Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Which one?

Oh sorry for the tags including the SUVs - this was used for one of my previous AutoSpies submissions.

" a brand that doesn't pride themselves in novelty LED headlamps succeeds for me"

Like the BMW Angel Eyes? Or are you talking about the round headlamps in the MB?

No actually. Audi seem to be so up themselves about these LED lights - that it makes their car's better or something. The Angel Eyes on BMW were just a design feature, not something that Audi is saying somehow makes them better than their competition. You didn't see in advertising "And the E39 5 Series has a sporty design, and angel eyes", but you do see "The new Audi A4 has led headlamps".

You are too bias to make tis a fair discussion, and the 5-Series does not smash the A6 too pieces. You'r full of crap as a typical Beenie fanboy.

by the way... the angel eyes in a bmw are not LEDs. they are glass rings lighted by an incandescent bulb. i think the leds at the bottom of the headlights on the audi are a bit tacky. it would be ok if they were a smooth lighted bar instead of the several points they are now.

I'll take Audi as best luxury value for the money, particularly the A8 because it's aluminum body will not rust. I concede only that the Mercedes S-class has the most comfortable seats on the planet. Lesser Mercedes cars have seats that are too firm. I don't know if Mercedes' latest AWD system is better or worse than Audi's legendary Quattro with the Torsen® center differential. I had a a leased A6 Quattro that got me through one fierce snow storm where the authorities actually closed the road behind me. I wish Audi and Mercedes would take a page out of BMW's book and produce a perfectly balanced in-line 6 engine instead of one in the 90-degree configuration which is an inherently out of balance design.

7 Series>S-Class>A8?

Just count it next time you are on the road. BMW certainly rules w/3. 5, especially 7, I don't think so.

AUDI remain 3rd all around, I suppose, even though sales volume might say something else.

Really, stupid post approved by 001 and well, who cares?

Oh yeah very funny you wanker.

more like this
A3=1>CLC
A4>3>C (luxury/comfort)
3>A4>C (performance)
5>E>A6
S>7>A8
Q7>X5>M

SPOT ON

Almost like clockwork, the AtuoSpies community has the same redundantly inane conversation about which of the German brands is the best.

Who really cares? Do you need this forum in order to validate *your* lease/purchase?

A3=1>CLC
A4>C>3
E>A6>5
S>A8>7
Q5>GLK>X3
Q7=X5=M

The sole purpose of these "articles" is to start fights. I wish Autospies would do more auto news, and less auto fights.

What the bloody hell do some Japanese brands have to do with this? Gosh, you are probably close friends with that Michael Taylor dick head.

Chuck, Michael Taylor is your evil twin, separated at birth, who is the official Toyota/Lexus troll counterpart to your Nissan/Infiniti trolling.
If anyone agrees that is an adequate description, give this a boost!

LOL,

DieselRules, you were spot-on in your description of Michael Taylor. That was one brainwashed kid! Almost every single entry he mad on this site had blind, unthinking praise for some Lexus model. He couldn't give a weather report in Los Angeles withou mentioning how nice a Lexus SC430 would look in the bright sun! His love of Lexus was as ardent and irrational as AmazinBimmer's hatred of Audi.

ChuckG37, if you have not read one of his blog entries on this site by now, you probably never will. Agent001 banned him from this site, and removed all of his comments. His Lexus-troll statements were irritating enough, but his crude, cruel remarks about Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol were the straws that broke the camel's back.

I think Benz offer models for any needs and life style.

BMW can't match that and Audi too

Audi. Because I don't consider MB and BMW as luxury, since a significant number of their models come standard with fake leather.

It would be fine if they just offered cloth or just called it vinyl as standard options. But instead, they try to fool you by simulating leather and calling it "Leatherette" or "Tex"... I call that Fake Luxury. Even the Hyundai Genesis comes standard with real leather (at least on the seating surfaces).

many people would argue a car that comes standard with a 4 cylinder used in a 17,000 car isnt a luxury car fake leather.....?

The BMW 116i, 118i, and 120i are also 4 cylinders too.

And many would argue that a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder that outperforms the base engines in its competetors is refreshing.

Also, the BMW's 4 cylinder engine comes from the Mini.

Worst post ever. Better question, what happened to amazin?

amazin idiot was banned dude. merry xmas.

