I feel compelled to give my two cents regarding the issue of which company builds a better car, Mercedes-Benz or BMW. I have read countless articles comparing the two companies, AMG vs M and lately E55 vs M5. Quite frankly I am sick and tired of it!

Mercedes-Benz, especially the most recent models, has designed gorgeous looking exteriors coupled with plush, comfortable, elegent interiors which are quiet yet still remind you your actually driving and in control. They are powerful cars with comfortable, somewhat soft suspensions but by no means like Cadillacs of old. AMG, according to the head of AMG NA whom I met at last years AMG Challenge, has worked very hard to maintain all of the traditional MB characteristics with the one important exception of raising them all. If you want a sports car buy a Porsche or Ferrari and if you want a four door sports car buy a BMW, but if you want the ultimate MB with all the MB characterists buy an AMG. He was very clear in his vision of what AMG is and where it is headed.

BMW's are more daring, flamed exteriors with functional, somewhat cold interiors all designed around the driver. They are very responsive, have great power and the sharpest steering with the most feedback I have ever experienced. When driving a BMW it begs you to drive aggressively, the car wants to eat the road for lunch. The car is a major reason BMW drivers have the reputation they do.

When people say the BWM will kick the MB's butt or the MB is a nicer drive then the BMW it is truly irrelevent. They are two distinct cars going after two distinct personalities.

I recently drove a BMW 5 and E back to back. Clearly, the BMW is a more involving, better handling car. Which would I pick? The E, no question. Why? My personality, desires, feels, & expectations are more in line with MB than BMW in terms of what I want out of a car. It doesn't make me, or anyone else, right or wrong. That is the beauty of it, we have two fine German companies making two distinct cars for two distince personalities. What would be the point if they both drove the same? If someone wants the best of both worlds, surprise-surprise, buy one of each!

To conclude, I'm sick and tired of the comparisons. They're both great cars from great manufacturers. MB is a luxury-sports car while BMW is a sport-luxury car, and I for one hope it stays that way.

Sorry for the long post but I just had to get that off my chest.

 

Isn't that what cars (or any product) are all about? Comparing them to their competition? This is what makes the manufactureres continue to "better" their products, constant comparisons and feed back from the consumers. Without it, we'd still be stuck driving Fords and Chevy's. What a ugly world that would be! LOL!

Maybe you're just referring to the bashing that goes on between MB and BMW owners.? If so, that's all part of life too.

 

What about 2 door sports car a la m3

I never liked BMW too much except for the M3. Even then I would take a C32 AMG . Their old cars are just dull. (E39, E38, E36.) and the new ones are all disgusting. I dont care about the M5, atleast from a looks perspective.

Personally I never cared for MB until the W203 came out in 2001. All of MBZ newer cars are beautiful though The upcoming C55 and Current E55 AMG's are to die for

 

Agreed. Two marques going after two different markets, but still a lot of crossover shoppers due to the "prestige" factor in the US (and perhaps elsewhere, I'm not sure). Anyway, the badge buyers are the ones the mags are targeting and thus the reason for the comparos. (Which is weird, in my opinion, because badge buyers don't read the comparos...)

Anyway, I recently switched to BMW after thinking I'd never leave Mercedes. The declining QA and the less sporty feel are what got me. I have to say, though, that the lack of luxury in a 3-series was shocking compared to the C-class. At first, at least. But once I get to driving, nothing else really seems to matter anymore...

 

What kind of 3 do you have and what year?

I test drove the 330ci Sport and loved the handling but I though the ride was kind of harsh for a daiy driver especially on the highway. Even the non sport was harsh and the rims were ugly without the sports option. I don't even want to know about the harshness of the M3!! Of course the interior was extremely dull. Then I test drove the C320, smooth as silk, great interior and great ride at high speeds. But I will admit it is definitely not as fun or agile as the 330. Sometimes when I push my car even with the suspension mods I have, It has somewhat of an old mans car feel. It doesnt bother me though, I know benz is not a sports car, but more of a cruiser which I was after. The 2 cars are extremely different. It wasnt even a close comparison. the smooth ride and interior of the benz really got me as well as the exterior. plus I was getting auto, and bmw in auto didnt make sense too much.

I think if one is interested in sport they would look at BMW, Audi, Infiniti. And one looking at luxury would go with MB, Lex, Acura.

Although I personally I never looked at the lex or honduh. I hate all there cars. Two of the blandest looking cars companies out there.

