[Stones1970]

Sort of an odd comparison as they differ in size and purpose, but something I'm considering because it turns out that with an ABA discount, I can get a C coupe for the same price as a 230i. Very different cars with very different goals, but I did start thinking about it because I do a lot of highway driving. Anyone have any thoughts (besides "Mercedes sucks")?

[BEM-S4]

Highway driving Benz for sure. More back roads or track days 230.

When I do a big highway trip my 2 stays home.

[Stones1970]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Highway driving Benz for sure. More back roads or track days 230.

When I do a big highway trip my 2 stays home.

I do a 36 mile round trip highway commute 3-4 days a week. Mostly straights with a few lonnnnng sweeping curves. And Bay Area traffic. Sounds like I need to check out the Benz.

[p912guy]

I can't speak to the Benz, but I find my m235i convertible to be very comfortable on long highway cruises. It eats highway miles like the Cookie Monster eats cookies. I have a 3 1/2 hour trip coming up this weekend and am looking forward to it.

[esp260]

I would vote for the Benz as well if you will be doing highway miles. I find that with the newer BMWs because of the electronic steering, it takes a little more effort to keep the wheel straight. The steering feels too light at times on longer trips.

[Stones1970]

Originally Posted by esp260

I would vote for the Benz as well if you will be doing highway miles. I find that with the newer BMWs because of the electronic steering, it takes a little more effort to keep the wheel straight. The steering feels too light at times on longer trips.

Thanks for pointing this out--I'll pay attention when I drive the C and re-drive the 2. I do wish BMW would allow you to program Sport steering while leaving the transmission in Comfort. Other automakers do this.

[overcoil]

I've owned both a Mercedes 202, 203 and drove a 204 - different C=class chassis numbers.
Like most Mercedes when you examine them in detail they are impressively made. The one characteristic that may be an issue, at least to me, the Mercedes weren't comfortable to drive at low speeds. Over 80 or over 100 - mph and on up the Mercedes cruise the highways in incredible composure.
What I like about the 2-series BMW is that it's even fun at a crawl, for darting through traffic I'd take a 2 over a C.
Having said that, when it comes to premium vehicles I like both Mercedes and BMW and not sure you can go wrong with either.

[Sportstick]

My prior car before this 2 Series was a W204 platform C300 Sport (6MT, the last ones made). MB certainly do NOT suck. They have a different flavor and approach to luxury. My car served me well from 2008 to 2015, but MBs don't feel like Bimmers. MB is a rolling bank vault...it feels as if carved out of one piece of granite. It is likely more comfortable for extended highway trips, but definitely less fun and nimble.

I personally do not care for the current design language. After the crisply styled W204, the current W205 platform looks to my eyes as if the original design melted. The interior is also overly chrome-y and I cannot abide the iPad pasted to the instrument panel design for the Navigation.

If those design elements don't bother you, or if you actually like them, the C Class can be quite a nice car to drive, but it does remind me of an old expression, "You drive a BMW; you ride behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz". (That should probably be clarified to exclude AMG!)

[Stones1970]

I don't care for the rear quarter of the coupe - wtf is that? - but if I liked most/everything else about the car's drive, I could get past that. I don't really care about the Navigation screen and certainly wouldn't not buy a car because of the tablet on the dash.

More concerning to me is how the car drives in city/low speed traffic. I have driven older Mercedes--W124 diesels, to be specific--but I have no idea what a contemporary Mercedes with electric steering and a "sport-tuned suspension" (per marketing copy) drives like.

[esp260]

Originally Posted by Stones1970

Thanks for pointing this out--I'll pay attention when I drive the C and re-drive the 2. I do wish BMW would allow you to program Sport steering while leaving the transmission in Comfort. Other automakers do this.

You can actually program sport for just the chassis and leave the transmission in comfort. I usually do that for longer highway trips. I just thought I'd point that out about the steering because when I test drove different cars, I felt that BMWs did not feel as stable on the highways as other cars. It's still comfortable on the highway, but I'm sure the Mercedes would be a touch better.

[BEM-S4]

Sounds like a test drive is in order. I haven't driven the C300 but spent a week with a C450 (which is now the C43) and really liked it compared to my current M235 coupe (which I subsequently sold for the convertible). The are different cars built for different purposes, so just get whichever you like best. Neither option is bad. Have you driven an A5? I have only driven the S5 but while you are out test driving coupes might as well.

[englishguy84]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Sounds like a test drive is in order. I haven't driven the C300 but spent a week with a C450 (which is now the C43) and really liked it compared to my current M235 coupe (which I subsequently sold for the convertible). The are different cars built for different purposes, so just get whichever you like best. Neither option is bad. Have you driven an A5? I have only driven the S5 but while you are out test driving coupes might as well.

