BMW vs. Benz

[Chris]

Just for the hell of it, I'll start another discussion. Oh yeah, this is for street related driving, not the track.

Over break I had the chance to test drive/ride in a couple diff. cars. I drove one of the new BMW X3's. The first one was a 2.5L with the sport package. This thing rode incredibly horrible! You felt every bump, but the handling was outstanding. There was very little body lean, and it actually inspired some confidence in the turns. The sport package also includes "sport seats" which I thought were very stiff and uncomfortable. My back hurt after a while sitting in them. We also drove a 2.5L without the sport package. This rode a lot better, had better seats, but lacked the crisp handling. It was also kind of sluggish, and had to be pushed when accelerating. The 3.0L only had the stiff suspension (from what the salesman said). The other part that was disapointing was the interior. It just felt cheap, and for $ 40 grand, it should be better. My dad's 03 4-runner is a lot nicer inside and out (personal opinion), and has V8 power for about the same price range.

There was also a new 6 series on the lot, as well as many 5's, including a 545 6speed. Of the new BMW's, I have to say the styling is a hard bite at first. I wasn't crazy of the 6, esp for 70 grand. The 5's are much better looking than the 7's but I'd take the previous 540 model over it any day.

After the BMW dealer, we looked at various Mercedes. Just from 1st impressions, the styling (SL 500!), interior, and built quality just seem much better. A few years ago, I was saying the EXACT opposite for the tri-star company.

I'm leaving out the M and AMG cars in this comparo simply bc they are more track tuned and would involve a different discussion. Also, the current 3 series is still great, I would take one over a C class Benz any day.

For everyday driving, which brand does everyone prefer? I'm stuck bc of one little aspect- manual tranny's. If that doesn't matter, as in a 7 series and S class, the benz wins hands down.

Oh and one other thing, we drove a G35X sedan (all-wheel drive). WOW! Ride, quality, interior, stereo, and power is excellent. I see why they keep winning tests. The back seats also reclined at the pull of a lever.

[BLINGMW]

BMW! BMW!

.....ok... let me actually read your post here....

BMW! :lol: Yup, for me, Mercedes not making ANYTHING in a manual since... what, early nineties :?: kills it for me. I don't care how nice the cars are, they're WORTHLESS. :wink: If I had enough $$ to be looking at the cars you were driving, and was shopping for a street car, I wouldn't come near a Mercedes dealership. Wouldn't let Jess go near it either. As for your mixed impressions of the X3, maybe the Toyota is better, who knows, I don't know much about SUV's. If I was looking at a NICE tow vehicle for some reason or had my 7 kids, I would probably heavily consider Toyota as well. And even Mercedes since that minivan looking SUV thing they make has stood the test of time and gets good reviews.

But for the current lineup of cars, yes, the 7 series styling is eh :? ... the 5, a little better, but yeah, I'd probably agree, the Mercedes do look nicer. Worthless, but nicer. If I was going to get a car this size, I would probably vote with you-- the previous 5 series was much more classic looking, the 540 sport with 6spd would be great!

I'm out of my element, this is too wide of a topic! And all about new cars I have no desire or $$ to buy. They're almost all too fat with too many bells and whistles I don't want. I'll bow out. I'd prob get an RX8 or a Prius if I was shopping for a 2002+ street car, and those have nothing to do with this topic. I don't know why I even answered, my lunch break is over.

BMW!

[G.Irish]

I'd have to go with BMW. All of their vehicles are more driver's cars than they are pimp-mobiles like Mercedes. Now if you're more into pimp and comfort then MB is the way to go. I can't think of any car in MB's lineup that I would take over the comparable BMW except the SL500 vs the Z8.

[ScottyB]

mercedes hardly offers any of its cars, performance versions or not, with a manual transmission. for that reason alone id pick bmw.

same sad situation with the G35X...the salesman i talked to a few weeks back said they would not offer the G35X in a manual. thats just a shame.

[Mike]

Yeah if G35X was manual I'd forego the e36 M3 next year and find a way to afford one of them.

[Chris]

oh man, didn't even realize that... obviously I wasn't the one considering a purchase, it was a friend's mom.

[Evan]

eh, G35 sedan is fooogily

and in the coupe id rather have rwd.


of the 2, I guess I would reluctantly go with the BMW. But if I had the cash, I wouldnt get either.
for SUVs, Forrester XT > *

[Mike]

eh, G35 sedan is fooogily

and in the coupe id rather have rwd.


of the 2, I guess I would reluctantly go with the BMW. But if I had the cash, I wouldnt get either.
for SUVs, Forrester XT > *

Agreed about G35 sedan, the coupe gives me a half-hard.

Funny you should mention the Forester XT, I just told Ryan yesterday that I think it'd be fun to mod one. They've got boost, and lowered with some nice wheels (I'm thinking Bronze TE37s) I think they'd look pretty good.

[G.Irish]

I wouldn't buy the G35X because its too heavy, shifter is clunky, and interior is somewhat chincy. For the prixe in the entry to mid luxury segment I'd have to go with the 04 TL or an E39 5 series. If I want a sort of touring/luxury sporty car I'd go with the M3 as well. I'd be torn over E36 vs. E46 because of the E46 engine failures though.

[KPWSerpiente]

eh, G35 sedan is fooogily

and in the coupe id rather have rwd.

The G35 Coupe is RWD.

I'd take the Nissan over anything (excluding some of the AMG) BMW or Mercedes is putting out.

I'm not really the luxery sedan kind of person.

-T

*Edit - As G says, the 04 Tl is hot hot hot. I'd snatch that up over a lot of it's competition.

[Evan]

The G35 Coupe is RWD.

thank you captain obvious.

[KPWSerpiente]

No problem. If you were trying to suggest that you would rather have the coupe because it is RWD as opposed to the sedan...you should go take a test drive. The Sedan is in RWD most of the time.

-T

[.RJ]

Uhm, the sedan is RWD All the time, provided you dont buy the AWD option.

[Evan]

anyone know what type of center diff the G35x uses?

edit: answered my own question: it is an electro controlled clutch.
pretty slick setup. Would be great if it were driver adjustable though.

[.RJ]

edit: answered my own question: it is an electro controlled clutch.

Acura MSX uses a similar setup, pretty slick.

[Maengelito]

bmw fo shizzle. it is beyond me why mbz's dont offer manual trannies (except in clk and c230 hatchcrap model) on some of their higher end models. i guess benzo's are all luxury, which if thats what you want, there isnt much better except paying out the ass for a bently/maybach, etc. bmw's can be luxury, and fast, and sometimes both. both makes are bling though.

[ScottyB]

i respect the TL in alot of ways, but that's just too much power to be pushing through the front tires.

anybody remember the old Lotus Carlton? twin turbo straight six, rwd, luxo sedan that could hit 175mph. now that's what im talkin aboot!

[Mike]

eh, G35 sedan is fooogily

and in the coupe id rather have rwd.

The G35 Coupe is RWD.

I think he referring to the option of an AWD Coupe, he'd rather just have RWD.

[Kaan]

M power... all the way. i like some M3, M5 shizza

[Dave]

I'm a big fan of BMW in comparison to MB. Both are a little too plush and pricey for my taste, but the BMW heritage helps me lead towards that choice. Besides, I rolled that SL500 hard out at VIR, but the M3 rocked my world out at Oak Tree and I never saw him again.