BMW all the way for me - ultimate driving machine and all that - Mercs will be when i get a bit more sensible :D
BUT that SLS AMG is friggin awesome...
Right boys, I find these two marques are like marmite with differing view upon those who drive each respective brand!
Before deciding let me just show you this!
Mercedes SLS
BMW all the way for me - ultimate driving machine and all that - Mercs will be when i get a bit more sensible :D
BUT that SLS AMG is friggin awesome...
mmmmm gullwing :drunken:
It depends on what you look for in a car. BMW have the edge with the driveabilty of their cars, Mercs have the edge with prestige.
As for the gull wing - I love the original, and the one pictured is a fantastic modern day interpretation. But those headlights are bloody fugly :shock:
My main client is Mercedes-Benz so I'm usually a bit cynical and blasé about them. However I've been doing some work for the SLS-Class and it's one seriously awesome car. I'm sworn to secrecy and all that so can't go into details but wait until you see them :love4:.
Cheers,
Gary
Oops forgot to answer the question, BMW for me, unless my boss is reading :wink:.
Cheers,
Gary
Not a big fan of either, but BMW.
Been driving BMW for a few years now, so that's my preference.
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
Alfa Romeo :D
Pete
I love them both - and VW's and Audi's. My last car was an Audi, current is BMW and hopefully a Mercedes next (or a VW!)
Neither TBH - better spec available elsewhere for similar and often less money.
If pushed to be limited to only a choice between these 2 it would be BMW.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Interesting, so what would be your choice?Neither TBH - better spec available elsewhere for similar and often less money.
If pushed to be limited to only a choice between these 2 it would be BMW.
Very interesting about this insider knowledge about the SLS. I love it!!!!!!!
Merc for me.
The SL that I have is my first - but wont be my last.
I've owned and enjoyed both but my last 4 cars have been Merc (and a brief flirtation with Porsche).
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Lexus or Bmw
My current merc W211 E270 took about 3 years to settle in ie. warranty issues, breakdowns, electrical faults etc. Running ok at the moment but this is definetly MY LAST MERC.
The SL that I have is my first - but wont be my last.
I remember you posting a photo. Great great car! Makes you feel really special when you are in that cabin :-)
Clearly there are price points and many do not head off into the stratosphere like the two choices.
If we are looking at the more accessible stuff spec. for £ Honda and Mazda beat them hands down.
I currently drive a Honda CRV EX - the equivalent spec X3 (comparable model) is £10k more - waste of money in my book (unless you are badge conscious).
Originally Posted by ggill
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Going by current trends I would suggest this thread be AUDI vs BMW, Merc at the moment cannot complete with either of these brands.
If you want a pretty car buy a Merc, if you want a car to drive buy a BMW if you want the latest ''In'' car buy Audi.
And yes I am biased towards BMW, it's my job to be :D
I agree with Chris on this and I love cars but its very very hard not to be utterly cynical about the car business these days. It really boils down to the type of car though doesn't it? Perhaps something like;
Hatch - Golf
Saloon - Mondeo or Accord
Poky Saloon - BMW 335
Estate - BMW 535
Swanky Saloon - Jag XF
Super Saloon - Jag XFR
Roadster - MX5
Fast Sportscar - GT3
4x4 - Range Rover or X5 (Wifes sister has RR sport it is superb despite worries over LR products)
That is about it for me, sorry not a single MB product in that list they make great diesel engines and automatic gearboxes but that is not enough for me.
I have owned Audi S4 (2.7TT and 4.2), BMW M3 (E46 SMG), and Mercedes C63 AMG
Here is how I would compare them:
BMW M3 - definately the 'drivers' car of the lot. Down the country lanes this was really really fun. But it was a hard hard ride. The motorway miles took their toll. Dealer service was appalling for a £45k car. Don't get me started. Fit and finish wasn't really what you would expect (I was coming from one of the audi's though)
Audi S4 - both brilliant cars. Nice compromise between ride harshness and cornering. Fit and finish superb. Dealer experience superb.
