My Father's New Car - What To Choose?

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Messages

30,820

• Feb 25, 2008

• #1

My father need to trade to new car this summer, a used car. He is intrested in BMW 3-serie E90, new Lexus IS. I have recommended the new C-class for him and he isnt excatly saying no to it. However he isnt completly sold on the design.
Worth mention is that he is a BMW nut after owning several bimmers the last 10 years or so, it might not be easy for him to go to the darkside (MB ).

He isnt into big engines so we arent talking about 330/335i or C350. I'm telling him to pick the new C-class becuase its a more comfortable ride which suit his age better but he is arguing against me that a BMW are also comfortable cars.

I'm telling him to stay away from the Lexus since I say german cars are the only way to go

---------------------------------

What car would you recommend for my father.
BMW 3-serie, C-class or Lexus IS ?

 

cawimmer430

Piston Pioneer

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14,806

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Christian Alexander Wimmer

• Feb 25, 2008

• #2

Gee, I wonder what car Wimmer will vote for?





C-Class.

I think it will suit him nicely. A nice blend between sport and comfort.

 

ree

Kraftwagen König

Messages

10,814

• Feb 25, 2008

• #3

I wouldn't consider the Lexus. But the other both cars are great. The 3-series will get a facelift soon. So I would wait for the facelifted version, if your father want to get the BMW. The C-Class - well - I'm personally not a great fan of it, but it isn't a bad car.
In my opinion your dad should test drive both cars - and then decide which car is the best for him.

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Thread starter

Messages

30,820

• Feb 25, 2008

• #4

Let's say he pick the new C-class. What should he pick, Avantgarde or Classic?

Ree, I told him a facelift is coming after the summer then he reply "Then that mean the current E90 will sink in price" He is a cheap bastard my dad

 

ree

Kraftwagen König

Messages

10,814

• Feb 25, 2008

• #5

I would like to see the C-Class as Elegance version with AMG sportpackage. Posted some pictures a while ago - give me some minutes and I will search them...

edit: Elegance with AMG sportpackage

 

coolraoul

Torque Titan

Messages

4,602

• Feb 25, 2008

• #6

I would go for the C-Class, an Elegance one (I am no great fan of the Avantgarde grille on the C-Class). I love the C-Class.

Second would be the Bimmer, but yes I would wait for the FL, it's always better to have it!

The Lexus, well...don't like it. And the reviews were not so good, either.

A testdrive would be good, however unless your dad is a real car fan he won't notice such a great difference, only the better comfort of the Merc, imo.

 

Yperion

Cornering Kingpin

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9,256

Name

Yannis

• Feb 25, 2008

• #7

How about the new A4?

Anyway out of those i would take the C class or the 3 series.

 

D

Deleted member 182

Guest

• Feb 25, 2008

• #8

Yannis said:

How about the new A4?

Click to expand...

Or the new 9-3...?

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Thread starter

Messages

30,820

• Feb 25, 2008

• #9

Yannis said:

How about the new A4?

Click to expand...

Sorry Yannis, he isnt an Audi guy. Never was and probably never will. Sorry Yannis

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Thread starter

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30,820

• Feb 25, 2008

• #10

coolraoul said:

A testdrive would be good, however unless your dad is a real car fan he won't notice such a great difference, only the better comfort of the Merc, imo.

Click to expand...

Like I said he owned bimmers for 10 years and have good experience with them therefore he is intrested in BMW again. I dont think its easy for him to trade to a different brand just like that
He would be just as good in a Volvo like he would be in bmw or a mercedes but thankfully (for me ) he like german cars.

and regarding the Lexus he think its a good looking car with supergood realibility.

 

coolraoul

Torque Titan

Messages

4,602

• Feb 25, 2008

• #11

Between C-Class or 3-Series, whatever he takes he can't be wrong! These two are the best you can buy today.

He should spend some time in both, to see the one he likes.

Would it be diesel, petrol, powerful or not?

'cause the Beemer will be facelifted, but the Merc will have a power-boost for the 320cdi (more than 250hp) and an all-new four-cylinder cdi, 200cdi aroud 140hp, 220cdi around 170 hp and 250cdi around 200hp. Same power as before but hopefully better consumption, and piezo-technology for less noise/vibration.. The 350 will maybe be updated to, go cgi, I don't know exactly.

So both will have updates in the end of 2008.

 

Mr Robert

Kraftwagen König

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10,957

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Robert

• Feb 25, 2008

• #12

I'm off for a 2 hour test drive in the IS250 now, Ill be reporting back soon.

 

Zafiro

Supreme Roadmaster

Thread starter

Messages

30,820

• Feb 25, 2008

• #13

He has never owned a diesel before but he have been talking about it lately. I dont think he has decided yet.

