Since I am kind of stuck on this subject here at the office, I would appreciate your input concerning Mercedes-Benz (Daimler-Chrysler) and BMW:
[ul]
[li]In your opinion, which brand is more prestigious?[/li][li]Does any of those brands convey more social status?[/li][li]If you had the money and the choice between those two brands, which would you select and why?[/li][/ul]
Thank you very much…
I’m not a car guy. But here’s my guess. Mercedes is more prestigious. As such it will confer more social status (inasmuch as a car can do so). I don’t know which I’d choose. There is a sporty looking BMW that is beautiful to the eye. If it performs as good as it looks, then I’d really like to have one. But I don’t know enough about either company to say which I’d choose.
Around here, neither seems to have a distinct edge because there’s just so many of them thanks to all the fake money created a couple years ago by the dot-commies. Now that the dot-com bubble popped, all these fancy cars are being turned in by kids that can’t keep up with the payments.
Mercedes is becoming not much more than a gussied-up Chrysler, and either brand’s cars last well if properly maintained, resulting in a lot of funky old German cars puttering around, full of dents and burping smoke as they pull out from a stop.
If I had to choose between just these two brands, I’d probably go for BMW.
If you’re trying to impress me with your car, get a Bentley or an Aston-Martin.
Here in Silicon Valley, people who are not impressed by whatever wheels you happen to drive frequently are of a mind that most BMW and quite a lot of Mercedes owners are among some of the very worst drivers on the road. A routine lack of turn indication and an automatic assumption that their pink slip also purchased the roadbed upon which the vehicle travels makes them some of the most reviled drivers of all.
IMHO Mercedes has traditionally been more prestigious and conveyed higher social status. The BMW, though, is seen as more of a “driver’s car”.
If I had the money I would probably pick Mercedes over BMW, just because in my experience BMW drivers are more likely to fit the “a-hole driver” stereotype Zenster so eloquently describes. Again, IMHO.
Actually, if I had the money I would probably pick Lexus or Acura over either.
A car salesman (from whom I purchased my current car) expressed the opinion that Mercedes were still the prestige car, but not so much anymore because there are so many of them (as there are BMWs, Lexus, etc. - very few of which, I suspect, are paid for).
One thing I immediately noticed when I first went from driving a Chevy to driving a BMW was how rude and aggressive other drivers became towards me. I hadn’t changed, although I’m sure I have by now. I now know what to expect.
Well, that’s what it’s like over here in Germany. Then again, Mercedes has just been around for so long…
But in America, tradition does seem to favor American cars (though the opinions about them seem to be divided, too). So we were wondering if the “prestige” status Mercedes has in Germany could be roughly translated to the states or if BMW has the same status just by being an import car.
Personally, I have to admit I am an Audi girl myself. Well, I would be, if I could afford one. Within the confines of my own OP, I’d get a BMW, Mercedes are too big and conspicuous for my taste. Then again, if an SLK happened to cross my way, I’d certainly not object.
I think a lot of the imports have lost their edge for me lately. I would take an old Mercedes over a new one any day…We had a BMW a couple of years ago and boy was it fun to drive.
To answer your question, I think Mercedes has a prestigious (albeit pretentious) air about it…BMW is for the “serious driver” (possibly rude, a-hole-ish driver).
BMW. I just have the impression that they’re better cars - a “driver’s car”, someone said. Therefore, it seems to me the more intelligent car. Also, I just haven’t seen as many of them on the road as I have Mercedes, so the BMW is a little more exotic.
Assuming I had the cash, I don’t really see myself looking into a Mercedes. I would definitely look into a BMW.
Ahh, the American vs. import car is an interesting question itself. In my experience there is a generational divide in this country when talking about cars in the luxury price range. Older Americans are more likely to like American luxury cars (like Cadillac). Younger Americans, if they are going to spend that much money, are more likely to favor Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, or Range Rover. Again, completely anecdotal observations here.
This has been a source of great dismay amongst shareholders of MB. I think there are still several lawsuits against them for the merger. Chrylser has been and always will be crap.
MB will likely get the prestige nod in the States. They are both excellent machines-I’ve owned and worked on each, and consider them classic pieces of engineering from Deutschland.
Were money no object, my dream toy would be a 300 SLR Gullwing-the embodiment of sex with tires.
I think the worst thing that has happened has been the development of the “cheaper” Mercedes and BMW models…they look exactly like a Honda Accord for far too much money.
I figure if I am going to shell out major bucks, I don’t want a car that looks like one that cost $20,000.
My personal opinion is that a larger model Mercedes will never go out of style…and the sportier versions of BMW will always have their fans. (I would take the Mercedes…simply more comfortable and classy.)