the chance of a lifetime: convert a bimmerphile to MB!
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
the chance of a lifetime: convert a bimmerphile to MB!
OK, the time for my wife to get a new car is here (long strory).
today she drove a 2002 C240 Sport, a 2002 330Xi, and a 2001 325i Sport.
well, long story short, she likes the 330Xi the most for content, and the 325i for the drive, but she kinda wants AWD and the 330 is just too much money, so we are stuck with a 325Xi (fine by me), OR the manager (anti-bimmer pro-mb and a friend of mine) is willing to fire-sale the brilliant silver C240.
basically, I loved everything about the C240, except its a little sluggish. my wife wasn't big on the seats in the MB, but maybe she just needed to get used to them. (ok, she hated them).
it pains me so much to say, but is there a way to justify the extra 4-grand that the MB will cost over the 325, when she LIKES the 325 better? big plus for MB... 3 car seats/booster seats in the back.
HELP!!!
today she drove a 2002 C240 Sport, a 2002 330Xi, and a 2001 325i Sport.
well, long story short, she likes the 330Xi the most for content, and the 325i for the drive, but she kinda wants AWD and the 330 is just too much money, so we are stuck with a 325Xi (fine by me), OR the manager (anti-bimmer pro-mb and a friend of mine) is willing to fire-sale the brilliant silver C240.
basically, I loved everything about the C240, except its a little sluggish. my wife wasn't big on the seats in the MB, but maybe she just needed to get used to them. (ok, she hated them).
it pains me so much to say, but is there a way to justify the extra 4-grand that the MB will cost over the 325, when she LIKES the 325 better? big plus for MB... 3 car seats/booster seats in the back.
HELP!!!
Thread Starter
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
Originally posted by Lynn
Never buy a car if you hate the seats. Buy the 325.
Never buy a car if you hate the seats. Buy the 325.
Thread Starter
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
Originally posted by Lynn
Maybe I misunderstood something. I thought the car is for your wife and she hated the seats.
Maybe I misunderstood something. I thought the car is for your wife and she hated the seats.
and she agreed to give it one more try with the seats... I just hate that EVERYTHING ELSE IS PERFECT!
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the C240 might be a bit sluggish compared to the 325 but then you already had a Z3 for speed.
For ride comfort and cabin noise, C240 definitely had it over 325i and 325i is sportier but IMHO i dont really like the new facelift of the 3er sedan.
also i think its kinda cool to own both BMW and MB in the stable
For ride comfort and cabin noise, C240 definitely had it over 325i and 325i is sportier but IMHO i dont really like the new facelift of the 3er sedan.
also i think its kinda cool to own both BMW and MB in the stable
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Out Of Control!!
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Originally posted by viper
Its obvious that you should buy the C240. The BMW is an old technology, overpriced, overendorsed, every-yuppie-has-one kind of car. OK let me have it now.
Its obvious that you should buy the C240. The BMW is an old technology, overpriced, overendorsed, every-yuppie-has-one kind of car. OK let me have it now.
Get the 325 - you'll both be happier (since she'll be happy, you'll be happy, or at least you won't have to hear how you "forced" her to buy the car that she didn't want), and most importantly, that will allow us to still treat you hostily, which wouldn't be as easy if you were one of us. :p
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
sorry guys I'd take the 325 over the 240 anyday based on performance and $$$$....only reason I didn't get a 3 series is that there are just way too many of them running around here and 3 of my friends have them.
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
very funny guys, (thanks though, I need some "reality" with all this) and I'll still have the throngs of bimmerphiles at bimmerforums to blast me over this if I go MB, and you guys can still hammer me for driving a BMW (actually, the Z3 is going away, but a new E30 325is racecar is on its way! )
the C240 is perfect except for the seats, anyone here with the sport seats have a similar experience, and do they get "better" over time???
)the C240 is perfect except for the seats, anyone here with the sport seats have a similar experience, and do they get "better" over time???
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From: Chicago
C32 AMG
Originally posted by viper
....His years of BMW brain-washing have got to end.
....His years of BMW brain-washing have got to end.
Did you even consider the new Jaguar X-Type? Good styling, interior blows the Benz away and it's all-wheel drive. Almost bought the 3.0 sport in manual but the salesman was being a d!@&. When the R model is released everyone is going to do a double take (suede interior is rumored). Not sure how the 2.5 performs but I know the 3.0 is quicker than the C320 and the 330xi.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Obama Land
K Car
I have a 2002 C320, and my wife has a 2000 323i. Different years, but basically the same two cars. As for the seats in the 323i, they seem a bit harder than the MB, but they are still quite comfortable. I think the BMW seats let you sit lower in the car than the MB, or at least it feels this way. The BMW is a nice riding car. It has kind of a sporty feel in the handling. You feel like you can corner with a bit more speed than the MB. As for the MB, I like the seats in mine. I think they are more comfortable than the BMW. I think the BMW seats may have better side support though. I test drove the C240. It does drive nice. Feels like a benz. However, it is lacking when it comes to power. It all depends on how you drive and what you want.
My wife is very happy with her BMW. If it were me, I think I would save the extra money and get the BMW (sorry guys).
My wife is very happy with her BMW. If it were me, I think I would save the extra money and get the BMW (sorry guys).
Out Of Control!!
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally posted by Boo2
Did you even consider the new Jaguar X-Type? Good styling, interior blows the Benz away and it's all-wheel drive.
