BMW 535i M Sport vs. Mercedes E350 sport vs. Audi A6

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

One of my close friends has a 2014 A6 and he doesn't like it. He previously had a BMW 535 and liked that much better. He will be ending his lease early and getting an E350 or 535.

Gary - interesting......any ideas about what he doesn't like about the A6? I mentioned earlier that I can't stand the pop up screen attached to the dash, it looks very half a##. I really enjoyed the 535i drive......it actually was a "fun"drive (I'm not used to some performance cars like some on here!).

- Buck

[Portugal]

I've went through that same decision very recently and bought the Mercedes E350.

[thesaint519]

Originally Posted by Elescher

It's not clear if you actually drove them all. If not, start there. Looks aside, I prefer the feel of the BMW (at this level) to anything out there.

+1. I've driven BMWs exclusively for many years. Right now I own a 328 Xi and an X5. I would, however, like to test drive an Audi A8.

[JSCC]

Originally Posted by AndyPandy

I bought a E250 Merc (the 4 cylinder turbo petrol motor you guys don't get in the USA). Drove a E400 AMG and can recommend it. Very fast serene transport. The inside is the same on all of them, bar the E63. Given my average speed is 15 - 17km/hr on my 16km round trip daily commute, power wasn't a pre requisite for me. Serenity and the quality of a good cabin were.

Drove the comparable Audi's and Bimmers, and preferred the E250. For refinement, it was leagues ahead.

Here is a picture of the E400 I drove. The AMG kit gave you better handling and better brakes, but unless you can use them, it is all a little wasted. The motor (twin turbo V6) was silky smooth and relatively quiet (oddly not as quiet as the 4 cylinder in the E250 around town, and didn't feel any faster and only marginally more refined in traffic) but, for me at least, didn't evoke any emotional response when pushed. It's a very fast car in a very boring way, if that makes sense.



The Audi A6 3.0 twin turbo diesel had the biggest grin factor - hugely powerful and sounded like a grumpy V8. if you like to play boy racer (I do) and can (I can't) then it would be the weapon of choice (it wasn't) just for the motor. Well after an E63 of course - but I am priced out of one of those (A$1/4 million). The 3.0 TT diesel is the same motor we get in the Audi SQ5 over here. I very nearly bought one of those, but ultimately went for the refinement of the Merc over the pace of the SQ5. Same price here, more or less.

The M535i was very quick and felt it, but I didn't feel that special inside the Bimmer, whereas I love getting into the Merc each day. Especially now I have the custom sheepskins fitted. The choice of the E250 vs E400 was down to the spend vs reward here in Australia, where cars are twice the cost of the USA. If I lived somewhere where it didn't take me an hour to get out of the built up traffic in any direction, and I could actually have fun with and use the capacity of the bigger motor on a regular basis, I'd have got the E400 (or maybe the A6 twin turbo - I can still hear that motor with the pipes open (sound resonator and all). The handling of the A6 left a little to be desired - it would push into understeer when you punted it hard into a corner. Safe - but a horrible feeling. Still you had to be driving it hard to get there. The AMG E400 had really good handling. It was impressive. Pity about the gear box in manual mode.

I also drove a GS350, and it was a generation behind the Germans for me. I also drove various Jaguar XF's - I didn't care for them, but the fit and finish was excellent. Visibility was a problem, as was getting in and out (much like the CLS - they look great but are a PITA to get in and out of). I also didn't care for any of the motors on offer in the XF except for the V6 twin turbo diesel and the V8. The 4 cylinder petrol turbo (same power plant (detuned) as the Ecoboost in the Mustang) was underpowered, and hunted among the gears. It was a pretty ordinary experience. Nowhere near the Merc 4 cylinder twin turbo petrol for refinement and driving pleasure. The Bimmer 4 cylinders I didn't like at all, except for the 520d. They all felt like 4 cylinder cars except for the 520d, which drove much better, the diesel giving it ample torque.

The GS 350 had a beautiful cabin, and came loaded with goodies, but again, felt a way back from the Merc and A6 & 5 series on the tarmac. I can see the appeal though.

For a left field suggestion, you could consider the E250 diesel if mileage is an issue for you; although I find 4 cylinder diesels sound like tractors at idle. I had an Audi Q5 2.0 diesel and sold it after a year - the diesel clatter got to much for me. Nice car but not in the same league as an E class. Anyways - that is my story.

Hi Andy,

I had the E400 AMG and its all as described except its a 7G Auto. Over here, all Merc are Auto even for the E63. Powerful, fast and quiet and with the 7.1 Sound System, Pano roof, a very desirable car bettered only by the E63. Over here, costs S$342k which is about A$309k. Attached a picture of the exact color and make I bought, right down to the rims.

You must be a car connoisseur as your descriptions of all the cars were exactly what I had experienced while test driving them and more. In the end, I chose the Merc E400 AMG as to me, its the bang for the buck.

Cheers!

[repman]

If you don't need brand new you might consider a Lexus IS-F .
The last year made is a 2014 model.
I just traded my 08 IS-F on this 2012 with 14,000 miles ( like brand new)
Lexus just started delivering the new RC-F coupe so a lot of IS-F owners will be trading up to that . That is how I got this new to me IS-F. the previous owner traded last Friday on a new RC-F and my Lexus salesman called me immediately to see this one because I had him on the lookout for a pristine 2012-2014 IS-F to buy.
It is CPO and comes with a 100K 5 year warranty.
Having owned both a BMW and Audi I can say that the Lexus reliability cant be beat !

The IS-F actually turned a quicker time at VIR ( Virginia Int Raceway than a BMW M-3) so it is quite fast has 4 doors and rides reasonably well for a performance sedan .

[repman]

Here is an article to explain the Lexus IS-F

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by repman

Here is an article to explain the Lexus IS-F

Nice car, the IS F is a great car but I've got two little ones, so I have the car seats and all for a few more years, so more room is needed. If I didn't have to transport the kiddos, I'd probably be looking at that or an M3.

- Buck

[repman]

Buck , yes definitely not the biggest back seat good luck with your search and I hope you get a car that meets your space requirements and is fun to drive also.

[Rilands]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

I've got two little ones, so I have the car seats and all for a few more years, so more room is needed. If I didn't have to transport the kiddos,

Buck, the cars your looking at don't make a lot of sense with kids. Buy an SUV or a van. Why buy something that the kids are going to mess up day one. Carseats in these cars, why waste your money. Get something more family oriented. Your thing is already shrunk way down with kids involved anyway.

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by Rilands

Buck, the cars your looking at don't make a lot of sense with kids. Buy an SUV or a van. Why buy something that the kids are going to mess up day one. Carseats in these cars, why waste your money. Get something more family oriented. Your thing is already shrunk way down with kids involved anyway.

We already have an SUV for the kids.......whoever has the kids for the majority of the day usually drives the SUV. When looking for the car, I still wanted something big enough so that I can take them if I need to without having them shoehorned in a tiny back seat. They've done just fine in the Lexus.....honestly if there's snacks in the car, they're "neat" snacks, no chocolate milk in my car!

- Buck