128i vs C300 Sport

[BimmerKid87]

I did a search and didn't find a whole lot, so I figured I can justify another thread.

Anyone have experience with both? discuss...

[AchtungF80]

I hate the interior quality of the new C-class... it feels to me like it shared some materials with a Chrysler product and it just looks blah...

The 1's interior, at least has nice inviting materials and I personally like the design more.

[LeifW]

Originally Posted by AchtungE30

I hate the interior quality of the new C-class... it feels to me like it shared some materials with a Chrysler product and it just looks blah...

The 1's interior, at least has nice inviting materials and I personally like the design more.

+1. While Mercedes is no longer with Chrysler, the current C-Class was under development while the two where merged. If you compare the general structural layout of the C-Class interior to the Chrysler 300 or Challenger, you can see the similarities.

Leif W.

P.S. I'm not a Mercedes hater. In fact, I drive one.

[tkbr0wn]

Theres a loaner C300 in the parking lot today. Not very impressed.

[AchtungF80]

Originally Posted by LeifW

+1. While Mercedes is no longer with Chrysler, the current C-Class was under development while the two where merged. If you compare the general structural layout of the C-Class interior to the Chrysler 300 or Challenger, you can see the similarities.

Leif W.

P.S. I'm not a Mercedes hater. In fact, I drive one.

Yeah, the exterior on the other hand, really grew on me...there's 2 to sometimes 3 in my complex parking lot, and it looks quite nice...but I just can't past that damn dashboard.

Your generation C however, I still really like.

[arok]

for the price, you could get a C300 sport... It's not a bad car and it will be more convenient... but everyone and their mom has one and you would be happier w/the sportiness of the 128i

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by LeifW

+1. While Mercedes is no longer with Chrysler, the current C-Class was under development while the two where merged. If you compare the general structural layout of the C-Class interior to the Chrysler 300 or Challenger, you can see the similarities.

Leif W.

P.S. I'm not a Mercedes hater. In fact, I drive one.

Well the Chrysler 300 has a pretty nice interior for it's class, so I guess I wouldn't mind. However, I've spent time in both a C300 and a Chrysler 300 and I don't think they look/feel all that similar.

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by arok

for the price, you could get a C300 sport... It's not a bad car and it will be more convenient... but everyone and their mom has one and you would be happier w/the sportiness of the 128i

I see very few around here. I actually see far more MINIs.

And while I may be happier with the drive of the 128i, I feel like it looks like a significantly cheaper car than the C300. That's the big turnoff.

[HeyMoe53]

I guess it is a matter of getting a car you want to be seen in, or a car to drive. People buy cars for both reasons.

I like to drive, plain and simple. That's a large part of why a brand like BMW exists, and why I plan on purchasing one.

[yourfriend]

you should really be comparing the 3 series to the c class, since those cars are in the same class for their companies.

and i personally don't think the bmw looks cheaper than the c class by any means. if sportier means cheaper then damn, it must be really cheap, but i see the c class as a car that looks like a luxury car and the 1 series as a car that looks like it has some real sporting intentions, which has never rung a bell as "cheap" to me.

really, i think it's stupid to compare the two cars, however, because they're literally nothing alike...

[soupy]

I also considered the C300 Sport and test drove it (even before I considered dropping by a BMW dealership). I was not impressed at all: extremely boring to drive and unpleasant to sit in due to the excess black rubber everywhere. The exterior is definitely gorgeous, but I feel that in its class, the new Audi A4 has better road presence and a far superior interior. I actually told the dealer flat out that I felt the car was more suited for my mom than myself.

At first I thought of the 128i as well, but in terms of looks, I really liked the subtle M-styling upgrades. Adding the body kit onto the 128i would've pushed the price to near 135i MSRP, which made my decision a little bit easier. Nevertheless, the 128i would be the far more interesting car to drive and still resolve your goal of getting a car with a smoother ride.

[tkbr0wn]

Is there really a comparison????? Seems obvious to me.

[BimmerKid87]

I drove a C300 sport w/ manual this afternoon and fell in love with it. I'm not sure why people found it bland and lifeless. It doesn't handle quite like a BMW but it is certainly a sporty sedan...It's a lot more of a driver's car than my old 2005 Saab 9-3 ever was, and the manual tranny was GREAT.

