BMW or Mercedes?

[viewsonic1]

Hello, I have decided to replace my nine year old BMW series 3 and am undecided. As I tow a caravan I need a 2 litre engine and am tempted with another series 3 as my current one is excellent. However, the "C" class Mercedes has turned my head and I've had a favourable test drive in one.
My stipulations are: Petrol engine (my annually mileage doesn't justify a diesel, and in any case, I prefer petrol) and a manual gearbox. Entry level models will do, I don't need all the bells and whistles.
I've seen examples on the internet around 16/17 plate.
Which would members go for?

[ManyMinors]

If you have a 9 year old low mileage excellent BMW, my advice would be to keep it frankly but we all change our cars for different reasons. I have owned and driven different models of each make and would once have said that Mercs seemed better built and BMWs seemed a better drive but I'm not so sure that Merc build quality is what it was and one or two friends and colleagues who run them have had disappointments and fairly major faults with their C class Mercs. We all have different needs and so I would recommend you drive a few different cars and choose which you like the best and get offered the best deal on. The vast majority of such cars will be automatics, so your choices will be limited in manual form.

[viewsonic1]

Thanks for this ManyMinors. My current car is just shy of 100.000 miles (having bought it six years ago with 46.000) and I realise towing can put a strain on components such as the clutch. I've spent a pretty penny on it and I feel I don't want to spend any more hence my reason for a newer car with a lower mileage. On paper, both cars are capable of towing the caravan.
Thanks again.

[Dean]

I would probably go for the Merc. BMW seem to have re-invented the rusty car, 10 year old BMW's seem to be showing signs of rot these days.

[geoberni]

I personally have no experience of either BMW or Merc as a brand; aside from one 'too good to miss' chance to get a new Mitsubishi back in the 90's when I needed the 'family car', I've pretty much always had Vauxhall or Ford.
But a close friend often has BMWs, and equally often finds them very expensive to run with silly design faults, like his recent experience with water ingress into the black box that BMW thought would be a good idea to put in the top of the tailgate.

A bit like your experience by the sounds of it, so your BMW money pit isn't unique.

[SteveClem]

We've had BMW's and Mercs in the past and ,despite their strong points, I think both are somewhat overrated. The last C class had its front suspension collapse, luckily just before it was out of warranty. Some local mechanics won't touch them these days and main dealers are expensive on servicing and repairs. Don't think I'd get another of either.

[TDV102]

Go Ford, nice handling, reasonable parts prices and for the same money as a Beemer/Merc you get a better car for the money. Vauxhall have handling issues, especially understeer.

[ManyMinors]

The big trouble with purchasing one of the larger Fords (Mondeo for example) when still a fairly new and expensive car is that the value quickly drops like nothing else and you'll be left in very few years with something of no value because they have no "kerb appeal". I do agree that the cars themselves drive well but if you want to retain as much of your cash as possible buying an expensive but fast depreciating car is like setting fire to £20 notes and the occasional repair bills for keeping your old car going for a few more years will be a much less expensive alternative.

[palacebear]

I'm very biased in favour of Ford having had a succession of nearly new Escorts, Focuses and even a Fusion over the last 23 years. Only niggle with the latest one is the 'hill start assist' which is easy to pre-empt, causing some rough pulling away!

I suppose in the C-class or 3-Series bracket, it would have to be a Mondeo which is probably smaller, or a Vauxhall Insignia, which is definitely smaller although there seems to be a new facelift imminently which might be bigger (and better!).

[les]

Mentioning bigger ( not sure about better) cars, I'm mystified as to why the same model car gets bigger every year.
I presume it's by public demand,-------- an ego thing Mines bigger than yours?

[palacebear]

They don't get much bigger inside. It's nearly all extra safety padding to keep the more idiotic drivers safely cocooned. My 2015 Focus has no more leg-room or elbow room than it's 1999 predecessor, but the steering wheel is much further away from the windscreen!

[Myrtles Man]

Plus, I suppose, the undeniable truth is that people, at least in the countries where most cars have traditionally been sold, have got bigger (and continue to do so) as the years pass.

[les]

Didn't think of the obesity epidemic, however I'm still inclined to put it down to one upmanship!

[Myrtles Man]

Not just obesity either - my nephew is 6' 5" and his younger brother is 6' 9"