Video: Can the 2008 Audi S5 keep up with the 2008 BMW M3?

So before you kill us for posting this and InsideLine for making this, you should know a few things about the Audi S5. The 2008 Audi S5, tested at $53,000, comes with all-wheel-drive and a 4.2 liter V8 producing 354-hp. 0-60 in the test comes in at 4.7 seconds (4.9 seconds without rollout) while the quarter-mile comes in at 13.2 seconds at 104 mph, just 0.1 second and 2 mph shy of the 420-hp 2007 Audi RS4.

Now compare that to the Audi RS4’s current rival, the 2008 BMW M3. Power comes from a 4.0 liter V8 producing 414-hp. BMW says 0-60mph comes in at 4.8 seconds but InsideLine hits in 4.3 with a 1-foot rollout. Not to mention BMW is asking $57,275 for the M3 coupe.

So ask yourself if you’re an Audi fan looking to take on the M3 – do you really need to spend $67,000 on a RS4 or will a S5 do? Or would you rather buy the M3 and betray Ingolstadt altogether?

Note: Yes, we know the next-generation RS4 is on the way and we’ll think about that when it’s here.

Click through for the video.

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