C/E, 3/5 and A4/A6
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C/E, 3/5 and A4/A6
The cars which I have referred to in the name of the thread are the highly respected German cars, Mercedes-Benz C and E series, BMW 3 and 5 series and the Audi A4 and A6. All of these cars are – or at least should be – very good. You can not go too wrong with any of these cars, but I want to hear your opinion about them, because I know that all of you know very much of German cars. 
Both the C and E series are pretty new. The E is a bit newer. The new E series is said to be very good car. Aren’t C and E both pretty reliable cars? Or might the new E series be a bit worse in reliability than the C is… The E series has very many new gadgets, which is nice. The interior of the E is also very luxury.
The BMWs are a bit older then the Mercedes are. Aren’t the new models coming in two or three years? The BMWs are good to drive. They also look pretty good both inside and outside.
Aren’t the Audis very reliable cars? The Quattro also is a bid advantage for Audi.
What is your opinion about these cars? Which one is the most reliable, luxury, pleasant to drive?
My choice might be any of these cars. All of them just sound so good…
Both the C and E series are pretty new. The E is a bit newer. The new E series is said to be very good car. Aren’t C and E both pretty reliable cars? Or might the new E series be a bit worse in reliability than the C is… The E series has very many new gadgets, which is nice.
The interior of the E is also very luxury.The BMWs are a bit older then the Mercedes are. Aren’t the new models coming in two or three years? The BMWs are good to drive. They also look pretty good both inside and outside.
Aren’t the Audis very reliable cars? The Quattro also is a bid advantage for Audi.
What is your opinion about these cars? Which one is the most reliable, luxury, pleasant to drive?
My choice might be any of these cars. All of them just sound so good…
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Lots of questions, no simple answers.
At some point I've owned (or shared my wife's) most of the cars you mentioned.
Reliability: any new model in a series will have more bugs and flaws than the later years in the series, so you can't compare 2002 A4 vs A6 vs 330 vs 540 vs E430, etc.
They're all at different stages of evolution in their respective lineages.
Overall reliability ratings brand-wide vary a bit from reviewer to reviewer. There are many ways to rate reliability, and ratings will change from year to year, cost must be factored in, etc. There is no simple way to measure 'reliability'.
The JD Power vehicle dependability awards for 2001 (based on customer ratings, problems per 100 vehicles):
Lexus 173
Infiniti 219
Jaguar 250
Lincoln
Acura
Honda
Toyota
Cadillac
Porsche
*****MB 296
Buick
Mercury
*****BMW 320
*****Audi 328
all others are below this
*****Industry average-382
JD Power's consumer research group offers the following comparison (0-5 scale, current models):
Long term reliability:
BMW5-4
BMW3-3
A4-3
A6-4
E class-4
C class-3
Mechanical quality:
BMW5-5
BMW3-4
A4-4
A6-3
E class-5
C class-3
Interior/body quality:
BMW5-5
BMW3-4
A4-3
A6-3
E class-5
C class-4
The JD Power 2002 assembly plant quality top awards went to Japanese plants. In Europe, BMW was rated slightly better than MB. Audi did not make the award list.
As for driving manners and such, to generalize to the extreme, BMW's handle a bit better and feel sportier (3 vs. C and 5 vs. E), Audi is between the two in my experience.
Driving comfort ('touring luxury' favors the MB's over the Audis with BMW last.
Interior is a matter of personal taste. I like BMW more than Audi more than MB in general.
Resale value favors MB over BMW and both are much better than Audi.
There is obviously no consensus 'best'.
That's why it makes for good debate and discussion.
At some point I've owned (or shared my wife's) most of the cars you mentioned.
Reliability: any new model in a series will have more bugs and flaws than the later years in the series, so you can't compare 2002 A4 vs A6 vs 330 vs 540 vs E430, etc.
They're all at different stages of evolution in their respective lineages.
Overall reliability ratings brand-wide vary a bit from reviewer to reviewer. There are many ways to rate reliability, and ratings will change from year to year, cost must be factored in, etc. There is no simple way to measure 'reliability'.
The JD Power vehicle dependability awards for 2001 (based on customer ratings, problems per 100 vehicles):
Lexus 173
Infiniti 219
Jaguar 250
Lincoln
Acura
Honda
Toyota
Cadillac
Porsche
*****MB 296
Buick
Mercury
*****BMW 320
*****Audi 328
all others are below this
*****Industry average-382
JD Power's consumer research group offers the following comparison (0-5 scale, current models):
Long term reliability:
BMW5-4
BMW3-3
A4-3
A6-4
E class-4
C class-3
Mechanical quality:
BMW5-5
BMW3-4
A4-4
A6-3
E class-5
C class-3
Interior/body quality:
BMW5-5
BMW3-4
A4-3
A6-3
E class-5
C class-4
The JD Power 2002 assembly plant quality top awards went to Japanese plants. In Europe, BMW was rated slightly better than MB. Audi did not make the award list.
As for driving manners and such, to generalize to the extreme, BMW's handle a bit better and feel sportier (3 vs. C and 5 vs. E), Audi is between the two in my experience.
Driving comfort ('touring luxury' favors the MB's over the Audis with BMW last.
Interior is a matter of personal taste. I like BMW more than Audi more than MB in general.
Resale value favors MB over BMW and both are much better than Audi.
There is obviously no consensus 'best'.
That's why it makes for good debate and discussion.
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amg55, Big thanks for your numbers. As you said, the choice with these cars are not very easy.
Brian_R170, You are right in the manner of the size. The E is pretty big. But the size is not the most important issue.
The Merc also has something glamorous.
Brian_R170, You are right in the manner of the size. The E is pretty big. But the size is not the most important issue.
The Merc also has something glamorous.
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2025 G63 AMG China blue on MANUFAKTUR Bengal Red
Mercedes are more towards Luxury, they are comfortable, amazing rides and beautiful elegant looks. Going with the AMG you still have the elegants with some sport and speed!
BMWs are more towards Sportiness. The car is very sporty, the handling is too damn good, and they are generaly very fast. There rides don;t compare with a Mercedes, because they are stiffer.
Audis are also more towardssportiness but they also have luxury. In a way they have a little bit of both worlds but they are'nt amazing at either. They are though excellent with the sportiness. The S4for example is very sporty, handles amazing and is very fast. That car is awesome. So the sportiness would come close to a BMW maybe 1 or 2 inches away but with luxury it does not come close to a benz
-Musfather
BMWs are more towards Sportiness. The car is very sporty, the handling is too damn good, and they are generaly very fast. There rides don;t compare with a Mercedes, because they are stiffer.
Audis are also more towardssportiness but they also have luxury. In a way they have a little bit of both worlds but they are'nt amazing at either. They are though excellent with the sportiness. The S4for example is very sporty, handles amazing and is very fast. That car is awesome. So the sportiness would come close to a BMW maybe 1 or 2 inches away but with luxury it does not come close to a benz
-Musfather
