Car and Driver Comparison - Performance Sedans

[miksfield]

Seems Like Old Times: Performance Sedans Compared
A quartet of compact four-doors from the U.S., Europe, and Japan pack satisfying dynamics into practical packages, delivering on the sports sedan's longtime promise.


https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a64918457/compact-performance-sedans-compared/


The ITS vs S4 vs CT4-V vs IS500. I sort of wished they had put in the CT4-V Blackwing and RS4 but a good read nonetheless.

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[StingertimeNC]

Pretty good stuff. Always nice to get the win over some nice competition. I do like the Audi quite a bit, but just doesn't drive the way the ITS does. Plus ITS is best looking car by far. We're lucky to have a car like this.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Pretty good stuff. Always nice to get the win over some nice competition. I do like the Audi quite a bit, but just doesn't drive the way the ITS does. Plus ITS is best looking car by far. We're lucky to have a car like this.

They should have compared the rs3 and bw specifically. More fair comparisons when you take the peak of each model.

 

[StingertimeNC]

True but price/power don’t line up as well. Sub 60k, etc.

A close friend of mine has the Audi S3 and it is pretty damn nice. I’m a fan of VW group products though. They just have a way with interiors.

If you dropped the Audi seats and interior into the type S, oh man what a car that would be.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

True but price/power don’t line up as well. Sub 60k, etc.

A close friend of mine has the Audi S3 and it is pretty damn nice. I’m a fan of VW group products though. They just have a way with interiors.

If you dropped the Audi seats and interior into the type S, oh man what a car that would be.

Yeah, but at those prices I really see it as "take the median and go + or - 15%, because certain brands just carry a premium. The De5 can easily jump to near 60k with options. I think mine stickered like 58k (I paid 53). I considered an rs3 but didn't get it because no manual and I find awd to be the least fun drive type... Rwd> fwd > awd for engagement and fun for me. It was definitely in the cross shop list and I never considered the s3 because it's an entirely pedestrian street car. It is NOT a track capable car. The De5, rs3, and ct4vbw are all specifically track capable due to their alignment potential to keep from chewing tire and spitting brake. The s3 and golf r need quite a bit of work to make them "consistent" on track.

I still think the its would have won, but I think the accolade would have meant more comparing true "track day sedans" to one another.

 

[its life]

Love seeing this car get critical acclaim. I wonder how it’d fare dynamically against the M340i, which is the quintessential entry level sports sedan imo

 

[optronix]

I think this comparison is good for what it is- not a track test. This comparison is for folks who need 4 doors and have zero plans to consider doing anything motorsports related. There wasn't even a reference to tires except one comment about the PS4S on the Integra; my guess is all the rest are on all-seasons.

Also the numbers assigned at the end were pretty damn arbitrary. At first I looked at them and wondered how the Audi got a 1 for cargo space and the Integra got a 5, figuring that's the difference of a win right there... but then I saw the Integra got a 2 for "features/amenities" and the Audi got a 10... and gave up after that.

Also talking about numbers I never understood nor cared about- how is it even possible to have a slower 5-60 than 0-60? I guess 5mph theoretically could be bogging the engine when you slam the gas but then what does that even measure?

Anyway, fun read in the morning and I'll take the win, but honestly kind of 5/10 journalism IMHO. Maybe I'm just grumpy as I wait for my pre-workout to kick in.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

....
Also talking about numbers I never understood nor cared about- how is it even possible to have a slower 5-60 than 0-60? I guess 5mph theoretically could be bogging the engine when you slam the gas but then what does that even measure?

It's a test against turbo lag and threshold, as well as gearing and general throttle responsiveness.

No one ever really goes 0 to 60 outside of drag race settings, so the 5 to 60 does have some value. Everyone is different though. I've seen some people ride out first gear to like 25mph every time they get moving, and I'm usually getting into third at that point ?. The 5 to 60 has a bit more value for me in that case since it can show how responsive down low the car would be.

