Neither...
Honda is definitely the way to go...

Pandani said:

I'm strongly biased to Fiat only but after that it's definitely a Merc for me; more distinctive and without the image generated by BMW (and Audi) drivers.

Lets not forget too about the sheer quantity of Audis and BMs parked sideways over two or even more carparking spaces, a common sight especially by X5s and A8s etc.

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Someone, can't remember who now, said that BMWs were mainly bought by people who didn't know much about cars, in as much that they were a default choice for many people on the company car roster. They get a list of cars to choose from: Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Merc C-Class and don't know which one to get. But, they seem to remember that once, on Top Gear, Clarkson or Hammond or May said the 3-Series was great because it was so controllable that you could easily hold it in a power slide round any roundabout. What probably eluded them was the fact that the BMW in question was a M3, which is a very different proposition from the 318d they were offered.

my new to me merc is pain in the arse, standard code readers dont connect to it. if you replace things like air filter maf map and so on they need to be introduced ( coded in) to the ecu using mercedes star diag ( like our examiner) but a clone version is £500 quid lot more then our mes. other £10k scanners can do it but not cheaper ones. my merc is a 2009 i am told newer ones are even worse with even headlights needing to be introduced.

wish fiat made a decent automatic van

It would appear that all German cars are trading on past repuation for excellence. Nowadays their reliability is well below par and the build quality in general is nothing to be excited about either. A new Giulia is likely to be worth a look as is the now uncommon Mondeo. Both will have the measure of the Germans in most if not all areas. YMMV.

one thing i have found good is instant heat now the weather is getting colder, used to take ages on my croma

dave said:

one thing i have found good is instant heat now the weather is getting colder, used to take ages on my croma

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Has it got one of those thermos type devices behind the dash like BMW brought out with the E39 5 series? One of my diesel peeves that on a cold day unless you drive it like you stole it takes 10-15 miles before the heater works on a cold day rather than 1 mile..

StevenRB45 said:

Has it got one of those thermos type devices behind the dash like BMW brought out with the E39 5 series? One of my diesel peeves that on a cold day unless you drive it like you stole it takes 10-15 miles before the heater works on a cold day rather than 1 mile..

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i think it has electric coolant heater but not 100% sure, but its lovely, never used to have any heat in croma for ages but this is instant, also got heated seats for when it gets colder, shame every thing else on it falls to bits, took out a storage pocket today though to fix heater vent and found 2 £20 notes behind it :slayer: not my lost ones but from a previous owner.

dave said:

i think it has electric coolant heater but not 100% sure, but its lovely, never used to have any heat in croma for ages but this is instant, also got heated seats for when it gets colder, shame every thing else on it falls to bits, took out a storage pocket today though to fix heater vent and found 2 £20 notes behind it :slayer: not my lost ones but from a previous owner.

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Was the previous owner a dealer?? (Of the recreational substance rather than automotive variety) Rather odd to be hiding money behind pieces of dash!

StevenRB45 said:

Was the previous owner a dealer?? (Of the recreational substance rather than automotive variety) Rather odd to be hiding money behind pieces of dash!

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i think it might have just slipped behind there rather than been hidden, if it was hidden they would know it was there and took it out.

In my opinion, both cars are great, they are exactly the same but different companies, same ranges,models classes, and so on, I think Mercedes-Benz produce a little bit more powerful engines than BMW in general, but BMW still has more eye catching designs in general, If I can afford to buy a model, it won't be either this or that, I love that exclusivity feeling, both cars are popular here as the main high-end luxury vehicles, I prefer to get a rarer competitor brand maybe a Lexus, Jaguar, Audi, Cadillac along with my main everyday car obviously a FIAT

Having got three BMWs on fleet, the newest being 6 years old, I would have said BMW.

However;
They now produce a fwd 2 series and the 116 and 118 are only three cylinders.
This is not the reason I ever bought BMW. I bought them for quality, size and engines, in particular the 6 cylinder models.

There is no way I plan on buying a new one and as for Merc, they lost their quality as well some time ago.

I have no idea of any modern I would buy. The Punto we have is now 4years old and 20k. I have no plans to change that either. We bought this new after 3 previous GPs including a T jet. The GP is a great car and wil stay with us until it or I die first.

I'll keep buying older cars as they are more interesting and offer more than any modern.

BMW or Mercedes?

Neither. If I wanted something more upmarket than a Vauxhall etc, I would in fact buy an Alfa Romeo.

An Alfa Romeo will be better in my opinion especially the new "Alfa Romeo Giulia", one of the cars that I'm dying to own/have. it's the direct rival/competitor of the "BMW M3" and the "Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG". The Alfa is powerful,sporty,exclusive yet practical and fun to drive as an everyday ride.

Because im really only interested in older cars and having owned 5 mercedes 190e models i voted mercedes. the mercedes build quality from 1988 to around 1992 was superior to most other manufactures including bmw, if i had the dosh id buy a mercedes 190e 3.2 Amg. the only bmw id like to own is the E28 m535. the fiat id like to own would be a fiat Supermirafiori

I've enjoyed every Mercedes I've owned. But my current S550 with the 4.6 liter twin turbo is the best sedan I've owned. It's classic S, but when you change the suspension and engine management to 'sport,' it just comes out of the phone booth with strange tights and a cape on! Nasty. I've never seen anything like it. But truth be told, I'd get rid of it in a NY minute for an E30 M3!!! I wish I could afford the Maybach version, but I found some Maybach wheels and rear seat pillows on eBay so I'm having some fun with this car. Great poll, looks like BMW has it!

Nickmitbm said:

M3s,M5s???Actually M1 is the only BMW i'd never buy..If you want a Lambo , get a true one!

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Old Mercs are great - my 35 year old 230TE is still going strong - it will probably outlast me!

Love it when a 10 year old thread randomly re-surfaces

ive got 2 mercs atm a viano and a sprinter, hate them both

Unless we mean classics, why bother wither either of them. Save up and get a Tesla. Vans excepted of course.


The silly high gear lever along with too low hand brake lever, on my Mk1 Vito rot box vgave me shoulder problems and the thing like I was driving a 10 years old car. VW vans are so much nicer to use at a price of course.

I’m on my 2nd BMW.

First was a 2013 120d MSport. Interior was a little cheap, but the engine, gearbox (8 speed automatic) and handling were excellent.

I then moved to a 2016 520d Luxury. I can honestly say that it’s all the car you’d ever need. Hewn from granite, lavishly equipped, almost silent at a cruise, fast enough to keep hot hatches honest and the smoothest riding car I’ve ever had. I love it.

It gets back in June 2020 and the stupid company car tax rates mean that, although I could get a new 5 series, I refuse to pay over £400 PER MONTH in tax for a car that is 99% business miles.

Replacement will be a Lexus ES300h or, more likely, a BMW 330e. Apparently I can save the planet whilst driving a 290bhp sports saloon...