tonydinh3

well i just sold my lexus is300 now i am in the market for a new car looking at the is350 and the e46 M3 or the mercedes c300 not sure which car just to get yet just would like to see what your guyses choices would be i like the is350 because it has that speed comfort and reliablility and also easy to fix and not as expensive as a M3 or c300 to maintain. but i like the e46 because of the looks comfort speed and because it is manual and heard great thing about the m3 like i will never regret getting a m3 and that its a fun car. and the mercedes c300 i like because it is very comfortable relaxing and looks nice. im leaning towards the C300 as top right now and also the M3 but would like your guyses input. thanks!


AND also i got a quote from Mercedes benz on the C300 Automatic brand new 2009 basic package for $29499.99 guys think thats a good deal? invoice was like 34k but they gave me 4k off beacuse of a incentive and also 800 more off because of a costco auto program thing.

and also can i get some feed back from people who have a auto and people who have manual?

JamesB C300

Manual C300 or M3. My manual C300 is great. Love the looks of it for a sedan. If you need the backseat, better stick with the C300, if not, M3 is a beautiful ride.

ulovemybenzo

i would get the m3 the c300 is soooo slow imo but it is the sexiest one out of your choices with that big ol butt anyways yea i would jump on the m3 because you can leave people in the dust with a couple mods. If you do decide to get the c300 i also suggest you get the navigation package, with non navi screen the interior looks so boring and cheap imo i regret not getting it

BenTrovato

Definitely not the is350. C300 wins the sexy factor, e46 wins the performance factor, now it comes down to what you want - look good or have a lot of fun? Not that the C isn't fun, but the m3 takes it to a different level.

Azn_C300

e46 M3 is a great vehicle at a pretty amazing price. Pretty cheap to mod also. Just make sure the bearing and subframe issue has been taken cared of in the model you buy. I'm looking at an 05 e46 M3 SMG as a new project car.

tonydinh3

thanks great advice guys appreciate it but how do you check the subframe and bearing issues?

Azn_C300

Get a copy of the service records or better yet, a PPI done.

tonydinh3

alright thanks very much for the help still deciding lol probably gunna go check out the M3 this sunday and ill tell you all what i decide the c300 is so sexy only if it had more speed in it and was 30k with the speed :[ but m3 is still sexy but has the speed and excitement test drove the c300 already loved it but gotta see how the m3 is will tell you all on my decistion! is350 out of equation already lol!

Doanster

What are the specs on the e46?? Year, mileage, etc.? Is it already modded vs stock? That alone tells you much about how it was treated. Now if you found an e46 w/ the ZCP Competition Pkg and it has relatively low miles... jump on it!!!

tonydinh3

titanium silver 2005 68k miles (kinda alot for 05) all stock has all service papers 6 speed manual i dont think its the zcp competition pkg $22,500

Mercho82

I would never buy a used M3 simply because of the abuse they get from their previous owners. You dont buy a M3 to drive as a E 320, you buy it to rev and to speed so I would get either a brand new benz or lexus. Leaning towards benz since it is considered a truly luxury, not a luxury wanna be as lexus

LILBENZ230

The M3 was designed to be driven that way. No new car buyer is cross shopping M3s with E320s. Properly maintained this shouldn't be an issue.

As for your last sentence, what other people "consider" to be what has no real relevance. The IS350 is a fine car and Lexus has a much better track record for reliability than Mercedes (at least in the past decade). A C-class could easily be perceived as the "Mercedes for people who can't afford a Mercedes".. which also wouldn't be fair.

Mercho82

Lexus = fully loaded toyotas with leatther seats.
MB = Worldwide recognized as a Luxury vehicles reglarless of class.

So simple!

LILBENZ230

Yet so stupid.

I, and I advise the OP to do the same, buy cars that fit my needs and that I like. I care not what the global status is. You buy the badge if you wish, I understand there's more to a car than that.

Mercho82

Acura, Infiniti and toyota... sorry I meant lexus are wanna be luxury vehicles. Benz rocks!! Benz is even above BMW and Audi not to mention Volvo.

Phin

M3 = might be the most fun you ever have with your pants still on...

