3 VS. C

[Webmaster]

Hi guys.
My in-laws came to visit for the last 2 weeks. Now, wifey isn't too good with a manual box so I swapped cars with pops for the duration of their visit.
I drive a 2008 320i 6M. He drives a 2004 C200 Kompressor AT Avantgarde. :facepalm:

Now, I'm not having a go at Merc fans, but I could not help myself at comparing these two. Where do I begin....

Merc likes:
- Quieter than 3
- More power than 3
- Softer, more comfortable ride
- Better stock sound system
- Sunroof, and that's it...

Merc dislikes:
- Everything about the entire steering system. It goes light at speed and is very (imo) twitchy at freeway speeds. Uncommunicative - the front wheels could be in different Provinces afaik. The 3 is always planted.
- The braking system. Nothing...nothing...and STOP. The 3 is way easier to modulate and therefore smoother in traffic.
- The gearbox. I know it's an older auto but 3sec to downshift in 'Sport' mode. No thanks.
- Body control on twisties. Again, I don't know where the wheels are. To me it feels like the body rises up on the suspension and I can't feel the drivetrain. This together with the light steering is not enjoyable at all. The 3 can tell me the flavour of gum the outside rear wheel just missed...
- Fuel consumption between 10-12L/100Km. The 3 is better.
- Dashboard functions are not as logical as BMW. Fair, you get used to it but BMW is way more intuitive.
- Cabin space is less than the 3.
- Hand(foot)brake. You have to cock your leg as if to let one rip to use the thing.
- Headrests in front cannot be tilted forward to support your head. Whiplash anyone?

All being said I can now see the difference between the 3 and C. I did enjoy the Merc for its laziness and how it puts me to sleep.
However, the combination of vague steering, grabby brakes and toitoi body control made me hate it immensely.
I got my 3 back lat night and went for a little spin. Oh how I missed my mocked, underpowered and slightly problematic 3. It is miles ahead of the Merc in Sheer Driving Pleasure, and that's all that counts.
Glad I made the right choice. :inlove:

 

[RAArmstrong]

BMW FTW! raise:

I do agree with you though...

When I compare my dad's 2000 E240 to my E39... That light steering is a problem for me... And Body roll... Holy cow its like trying to corner a truck at high speed! My E39 feels so much more planted :inlove:

 

[Webmaster]

If the steering was 'better' the C would have scored higher in my book. But :nonono:

 

[Nikhil]

BMW FTW! raise:

I do agree with you though...

When I compare my dad's 2000 E240 to my E39... That light steering is a problem for me... And Body roll... Holy cow its like trying to corner THE TITANIC at high speed! My E39 feels so much more planted :inlove:

Fixed:thumbs:

 

[RAArmstrong]

:biglol::roflol::bravo:

 

[Rayzor]

Hi guys.
My in-laws came to visit for the last 2 weeks. Now, wifey isn't too good with a manual box so I swapped cars with pops for the duration of their visit.
I drive a 2008 320i 6M. He drives a 2004 C200 Kompressor AT Avantgarde. :facepalm:

Now, I'm not having a go at Merc fans, but I could not help myself at comparing these two. Where do I begin....

Merc likes:
- Quieter than 3
- More power than 3
- Softer, more comfortable ride
- Better stock sound system
- Sunroof, and that's it...

Merc dislikes:
- Everything about the entire steering system. It goes light at speed and is very (imo) twitchy at freeway speeds. Uncommunicative - the front wheels could be in different Provinces afaik. The 3 is always planted.
- The braking system. Nothing...nothing...and STOP. The 3 is way easier to modulate and therefore smoother in traffic.
- The gearbox. I know it's an older auto but 3sec to downshift in 'Sport' mode. No thanks.
- Body control on twisties. Again, I don't know where the wheels are. To me it feels like the body rises up on the suspension and I can't feel the drivetrain. This together with the light steering is not enjoyable at all. The 3 can tell me the flavour of gum the outside rear wheel just missed...
- Fuel consumption between 10-12L/100Km. The 3 is better.
- Dashboard functions are not as logical as BMW. Fair, you get used to it but BMW is way more intuitive.
- Cabin space is less than the 3.
- Hand(foot)brake. You have to cock your leg as if to let one rip to use the thing.
- Headrests in front cannot be tilted forward to support your head. Whiplash anyone?

All being said I can now see the difference between the 3 and C. I did enjoy the Merc for its laziness and how it puts me to sleep.
However, the combination of vague steering, grabby brakes and toitoi body control made me hate it immensely.
I got my 3 back lat night and went for a little spin. Oh how I missed my mocked, underpowered and slightly problematic 3. It is miles ahead of the Merc in Sheer Driving Pleasure, and that's all that counts.
Glad I made the right choice. :inlove:

So true
:biglol::roflol::roflol:

 

[///Maniac]

Seems like you drove a pre-facelift which was 'comparable' to the E46. The facelift drives very differently in all honesty. Stiffer steering, way less body roll, sportier suspension. But obviously not as sporty as the E90.


