sadly, the M5.

i can attest to that... RWD CTS-V = scary in the rain...

cue song... slip sliiiide and away!

for every 1000 feet of elevation gain. So an M5 at 6000 feet is operating with 415 hp (approx). Our cars lose little because of the turbos. So, for some of us, it might be pretty close. I'm trying to talk a friend into buying one so I may actually get to find out.

M5 would win. I checked one out over the weekend. I've yet to see a better interior on any car. The new seats are the most comfy, grippy and supportive I've ever sat in. Love or hate the new M, Audi has their work cut out for them. My RS6 feels 10 years old after spending some time in the new M5.

First, I've owned a BMW, have read about the great technical prowess of the new M5, and there seems little doubt it is superior in the twisties -- with published reports of pulling 1 g on the skid pad.

But for straight ahead 0-60 times, the published data I could find do not favor the M5.

CAR & DRIVER: In their online review of the 2006 M5, they report a 0-60 of 4.7 sec. But in the May 2003 comparo edition, the RS6 turned in a 4.4.

AUTOMOBILE: Their current writeup of the new M5 includes this: "Against the stopwatch, the 500-horsepower M5 is in the same league as the Audi RS6 and the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, because the makers of all three quote a 0-to-62-mph time of 4.7 seconds." But in its 12/02 issue the RS6 turned in a 4.3, with a 12.8 sec quarter!

MOTOR TREND: The Dec 04 comparo with an E55 quoted only the "claimed" (factory) time for the M5, which was 4.7 for 0-62. That's the same as the RS6. However, MT's own time for the RS6 in its Aug 03 issue was 4.3 for 0-60.

Maybe instead of "Not so fast," I should have called this post "SO fast!" In any case the May 2003 link below is a keeper for fans of the RS6, given that it beat out the E55, M5 and S-type R in the judgement of C&amp;D editors. In my printed copy the RS6 dominates the cover at apparent warp speed.<ul><li><a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&amp;article_id=6567">http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&amp;article_id=6567</a</li></ul>

pull on a modded RS4 or a 911 turbo.... there are videos on the internet right now showing the new M5 pulling on both the RS4 and 911 turbo.. not to mention it pulling on an E55 AMG.... real world &gt; published numbers.

(I missed your &gt; sign so need to edit. Oops.)

I'm not even saying the RS6 would win -- just that 0-60 would not be a cake walk for the new M5. At higher speeds, I'm sure the M5 would dominate. With 500 hp to two wheels rather than four, it ought to!

Hopefully the two will meet in the same place some day so we can find out more conclusively, but it's not likely to come from a magazine since the RS6 has been out of production for a while now.

If someone has some other comparison data they'd like to share, I'd love to see it. I don't trust most videos much, tho, because the skills of drivers can vary widely. And sometimes it is the video producer's intent to make one car look better than the other, which can render that particular comparison meaningless.

If I could be convinced that a video's producer had no stake and that the drivers were of equal ability, I'd be interested. Otherwise I enjoy videos for entertainment value.

I AM skeptical of times like 4.3 and 12.8 for a stock RS6, but that's what the pro's say they found -- so I posted it. Here I'm just trying to compare data that each mag came up with for both cars, for comparison purposes rather than absolute validation of each datum.

i read somewhere long ago that the rs6 plus was faster. but i want to see a video to know for sure.

I would still like to run with one at altitude.

I realize that, regarding the link. But the text above my link compares data between the RS6 and the new e60 M5, using older published findings for the RS6 and more recent published data for the e60.

I doubt there will ever be a car mag article comparing the current RS6 to the new M5 or anything else, since the Audi is long gone from the new car market.

Despite what some are suggesting below, the E60 M5 will destroy an RS6 in a straight line race, and it will quite happily take an RS6 plus as well.

Motorvision (German show) did a short comparo video but I can't seem to find it on their website. In the video, the M5 pulls on the RS6 plus at high speed on the autobahn.

Just for the record, I don't think anyone is saying the RS6 would win a contest that starts at higher speeds. Certainly not me.

However, for 0-60, which is different because of traction issues at launch, I think the RS6 might help compensate for less power with better traction. Until someone shows me different data, from a credible source (i.e. not two amateurs in a street race), I'm still relying on the published 0-60 results. Not for absolute data, as I've said, but just to indicate 0-60 should not be a cakewalk for the e60 M5.

If I'm wrong, three car mags have some "splainin'" to do.

Did I say I go the drag strip? Note to AOA: I'm just kidding!

Truthfully I usually visit once, maybe twice a year but don't always run. Last time I met a guy with two Mercury Marauders that, thanks to the $6K supercharger he built under contract with Ford, turned quarters of 12.0 and a best-ever 11.5. Many other older cars, worked on by their owners, turn faster times. So, yes, there are plenty of faster cars out there ... and always will be!

I would not say that V10 M5 would 'destroy' a stock RS6 (13.02 sec for 1/4 mile)in a straight line.
I came up against V10 M5 this evening in the country and from standing start both ran side by side up to 120 km/k (75mph)and a little over with RS6 holding its own against the M5 and then we both slowed down out of respect for our licences.
I knew the M5 driver.
Awesome to have combined 1000hp on road between two cars! I can truly say that the V10 exhaust really screams like a banshee! Very impressive.
RS 6 was sweet as well.