That's true.

If you see the tests in US magazines often cars like M5 and M3 are not considered good for everyday use due to RWD and stiff suspension. It all comes to personal preferences. Audi with the S models offers cars that are damn fast and practical at the same time meaning comfortable enough and easy to drive and safe under all conditions (AWD).

When someone complains that a S model is not as fast as a M one in a track then he has lost the meaning of the S series. S stands for Sport while BMW's M stands for Motorsport which is the equivalent of Audi's RS (Rennsport=Racing Sport).

I know people with families and kids using a M5 as a daily driver. Everybody seem to get the crazy idea that a family cant drive a M5 becuase its "hardcore" or "sporty". The seats in the M5 is out of this world, very comfortable.

Noone is complaining on the S4 (not me) but brandon seem to think that a manual S6 can beat a M5 around a track just because S6 Manual is slightly faster than S6 automatic. Not going to happen.

As you said it comes down to personal preference, and individuals will compromise one thing for another. For me, I would compromise comfort for drivability. My father would compromise drivability for comfort (I would point him towards an AMG). FYI, there are several drivers on M5board, that drive the M5 everyday and permanantly in S6/P500S mode.

As Just_me said, and just as there you pointed out that S cars don't compete with M cars, there is also a misconception about M cars also. Many magazines are said that the M5 is a car that can stick it to a Porsche when it needs to, while seating 5 and enough space in the boot for 2 sets of golf clubs, all in relative comfort. That doesn't mean its on par with an AMG or Audi S model for comfort, but it sure as hell beats a elise, or my Mum's Mitsi Galant VR-G 1.8litre, and is even on par with my Dads new Honda Accord (which has very good ride comfort). It is not a bone-shuttering ride as some people think, its just not as good as an Merc AMG or Audi S model (which are exceptionally high). Just to let you know, I've been in an M5 on both the track and on the roads, so I do know the difference).

if you do believe a wagon can beat a coupe, then please support Audi, coz they're divine.

Nurb time:

M3 8:22
S4 Avant 8:29

that's just normal. S4 Avant is around 70 kg heavier than S4 sedan, and the weight is all at the tail, behind the rear axis. btw, the suspension is different to create more boot space.

'you know people with families' are not really rare, but i just point out that the families members are quite generous for letting their dad to buy a pure sports car (not even performance sedan) with stiff suspension. everyone can tell that S6 is a lot more comfortable than M5.

would you say RS4 is more comfortable than a M5?

BTW if S6 is a lot more comfortable than a M5 then you cant go claiming a Manual S6 would beat the M5 around a track.

The Sedan has been tested around Hockenheim by the same carmag and the M3 was faster than the S4.

who knows whether a manual S6 can beat an M5 SMG? don't say something without any evidence. although 1 round in Hock is only 1 minute, but i think manual S6 can do more than a Tip one. 2 sec is not impossible. btw, S6 is a lot cheaper than an M5. it is brilliant for it already to compete with M5 while providing more comfort. fast+comfort is the philosophy for performance sedans. having good handling but harsh suspension is no need and no use and no good at all. if you think handling is everything, please buy an Elise, again.

2 second around Hockenheim is a lot.
Besides the S6 has less power and is heavier.

And no manual gearbox can reach the SMG III.
A driver with a manual switched gears between 300 and 900 miliseconds, while with the SMG III at its most agressive stance it switches gears in 65 miliseconds.

So you have less power, more weight and an inferior gearbox, now what to you think a track is Fairy Land ?!