I don't understand why people are bashing this post. He asked for YOUR opinion, not the real answer, because obviously there is NO real answer. Otherwise 2 of the mentioned automakers would be bankrupt. Don't the members want to be involved in discussions?

Here is my ranking:

A3=1>CLC
3>A4>C
5>E>A6
New 7>S>A8
X5>Q7>ML
New Z4>SLK>TT

I know I put BMW on top, but I think they deserve it. Out of all the automakers, BMW has the best combination of Performance, Safety, Comfort, Luxury, and technology. While the others have similar aspects, they come short in performance compared to BMW.

because nobody's opinion is really that interesting on this website. When something besides a spyshot or breaking news story is posted here it usually turns into a trainwreck, but thanks for contributing.

C'mon guys; don't be so serious. Sure the question is a little trivial...but kinda fun. We all get to pick our favorite model and then watch what others pick and see their reasons. For example my main reason for purchasing an automobile has little to do with 0-60 , or quarter mile times but with overall build quality, performance, design, safety and that intangible 'it' factor; therefore I would choose the Audi models most of the time with BMW a close second.

BTW - an awful lot of you responded to a question that many of you claim to find silly.

Exactly. One of the very few people on AutoSpies that aren't complete spanners.

wow, this has never come up in the history of Autospies, great point..

EXACTLY CORRECT, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO A MATTER OF OPINION AND PREFERENCE

GUYS, THIS THING WAS INTENDED FOR YOUR OPINIONS, AS I CLEARLY SAID. I DIDN'T SAY EVERYONE IF YOU SAY ONE BRAND IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER IT MEANS IT IS THE BEST BRAND. COME ON NOW! JEEZ, SOME OF YOU NEED A REALITY CHECK!

yawn...

My entry-level stripper girlfriend, Diablo, enjoys shopping for leatherette skorts at the Las Vegas fashion clearance center.

Plastic and fiber are the absolute height of automotive luxury.

I see 3 brands making good cars that are swept up by 3 non-competing markets (the majority non-competing, not all).

SIMPLE GERMAN-CAR-CHOICE WIZARD:

You have lots of money and want a good, safe car.
Answer these questions:
#1 is the prestige of your car brand of utmost importance?
If NO, buy an AUDI, goto DONE
else
#2 is performance more important than comfort/luxury
(or, are you a Lawyer or Stock-broker?)
If YES, buy a BMW, goto DONE
else
#3 buy a Benz
:DONE

Chuck37, talk to an engineer about the pluses and minuses to both a V6 and an I6. Inline 6 is an inherently balanced design unlike a V6 which has to have counterweights to keep it from vibrating up a storm, and the VQ is a 90 deg bank angle while an optimal angle on a V6 would be 60 deg to cancel out some of the primary order imbalances with counter weights (one of the reason a lot of V12s are in Limos and Ferraris.. two I6s are perfectly balanced). On the other hand V6s are more compact from front to rear allowing them to be installed in multiple configurations such as lengthwise in a Z or sideways in the Altima. See article here --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V6 Also an I6 will have problems when revved up over about 12k rpm... due to the crankshaft length... but that is not really a problem in street cars. Finally BMW choose turbos for a number of reasons. First they can keep the size (and weight) down with 3L of displacement vs almost 4 in the VQ motor and secondly for fuel consumption/pollution issues. Neither engine is antiquated, they are both fine motors... just two different ways of attacking similar goals. BTW I prefer the BMW way... having spent years in Germany I can tell you BMWs are engineered to go 120mph all day long, decelerate from high speed over and over and live in crappy weather year in and year out. My personal experience of course... everyone has their own.

Please don't feed the trolls

Is BMW a luxury car? Its fast and well built mechanically, but has no style or refinement of ride quality. And the interiors are woeful not up a luxury category standard.

Many a descendant from an inbred bloodline lies awake at night dreaming of owning one, I know. But does ones lust for ones sister qualify her to be in the running for a good choice of wife? How much less then does ones lust for speed at all costs qualify BMW as 'luxury'?

Surely then one would best preserve ones family name and reputation and settle for driving at a more comfortable rate, in quality and refinement, in an Mercedes? Or perhaps in quality refinement and style, in an Audi?

ok DieselRules... I see now!

I've totally changed my perception in the last few days. I was hooked on the A4 2.0T. I loved the look, the interior, the price point. But as I built my 09 Audi online I noticed one HUGE flaw. There is no manual!?!?!?!

