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標題: How to decide? [打印本頁]

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-2-27 12:22 標題: How to decide?

OK...after some struggling... I would like to trade in my old car and get a new one...
Here's what I have in mind, the new C300, or 328i.

Price-wise the list price for 328i is about $1000 more than the C300.
But C300 may not have that much discount (because it's new).
What would you think? The new C or the 328i? I'm a bit reluctant on the brand new series but the new C300 does "LOOK" very good (both outside and inside).
What would you suggest/prefer? I would like to hear some opinion...

Thanks!!

作者: ashtaron14 時間: 2008-2-27 12:50

In HK, if you're a politician, you drove a BMW, and if you're a businessperson, you drove a Mercedes.

The new MB C-Class is one of the top 3 finalist in this year's World car of the year - Overall Car of the year.
http://www.wcoty.com/vehicles/?year=2008&cat=1

The 3 series is a bit dated (came out longer ago), so the odds of there being another restyle or facelift will be higher.

I would say both are good cars, but I personally like to look at the new C more than the 3-series. You'll be playing with 6 Speed Manual/Auto on the BMW or 6 Speed Maunal/7 Speed Auto on the MB

If you look at the online configurator for the MB Class you'll notice that the Sport Package is now FREE of Charge. MB say that's the most common configuration so it's free on models upwards of C230 and includes the following, while BMW charges $2800 for their Sport Package.
- 17" 5-spoke alloy wheels
- All-season performance tires
- Sport suspension
- AMG front and rear aprons
- AMG side skirts
- Mercedes-Benz star in the grille
- Upgraded brake calipers with vented front rotors
- 3-spoke sport steering wheel
- Aluminium trim
- Aluminium studded pedals

Have a good time deciding

Sunny

作者: sacky 時間: 2008-2-27 13:04

^^ wow sunny that is a very good analysis! if the i personally like the C300 more than the 3seriesss especailly now know that sport package will be included i honestly believe is a better buy than the 3 =p

作者: Derek128 時間: 2008-2-27 13:04

depends on how long u r gonna keep the car
if u r only gonna keep it for 3-4 yrs
doesn't really matter which one u pick

if u r gonna keep it for longer time
wait for the facelift E90
i think the E90 is about to facelift
so most of the existing problems wil be gone ?

作者: siumaibb 時間: 2008-2-27 13:57

Just test drive both cars and choose one that you like better.........

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-2-27 16:32 標題: 回復 2# 的帖子

thanks for all the inputs. It seems that C300 has a better deal because it comes with more features (even sport package is free). I"m a bit concerned with the brand new series. Would that be problematic?
I"m going to keep the car for another 10 year or so. The C280 that I have now, I don't really enjoy compare with the previous 325i. May be that's why I'm more inclined to get the 328i, and also 328i should be cheaper...
But you guys are right, I will test drive the C300 first to see...

作者: Traum 時間: 2008-2-27 20:06

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作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-2-27 20:39

The one i priced out came out to be about 52k

I price it with the following options.  so pretty much fully loaded....
Premium Package
Sport
Navigation
7G-Tronic
Metallic Paint
Leather
Keyless Go

I guess you CAN live without premium package and navigation, but whats the point of driving a benz when u dont even have power seats?  Navigation on the new C is just very nice compare to the tiny screen on the non-navi models.  The screen is motorized and rise up automatically.

You can go with solid colors like black, white or red and save $890.  out of the 3 colors, i'd say white is the only good looking color and easier to maintain. Leather would really depend on your own preference.  I would only use real leather becuz leatherette are really uncomfortable and doesn't breath very well.  I would much prefer fabric seats then leatherette.  leatherette gets sticky in hot days.

7G-Tronic is pretty much a must have option.

Keyless Go is very optional... but this is 2008....  even corolla comes with keyless go, and your benz doesn't??  For me, Keyless Go has already become a must have option for new cars.

I would get the new G35 insead for the same price.  I think the G35 is more comfortable and its a larger car with better performance.

作者: sonson411 時間: 2008-2-27 20:58

I would go for BMW... BMW always fun to drive... fun as in you actually have the feel of driving...

作者: Traum 時間: 2008-2-28 01:26

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作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-2-28 01:29

up to a certain point (year / model), i will go for mercedes benz...but they were having some major problems with reliabilites from about 00/01 to 04/05...so i have kinda "switched" over to bmw (but still have my mind with benz)...

so now when i have heard it gets better, i will definitely take the new C class over the 3 series...bmw always have a boring interior and does it really handle that well? i dun think so!

when u look inside a bmw, from the most basic model to the highest end model, i dun mind more than 50% of a diff...

just make sure u purchase extended warranty (u should know ur annual mileage, and make that mileage for the longest period they will offer)...