 

coolraoul

Torque Titan

Messages

4,602

• Feb 25, 2008

• #14

If he does not drive a lot, a petrol is a better solution. Cheaper to service, and with the cheaper petrol not that expensive to run compared to a diesel. And still more refined.

 

fortuner

Autotechnik Ace

Messages

5,324

• Feb 25, 2008

• #15

Hi just me

Hey I Think he is already driving the 3er so if he going to buy a new car why not go for something different..


the lexus for me is a no no

i have driven a friends new lexus is250 and yes it has a few nice techno stuff ..but the interiro quality is nowhere near as good as the new c class


infact i found it more a toyota then a lexus ...so to me the lexus is a no


well as i said he already owns a 3er so i would like him to try the new c class i own one and i can tell you he wont go wrong really a awesome car ...


the design is modern yet classy and the interiro is built superbly and very nice and easy to use


the ride is excellent and handles beautifully


I would take a avantgarde but at the same time i have seem some lovely looking elegance models especailly in white


as for engine the c220cdi is my favorite good economy and excellent torque and power


so just me take him to a merc dealer for a testdrive


what 3 does he own at the moment???

 

Centurion

Drivetrain Demi-God

Subscriber

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36,359

• Feb 25, 2008

• #16

I've driven all three cars and none of them are worse then the others, except that the Germans have more direct and sharper steering. Other than that I the IS250 isn't a bad choice.

Even if he's not too keen on the C-class has should test drive it. As for which trim he should choose I would without a question pick a dark c-class with elegance package. Looks very premium.

The 3er is the natural choice for him but I think that some new blood in the family would do you good.

 

Monster

Piston Pioneer

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14,878

Name

Derek

• Feb 25, 2008

• #17

It really depends on what he wants in a car. But right now the C-class is the best all around package out there. The Lexus IS isn't as well designed in and out, plus the interior packaging is very poor.

 

Yperion

Cornering Kingpin

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9,256

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Yannis

• Feb 25, 2008

• #18

Just_me said:

and regarding the Lexus he think its a good looking car with supergood realibility.

Click to expand...

Better just buy an Avensis with wood trim and save the rest of the money.

 

coolraoul

Torque Titan

Messages

4,602

• Feb 25, 2008

• #19

The W204 so far has an exceptional reliability. Just like the W221, it is faultless even in its first year. No electronical glitches, no mechanical problems, nothing at all. It very well could take the first place in reliability surveys, already in its first year, just like the W221 did. And even if it does notm the times of average reliability @ Benz are clearly over.

And Lexuses seem less reliable than they were, especially the IS220d knows some little troubles..But is still very reliable, that is clear.
All surveys indicates that the German now have a quite clear reliability lead. So I think the reliability is not a Lexus argument any more, as the Germans are as reliable if not more.

Your dad should drive the three, and spend some time in them. I think the three are very good cars, it is a question of personal taste between them.

 

Mr Robert

Kraftwagen König

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10,957

Name

Robert

• Feb 25, 2008

• #20

Now im back from my short (two hour) ride in the IS250 Automatic. Very kind of Lexus to park a few of their cars in the company garage for a couple of weeks - at our free disposal.

Today the only cars left inthe parking garage were two IS-models, one IS 220D and one IS 250. We took the IS 250 for the long run.

The IS250 is definitely a nice car. The interior feels alot better than it looks (that shiny plastic look does nothing for me). Everything has a nice feel to it, except the inner door handles which felt a bit loose compared to the rest of the car, im guessing this was an isolated error as I have not felt this in other IS-cars. So far so good, the baby Lexus lived up to what i expected.

The car is very quiet and the sound comfort is really good. The sound from the winter tires was there but not so much. Engine sound is very muted.

It is a very relaxed car to drive, everything has a nice and calm feel to it, hard to explain but the car has the opposite emanation of say an Alfa. From a compfort perspective I can only find one major fault and that is the seats. I do not think there is anything really wrong with them but to me they are both hard and soft, at the wrong places. No support to the sides and to your back and butt the feel is about the same as in an old W124 with some 340,000 km on the clock - a kitchen chair that is. The must be some sort of optional seats, right?

The engine is sufficient for the car, not sporty by any means but it pulls enough. The automatic transmission is the only one I would even think of in this car, this car had paddle shift in the wheel. No need for those though, the automatic works fine by itself it takes a moment to down-shift but again this is comfort first as it seems. When is comes to chassis it is obvious that low speed comfort has been the main target. Very smooth and nice ride. There was some strange noices from the rear when I drove over a couple of pot holes but nothing else.

So, what is my verdict? I like the car. I did not think i would, but i did. Not sporty but, all cars doesn't need to be.

 

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