C32 AMG or BMW?

[BimmerSport]

My dad is looking to buy a new car in a week or so and is leaning towards the MB, but is not sure if the BMW would be a better car. any help. He was looking at a 5series bmw.

[Ridgeway]

hmm, well I guess myself like most on this forum will be biased towards bmw, but anyways...

IMO hard to compare the c32 to a 5er, in that the 5er is in a class to compete with the e-class not c-class which competes with the 3 series...

But 2 things that would turn me off from the benz: 1) No manual tranny 2) C55(I think its 55, anyways its a NA V8) is coming out. Whereas the M3 has a nice lil 6 speed, and will still be made for another couple years...

But for the price range if your looking @ 5ers I guess the best you could get would be a 530i, which really is not comparable with a c32 amg...

[Daved]

Just tell your dad to wait up for the new M5 :)

[BimmerSport]

He won't wait, all he has to drive around is his truck.

[BMW528i]

Get the BMW.

[Paul S]

If he doesn't care about reliability, then I'd get the C32 for performance (comparing to the 530). But I'd imagine he'd want a plush ride that doesn't break down often--in which case I'd suggest the BMW. Personally, if I were in the same situation, I'd go for a 330.

[Mblaster]

I'd get a C32 any day over a 530. Flame on

[eric77]

How about a 545? I am not sure if that is in his price range, but that car is supposedly insane.

[Lawrence1]

and looks ... "insane"(read: like shit)

get the benz... better resale and good performance.

[wolfsburg02]

benzo

[coqd_dzl]

The C32 or any MB is gonna be a little more on the plush side; things that pops might deem a requirement rather than an option. However, he might also desire a larger and roomier cabin, that the 530 and the MB E320 can provide.

Any desire with Audi A6 Twin Turbo?...

[fortysix]

I would also go for the 330i in this situation. Get the ZHP. Better performance, great resale, and we all know that the e46 looks alot better than the e60.

Looked at Audi or Saab yet?

[NoSoup4U]

lol ... the 530 is a waste of money in my opinion. Get the C32 amg. A coworker has owned his for about 5 months. I bought an E46 M3 ... his car can handle just as well as a stock E46 m3 with the right tweaks.

If he hosts it up for you, I'll put a link with me following him around summit point yesterday at the track. With KW V2's, bigger tires, the car handles very well. Only a person that can drive the car 10/10th's could tell the difference. Normal or spirited driving, the C32 is just as good as an E46 M3 imo.

Plus, it's rarer and it will have a better resale. The c55 does not have much enthusiasm ... the C32 has more power potential and can handle it ... that alone will make it desirable in the future.

[surfacewound]

Originally posted by Mblaster
I'd get a C32 any day over a 530. Flame on

Same here. I really don't care at all for the 530i.

I think I'd probably take it over a 330 ZHP too. I wouldnt' be willing to pay the extra $ for it, but if I could pick I'd take the C32.

[SilverStreak]

C32- nice car, but hopefully he has no intention of getting a manual tranny in the car. I'd be a tad wary of MB's reliability lately, too...

[Imperialduckm3]

C32 alway the way. I am sorry but a 540 or even a 545 is no match for the C32. Now, if we talking E46 M3's that a different story.

Remeber the C32 is 4 door just like the 5 series but pack a hella of power...

[Mistermotorist]

A C32 with lyshom s/c is about as fast -straight line - as an M3, plus you can't miss a shift/over rev. It's got 4 doors and an auto trans. C32 for "mature" drivers; BMW for more sporting drivers. Real issue is choice of auto trans vs. manual - or SMG. The Benz fuzzy logic is really good - trans adapts to driving style. I'd take f/i C32 over 330.

[KaOTiKM3]

C32 all the way, I almost sold my M for one...great cars, great potential...some reliability issues but I would be willing to trade it off for performance...

[DINANISR3]

Mercedes Benz's are reliable. You dont know what your talking about. We have 3 benz's currently. W208 CLK55, W209 CLK500, W202 C230. We had a 98 S class, and a 87 420 SEL. All cars were as solid as a rock. I had my C230 for about 3-4 years and have had no real big problems. All the other cars are fine too. I think my BMW has had something wrong with it the most. When i first bought the car it was in and out of the dealership so many times it was ridiculous. Btw.. the C32's s/c v6 is pretty much maxed out. Sure u can get a pulley, upgrade etc.. but how much more can u actually squeeze out. The C55 has much more potential. N/A V8 that has just as much HP and TQ if not more and there are so many S/C kits out for this car right now, a S/C C55 V8 would be much faster than a S/C V6. The C55 production starts in April or May. :dunno It has a longer front end, different head lights, rims, and a completely re-designed interior. :redspot

[Lawrence1]

gotta' love MB for making the C55 ...


just think about it ... E55-like power(with S/C kit) packed into a C Class.

what do they start at $$$$$ wise?

[Imperialduckm3]

Yeah the C55 will be like $20k more expensive then the C32. But the C32 is a very good car and has the power when needed. Mercedes do have problem with the newer car (maybe the merger with Chrystler started the downfall). I know the M Class, E Class and even the C230 had problems. Could also be that they were rushing the car out and just say "fawk it, let the cusomter find out the problems and we fix it" thought.

I am currently in the process of get an C32. Test drove one and it really impress me. But if I were single, then E46 M3 would be my choice. With 2 kids, C32 are more practical and have the power I crave here and there :D

[DINANISR3]

Originally posted by AngelEye328i
Yeah the C55 will be like $20k more expensive then the C32. But the C32 is a very good car and has the power when needed. Mercedes do have problem with the newer car (maybe the merger with Chrystler started the downfall). I know the M Class, E Class and even the C230 had problems. Could also be that they were rushing the car out and just say "fawk it, let the cusomter find out the problems and we fix it" thought.

I am currently in the process of get an C32. Test drove one and it really impress me. But if I were single, then E46 M3 would be my choice. With 2 kids, C32 are more practical and have the power I crave here and there :D

20K over.. that would be like a 70K+ MSRP car, include options... it would be very close to E55 msrp price range. It will probably be more expensive than the C32, but no way in hell 20K more. Its a C class.. the price range must be at or very similar to its competition. The S4 and the M3. Audi put in their N/A 4.2 L V8, so MB is putting their AMG N/A 5.4L V8 in it. Rumors have it that the next M3 will be a V8. Everyone is just raising the bar.

[Jaded M3]

If you're talking about a 530 vs a C32, I'd go with the C32. If the 540 is a option, i'd definitely go with that.