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-2-28 10:01

Thanks for all the responses. I agree that the BMW interior is so plain and boring. The new style of turn signal, the position of the arm rest, all don't appeal to me at all. And definitely the MB looks so much better....

Anyway, I'll go test drive the C for sure.
Next thing to plan is ... should I go for European Delivery... sounds fun!

But then after all.....no more saving....sigh...

[ 本帖最後由 fibbi 於 2008-2-28 10:10 編輯 ]

作者: BarF1 時間: 2008-2-28 11:22

10 years ? Get extended warranty ...

作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-2-28 15:16

the european delivery is definitely fun to try, but when a car new like this, shouldn't it be break-in properly instead of taking it onto the autobahn and rip it?

good luck and take ur new ride to our next meet, if there is anyone still hosting any

作者: BiscottiGelato 時間: 2008-3-5 01:59

If you don't need 4 doors, I'd say go with 128i or something~ Why? lighter car, faster car, cheaper gas!

If there's anything I'll look for in a car nowadays, probably... gas consumption....

Other than that, haven't drove the C so i dunno. Maybe I should go solicit MB dealer next time.~

作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-3-5 07:40

wouldn't go for 1 series, it makes me think of the C coupe, kinda like a poor man benz (i know some 4 doors can be even more "basic" than the C coupe but it just doesn't have the "feel")

also 5th gear has done a testing for the 135i vs cayman, it's not doing great at all?

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-3-5 09:30

Well...I don't know if the car will turn to a "family car" in a few years. So at this stage I won't consider a 2-door car ...But I do think 10 yrs later when I need to get another car, if I got no kid I'll certainly get a 2-door roadstar!!! (if I can afford..)

Btw, I have test drive both C300 and 328i. BMW still has better handling and "reaction"...but if I don't change gear manually, I guess both are about the same.

The interior...C300 looks 10x better. Price is about the same but BMW should have more potential for discount. I'll see....

作者: Traum 時間: 2008-3-5 09:34

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作者: BarF1 時間: 2008-3-6 01:26

Actually 135 beat Cayman in slalom in 5th gear, where the Cayman should shine ...
Its cheaper, Its faster ...

42k is a pretty good deal for 300HP/300lb-ft FR chassis ...

[ 本帖最後由 BarF1 於 2008-3-6 01:28 編輯 ]

作者: GATSE 時間: 2008-3-6 02:27

I would choose the C300 over the 328i too.....
BMW has better handling, but then Benz has more comfortable ride....
and personnelly, Benz's exterior and interior are way better than the BMW....
plus, Benz just change shape, it won't change shape for few yrs, but BMW is going to change shape soon... so couple years later, if u drive the Benz, u're still driving the current model, but if u drive the BMW, u will be driving the old model already.....

作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-3-6 04:03

E90 wont change anytime soon, only a very minor facelift next yr

作者: GATSE 時間: 2008-3-9 00:40

oh.... I thought someone mentioned it will change soon....

作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-3-9 09:43

Fibbi: just make sure u consider the option in extended warranty too, does mercedes have free service like BMW? was just talking to my friend with a 545i, some design for BMW is just stupid and interior is so plain (he got excited when he first got it, a step up from a 02 Subaru WRX to a nice european 545i was always nice, now he is debating if he should have used the WRX as down payment, paying $650 a month now for the 545i haha, and very lucky he has purchased extended warranty!)...

Traum: i am still waiting to try it out, but it seems like the wheel base, weight and power makes the car hard to control; dun forget, it's different than review on paper / article ~ most of the time they were testing in a closed course or just taking it easy on the street)...

BarF1: yeah 135 beats cayman in slalom, but how often do u drive the car like that on the street? if you have tried auto-xing and tracking, u will know tracking will be closer to real life, 135 with the extra power it lost in the course and drifting (which means u can hardly hold the power, but if u are taking it easy along the slalom it's fine ~ possibly with the help of TCS?)

u know slalom steering input and throttle timing is very important, but since u are always doing a S, suspension geometry can only be tested out so much; if it has everything in an auto-x, then u might know if it's a real fun car ~ that means on top of the slaom if they make it like a full course, cayman might beat 135 and it will lost all 3 categories!