How can you make a car compete against BMW and Mercedes and not offer a standard 6 spd. version? That blows my mind. I know like 90% of people buy automatics and like their little faux shift tiptronics and paddleshifters. But to me nothing is better than actually doing it for real, the motions, the clutch pedal all add to the driving excitement.

So Audi has fallen to the bottom rung for me. Guess I will have to keep an eye on the new Mercedes C300, maybe with 4matic. I bet I can get that in a 6 spd.

Dude, do your research before posting bunk!

North American Audi A4 Lineup Expands with New FrontTrak and Manual Models



Dec 19, 2008

source: Audi of America, Inc.

• The Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan pairs the multitronic transmission with the award-winning Audi 2.0 TFSI engine
• The Audi A4 quattro sedan is now available with a six-speed manual transmission
• MSRP for the base front-drive model is $31,000 and $31,850 for the base manual quattro model.


HERNDON, VA - Audi announced an expansion of its 2009 A4 lineup with two new models, one featuring front-wheel drive and one featuring a six-speed manual transmission. The newest 2009 Audi A4 models offer exceptional value and the best fuel economy ratings in their individual segments.

The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak combines the advantages of the Audi 2.0 TFSI engine, which recently earned a spot on the 2009 Ward’s 10 Best Engines list, and the efficient multitronic continuously variable transmission, or CVT.

The A4 sedan now available with a six-speed manual transmission, offers a sporty driving experience for those who prefer to shift for themselves. The manual transmission is also paired with Audi's efficient 2.0 TFSI engine along with Audi's latest generation of quattro all-wheel drive featuring a rear torque bias for sporty handling.

The result of the new front-wheel drive A4 powertrain combination is the best fuel efficiency in its class with an EPA rating of 23 mpg in city driving conditions and 30 mpg in highway driving. Those fuel economy figures represent a 4 percent fuel-efficiency gain over the previous-generation A4 powered with earlier versions of the 2.0 TFSI engine and the multitronic transmission. The 2009 A4 2.0T quattro manual sedan achieves the best efficiency of any all-wheel drive car in its luxury segment with EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on highways.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price on the front-wheel drive 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission starts at $31,000. The MSRP on the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual is $31,850. Both models come with a rich list of standard equipment such as sunroof, leather seating, SIRIUS satellite radio, and quattro all-wheel drive.

“Offering exceptional efficiency without sacrificing the comforts that luxury car buyers expect is Audi’s hallmark,” said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. “These two new A4 models are no exception. Their addition to the Audi lineup allows us to meet a broader array of consumer tastes with our highly acclaimed, best-selling car.”

Audi is a pioneer in continuously variable transmission technology. The multitronic transmission was significantly revamped and first appears in the 2009 Audi A4. With the redesign, the multitronic transmission offers greater sportiness and agility along with reduced fuel consumption. The first Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak multitronic model will begin arriv

That was 12/19. Maybe they should get some better people onboard with their website and make that a known fact. I don't get letters and press releases from Audi, I'm the average consumer who goes to the build your own to see what i can get.

All three brands in my opinion are good. They each offer something that the other doesn't and they all entice competition with each other. I agree that Audi has somehow managed to capture the booming younger generation with their vehicles such as the Audi A4 (MY09) and Audi A5/S5 so hats off! BMW is geared toward performance meets luxury and they have done a good job. The folks at BMW should stay smiling because they are currently the #2 luxury brand in US sales. Mercedes is a brand for ALL likes and tastes hence why they can charge more than the competition and the brand is seen as in my opinion the most prestigious.

C-Class > 3-Series > A4
5-Series > E-Class (through this could change with the introduction of the 2010 model) > A6
S-Class > 7-Series > Audi A8

i live in the north east where we have just been hammered with bad weather. ice storms. 18" of snow in three days. I dont have a bmw or merc but i can tell you there is ABSOLUTELY nothing the Q7 can't do in inclement weather. For those of you not talking trash it deserves your attention. I'm sure the others are good too. Never been a badge whore. I have a G37 too. Don't think you can go wrong with any of the Big 3. German Big 3 that is.

Audi can't be mentioned in the same breath as BMW and MB until they build RWD cars. Until then, the competition is between MB and BMW. The A4 handles like a Honda Accord.

Don't like any of them thanks!