Yup, scheduling ones for weekend after this (as I'm traveling). I haven't looked into the A5, my lack of need for AWD made me wonder why I'd want that over the other two options, but no harm in checking it out.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Have you driven an A5? I have only driven the S5 but while you are out test driving coupes might as well.

I always value your advice, but after some recent absurdly bad Owner Relations experience with Audi of America regarding our 2016 A6, I, for one, will never return to Audi/VW showrooms, no matter how nice the vehicles.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I always value your advice, but after some recent absurdly bad Owner Relations experience with Audi of America regarding our 2016 A6, I, for one, will never return to Audi/VW showrooms, no matter how nice the vehicles.

That's a shame, Audi has always treated me really well. Sorry you had a crap experience. I actually had a bad time with a dealer once emailed Audi NA - long story short the person was actually fired. VW I stay away from like the plague though - the service department rarely has any knowledge of the higher end offerings and the environment there is just not where I want to spend my time.

That said after my last few BMW purchases, including one where some VERY senior folks got involved to get my father his wagon as quickly as possible, I'd need a pretty compelling reason to go elsewhere.

[Stones1970]

It also sounds like--even though it's the most expensive of the bunch when equipped as I'd want it--I need to think about the 4 again. Might be the right middle ground for me.

What chance do I have that a BMW dealer would go up to a $1000 below invoice to match the price that Mercedes could offer me on a C coupe, if I ordered a 4?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Stones1970

It also sounds like--even though it's the most expensive of the bunch when equipped as I'd want it--I need to think about the 4 again. Might be the right middle ground for me.

What chance do I have that a BMW dealer would go up to a $1000 below invoice to match the price that Mercedes could offer me on a C coupe, if I ordered a 4?

Might be tough where you are but who knows. I took a 428 as a loaner from the dealer for a few days, may be worth poking around for a leftover or exec demo if you are trying to save a few bucks.

I didn't mention the 4-series at first since you were asking about the 2, but that's a really nice option as well. I'd take that over the 2-series for highway driving.

[wanofakind01]

I currently DD a 2016 W205 C300 4MATIC sedan and had an m235i for two years at the same time (currently waiting on m2 delivery). If it's anything like the coupe, I think you'd prefer a 4er. The sedan is fairly comfortable, but its not the most cushy. The turbo lag from the c300 is where I have the most problems where the car doesn't know what to do when you floor the gas pedal, feels very similar to audis a4 2.0T lag. There's a second delay where the computer is trying to figure out what to do, and it's in cases where you really can't afford to lose 1 second. This happens in both comfort and sport mode.

Additionally, the infotainment system is tedious and responds really slow when you're coming from iDrive, and the AC takes a good ten seconds to kick in on full blast while the system is loading up when you start the car. I'm not even talking about cold air...there's little to no air while the system is loading. These things actually bother me on a daily basis now that summer is in full gear.

And...no maintenance plan.

It's not a bad car relative to many on the road. Just when you compare it to bimmers at the same level, there's a lot more that BMW offers in my opinion.

[Stones1970]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Might be tough where you are but who knows. I took a 428 as a loaner from the dealer for a few days, may be worth poking around for a leftover or exec demo if you are trying to save a few bucks.

I didn't mention the 4-series at first since you were asking about the 2, but that's a really nice option as well. I'd take that over the 2-series for highway driving.

Yeah, I can get a 2 with leather, M sport, H/K out the door for about 39,500 pre-tax it seems like. Sport suspension is standard on the C coupe, and with the basic premium package and the ABA discount, it seems like it's about 40,500 pre-tax if I get invoice-ish pricing. 4 series coupe with M sport forces me into premium pack, plus H/K puts invoice around 46,500. We'll see. I'm buying (GEICO mechanical warranty for 7 years/100k miles works great for family members) for mileage reasons. Trying to keep my monthly payment around 400/month with a ~22k-ish down payment.

[Fugly M3]

I test drove the C300 coupe and really liked the fit and finish and quality. But compared to the 230i, it is a real slouch. All comes down to what you want in the car, really.

[BEM-S4]

Red wouldn't be my first choice but this is a HELL of a lot of car within your budget - local example of a factory demo option.

https://www.stevethomasbmw.com/used/...58796c6f39.htm

[Stones1970]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Red wouldn't be my first choice but this is a HELL of a lot of car within your budget - local example of a factory demo option.

https://www.stevethomasbmw.com/used/...58796c6f39.htm

Oh, damn. If I could step up the the 6-cyl, it'd be no contest. The one option that's missing is the sport package or M-sport package, which is a must-have for me (I've tried Fxx BMWs with and without it, and I definitely prefer it with)--but that's great.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Stones1970

Oh, damn. If I could step up the the 6-cyl, it'd be no contest. The one option that's missing is the sport package or M-sport package, which is a must-have for me (I've tried Fxx BMWs with and without it, and I definitely prefer it with)--but that's great.

I think it said sport package you should check it out. I forget exactly but at some point 3/4 sport became standard and track handling was then optional.