BMW, Mercedes or Audi?
Discussion
Looking at recent sales figures, it seems that these cars are the ones that a large proportion of the population aspire to owning but which marque do you favour?
For me:
BMW - RWD, manual option and petrol straight six engines is what I like and I'm sure many other PHers like about them. If you need a diesel that is fairly efficient and drives well, I'm told they're pretty good too. However, the straight six engines are on the wane and I haven't really liked the styling since the E46/E39 and feel that the purity of the M brand has been diluted by abominations such as the X5 and X6M. If I'm honest though, the only model in their current line-up that I would consider buying would be an M135i for the chassis, powertrain and performance per pound but not the styling or maybe a 1/3-series diesl if I had to have a diesel.
Mercedes - With the exception of the A-Class, I have always thought these have felt more "special" than the other two but I didn't really "get" them until I got into my 30s. I love the AMG brand and what it stands for but the current line-up is pretty ugly. I would only consider buying a C-Class, CLS or an SLS Black Series if I was very rich and slightly insane!
Audi - With the exception of the Quattro, I just saw them as expensive VWs throughout the 80s and most of the 90s and didn't really get them. The first A-Series of cars (A4, A6 and A8) were pretty cool for a bit and I have always liked the Avants. However, the A3 and second-gen A4 ruined the cool image for the brand for me, particularly the popularity of the aggressively-driven A3/A4 TDI S-lines. I also hate what has happened to the RS sub-brand. RS Audis used to be cool and understated but now they seem to be all about the bling and chasing power figures rather than being good to drive. Having said all that, I have recently moved away from the UK and driving an Audi doesn't seem to have the same stigma here. They're not a very common site as they are expensive and I don't think the finance/lease deals are as attractive. If someone is driving aggressively, they are more likely to be driving a Ford/Chevrolet/Dodge pickup truck here!
It surprises me to say it but if I had the money, I would probably buy an Audi as my DD. I have always liked the A6 and although I'm not a fan of the RS Audis, I still like the subtletly, ample power and quattro traction provided by the S-model Audis. To put the cherry on top of the cake, you can also buy a manual S4 or S5 Coupe here, whereas BMW and Mercedes do not offer a manual option (apart from on the 1-Series).
So, which of these marques do you favour and why?
For me:
BMW - RWD, manual option and petrol straight six engines is what I like and I'm sure many other PHers like about them. If you need a diesel that is fairly efficient and drives well, I'm told they're pretty good too. However, the straight six engines are on the wane and I haven't really liked the styling since the E46/E39 and feel that the purity of the M brand has been diluted by abominations such as the X5 and X6M. If I'm honest though, the only model in their current line-up that I would consider buying would be an M135i for the chassis, powertrain and performance per pound but not the styling or maybe a 1/3-series diesl if I had to have a diesel.
Mercedes - With the exception of the A-Class, I have always thought these have felt more "special" than the other two but I didn't really "get" them until I got into my 30s. I love the AMG brand and what it stands for but the current line-up is pretty ugly. I would only consider buying a C-Class, CLS or an SLS Black Series if I was very rich and slightly insane!
Audi - With the exception of the Quattro, I just saw them as expensive VWs throughout the 80s and most of the 90s and didn't really get them. The first A-Series of cars (A4, A6 and A8) were pretty cool for a bit and I have always liked the Avants. However, the A3 and second-gen A4 ruined the cool image for the brand for me, particularly the popularity of the aggressively-driven A3/A4 TDI S-lines. I also hate what has happened to the RS sub-brand. RS Audis used to be cool and understated but now they seem to be all about the bling and chasing power figures rather than being good to drive. Having said all that, I have recently moved away from the UK and driving an Audi doesn't seem to have the same stigma here. They're not a very common site as they are expensive and I don't think the finance/lease deals are as attractive. If someone is driving aggressively, they are more likely to be driving a Ford/Chevrolet/Dodge pickup truck here!
It surprises me to say it but if I had the money, I would probably buy an Audi as my DD. I have always liked the A6 and although I'm not a fan of the RS Audis, I still like the subtletly, ample power and quattro traction provided by the S-model Audis. To put the cherry on top of the cake, you can also buy a manual S4 or S5 Coupe here, whereas BMW and Mercedes do not offer a manual option (apart from on the 1-Series).
So, which of these marques do you favour and why?
AudiWurst said:
f I lived in Canada or Yankland, I'd buy a nice (cheap) Accord or Camry, and save a ton of cash!
You're right. There's a good $20000 difference between a loaded V6 Accord or Camry and a "base" spec 3-Series. In all fairness though, the "base" spec 3-Series here would be a 328i and it would probably have automatic, leather and nav.I'm not sure what the average wage is on PH but certainly when I lived in England on a teaching salary, the poshest new car I could afford was a VW Polo. BMW, Mercedes and Audi were not even close in terms of affordability. Obviously, if you go older you can afford one if you really want one but then we're not really comparing apples with apples.
I would rather own something interesting from a less prestigous brand like a Fiesta/Focus ST, RenaultSport Megane, Astra VXR or Golf GTI than a base spec A3/1-Series/A-Class but I would still aspire to a nice spec BMW, Audi and Mercedes. Aspiring to something means you can't afford it now but have a good chance of being able to afford it in the future. For me, aspiring to a Ferrari or Aston would be pretty pointless as it's never going to happen!
Back to what I said though, if I was earning really good money, something like a new Audi S4 or S5 would be pretty quick and a nice car to live with. I get your point about the Accord and Camry being really good cars and they are but are not available in AWD. The roads are snowy and icy for nearly half the year here and although I haven't got stuck yet I am constantly fighting wheelspin in my FWD Chrysler. It's not dangerous but it is annoying and I just like the extra traction that you get with AWD and the Audi quattro system is the best that I have experienced in a car other than a Subaru. Spending $50000 on an Audi quattro if I could afford it would make more sense to me than spending $30000 on a Accord/Camry, which would be nicer than my 9 year old $5000 Chrysler but too similar at the end of the day!
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