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Auto Profile: BMW 325i vs. Mercedes-Benz C240
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| Quick Comparison |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 139 ( -20 -14.38% ) | | Author | Phil Ruth |
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Description:
Quick Comparison: German Sports Sedans
BMW 325i vs. Mercedes-Benz C240
The BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class have been on opposite sides of the entry-luxury segment for the better part of twenty years. Sure, they're both small German sedans. And yes, they both appeal to buyers who will probably trade their cars on bigger and better German sedans in the future. But the Mercedes is the luxury car and the Bimmer is the sporty car, right? Not necessarily, as the latest versions of both cars start to blur the lines between stodgy German luxury and all-out German sport.
Online research would seem to imply that you could buy an Acura 3.2TL or a Lexus ES300 and pocket the money these models would save you over either the BMW or the Mercedes. But one drive in either German car will tell you that objective comparisons don't come close to telling the whole story.
The BMW 325i has a heritage as the perfect blend of sport and luxury. The 3-series first hit U.S. shores in the late 1970s, and the early versions truly weren't for amateurs. Their sporting attitude could turn rabid, punishing the driver with 360-degree spins. Seats were firm, and the ride was firmer. Gradually BMW refined their smallest car to appeal to a broader market, and the yuppies came calling. So while today's 3-Series is still the choice for those who like a little enthusiasm in their cars, the Bavarians have smoothed the rough edges to make it a lot more luxurious than it ever was in the past.
The Mercedes C-Class, on the other hand, has long been the very picture of conservatism, a true entry-luxury sedan. Back in the 1980s when the C-Class was first called the 190, the entire Mercedes product line had the same styling cues stretched over sizes of small, medium and XL. Buying a bigger Mercedes every few years became a ritual of advancing age, like purchasing an ever-larger pair of sweatpants. Today, though, the C-Class has gone relatively wild. While it attempts to hold onto some of its customer base through a more compliant ride, it's clear that the C-Class has the traditional 3-Series buyer in its sights. Gone is the flaccid suspension, as well as the economical four-cylinder. Telegraphing the C-Class' punches is a five-speed manual transmission, an anathema to the car's bland heritage.
Has the 3-Series lost its competitive edge? Has the C-Class become too sporty for its own good? Get the details at Autoweb, then go out and decide for yourself.
-By Phil Ruth
BMW 325i
Mercedes-Benz C240 |
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