MEA310 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2002, 660 posts, RR: 13 Posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1360 times:
Although many car brands today compete with BMW & MB,in Lebanon, people's choice has always been either BMW or MB.While driving around the city,all you see is either BMWs or MBs regardless wether it's new models or not.
It's like the Airbus Vs Boeing topics in the aviation forums when it comes to mentioning these two brands in Lebanon.I can speak of my own experience concerning this topic.
I'm a big fan of BMW cars whereas my friend is a MB fan,the equation is simple,he owns a MB,I own a BMW,but that's not it.Whenever any of both launch a new model we start bashing and mocquing each other!
For instance,though neither the new M5 or the CLS55 AMG are yet on the market,each try to prove the other is better,but we all know who kicks ass in here !
Our case is one of many here,BMWs and MBs remain the Lebanese people's top two choices when it comes to buying a car.
Does such a "battle" exist in your country,between the above mentioned brands or any others?
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1317 times:
So far as mass-production goes... the high-end war is quadpartite here in the USA:
Mercedes vs BMW vs Jaguar vs Lexus
Wish I'd thought of it first: take a run-of-the-mill economy car, breathe the engine, give it a fancy candy-shell; and run it up against the traditional luxury leaders.... and win
Audis, Saabs, Acuras, do not yet have the widely acknowledged clout to compete among those four... but they are closing the gap with considerable speed.
Andreas From Germany, joined Oct 2001, 6104 posts, RR: 34 Reply 2, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1308 times:
Well yes, sort of, since Germany is the country that builds those cars
It was some sort of religious belief to buy the one brand OR the other, but I guess it isn't that merciless anymore. People tend to change their car brand if the other one fits better.
As an example: I don't own a car anymore, I rent one when I need one, and I usually chose BMW, MB, sometimes Audi, I like them all, good cars, good performance, they all have their strong points, weaknesses are few and don't really count.
Funny enough, I heard the same story about those 2 brands in Dubai! The Emir drives MB limousines, the younger princes go for the X5. That reminded me of the old days in Germany: BMW tried to create an image of the BMW driver to be young and dynamic, MB drivers had a certain reputation to be hat-wearing old man with tons of cash
Tristarenvy From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2265 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
Wouldn't it be funny if the Mercedes vs. BMW war was as intense as the Chevy vs. Ford war? There's a great comedy routine for some TV show....
If you don't stand for SOMETHING, you'll fall for ANYTHING.
AA777 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2471 posts, RR: 31 Reply 4, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1294 times:
BMW IS THE BEST. I am so Lebanese when it comes to this. I HATE BENZ's. You might think its immature... but deal. Some people hate the red sox, others hate the yankees. Why? Cuz they love the opposing team. Well, I LIVE and LOVE for BMW.
BMW has better performance, hands down. I am a driver. I love to drive. I thus love BMW. Mercedes are for people who dont really care about driving.... only how they look in their three-pointed-star auto. Although controversial, I also love BMW's design much more than mercs'....which i find homogenous and too conservative.
Imonti From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1276 times:
BMW has better performance on what grounds do u base that statement?
the C class looks infinitely better than the 3 series, it performs better as well.
I do prefer mercs to bmw's. Dont get me wrong, BMW make a mean car, but on the open road, it is much nicer to drive a merc than BMW. just dont say well the 5 series is better than the c class cause it is, compare like with like.
AA777 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2471 posts, RR: 31 Reply 6, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1274 times:
the C class looks infinitely better than the 3 series, it performs better as well
HAHAHA.... right. What drugs are you on my friend? Compare the 330i with the C320, you will have one clear winner. Read all the articles that compare sport sedans. Car and Driver, Automobile, Road and Track....all those magazines tested them against each other, and found the BMW as the winner each time. As a matter of fact, when tested in a group of 8 or so competitors, the Mercedes usually got about 5th place, whereas the Bimmer got 1st.
LHSebi From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 1049 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1266 times:
AA777,
Your opinion is obviously that you prefer BMW to Mercedes, for whatever reason, and I respect that. However, saying that BMW outperforms Mercedes without any specifics is plain bull. Yes, a 330i will probably outperform a C320, mainly cause the 330 has one extra liter in its engine! Why not compare the 318 with the SL55? Will BMW still outperform the Merc? Do you really think that someone who doesn't care about driving buys an SL55?
