[underDAWG]

Well...... here is the lighter side of the my answer to your question:

1. I am way too young to drive a MB.
2. I love driving too much to put myself in a MB.

Good luck

[maq]

Even E46 > MB C-Klasse. E90 is leagues ahead of W203.

If you gotta have a Benzo, maybe a C350. The supercharged 1.8L is for girls...

[undecided]

Originally Posted by maq

Even E46 > MB C-Klasse. E90 is leagues ahead of W203.

If you gotta have a Benzo, maybe a C350. The supercharged 1.8L is for girls...

It beats the E46 325i in acceleration but I bet it will be slower than the E90. I paid around $31K for it and it came with a lot of extras. It was a bargain. Xenons, heated seats, Powered Rear sunshade, Premium Stereo, 6 CD Changer, Electrochromic mirrors, rain sensor, ALARM, 10 airbags, sunroof, etc, etc. The car looked better than the E46 IMO. staggered wheels, nice bodywork, more stately than the E46. Now, the E90 looks more modern but the C Class still looks nice. My wife likes the C better than the E90. She says the E90 is too masculine so she won't let me get rid of the C in favour of the E90 YET. To get an idea of my tastes, I think the best looking BMW sedan was the 2001 740i Sport. I bought one new. Anyway, the C has been reliable with the exception of tons of squeaks from the plasticky interior. I very much prefer the E90 interior because it looks up to par with my 2001 740i interior. I just think that $40K+ for a compact car is too much $$$, is it just me or are the germans really overpricing their vehicles now? . I paid $53K for my 740i brand new with all the incentives they had in 01. A coworker of mine bought an 01 Audi A6 2.8 for $31K with incentinves and stuff new but now the A6s are in the mid $40s?

The C Class 6-speed was doing low-7s to 60 with my GTech. As a frame of reference my 740i did 6.1 to 60 and my MCoupe about 5.02-5.2.


CZ

[cosmosblau]

If you love driving, get the BMW.
If you want effortless, luxurious transportation, get the Benz.

The Mercedes is just for show.

[maq]

Originally Posted by undecided

It beats the E46 325i in acceleration but I bet it will be slower than the E90. I paid around $31K for it and it came with a lot of extras. It was a bargain. Xenons, heated seats, Powered Rear sunshade, Premium Stereo, 6 CD Changer, Electrochromic mirrors, rain sensor, ALARM, 10 airbags, sunroof, etc, etc. The car looked better than the E46 IMO. staggered wheels, nice bodywork, more stately than the E46. Now, the E90 looks more modern but the C Class still looks nice. My wife likes the C better than the E90. She says the E90 is too masculine so she won't let me get rid of the C in favour of the E90 YET. To get an idea of my tastes, I think the best looking BMW sedan was the 2001 740i Sport. I bought one new. Anyway, the C has been reliable with the exception of tons of squeaks from the plasticky interior. I very much prefer the E90 interior because it looks up to par with my 2001 740i interior. I just think that $40K+ for a compact car is too much $$$, is it just me or are the germans really overpricing their vehicles now? . I paid $53K for my 740i brand new with all the incentives they had in 01. A coworker of mine bought an 01 Audi A6 2.8 for $31K with incentinves and stuff new but now the A6s are in the mid $40s?

The C Class 6-speed was doing low-7s to 60 with my GTech. As a frame of reference my 740i did 6.1 to 60 and my MCoupe about 5.02-5.2.


CZ

Ditto on the 740i Sport. The E38 is a timeless design. I'd love to get my hands on a Imola/black one in the future.

Now the W203 C-class. I don't think it's ugly by any means, in fact I quite like the current ones with the AMG bits that they are selling now. And I agree they are good values. BUT, they just don't drive as good as the current or even the previous generation of 3-series. The C is too soft for my likings, and MB's build quality probably reached all-time low with the W203.

[agarbati]

Originally Posted by SCA

I believe the next C-Class is due for the 2007 model year. You buy now...the car will be obsolete in a year or maybe less than a year.

I second that. That was the main reason I didn't go with the C240. They've changed engines already.

[bmwczech]

When I did my car shopping I test drove the 2006 MB C230, which by the way is no longer a Kompressor, it is a 6 cylinder. I test drove the sport and it was nice but I didn't feel the excitement that the e90 delivers.

Why I didn't buy the MB C230:

1) Didn't handle as well as the e90. It wasn't as fun to drive.
2) Less horse power than the e90.
3) Current C Class body style will be outdated in a few years when they launch the new body style on the 2008 C Class
4) MB has had quality issues and my friends keep joking around and say the "C" stands for Chrysler
5) Could buy a 325i with more options for the money than the MB
6) e90 has a 4 year maintenance free warranty
7) I like the exterior & interior design of the e90 vs the C class

I think those were I the reasons I came up with to not buy the C class.

Long story short, I have ordered a 325i!!!!

[ase2dais]

I came from the benz world, i believe 10 yrs of E series is enuf.
My E90 experience has just be a real fun ride!
... come on over, the water is fine!

[Dani]

While Mercedes and BMW are the same class of car it really just comes down to preference. I agree with other posters that BMW is really for those who like to drive. No one can advise you about why it is better because it is just something you have to experience. Those who like to drive a BMW will never own anotehr kind of car. Those who like Mercedes could switch between Lexus, Jaguar, or Acura and be somewhat indifferent.

[cntlaw]

Wasn't that taking C230K W203 is a wrong comparision ?

At least , 325i should compare with new 4Valve NA engine 7G-Tronic on C280 which is ~225hp; 330i should compare with new 4Valve NA engine 7G-Tronic on C350 which is ~270hp.

The current W203 is 7 years old model and I won't disagree with some of the points; while it will only be fair in two years time to compare E90 with the new C-Class.

Besides, a MB does not not do a fraction of a second in cornering better than a bimmer on the track has a lot to do with the driver's skills etc. and how many E90 owners will really race a C-Class side by side on a daily basis? And then it comes to the point that, what really counts , is your car (E90 or C-Class) is already faster , more luxury , more features than 95% of the same catagory of other cars in the street !