Mercedes - was put off initially because of the auto box. Then I heard the AMG engine. WOOOF. And how it goes in a straight line. Corners aren't so good, but as an every day driver? I'd pick it every time.
For my next car...? Well... probably another Merc. Tempted by the new E63 AMG (now have got two kids)
BMW for me, had 5 now in total, the only one i didnt really like was a 328 convertible - but it was the wifes
Benz.
Far better class of owner. No offence, like.
:roll:Originally Posted by Seamaster73
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Merc
One day I WILL have a SL.
Whilst I appreciate the BMW brand I have no burning desire to own one.
Regards
bm for me,everyone i know whos gone for a merc seems to have had lots of nigly problems with them,so i think bmw it would be,saying that iv got a golf.
No strong urge to own either; bought a Jaguar 2.2 X-type a couple of years back and I`m still impressed by it. Might buy a second hand XF next, the latest 3.0 diesels are awesome.
Paul
Both are nothing special these days. Audi might not have the status etc and Jaguar might have a iffy reputation but both are better made than a Modern BMW or Merc.
As a long term Porsche driver neither would be my first choice, but of the 2, BMW are the more driver centric.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
depends on which model's your comparing.
The wife's next car will likely be an A class
Mine will probably be a Jag X type.
I have the same model. Love it. I'm not sure I can justify replacing it with another though. I just don't do enough mileage any more. Something a tad smaller but with a good load space.Originally Posted by Chris_in_the_UK
Never driven a CRX but do know Honda's to be unbreakable if you can stand the more regular service intervals.
Wow the C63 is a favourite of mine although the S, CL and SLS are top of the tree although too expensive!!!
I currently have one of each :)
very much horses for courses .... which model are you looking at ?
never had a BM...used to hate them and all who drove them, cant now cos most of my friends have one. Reason was the salesmen..really annoyed me because I refuse to dress up to go shopping for a motor....they seemed to judge me thus and were more interested in how I would finance the car......so annoying. My watch costs more than....etc.
So for this reason cant judge BM's. Have had couple of mercs....excellent. Wife had CLK convertible...shit driving position. had TVR's, porsches, now with audi S6...great fun and practical.Next car might be GTR...tho still love the wifes Lexus...supreme car, service 2nd to none and quite swift for a big car.
my vote is for mercedes.
Puller that surprises me, we've had a few BM's and MINI's from Victoria BMW and they're always polite and well-mannered. Unlike Scotthall Leeds! What a bunch of jumped-up tossers. Merc is hit and miss too. My dealer was a legend but left since Derwent Leeds' management were 'full of wankers' although servicemen were sound. Mercedes reliability is good on brand new higher end models but can't say for the a and c class. My CLK was chosen very careful since it was the only model I could find at the time that still was made in the old way.
my bad experience was with scotthall, leeds....bloody tossers...their salesmen always wear nature treks...wide boys and no class. used harrogate for my mercs....very good. I've been told that victoria in harrogate for BM is good, but at last trade in for my 911..poor deal so went to independent locally, GC motors. Very good guys and excellent trade in.will return to them as have spotted a couple of GTR's and tested one last week....maybe...
Simple - if you enjoy driving get a BMW, if driving is a functional thing then get a Merc.... IMO
Yeah in that case I'm not surprised. When I had a problem with their service I told them I won't make my next purchase (which was the following week) with them. They told me, 'thats your decision sir good bye.' I know a guy who worked at MINI Leeds who said they remunerate so poorly that new recruits go on minimum wage top-up and when you do start selling you make £100 per car you sell!my bad experience was with scotthall, leeds....bloody tossers...their salesmen always wear nature treks...wide boys and no class. used harrogate for my mercs....very good. I've been told that victoria in harrogate for BM is good, but at last trade in for my 911..poor deal so went to independent locally, GC motors. Very good guys and excellent trade in.will return to them as have spotted a couple of GTR's and tested one last week....maybe...