Overall they are also 2 different types of cars. Mercedes doesn't go for the more sporty cars (generally), but rather the comfortable ones for the long drives. Just one proof of that is that you won't find (almost) any Mercedes that offers a manual transmission! BMW and Mercedes cover 2 different market segments, with a slight bit of overlap (ex: M's and AMG's).
BTW: The world's fastest 4 door saloon is a Mercedes derivative...
Sebastian
I guess that's what happens in the end, you start thinking about the beginning.
FLVILLA From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 394 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1253 times:
I have to agree with AA777, BMW and to me Audi are much better cars, they build cars for the people who actually want to drive and get some where still in style, but also relying on innovative and high quality design, service and drive. Mercedes has desperatly been trying to get rid of it's old age image recently, too many old folks driving them and Jag s-class drivers around these days.
Long Live BMW and Audi - the only ones who want more than just 'ok', these are the ones who are looking at 'what if ?'
FLVILLA
I hope in life i can work to live, not live to work
MEA310 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2002, 660 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1248 times:
Overall they are also 2 different types of cars. Mercedes doesn't go for the more sporty cars (generally), but rather the comfortable ones for the long drives. Just one proof of that is that you won't find (almost) any Mercedes that offers a manual transmission! BMW and Mercedes cover 2 different market segments, with a slight bit of overlap (ex: M's and AMG's).
I somehow agree with you LHSebi.
I've always considered MB to be an elegant and classy brand,it is not meant to be a sporty car,it's all about comfy drives.Having said that,it doesn't mean BMW does not preserve the comfy aspect of the car while offering the sporty side of their cars.
BMW adopts the design of sporty looking cars on their sedans,especially the 3 and 5 series whereas MB stick with elegant looking cars,and switch to completely sporty cars with their AMGs.
BTW: The world's fastest 4 door saloon is a Mercedes derivative
Can you explain that to me? As far as I know,the M5 is the fastest sedan.
Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4838 posts, RR: 21 Reply 11, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1241 times:
In Germany, it's Audi vs. BMW vs. Mercedes.
Jag & especially Lexus don't play a role here, even though Lexus is heavily advertising they sell very, very few cars.
People usually have a general preference for one brand, but it's far less "religion-like" than it was, say, 15 years ago.
I personally prefer BMW, because I prefer sportyness over comfort and I like BMWs new designs, but I acknowledge that there's no car brand in the world that designs better interiors than Mercedes and that the new Audis both look and drive very well. A colleague of mine just got a brand-new Audi A6 4.2 and I had the chance to drive it for a few minutes. I was really impressed, it drives well and you have sooo much space in it. And it's probably the best-looking luxury sedan on the market.
LHSebi From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 1049 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1238 times:
MEA310,
Sorry, but the fastest sedan is the Brabus E V12. As the name suggests, it's a tuned up E-class, with a V12 engine. Quick stats: 640 hp, top speed limited to 340km/h due to tires. A monster!
BMW adopts the design of sporty looking cars on their sedans,especially the 3 and 5 series whereas MB stick with elegant looking cars,and switch to completely sporty cars with their AMGs.
I see what you are trying to say, but don't you think the SL class looks sporty? It is elegant, but in a sporty way, I think.
Sebastian
I guess that's what happens in the end, you start thinking about the beginning.
MEA310 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2002, 660 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1216 times:
Sebastian
I was comparing the sedan cars produced by both BMW & MB.The SL definitely has a sporty look,it's a coupe!
Although the numbers of the Brabus E V12 suggest that it is the fastest sedan,as a BMW fan I have to argue a little !
The BMW M5 comes out straight of the BMW factory as is with no further tune-ups or any modifications whatsoever to give it the numbers it is capble of achieving.Also remember that the new M5 is equipped with a V10 500HP engine,and is capable of hitting the 330km/h mark.As for the MB,it is tuned by Brabus so it could reach these high numbers,I wonder why AMG does not produce such a beast themselves.A few months later,Hamman or AC Schnitzer might have a boosted M5 version that could beat or equal itself with the Brabus machine.
I'm not saying that the M5 is the fastest sedan,you might conclude that regarding what I have written above,but I just wanted to make a little comparison.
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5394 posts, RR: 19 Reply 16, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1215 times:
Jag & especially Lexus don't play a role here, even though Lexus is heavily advertising they sell very, very few cars.
Did anyone notice that in all German krimi TV series (Cobra 11, Siska, Wolff's Revier, etc.) the bad guys always drive Jaguars?