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[ChefDJ]

I can't believe that a Merc is more comfy than a BMW. Suspension, maybe. But definitely not the seats. I have always said that one thing Merc can learn from BMW is how to make a comfortable seat. The C-class to me has such hard seats compared to an E90.

 

[Webmaster]

Seems like you drove a pre-facelift which was 'comparable' to the E46. The facelift drives very differently in all honesty. Stiffer steering, way less body roll, sportier suspension. But obviously not as sporty as the E90.


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Yes, I did. I'm sure the facelift must be better, but as you say, no where close to the e90.
What shocked me is how far apart these two segment competitors really are.

---

I can't believe that a Merc is more comfy than a BMW. Suspension, maybe. But definitely not the seats. I have always said that one thing Merc can learn from BMW is how to make a comfortable seat. The C-class to me has such hard seats compared to an E90.

Yes, BMW seats are waaay better but I'm running on runflats, you, I guess, are not on your e39. That's why the C felt softer. I'm sure my e90 with standard tires will be better though.

 

[Caddy101]

I'm actually a huge Merc fan. Please don't ban me from the forum.

The W203 C-Class was a good Mercedes Benz and a decent competitor for the 3 Series at the time (i.e. 2004 = E46 facelift).
So if you compare it to a 2008 E90 it will come quite short.

But yes, as drivers cars, Mercs aren't quite there yet. It's only recently that dynamic competence became a requirement in Stuttgart.

 

[Webmaster]

But yes, as drivers cars, Mercs aren't quite there yet. It's only recently that dynamic competence became a requirement in Stuttgart.

So they have sent spies to the ///M dept.?

 

[Wes]

Im surprised that you are that shocked.

Comparing a W203 to an E90 is apples and pears really.

 

[///Maniac]

^^^ pre-facelift was a competitor to E46 though as it was released in 2000 vs E90 2005. But I get what you're saying. I believe Merc only later started targeting BMW and Audi type drivers as evidenced by their offering the Sport package from 2003 onwards and re-engineering the W203 in 2004. The facelift was more than just a facelift as I stated earlier. I know because my dad drives a facelift. When he was in the market for a C, we test drove a few pre-f/l and I honestly didn't enjoy those as it still had that old man's car feel. I tried convincing him to get an E46 or E39. But when we drove the f/l it was a completely different feel. As for reliability, the car hasn't given a days trouble. Sitting on +/- 220k kms.


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[Webmaster]

Im surprised that you are that shocked.

Comparing a W203 to an E90 is apples and pears really.

I'd never driven a C before. Thought they would be quite close. Sorry?

 

[ChefDJ]

My SO's father has a 2002 C270 CDI. So it's pre-facelift. However I do love driving the thing. It has the same heavy steering that my E39 has, and plenty power. The seats are hard so that I'm not happy with that. But other than that, the car actually came with so many optional extras than most C-classes of the same era could have, as it was a special production car for one of the directors of Mercedes SA. The director then pulled out and the car was standing on a dealer floor. The future father-in-law saw it and bought it immediately.

I agree on space. The Mercs inside, especially for the passengers, are way smaller than the BMW's.

 

[Webmaster]

^^^ pre-facelift was a competitor to E46 though as it was released in 2000 vs E90 2005. But I get what you're saying. I believe Merc only later started targeting BMW and Audi type drivers as evidenced by their offering the Sport package from 2003 onwards and re-engineering the W203 in 2004. The facelift was more than just a facelift as I stated earlier. I know because my dad drives a facelift. When he was in the market for a C, we test drove a few pre-f/l and I honestly didn't enjoy those as it still had that old man's car feel. I tried convincing him to get an E46 or E39. But when we drove the f/l it was a completely different feel. As for reliability, the car hasn't given a days trouble. Sitting on +/- 220k kms.


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Old mans car feel - that's it right there, spot on.
As for reliability, my uncle had a C180K with 140km and the gearbox packed up. Traded in for a new A4. BUT as with all cars, some last better than others.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I think these flaws were corrected with the W204, it became a more competent rival to the 3. The lack of a manual gearbox is the ony reason why I wouldn't go for one.

 

[madness_inc]

W204 would be the best direct comparison. The W203s were a bit meh. Steering feel definitely improved with the 204. Braking feel as well. Interiors were updated to feel more contemporary.
Reliability? well merc auto boxes go boom far less often than BMWs with their silly 'lifetime' fluid. Their cooling systems are also not made of spontaneously combusting plastics. How BMW got this wrong on 3 generations of cars is baffling...

 

[Gizmo]

You comparing a car that is 4 years older than yours...no wonder you felt a difference...

 

[sclass]

Those Cs are super compliant ride wise even if they are a generation older. I've never driven one though only riden. My MSport's jiggly and taut in comparison, BUT it absolutely murders corners/twisties and I wouldn't trade that for anything