Mercedes vs. BMW

[Daves]

I'm looking into getting a new car, and I've narrowed the decision down to two vehicles: 1997 Mercedes-Benz C230 and 1998 BMW 328i.

If you had to choose between these two for daily driving and occasional autocrossing, which would you pick?

http://a137.g.akamai.net/n/137/3538/20060207160931/www.cars.com/photo300-ad/DMI/105383/47.jpg

Mileage 82,000
Engine 4 Cylinders
Body Style Sedan
Transmission AUTOMATIC
Wheelbase 105"
Drive Train RWD
Doors 4
Exterior Color Black
Interior Color GREY

Features: Alarm, Alloy Wheels, ABS, Cruise Control, Leather Interior, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Windows, Rear Window Defroster, Tilt Wheel




http://a137.g.akamai.net/n/137/3538/20060220005845/www.cars.com/photo300-ad/DMI/159050/328I.jpg
Mileage 75,000
Engine 6 Cylinders
Body Style Sedan
Transmission 4 SPD AUTO W/ELEC
Wheelbase 106"
Doors 4
Exterior Color Silver
Interior Color Grey leather

Features: ABS, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, AM/FM Radio, Cassette Radio, CD Player, Heated Seats, Leather Interior, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Seats, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radial Tires, Rear Window Defroster, Remote Keyless Entry, Tilt Wheel, Sun Roof, Tinted Glass

[Daves]

I'm looking into getting a new car, and I've narrowed the decision down to two vehicles: 1997 Mercedes-Benz C230 and 1998 BMW 328i.

If you had to choose between these two for daily driving and occasional autocrossing, which would you pick?

http://a137.g.akamai.net/n/137/3538/20060207160931/www.cars.com/photo300-ad/DMI/105383/47.jpg

Mileage 82,000
Engine 4 Cylinders
Body Style Sedan
Transmission AUTOMATIC
Wheelbase 105"
Drive Train RWD
Doors 4
Exterior Color Black
Interior Color GREY

Features: Alarm, Alloy Wheels, ABS, Cruise Control, Leather Interior, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Windows, Rear Window Defroster, Tilt Wheel




http://a137.g.akamai.net/n/137/3538/20060220005845/www.cars.com/photo300-ad/DMI/159050/328I.jpg
Mileage 75,000
Engine 6 Cylinders
Body Style Sedan
Transmission 4 SPD AUTO W/ELEC
Wheelbase 106"
Doors 4
Exterior Color Silver
Interior Color Grey leather

Features: ABS, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, AM/FM Radio, Cassette Radio, CD Player, Heated Seats, Leather Interior, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Seats, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radial Tires, Rear Window Defroster, Remote Keyless Entry, Tilt Wheel, Sun Roof, Tinted Glass

[Greg H]

From what I've experienced, Mercedes makes a more luxury/comfort oriented car and BMW makes a car that was meant to be driven. Just looking at the specs, I'd say BMW, but I'd think you'll be paying a lot more for it. My friend has a 96' 3 series coupe and he drives the hell out of it. Hope it helps.

[kwancho]

BMW. Auto-Xing that Merc will be hell.

[CMURacing - Prometheus]

the 2.8-I6 in the bimmer makes like 210hp. the merc makes less than that...right? So what's the problem here?

[SD]

I'd keep riding my bike until I found something that wasn't automatic.

[AK UT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 5teN:
I'd keep riding my bike until I found something that wasn't automatic. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

^ Agreed

[KU_Racing]

^ agreed yet again. There is nothing I hate more than a perfectly good car (especially a BMW) being ruined by a perfectly useless slushbox. If you absolutely hate the idea of the heel-toe and must have an auto, get the bimmer.

[absolutepressure]

"shlushbox" lol! That's the best description of an automatic transmission I've ever heard!

Anyway, after extensive research, I'd say the bimmer. 193hp vs 148hp, the bimmer has a better suspension, and most mercs are floaty "I'm a middle aged person living in chicago" (don't believe me? Watch the Great Outdoors). The bimmer is also all over chicago, but it doesn't have that stigma. That, and look at the features and mileage.

[Igor]

The Merc is built for comfort, the BMW is much more a drivers car. I think the Merc would be rubbish for autocross.
But then again I'm biased as I used to have a beamer :-)
A couple of my colleagues also have old 325i's as circuit cars, you can even flip them on the roof without breaking anything :-P

Igor

[Daves]

Test drove the Mercedes today. I'm no longer interested in it.

[Wes]

Mercedes has gone too far into the luxurious. I would never buy a car of this caliber that was not available with a manual transmission. Shame on you Mercedes.

[SpdRcr]

BMW out of those 2, but coming from the AutoX scene, I would suggest you look into something different.

One of the most competative classes is stock miata for example. They are cheap and so are the tires for them. I raced ESP class with a Trans AM, so while I had a blast, it was expensive on brakes and tires (315's in the back). Keep in mind price of parts, tires, etc because if you get hooked, your wallet will suffer.