 

I always thought Acura was more performance than luxury, according to the general public. I could be wrong, though. And personally, I like Toyota for reliability and Honda for their sporty cars. We still have a 91 Honda Accord that's going strong.

I have a 2004 330i (Performance Package) w/ a six-speed manual tranny. It's definitely a harsh ride, and while the engine is what some may consider loud, I don't think it's loud enough. The wheels look great, especially on the low-profile tires. If you're into a smooth ride, though, it's definitely not for you...

Go test drive one sometime. Maybe it'd be a nice weekend car for you. Of course, if you're going weekend car, might as well get some kind of fun roadster. However, I will say this: I find myself making excuses to go drive. It can be late at night, early in the morning, or whatever. Driving in this car is fun. (This is more of a "while I'm young" car, though. I think when I'm older I'd want a C55 AMG or its equivalent as a daily driver and a 2-seater roadster like a Honda S2000 for the weekends.)

 

WEll id say the TL is more the luxury while the RSX, TSX are more for sport.

Nice car! The performance package has a nice interior and I love the wheels. Now they have the Coupe performance package as well! I like.

I think an M3 would be a nice weekend car. I wouldnt mind having one of those along with an MB along with a C55. Best of both worlds. Im not really into roadster/convertibles. i am paranoid that it might flip over and ill die

Enjoy your car, Good purchase bro

 

Quote : I recently drove a BMW 5 and E back to back. Clearly, the BMW is a more involving, better handling car. Which would I pick? The E, no question. Why? My personality, desires, feels, & expectations are more in line with MB than BMW in terms of what I want out of a car. It doesn't make me, or anyone else, right or wrong. That is the beauty of it, we have two fine German companies making two distinct cars for two distince personalities. What would be the point if they both drove the same? If someone wants the best of both worlds, surprise-surprise, buy one of each!

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I never could really understand why people compared the 2. I am a Merc person. The only BMW I ever drove which I like, was the first E36 M3. That to me was a real race car with number plates. But I will never buy a car like that. Why? Because with a daily driver I want comfort luxury and power, everything my C32 has.

 

I owned and maintained 4 BMWs when they first arived at our shores and you blinked the headlights, saluting another BMW.

I am seriouslly looking at the new BMW 6 series...

...but till I get one, I maintain and share your enthusiasm:

The 208 CLK55 AMG Coupe is the best car ever produced since Karl Benz
patented the world's first motorcar in 1886, registered his patent DRP
37435, which is considered as the official birth certificate of the first motor
car!

 

Sorry Karl, there are better looking/performing MBZ that are better then the 208 AMG.

 

I've got to agree with Karl

 

How about reliability? Back in the late 80/90s I was a fan of the 5 and 7 series... that is until I had to work on them, what a pain.
I compared that with the late 80s E class which was great to work on and had a lot less problems!

A friend of mine had a 2000 750il and traded it in for the 2000 S430, after owning the S430 for a while "My BMW never had all these problems! I'm going back to BMW..." What a shame...

Regardless, for me it is still MB or Jaguar..

 

...not to mention better looking, a lot better looking that any new BMW series, especially the 6! YUCK!

 

Jaguar? Interesting. How has reliability been for you? To be honest, it's the one marque I've heard that supposedly rivals Audi for poor reliability. I'm guessing you haven't had too many problems, though?

 

Thats what you get for buying a first production year car!

How come no one mentions the S-class cars of the 80's? I feel left out

 

My 208/ 55 is different:

It has a HALO*, wherever it goes.


*MB extended warranty to 2008 -
that's ART+ in MOTION, Style & Tradition!!

 

If your car is that great, why are you even bothering with an extended warranty? why dont you just keep your car for a long time? Are you concerned the best car Karl Benz ever made has *ahem* reliability issues?

I dont mean to sound like an ***, but you have said this phrase 50 times on this forum.

 

That's very true. I think a lot of people miss that. A lot of BMW fans will say MB's are inferior, and vice versa. It's just like conservatives will believe propaganda about liberals, just the same as liberals believe propaganda about conservatives. Anyway, I'm tired of typing right now....

 

Actually the XJ8 has had less problems than my E320 and more miles, I feel a little let down.... however at the same time the car has also become FORDified... I would never touch the 2004 XJ8 (ew) I'm not digging the elevated/fat body style and ford interior....

As for the 1980s S-classes, great cars! The 560sec I used to have was great except for the head gaskets leaking and wood cracking... Quality still seemed better though than now.

 

I shall continue saying it, so that people like you can practice counting, and at the same time prove in cyberspace,
what a real a$$ is like!

:o