 

[SilverRocket]

The 100-200kph (62-125mph) would be interesting to know, just in case I find myself in Mexico one day.

 

[optronix]

The 100-200kph (62-125mph) would be interesting to know, just in case I find myself in Mexico one day.

I try to reconcile with people who's idea of fun is roll racing on a highway. For me, I'd literally rather try to balance a tennis ball on my nose for 10 seconds than try to get my kicks by "putting buslengths" on randoms on the highway. Zero skill involved, zero sense of satisfaction, and high risk of at best, getting your license revoked and at worst, putting others in danger.

We've been through this before and... nope, still one of those "lost all respect" things from me, despite your otherwise valuable contributions to this forum. Plus, you picked the wrong platform for that anyway. Enjoy getting rolled by a $4500 gixxer, or shitbox foxbody mustang lol.

 

[SilverRocket]

I try to reconcile with people who's idea of fun is roll racing on a highway. For me, I'd literally rather try to balance a tennis ball on my nose for 10 seconds than try to get my kicks by "putting buslengths" on randoms on the highway. Zero skill involved, zero sense of satisfaction, and high risk of at best, getting your license revoked and at worst, putting others in danger.

We've been through this before and... nope, still one of those "lost all respect" things from me, despite your otherwise valuable contributions to this forum. Plus, you picked the wrong platform for that anyway. Enjoy getting rolled by a $4500 gixxer, or shitbox foxbody mustang lol.

Lol, I don't race, at least not in the sense you're talking about.

I just drive fast, plain and simple and every now and again I come across a chucklehead who feels the need to camp in the left lane with a chip on their shoulder.

Now where most people simply just move out of the way, and we respectively go on our merry ways, nope these people start to speed up to not let you pass.

Historically I used to just stopped at whatever speed I was previously going, however with an almost 100% hit rate these types of people would eventually slow back down and I'd once again catch up to them. Rinse and repeat a few times, it gets frustrating, especially on a long drive.

The only way to consistently deal with them is to get by them. Most stop between 90-100mph but every now and again you find one who is so insistent, it's like their life depends on you not passing them.

Again with a 99% + success rate, once you get by them, they return to their default mode and they fade into the distance behind.

Knowing where the ITS stands, that's what keeps it somewhat safe by knowing its ability compared to the other car. For example, I wouldn't attempt on a 911 or Z06 because I know I wouldn't be able to get by if they wanted to be a jackass and mash the accelerator. But for example a standard Mach E, they're hard limited to 113mph so I know that no matter how big of a bastard they are, I'm getting by.

These theoretical situations happen few and far between, but when they do, they always happen in Mexico.

TL;DR, I don't feel the need to line up side by side and honk 3 times in an effort to measure my peepee, but being able to put idiots in the rearview mirror when they're actively trying to block me or even brake check, frankly I don't care what you think about it.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Highway driving is brutal, especially on a long trip. Sometimes you just have to hammer it and take a gap.

I also always let people pass me if they want to go faster than 10 over the speed limit.

Don't get me started on other driver's behavior.

 

[SilverRocket]

Highway driving is brutal, especially on a long trip. Sometimes you just have to hammer it and take a gap.

I also always let people pass me if they want to go faster than 10 over the speed limit.

Don't get me started on other driver's behavior.

Not to beat a dead horse but I enjoy watching dashcam vids and sure enough one of these types appeared on an upload today. Guy in the Tahoe is also a douche but who in their right mind purposely parallels a truck sub 60mph and then blasts it to 139.

 

[Integra23]

Not to beat a dead horse but I enjoy watching dashcam vids and sure enough one of these types appeared on an upload today. Guy in the Tahoe is also a douche but who in their right mind purposely parallels a truck sub 60mph and then blasts it to 139.

Yeah had this happen to me a few times. Douche driving under speed limit trying to pass a truck for miles. When I finally get around he punches it.

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