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 17, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1208 times:
I'll take a German car any day, be it Audi, VW, BMW or Mercedes Benz. You can compare the stats between Mercs and BMW's all day, but at the end of the day they all have something in common, RELIABILITY.
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5394 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1194 times:
Jesus, do you really watch this crap
Actually it was a friend of mine's observation about the Jags. I admit without torture, I watched couple of them... but it was for "research" purposes only.
ScarletHarlot From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 4673 posts, RR: 59 Reply 21, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1185 times:
I have seen this debate myself. Good friends of ours are big Bimmer fans. For a while they had a mid-eighties 3 series, a 2003 5 series, and a 2002 7 series. Now they sold the 3 to get a Dodge truck for their dog.
But BMWs have never done anything for me. The styling is so boring and bland. I know they are good cars and the performance is great but they just have never done it for me.
Now, my CLK55...that car rocks! I get a kick out of it every time I look at it and especially when I drive it! I wouldn't want to drive an underpowered MB...that would be boring. I would like our next car to be the E55. That would be a great family car, don't you think?
I love the Mercedes styling. BMW just doesn't do it for me. Mechanically, I think they're equals, really.
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3292 posts, RR: 7 Reply 23, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1168 times:
Yes, a 330i will probably outperform a C320, mainly cause the 330 has one extra liter in its engine!
WRONG LHSebi. The 330i has 3.0L engine while the C320 has a 3.2L engine. Quite a equal comparison, the 330i kicks the C320's ass as far as performance and sales.
AirxLiban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 24, posted (8 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1146 times:
For me here is the breakdown:
C-Class vs 3-series I prefer 3-series
M3 vs C55 AMG I prefer M3
5-series vs E-Class I prefer 5-series
530d vs E320CDI I prefer 530d
E55 AMG vs M5 I prefer M5 and I am sure that there is no one that disagrees with me.
S-Class vs 7-series I prefer 7-series
Z4 vs SLK Z4 wins it hands down.
6-series vs CL I would rather go with the CL
PARIS, FRANCE...THE BEIRUT OF EUROPE.
25 ScarletHarlot: I disagree with you AirxLiban...I prefer the E55.
26 MEA310: I also disagree with AirxLiban, I prefer the 6 series! MEA310
27 Sabena332: I am a big BMW fan (my father is driving BMW as long as I can remember and his new 520 has a really great handling) but I like Mercedes as well, the n
28 AA777: LHSebi, Yes, a 330i will probably outperform aC320, mainly cause the 330 has one extra liter in its engine! Actually, the 330i has less displacement t
29 Mia: I love anything German so I find it hard to choose between BMW and MB; the only problem I have with Benz is their legacy. I support BMW and I hope to
30 N864DA: In my opinion, Audi is often the underestimated contender in this game. They build cars not only "approaching" BMW/Merc standards but they build cars
31 Flight152: The BMW 6-series technically fits in between the CL and CLK size and price wise, considering the 645ci starts at $79K and the CL500 starts at $94K, bu
32 Superfly: You guys left out Lincoln & Cadillac.
33 FLVILLA: "You guys left out Lincoln & Cadillac. " We all hope and pray that your not serious, right?
34 Superfly: FLVILLA: I know. Lincoln is better than Cadillac. No offense Sccutler but I am a rear-drive fan.
35 Petertenthije: You guys left out Lincoln & Cadillac They do not sell in Europe. I have only seen very very few cadillacs (pimp cars), but never seen a Lincoln. Merce
36 Superfly: Of the two over-priced, over-rated German cars, I'd prefer Daimler/Chrysler. Mercedes also imported there diesels over here which is a good thing. 600
37 LHSebi: Superfly, May I ask why you find BMW and Mercedes overrated? What car tickles your fantasies? Also, may I suggest to use the spellcheck once in a whil
38 Superfly: LHSebi: It's the attitude of the fools that buy these cars. I work on cars as a hobby and I've fixed many friends cars too. The German car are no bett
39 AWspicious: "I know. Lincoln is better than Cadillac. No offense Sccutler but I am a rear-drive fan." Superfly; You forgot to add No pun intended The German cars
40 Superfly: AWspicious: Ah you dirty minded person!
41 ScarletHarlot: Hee hee! AWspicious...does that mean I get "spanked with a fashion stick"? BMWs are bland!
42 Nudelhirsch: Airsicknessbag, the BMW-logo is even more aviation related if you look on RR-engeine-cowls, I am pretty sure a number of those carry the logo, as RR i
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