Did you even consider the new Jaguar X-Type? Good styling, interior blows the Benz away and it's all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel drive is a nice feature.
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From: Chicago
C32 AMG
Originally posted by revstriker
Whoa! this is definitely your opinion! I would take the interior of the Benz over the Jag X any day of the week! I thought the Jag X interior was kind of cheap looking.
The all-wheel drive is a nice feature.
Whoa! this is definitely your opinion! I would take the interior of the Benz over the Jag X any day of the week! I thought the Jag X interior was kind of cheap looking.
The all-wheel drive is a nice feature.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Originally posted by revstriker
Whoa! this is definitely your opinion! I would take the interior of the Benz over the Jag X any day of the week! I thought the Jag X interior was kind of cheap looking.
The all-wheel drive is a nice feature.
Whoa! this is definitely your opinion! I would take the interior of the Benz over the Jag X any day of the week! I thought the Jag X interior was kind of cheap looking.
The all-wheel drive is a nice feature.
Price creep is fast and scary on them.
Thread Starter
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
no jag dealer in lincoln, so service all goes to omaha, and that is a pita. AND the car is a POS from what I've heard. brittish cars are for tinkering and toying. german cars when it is serious.
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
oh, and its funny that the discussion turned to sport... the C240 sport was far more sporting than the 325i without the sport package... however, the sport package from BMW still puts the price below the C-class... AND it has a standard CD player!
I'm still a little torn on this. the BMW makes sense, but I WANT to buy the benzo!
I'm still a little torn on this. the BMW makes sense, but I WANT to buy the benzo!
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dasmafia, nice to hear you're keeping an open mind about this. Trying to constructively return the consideration, I think you should be guided by what your wife wants. No amount of money would be well-spent if it's to be your wife's primary ride and she doesn't like the seats.
The sedan is my first experience with leather/MBTex, etc. (We're used to cloth) I like the seats, but agree they are firmer than cloth... takes some getting used is all. But my wife thinks the seats in the sedan are too hard for long trips. She has back problems, so I pay attention to her... we have a big van for long trips, anyway.
Bottom line, if she doesn't "like" the seats, that's one thing. If she's uncomfortable in them, then that's quite another issue. Even if your dealer could work up a fire sale price on a C320(?)... If your wife is not comfy in the MB seats and doesn't think it'll improve with use, then I agree with tommy that it's not worth the reminders you'll get about forcing a car on her. (I bought my wife a mild yellow Nissan Stanza once... I never heard the end of it, even today.)
Besides, with a 3er, she would fit right in with all of her other girlfriends.
Screw the Jaguar... If I wanted to buy a up-market Ford I'd buy a Lincoln LS and pocket lots of change...
The sedan is my first experience with leather/MBTex, etc. (We're used to cloth) I like the seats, but agree they are firmer than cloth... takes some getting used is all. But my wife thinks the seats in the sedan are too hard for long trips. She has back problems, so I pay attention to her... we have a big van for long trips, anyway.
Bottom line, if she doesn't "like" the seats, that's one thing. If she's uncomfortable in them, then that's quite another issue. Even if your dealer could work up a fire sale price on a C320(?)... If your wife is not comfy in the MB seats and doesn't think it'll improve with use, then I agree with tommy that it's not worth the reminders you'll get about forcing a car on her. (I bought my wife a mild yellow Nissan Stanza once... I never heard the end of it, even today.)
Besides, with a 3er, she would fit right in with all of her other girlfriends.
Screw the Jaguar... If I wanted to buy a up-market Ford I'd buy a Lincoln LS and pocket lots of change...
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From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
Das...
Keep in mind that 4Matic will be available on all 2003 C sedans and wagons NEXT MONTH (Apples/Oranges/Macs/PC's).
If you're in no rush, and can deal with waiting for an ordered car, then you might want to compare that to the Xi's from that other German company.
Personally, I think you'd both be happier with the C320, comparing that to the 330Xi just seems more reasonable. Oh...and they DO have different seating than the C240.
Then again, if you're looking for deals, the '02 models (including the wagons) on showroom floors may be the better way to spend your cash. I understand there are some incentive programs that you can pry out of MB and those other guys, if you ask nicely and bring bananas...
Keep in mind that 4Matic will be available on all 2003 C sedans and wagons NEXT MONTH (Apples/Oranges/Macs/PC's).
If you're in no rush, and can deal with waiting for an ordered car, then you might want to compare that to the Xi's from that other German company.
Personally, I think you'd both be happier with the C320, comparing that to the 330Xi just seems more reasonable. Oh...and they DO have different seating than the C240.
Then again, if you're looking for deals, the '02 models (including the wagons) on showroom floors may be the better way to spend your cash. I understand there are some incentive programs that you can pry out of MB and those other guys, if you ask nicely and bring bananas...
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From: Canada
Also keep in mind that 2004 is the year the 3-series gets a major overhaul. I don't think the C-class is due till 2006. If you are purchasing and don't want major depreciation due to the new model this may be a factor. However if you are leasing this is not an issue. I seriously hope that BMW finally moves those window switches to the doors where they belong.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Also also keep in mind that 4matic does weigh something, so add that to the underpowered nature of the 240, and you get something that can be beaten at a stoplight by minivans, unless it's snowy out, of course.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by Rick
... I think you'd both be happier with the C320, Oh...and they DO have different seating than the C240.
... I think you'd both be happier with the C320, Oh...and they DO have different seating than the C240.
