable torque, and a phenomenal exhaust note. Simple point of reference is that the S6 is beating the M5 in tests (it never placed below the M5 in any of three recent tests, both SMG and 6-speed). Audi downplay the link but the S6's V10 is based on the engine used in the Gallardo. I'm 95% of the way to ditching my 550 and getting an S6.

 

adamrogers, thanks for the link. I had missed that thread.

Interesting comparison. Being from the northeast, the quattro is actually an overall plus for me. But the lack of a manual transmission may swing the vote to my 5th 5er.

 

i dont care what any magazine says, but if the price is indeed that close then i'd go s6. its seems to be a much better driving experience than the 550.

 

Go with the Audi, can't go wrong with a Gallardo engine =)

 

Can you get the 1K over European dealer invoice price on an S6 like you can on the 550i. I know Audi has a European delivery option with a discount off of MSRP, but has anyone gotten a deal like many of the 550i guys get?

 

Audi S6 ... all the way over a 550i... But id never get a S6 over the E60 M5 !