BMW vs Meredes Benz: Which is better?

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by Excape Goat, Apr 17, 2006.

  1. saosebastiao

    saosebastiao New Member

    May 22, 2005
    I've driven some pretty soft BMWs. Really, the M series and AMGs are a match for each other, but the base levels are not.

    Personally, I think that the dynamics of a base level S class are more sporty than a base level 7 series, but the opposite for the E vs 5 and the C vs 3.

    I don't think it matters too much anyway...unless you live in the countryside, traffic is so bad these days that sportyness is just an image.
     
  2. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    yeah, that's what I was trying to say. I've only been driving in a 7 series, so can't comment on the comparison to the S class.

    true, but even people who live in the city often drive in the countryside. I lived for many years of my life in cities in or close to mountainous areas, and there it really does matter. sometimes even a lot. traffic allows free driving, and I remember a few years ago I drove a rental car (don't remember the make, I think it was some Asian car), which had a horribly soft suspension, in the Pyrenees, close to Barcelona. I was more or less fine since I was behind the wheel, but the poor souls who had to sit in the back got properly sick. on European mountain roads it certainly does matter.
    on the other side, a friend of mine was driving a Merc C class through London, and he would accelerate onto speed-bumps, would do nothing for either car or comfort. it seems speed-bumps are just for the poor ;) not sure you can do that with a standard 3 series.

    that rental car I mentioned earlier reminds me, why do rental cars tend to have such horribly soft suspensions? I had the same thing a few times. the only time I got a proper car for a reasonable price was with Avis in Germany. they gave me an Audi A3 sports for around €300/week, now that was fun to drive! but other than that, you either pay yourself silly, or you get some rubbish.
     
  3. saosebastiao

    saosebastiao New Member

    May 22, 2005
    I think its probably in the rental company's best interest to make their cars as boring as possible. Rentals are incredibly abused as it is.

    But if you ever take a trip to LA, there are certainly a few rental companies that will let you get a nice exotic for a pretty price.
     
  4. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    can you get an RS4 over there? they seem to be impossible to rent in Europe. even if I could afford one, I probably wouldn't buy one, but would love to have a spin in it.
     
  5. saosebastiao

    saosebastiao New Member

    May 22, 2005
    Probably not here, because they don't sell it here. But you can get a Bugatti Veyron!:D

    There are a few exotic rental companies in the UK:
    http://www.emguk.com/hire.php?car=1
    http://www.platinumcarz.co.uk/

    It looks like both of them have RS4s.
     
  6. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana

    The A3 is awesome. I've driven both an A3 and A4 and I actually prefer the A3 to the A4 but I don't have a problem with small autos.
     
  7. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    I think Audi stopped production of the RS4 back in 2008. A friend of mine in Florida has one and he loves his.
     
  8. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    cool, thanks! the first link has the RS4 cabriolet, I've seen them in other places, but a cabriolet is kind of missing the point of that car, would have to be a hardtop. the second link has a hardtop, so once I have a spare grand I might take it for a weekend up to Scotland.. :)

    just out of interest, how much is that Veyron? (including deposit please ;))
     
  9. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    the A3 is really a great car. but when it comes to the cabriolets, the A4 is far cooler than the A3 cabriolet. in fact the A4 cabriolet is one of the coolest cars around. so much class..
     
  10. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Honestly, I was never sold on the idea of the A3 cabriolet. For some reason, it just doesn't seem right. Supposedly, Audi is coming out w/ an R8 cabriolet as well. Unless, it is a hard top, I'm not sure how I feel about it..Not as if I will be buying one anytime soon..but still..;)

    The A4 in general is one of the finest automobiles ever designed. I loved the way the B6 model's interior lit up at night--almost like being in the cockpit of an airplane. :D
     
  11. saosebastiao

    saosebastiao New Member

    May 22, 2005
    I don't know...I looked it up once, and it seems to be one of those "If you have to ask, we wont tell you" type of prices.
     
  12. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    last time I checked, it ran for a cool million. From what I've been told, an oil change for that thing is 20K+...
     
  13. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    well, the A4 hardtop looks a bit boring I have to say, but the cabriolet is fantastic. as for the A3 cabriolet, it seems some car designers just don't get that simply cutting the roof off doesn't make a great looking cabriolet. the A3 hardtop looks quite cool, but the cabriolet just doesn't work. BMW made the same mistake with the Mini. with the A4 they actually bothered to design the cabriolet for it's purpose, and it shows.
     