LILBENZ230

Fanboy: noun; Internet message forum members who believe ownership of a particular car makes said car and car company supreme to all others, frequently in total denial of all factual basis.

acmf74

The M3 is a fantastic car ( I have one). but if you are going to own one out of warranty the parts are very expensive.

Reed19x

Great selection you've got here, really no bad ones in the mix!

The M3's mileage seems a little high for an 05...given most people drive their cars 10-12k mi. per year, 68k is well over that. But we can clearly tell the owner drove it to have a blast in and probably took pretty good care of it (I know I would. Although, as LilBenz said the car was designed to be driven pretty hard (it IS a performance car). At least do a little background check into it though before you pull the trigger

As for the Lexus argument...the IS350 is a great car. Fantastic reliability (this may not matter to you), decent passing power, great aggressive looks and fair modding capabilities. Don't let badge fan boys sway your perception...Lexus is great (personally I'd look at the GS though ).

And finally the C300. The biggest displeasure with this car (that I've heard among forum members) is the lack of "speed". Quite frankly, you knew what you were getting into when you purchased the car...especially the 300 model. You can lower it and mod it and tune it and slap all the carbon fiber parts you want on it...but it still won't be a race car. Personally I bought the car to have a comfortable cruising vehicle at a reasonable price. Definitely didn't buy it to spin the wheels at every redlight.

Just have to ask yourself where you are in your life. If you still get the itch to dust people at lights once in awhile...look at the M3 (with background check) and IS350. If you're cool with not being the fastest thing on the road, then take a look at the C300. Obviously the fanboys on here will give you alot of ZOMG MERC IZ LYK DA BEST CAR U CAN HAZ CUZ ITZ A BENZO! real sound reasoning there.... Do the research, test drive test drive test drive then pull the trigger! Good luck!

Mercho82

I would strongly advise to go for the brand new Benz! The M3 yes have a little more power but who cares, it is a pice of crap next to a Benz. Besides at 68k miles you are just getting a junker, Im 100% sure your going to regrete it when the car star to give you expensive headaches. There is nothing as good as the smell of a brand new car and knowing that you are the first person driving it. On the other hand, I cant wait for Kia and Hyundai to come out with their luxury brand so they can compete with toyota...sorry I meant Lexus, Acura and Infiniti.

Phin

Lol...thanks bro...I was feeling a little down this morning....



..truth be told it's apples and oranges between the C300/35 and the e46 M3..it really depends on what you want out of your car...

burnteggroll

i say go for the c300 and enjoy the comfortable ride....beside, its all brand new...

tonydinh3

yeh i am leaning towards the C300 because its brand new not knowing the condition on the M3 but im going to take a look at the M3 in a few days seeing the service records and etc to decide. i kind of wanted a manual car because im young (18) and want to get the thrill from driving comming from a Lexus is300 that i bought used which broke alot because of bad ownership from previous owners! thats why im kind of scared of buying used cars now and getting the Mercedes in manual im not sure because of the fact it is a mercedes more of a luxury car so rather probably get it in automatic but i am going to test drive the manual c300 to see. just like the benifit of a new car because of the fact i can know that the car is brand new and will have less chance of breaking down as long as i take care of the car compared to a used car which i do not know how the recent owner took care of the car. like if it was a brand new M3 id hop on that car right away! haha buy my limit is aournd 30k!


btw how many manual users like their car or wish they have gotten a automatic? does it ever get boring to you or get tiering when you are in traffic or some thing? i just want to get a car that i wont regret! after my lexus is300 i want to make sure its the right car! HAHA

And thanks again for all the resposnes really helped out and will all be in consideration

Mercho82

Dude you are as young as I am and so far it seems you are smart enough to chose the right ride. I got my C 350 fully loaded PP1 PP2 and MM It came auto transmition standar and to be honest I love it! It is 7 speeds vs 6 speed manual plus you can chose COMFORT or SPORT MODE(which is my fav) and if thats would not be enough you can even manually shift throught the gears with the stick clushless.

acmf74

The new Benz in this scenario is the right choice...but if it was between a new C or M, i'd opt for the M.

A C for any matter can't replicate the driving experience of an M.

The M is faster in speed and has better handling. Then again it costs 30k more