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-3-9 21:11

原帖由 字典仔 於 2008-3-9 09:43 發表
Fibbi: just make sure u consider the option in extended warranty too, does mercedes have free service like BMW? was just talking to my friend with a 545i, some design for BMW is just stupid and interi ...

字典仔: In any cases I will buy the extended warrenty but I think I can purchase it later (when warrenty expires). With BMW, the first 4 years maintenance is FREE while MB is not. That I expect can save around $1000 down the road. However, when I now take a closer look at the price, the 328i sun roof is NOT free, so that means it costs $1500 more than MB C300. So now it's kinda depend on which one of them gives me a better trade in price.

IF C300 and 328i turns out the same price (i.e. the cost I need to pay upfront, not include the saving of the free maintenance service), I think I will choose the C300 then.

And I don't really like the interior of the 328i, so PLAIN, BORING and I don't even like the way the turn signal designs. Plus the arm rest is located so further away that my "arm" can never reach it. So my arm can't "rest"...

作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-3-9 22:29

u need to get iDrive for the BMW to not look boring, same with the C... without nav its still boring and way too many buttons on the dash..

maintenance for BMW without the free service is about $250 for oil change and around $1000 for large service...

benz isnt much cheaper

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-3-9 23:34

Hyde: I have my own GPS receiver and mapping software on PDA so I don't really need the factory overpriced navigation system...and I don't really like the i-drive too... For maintanence, yeah..MB and BMW are about the same price.

These two days my husband helps me to wax my car (to "hope" that we get a better trade-in price). After the waxing the car looks SO NEW!!! almost 唔 "寫" 得 to give it out!

作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-3-10 10:46

well the free service for BMW is so limited, like brakes is not full 4 years (i think is 2 years or 40k); their oil change interval is soooo long that i strongly not recommand that; even my friend with the 545i was told by his friend at bmw, that he should change his oil more often if he wants the car to last longer ~ BMW used to recommand a much shorter interval when they charge u for service, yet now they are free when the car is new and they extended it; lots of the time oil has break-down so bad that u have to keep topping up ~ my friend's 545i, 5000km oil change interval, at close to 80k he is already topping up 1.5L so if he keeps driving it till 25k, he doesn't even know how many L he has to put in! he told me his friend's M5 put in 10L of oil for a 10k drive and he was bitching so much about the oil consumption...haha

我都想換車不過真係唔捨得...

作者: BiscottiGelato 時間: 2008-3-10 16:28

Well, 1 thing not mentioned still, is how well the cars hold their values. When doing a price comparison between two cars, this can be a factor. If 1 car is more expensive than the other but it retains value much better than the other, then it is actually the cheaper car for ur usage.

Quick summary will be BMW for handling, Merc for comfort n looks.

And on the e90 changing model. It's not changing the model, but it's getting a minor model change. As rumor has it, a supposed spy photo of the uncovered car can be seen here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124782

How about the new A4? Isn't there a new A4 coming up? If you want looks, the new A4 looks really nice. Nothing beats Audi in terms of look. Reliability n performance I really don't know.

作者: Hyde 時間: 2008-3-10 20:14

i wouldn't recommend Audi at all.... our Q7 has nothing but problems....

作者: fibbi 時間: 2008-3-10 23:55

BiscottiGelato:
My friend had A4 and it got tons of problems and eventually he sold it. Maybe he just got a "lemon" la. But still, my impression is that A4 is not that reliable. Also..I don't really like the look of A4...

The more I have seen my car being so "new" after the waxing...the more I am 唔捨得 to trade in...
not only my piggybank will be all gone after the purchase, I can't spend much at all for the rest of the year...sigh...

My car after waxing....I haven't see so much "clear relection" from my car...

作者: 字典仔 時間: 2008-3-11 00:56

well it's somewhat a good time to get a new car as there is rebate and discount, but if your car still running decent honestly a new car might not be necessary...

i have been debating over a new car, but i might ended up keeping mine; i guess my story is diff, aside from cleaning it up i will have to return my car to stock so when it happens, for sure i will get rid of it; but for now i still love it so much (same like u just have it all waxed)...

i guess it really really depends on the car's condition!

btw, i wouldn't recommand Audi too; it's a fun car to drive but not a fun car for owner (leasing one is a diff story); have still seen quite a few lucky one with the 2.0 and 1.8T as most problems are common and nth rare would usually happens; while there are a lot of problems BMW can't fix (so far have never heard benz can't fix their problems, at least at the dealership under warranty)...

[ 本帖最後由字典仔於 2008-3-11 00:58 編輯 ]

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