  14. ViscaBarca

    ViscaBarca Member

    Mar 26, 2004
    London
    that would be to buy though, not to rent. funny thing is, production costs (including development) are said to be around £5 million per car. don't know whether they decided to build more of them than originally planned, then of course that cost would go down.
     
  15. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    If you're going to go through the "trouble" to rent a Veyron, you might as well buy it. :D

    According to wiki, only 200 of them were produced up until last year. The Grand Sport, the targa top version, went into production this spring. Supposedly, the that thing can hit 408km/h when the roof is up. :eek:
     
  16. jetaman-redded

    jetaman-redded Red Card

    Dec 26, 2009
    Club:
    AC Milan
    I think Mercedes is better than BMW.
    What I know, Mercedes is more solid and has more reliable engine even though both companies get outsourced their engines VQ and V6.
     
  17. song219

    song219 BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 5, 2004
    La Norte
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Vanuatu
    I'll rate the companies, Daimler Benz doesn't make motorcycles the the nod goes to BMW.
     
  18. Moishe

    Moishe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Boca Juniors
    Argentina
    Mar 6, 2005
    Here there and everywhere.
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    It's not that horrible, I mean it can't be any worse than a TT. If you want to see a truly gorgeous sixer look back to this.

    [​IMG]

    I've got a clear bias towards BMW as my old man has been obsessed with bimmers since we moved here. My first car was an 1982 320i and my high school graduation was an M6 like the above only an 86. The one difference was that mine had BBS hugs instead of the roundel. Amazing car unfortunately I sold it five years ago when I got divorced. The M88 platform inside and out is one of the finest cars made.


    Another addition to the BMW family is it's relationship with the tuner Dinan. Dinan are the only tuner who's work is covered under warranty by BMW plus you can purchase the upgrades via the dealership.
     
  19. Neo¹

    Neo¹ Member

    Sep 17, 2004
    Dinan is over rated and over priced.
     
  20. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Pff, don't go there then...:rolleyes:


    :confused:


    :D
     
  21. Moishe

    Moishe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Boca Juniors
    Argentina
    Mar 6, 2005
    Here there and everywhere.
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    How is Dinan overrated and to which tuners are you comparing them? Is it engine performance, suspension, braking, body kits........no beef with your opinion but I am curious as to why you feel that way. As far Dinan being overpriced, they aren't cheap but if I'm buying a new or certified pre-owned bimmer I'd gladly pay a bit more just for the piece of mind that it won't void my warranty. You could pay an additional $2500k for upgrades or you can pay considerably more for a trashed M engine? What's really more cost effective?
     
  22. Neo¹

    Neo¹ Member

    Sep 17, 2004
    Dinan being overrated and over priced is a well known fact and common sentiment shared amoung bimmer entusistas, including myslef.

    Here is a pic of my car
    [​IMG]

    Yes, its warranty approved but the premium you pay for such little performance gains (if any) do not justify the cost. Dinan was popular 10 years ago when there wasn't much competition. Back then dinan meant something and people cared about stacking up dinan points to get that dinan badge.

    Now there are companies who can do more for less. ie, Gruppe M, eisenman, Moton, Brembo. These guys also supply parts for high end cars Porsche and Aston Martin.
     
  23. Moishe

    Moishe Moderator
    Staff Member

    Boca Juniors
    Argentina
    Mar 6, 2005
    Here there and everywhere.
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    First of all very nice car, I'd love to see some more photos from different angles. I'm a bimmer enthusiast as well and have been to numerous Oktoberfests and Shark Fests and while some don't prefer Dinan they also don't claim it to be overrated.

    Where Dinan differs from the groups you listed is that they offer a broader range of products. Those groups you listed are more specialists in certain areas i.e. brakes, exhaust....nothing wrong with that just a matter of taste I guess. As for questionable performance gains, my 86 M6 wasn't badged but with what Dinan work i did get done increased my HP a good 55 points and the torque from 251 ft. lbs to 315 which was very noticeable on an already quick car. My father on the other hand has a badged E39 M5 and I don't think anyone would ever complain about his power gains over stock performance. Granted as you alluded to it did cost a lot of money but I'd say worth it. I get to drive it twice a year and jeebus that thing is insane.

    Here's an actual picture of my old car taken somewhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway along Skyline Drive. One of the best road trips ever.

    [​IMG]
     
  24. MarocFAN

    MarocFAN Member

    May 18, 2006
    Morocco/Germany
    How much does a used 90's E class cost in the us?
     
  25. ammar7

    ammar7 New Member

    Apr 4, 2010
    Eberbach, Germany
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I will surely go for BMW due to the engineering-high standards. I am not underestimating the standards of Benz.
    It's a personal preference :)
     

Share This Page