I walked away so impressed. I'd take it over a 328i any day. The 128i has its definite strengths but at the end of the day the Benz just seems more me.

I'm getting black on black with the sport/AMG styling package, and 6 speed manual. In this spec, It def doesn't look like a hairdresser's car.

[atr_hugo]

Enjoy the Benz - you'll have a rare one with a manual tranny. When I was 15 I swore my first car would be a Benz (and was hoping I'd be rich enough to buy a C-111 ; -). I ended up with a FIAT 128 - so, in the grand scheme of things, you coulda been like me and done a lot worse than a Benz.:wink:

[u2b]FZjr5fB-LjE&NR=1[/u2b]

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Enjoy the Benz - you'll have a rare one with a manual tranny. When I was 15 I swore my first car would be a Benz (and was hoping I'd be rich enough to buy a C-111 ; -). I ended up with a FIAT 128 - so, in the grand scheme of things, you coulda been like me and done a lot worse than a Benz.:wink:

[u2b]FZjr5fB-LjE&NR=1[/u2b]

Thanks! You have my ideal car, but I just cant swing a 335i coupe right now.

PS. Those MB's in the videos are CRAZY...never seen anything like them before.

[atr_hugo]

Ah - you did notice the SWB beside it? I have a 135i (a bit of an inside joke, the SWB = Short Wheel Base ; -).

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Ah - you did notice the SWB beside it? I have a 135i (a bit of an inside joke, the SWB = Short Wheel Base ; -).

OH...haha...well the 135 is equally awesome.

[former]

Edmunds wasn't really impressed with the Merc. They aren't the end-all-be-all, but they aren't idiots either.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...ment.html#more

[lambammm]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Enjoy the Benz - you'll have a rare one with a manual tranny. When I was 15 I swore my first car would be a Benz (and was hoping I'd be rich enough to buy a C-111 ; -). I ended up with a FIAT 128 - so, in the grand scheme of things, you coulda been like me and done a lot worse than a Benz.:wink:

[u2b]FZjr5fB-LjE&NR=1[/u2b]

Man, Hugo you must be like 147 years old. :eyebulge: lol. My first "when I get rich" cars were the Countach and Testarossa.

[wtiger127]

I test drove both and many factors to compare. 1. Cost 2. Sport feel 3. Power ...and finally, what will really make me happy to drive for 3 years. Although expesive to lease, I picked the 128 CAB over a 4 door C300. And a nice choice.

[ptack]

I wouldn't be surprised if the 128 actually has more room in the back than the C300. The back seats seemed Porsche-like. I looked at one because the sport version can look very sharp, but driving-wise it's pretty damn dull.

[OzBMW84]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

I drove a C300 sport w/ manual this afternoon and fell in love with it. I'm not sure why people found it bland and lifeless. It doesn't handle quite like a BMW but it is certainly a sporty sedan...It's a lot more of a driver's car than my old 2005 Saab 9-3 ever was, and the manual tranny was GREAT.

I walked away so impressed. I'd take it over a 328i any day. The 128i has its definite strengths but at the end of the day the Benz just seems more me.

I'm getting black on black with the sport/AMG styling package, and 6 speed manual. In this spec, It def doesn't look like a hairdresser's car.

Great choice. The C is a fantastically complete vehicle all around.

As for the interior, we have the C and I just sold my current model A4. After spending much time in both cars, the C's interior blows the A4 away. The Audi looks great in print, the C not so much, but in reality the Audi felt light and cheap and the glossy black plastics on the instrumentation is not great.

Audi's of old had a nice matte slightly textured finish. My previous A4 felt more like a premium product then the new A4. I was glad to get rid of the A4. There was plasitc EVERYWHERE and the interior felt pieced together by a multitude of sub par plastic parts. Proof you should never buy a car without sitting in it and driving it.

The only drawback on the C is that the dash material has a slight sheen in black. But it is otherwise a far better finished car then the A4. The doors even close with that real MB and BMW thunk. The A4 felt more like a Japanese vehicle in terms of solidity.

Audi has done a remarkable job of creating a perception of quality that's not really there.