Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The problem is comparing two cars with two different mission statements.
One car is an entry level RWD sport sedan that is going after the BMW 3 series as its benchmark. So its suspension is tuned a bit harder and it gives up content to save weight to be nimble and still offer a budget entry level luxury experience.
The other is a tarted up Camry/Avalon with FWD designed for blue hairs and people who just want a cushy ride and legroom and the only turns they worry about are the ones in the Costco parking lot.
This is proof that a rebadged Camry, with nicer upholstery, different electronic bits, and nicer materials sells in American than in Europe where most people buy VW Passat instead of an Audi.
better is a relative term. I have both euro & Japanese car. They are very different. You have to spend quite a lot...and I really mean quite a lot to get the cutting edge bells & whistles of what you call luxury. The strip down Benz or BMW are a bit bleh.
The difference is handling not luxury items - when comparing entry level European against dressed up Camry/Accord/Maxima.
People under budget who love driving should only buy entry level BMW/Audi/MB for driving/handling experience (which is not available from Asian "luxury").
BMW 3 class has been for ever the benchmark of sports sedans and continues to be for a reason. Not for luxury.
People that want best bang for the buck for $40 should know first what they want from a car - there is a big variation and true value is based on perceptions and likes.
Which car will last longer? I wish German cars had more longevity. The ES350 will easily last 10 years or more with minimal issues vs the Mercedes C-class.
Sorry, I confused it with Ford E350 Super Duty as well
I think in the last Mercedes E350 commercial I saw where they were demonstrating agility and safety features they used Ford E-Series vans as the "obstacles". I'd like to think they were 1-ton E-350s.
Which car will last longer? I wish German cars had more longevity. The ES350 will easily last 10 years or more with minimal issues vs the Mercedes C-class.
Truth is that we have a lot more older German cars still on the road than you'll see Japanese older ones...
Some really, really old MB and BMW are still selling well and have status while I don't think we'll ever see that from an appliance type Toyota car.
Which car will last longer? I wish German cars had more longevity. The ES350 will easily last 10 years or more with minimal issues vs the Mercedes C-class.
My 2006 C-class that I purchased new now has ~150K miles (mostly highway) on it, and I've had no issues whatsoever. Still running like new. When it was newer, I took it to the MB dealer for scheduled maintenance w/o missing a beat. Now that she's older, I take her to Mercedes specialized shops for service. Anyway, this approach is why i feel my car is holding up like new even today. Now, I'm starting to get an itch for a new one, but nothing has caught my eye. Also, I hate the look of the star on the grill vs. the raised star that I have.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
When it was newer, I took it to the MB dealer for scheduled maintenance w/o missing a beat. Now that she's older, I take her to Mercedes specialized shops for service. Anyway, this approach is why i feel my car is holding up like new even today. Now, I'm starting to get an itch for a new one, but nothing has caught my eye. Also, I hate the look of the star on the grill vs. the raised star that I have.