BMW - I love the new 7-series
Audi
MB

I've owned 8 BMW's (3,5,6 and 7- series), one Mercedes (S- class) and driven one brand new AUDI A4 (Avant).
BMW excells, execept for the (now)former 7-series, where my 2008 MERCEDES-S definitely was the better luxury car.
The A4 (admittedly the only AUDI I've ever driven) was a total let-down compared to my BMWs 330D Touring and 320i TOURING.

So : BMW > MERCEDES > AUDI.

(disclosure: I have a BMW 335i Coupe)

BMW's are beautiful and perform great. Not a huge fan of the low-end versions of each series (328, 528, etc...).

Audi - Certain Audi's like their TT and A8 are extremely cool, but the A3, A4, A5, A6 have a tough time competing against the BMW or MB in that class. They share too many components with Volkswagen - which I think really hurts their brand. Too many of their cars can be regarded as a VW with leather. Although Porsche is owned by the same company you can't say that about the Boxter or 911. Also, those Audi's performance don't stand out - they do try to compete with BMW there, but it just isn't working. Perhaps if they just competed on price, dropped down in the Lexus/Inifiniti range - they might sell more cars. On design - their tail lights are beautiful, many of their head lights are very nice, but the Audi logo isn't that appealing - but I suppose there's not much you can do about that.

Mercedes - they don't make many sporty cars with manual transmissions which I require. I think their cars are targeted towards older, less enthusiastic drivers. Very beautiful sedans, but to me they tend to focus on the riders, not the driver as much.

1. BMW
2. MB
3. Audi
1054. Hyundai (j/k)

NONE OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING! AND ARE ARGUING SIMPLY OVER MATTER OF OPINION. THEY ARE ALL EQUALLY GOOD CARS, AND BOTH HAVE THEIR POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES, HOWEVER IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU WANT IN A CAR, HOW YOU LIKE TO FEEL WHILE DRIVING IT AND MANY OTHER THINGS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS IS THAT IN MY COUNTRY (AUSTRALIA) THE STANDARD OPTIONS YOU GET ON A 90,000 325i (yes they are very expensive over here) BMW ARE AS STANDARD AS A 30,000 HOLDEN (VAUXHALL). THE ONLY REASON YOU WOULD BUY A CHEAP BMW, AUDI OR MERC IS FOR THE BADGE. WHEN BUYING MORE EXPENSIVE CARS THEN THE QUALITY AND TECNOLOGY ETC COMES INTO PLAY. IT IS ALL A MATTER OF OPINION, ANYONE WHO AGREES FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BACK. BTW I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE ONLY ONE TO BREAK DOWN WAS THE MERC!

Over the past 13 years I have sold Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche. I have owned 1 Porsche many Audi but I've never bought a BMW or Mercedes because I'd rather have an Audi. Audi takes the best of the other two and puts into one car plus if you spend as much time around these cars as I do; you start to notice Audi's superior atention to detail to the others. Audi simply puts out the best all round package.

*TO ME:
1. BMW's are for those who value how well a car drives over anything, and is why i buy them. That's what German cars are all about, right? Engineering know-how in the areas of driving dynamics, being a drivers car, appealing to enthusiasts etc??? BMW seems to do suspensions and engines better than anyone, especially when compared to Merc and Audi, so doesnt all this make them the best GERMAN car company?? To me it does.
2. Mercedes to me is for those who typically are not enthusiasts (look at how few manuals are offered!!) but want a nice, well engineered car, and many buy them based on the image that mercedes offers. Only the 3 pointed star will do. My parents are like this and it bugs me because whenever ive talked them into test driving a bmw, they admit they drive better, but they always end up buying the mercedes. Ive watched them over the years spend countless dollars fixing a more expensive car that doenst drive as well and it baffles me. Every time i drive a mercedes it feels like there is slack in all of the controls, but the very recently new Mercs seem to be slightly less lexus-like but still not up to bmw standards. With that said, I love how the old pre-early 90's benzes drive.
3. Audi. My first car was a b4 audi a4 handed down from my brother and i cant imagine a car having more problems. The first 12 months i owned it, it was in the shop for 3 of them. I know audi's have gotten better in terms of reliability, but even when i drive the brand new ones, they still seem front heavy to me, and i live in the south and will be moving to socal soon, so Quattro means nothing to me except for a weight penalty. In the past 10 years audi has had bmw and merc beat in terms of interior quality, but they seem to be catching up with the newer models (yet still not as good)