e46 330ci vs clk 320( 03-06)

[Chan6192]

what would you guys rather buy? i do like both cars, prefer the beemers looks on the outside but the mercs alot better place to be in the inside. what about performance, handling economy etc... im sure the 330ci is a faster car esp a sport version, but is the 320 really noticeably slower?

any thoughts appreciated

[Fox-]

The 330Ci is the better car, and the interior is of better quality as well.

[geeteeaye]

Very different cars IMO. The Merc is more a cruiser, only available in auto and while it handles well enough, it's not exactly sport-oriented suspension, more long distance mile muncher. The CLK is by far the nicer place to be as you say and IMO the better looking car all round, but the 330 (esp in manual form) is more the drivers car for sure. Comparing auto to auto, very little difference acceleration or economy wise.

[H_Kan]

Just picked up my e46 330ci Sport on the weekend, so I bet you can guess which one I'm going to back!

Chan, whether the car is a sport or not isn't going to make a difference to the speed, as the engine will be the same in them.

I would recommend going for a sport as the car looks much fresher then an SE. Additionally, I'd plump for the manual due to the auto removing some driving pleasure and also hitting the mpg hard. Imo the e46 is one of the best looking Beemers in recent times an the overall package of the 330ci is hard to beat.

If you get the right interior combo then I'd say it's not far off what the Merc offers, though being a slightly more recent design is always going to carry weight here.

[Seeker UK]

330ci without a doubt. Drives better and doesn't drink for england like a CLK.

[alcovrugbyfan]

330 all the way, the Merc is cheap and nasty. It also looks a lot more dated now than the BMW IMO.

[H_Kan]

alcovrugbyfan said:

330 all the way, the Merc is cheap and nasty. It also looks a lot more dated now than the BMW IMO.

I think you are thinking of the CLK shape prior to the one the OP is talking about. This one still looks decent, the one before this looks terribly dated though.