Harrogate are good but suffering a lot from the recession and being so small. They too give poor trade-in's although I always find Mercedes' stock in Harrogate very expensive. TVR's rule, they have a specialist in the 'Gate right? If you ever want a car (cheap or expensive) let me know. I have a dealer in the area who deals in £3-50k vehicles who is the only trustworthy guy I've met in the business and sells at prices that go asap.
I've always thought of it as an age thing. <50 get a BMW, >50 get a Merc.
I've owned two BMs - a 3 series and a Z3. Wasn't that impressed with either and we're now a Acura (Honda), VW and Alfa Romeo household. I can't bring myself to spend the money on a BM now. When I hit the big 5-0 I imagine a Merc would become a possibility, although I'm fancying a Porsche as my mid-life crisis car.
I found this list very interesting so I had to have a go...Originally Posted by NJH
Hatch - Golf... hmm... Focus... hmm...
Saloon - Mondeo
Poky Saloon - M3/M5
Estate - Merc E Class
Swanky Saloon - I can't decide, but NOT the Chrysler 300C
Roadster - MX5 - agreed; a classic
Fast Sportscar - Aston Marton Van...ything
4x4 - Range Rover
I voted Mercedes
Lexus!
If pressed, Mercedes. I'd take a chance on the new XJ, but I was listening to two owners complaining to the service manager about their XJs when I was waiting for thr Rover to be serviced. The weird part was that both wanted to trade in their cars for the new one. They both had the same "problem" with accelleration which could not be "fixed". I would probably change manufacturers. No? Brand loyalty when the product is inferior and overpriced is something I don't understand.
Audi, Jag, Lexus?
I've owned all ofthe above - never a Beemer or Merc.
I thought about them when looking for my latest money pit (car in other words) but I just couldn't live with being a BMW owner and the Mercs didn't "do it" for me somehow.
Thus - I've not voted - sorry.
Cheers,
Neither - don't think much of the dealers and their salesmen.
:) :) :)
Brian
Merc, been enjoying one for ten years :thumbright:
Had both - would never have a Merc ever again.
So that would be BMW for me :)
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Originally Posted by Brian
but surely that's not a reason to not buy a product ( assuming you like the product ;) ) If there is something I want there is no way I wouldn't buy it just because of a salesman .... it's like cutting off your nose to spite your face .
Out of interest, the worst sales staff I have come across have been Ford !! They looked down their nose at me & couldn't be bothered to help in any way :roll: .... went across to the VW garage & they couldn't have been more helpful.
Best sales staff I have experinced have been Volvo .... I only went in for nosey about, had daughters in tow .... within minutes I was being showed around teh cars, given full explaination on specs, pricing etc & my kids had armfulls of goodie bags & balloons
As it happened, that time I didn't buy a car from any of them, but ended up with an Audi .... Audi dealers, visited 3 of them, 2 were a waste of time & didn't give me the time of day, 1 did. None were great, but I wanted the car .... ended up getting one on lease from down south instead.
From my latest purchases, I found all the BMW dealers to be great & very helpfull, esp with test drives etc. Merc dealers, again very helpful, although within the 1st 5mins I could tell the salesman was trying to workout wether I was a serious buyer or not .... being in my 30's + wearing jeans & t-shirts all the time probo didn't help :lol:
The main difference I find, is phoning in advance & booking an appointment / test drive :)
Even though I love my Merc ( new ML320, as the family cruiser) , overall looking at the full range of cars , I prefer BMW's
I feel sales staff do give a feeling ass to service you will receive in future. Shitty salesman may mean shitty servicing....unfortunate but will vary from dealer to dealer. Our big BM dealers are not up to it I'm afraid.
Love my Merc and will definitly be buying anouther.
BMW for me. I have one of their cars and a bike. The 2.0D 177bhp is an excellent unit. I owned a Merc E320cdi but found it a little disappointing in terms of build quality.