Since you like the BMW maybe you'd also like a VW? Goodluck with whatever you choose.

[Bill Kunst]

To do a miata for Spec racing (wheel to wheel), it is fairly cheap. I think that most of us are fairly competent in working on a car, if not stick to the cost report.

But really, pick up a 90's miata (blown engine, who cares, 20k mi engines from japan are only $500) for around $3000. Do not pay extra for a nice top, interior, or other bull that you will strip. Gut the car, put in roll cage, do suspension treatment from mazda, new rad, cold air, exhaust, 17" wheels and tires, diff, calipers, pads, new fluids all around, racing seat, and You would be done.

Now, I may have forgotten some things, but not much. This would cost you a total of 10,000 approx with you doing all the work yourself. There is no tuning to do to the motor, cause you can't. Now, you won't compete with the guys who cheat, but you will have a damn good time in one of the best beginner racers ever devised. Not only that, but they are stupid rediculously cheap to fix, easy to work on. And if you get bored, turbo it or slip in a 5.0L.

Oh yeah, forgot. check out the 10 heures du man and gingerman raceway, than tell me that these cars can't race. To beat them you have to spend twice as much. Lap times from a spec miata compare to a street stock porsche that they took there up against the ford gt. I think these are the times:

Ford gt 1:32
Ferrari 360 stradale 1:36?
Porsche GT2 1:38
Spec Miata 1:38

[absolutepressure]

"I'm not gay, but my miata is."-One of the best quotes ever.
The new one looks slightly less feminine, but that's not going to be $3000.

Fuck miata, Corolla's where it's at.

[drivetrainUW-Platt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by absolutepressure:
"I'm not gay, but my miata is."-One of the best quotes ever.
The new one looks slightly less feminine, but that's not going to be $3000.

Fuck miata, Corolla's where it's at. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

just for those who want a laugh, here is Absolute's corolla:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b309/duwem/DSC08730.jpg

I think the hubcaps and purple tint add 30hp combined...

(sorry mike, I couldnt resist, hopefully this will convince you to buy that STI now...)

[absolutepressure]

Duwe, if you show them the outside, you have to show them what's under the hood.

http://www.3sxperformance.com/cars-3sx/gallery-steve/steve-vr4-motor-build-200502-05.jpg

http://www.3sxperformance.com/cars-3sx/gallery-steve/steve-vr4-motor-build-200502-02.jpg

What can I say? It's a swapped out sleeper.

[drivetrainUW-Platt]

those turbos are tiney, looks like all rice and no go to me!

[Bill Kunst]

Mike,
You know that guy that is married, has three kids, lives down the stree, and when he talks you know that he ain't wearin' the pants in the relations ship. When they do it doggy style, he is the one bent over. He's not opposed to dildos used for foreplay...

Yeah, that is YOUR corolla. AE82,86,92...anything but that grocery getting, potpouri burning, home decorating straight/gay that you have. When is it getting its divorce and swapping sides?

Oh yeah,
Have you ever driven the "gay" miata? How about the mazda speed miata? Or any roadster? The miata made roadsters what they are. It sets the standard on how they are judged, and for racing purposes (autocross or wheel to wheel) do not get any cheaper or more fun for what you put in. We had engines go 40+ hours of racing before giving up the ghost. This is incredible by most standards.


I am only defensive cause you blow off one of the best options as gay while you drive a tinted chrome hub capped corolla.

[drivetrainUW-Platt]

I am also not a fan of Miata's. Who builds a car that only 5' ppl can fit into, so its front engine rear wheel drive, so is my truck, so what? PPL might be able to mod them out and beat on them, but they look like a clown car and feel like one when your sitting in them. Its like Mazda is trying to build an S2000

[absolutepressure]

Nice one Duwe. Your truck would probably beat a miata around a track, and carry it home in it's bed too. (No Bill, I mean truck bed) lol.

P.S. I don't need to drive a Miata to know that it's gay, just like I don't need to fuck a gay man to know that he's gay.

[Bill Kunst]

Mike and Mike,
I suppose that station wagons are gay as well, but I have personally driven audi station wagons that would run around z28's and camaro SS's. I find it sweet to drive a sleeper.

Also, Honda tried to make a miata, not the other way around. Miata was the first:

miata
z-3
z-4
s2000

Check out any s2000 cruisin around, and most likely you will see a mid 30's-40's chick driving it. They complained about having to keep the rpm's up while driving in town. This is exactly why they dropped the revs and upped displacement in their first two years. Bimmers are completely out of the $$ range with very little affordable aftermarket components for them.


Daves:
Check out this link and tell me that this is not the car for everyone else. Hell, it's cheaper than a FSAE car.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=21&article_id=1392

[kwancho]

Man... I wanted a Spec Miata before, but now I want one more....