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      04-02-2017, 01:12 PM   #1
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Car and Driver May 2017 Comparison Test -540

Car and Driver May 2017 Comparison Test -540i[IMG][/IMG]
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      04-02-2017, 08:47 PM   #2
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Wow actually surprised the BMW 540 came in 4th...
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      04-02-2017, 09:53 PM   #3
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Not getting much love from C&D. Steering (and chasis in this case) are getting panned.

Will be interested to see more comparo's here in the States.
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      04-02-2017, 10:50 PM   #4
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Doesn't surprise me when it comes to the Mercedes winning. I just helped my father lease the E300, and he didn't even want to test drive the 530i, even though the lease payment would have been roughly equal, after sitting in the Mercedes. As a practicing physician at age 70, he wanted something that was luxurious and smooth, and one that wouldn't be overshadowed by the other German, Italian, and British cars in his work parking lot. The Mercedes is hard to beat in that category for a non enthusiast, for which the majority of car buyers are. It looks like BMW is trying to chase both markets, and is falling a bit short. My dad currently has a 428i used by my mom, and has owned/Leased a F10 528i, E60 535i, E65 745i, and a E38 740i. This is his second straight Mercedes after following his W212 E350 Bluetec.
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      04-03-2017, 12:45 AM   #5
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I like their tests but my winner is unshakable , unalterable unmistakable sedan which's called G30
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      04-03-2017, 06:22 AM   #6
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I generally find C/D to be the best of American auto rags, but always with the understanding that the editors care solely about which vehicles are most fun to drive. Driving enjoyment is obviously a huge factor for me, but so are cost, design, technology, efficiency, ergonomics, quality issues (ahem, Cadillac), and accommodations.

In the case of the E-class, while I find the styling a bit gaudy and undistinguished from the C-class, the biggest sticking point is the requirement for $12k in options just to avoid the cheap looking analog IP on a black panel, making for an E300 that competes more on price with a 540i than 530i.
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      04-03-2017, 08:38 AM   #7
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I would need to look at the entire review, not surprised the C won, it should have at the 94k, but this is more inline with a S6, CTS-v Sport.

They should of did this with the M550i and S6.

A comparable comparison would of been all the 4s...

basiluf

Last edited by DocWeatherington; 04-03-2017 at 08:44 AM..
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      04-03-2017, 08:39 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G30 View Post
Wow actually surprised the BMW 540 came in 4th...
Agreed,


I wouldn't call this a fair comparison,

They should of used the M550i/ S6 vs. the two hotter editions of the CTS/E-Class. Both would of been in the same price range, and undoubtedly would of handled better.

The Jag should of been left out

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      04-03-2017, 08:47 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocWeatherington View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by G30 View Post
Wow actually surprised the BMW 540 came in 4th...
Agreed,


I wouldn't this a fair comparison,

They should of used the M550i/ S6 vs. the two hotter editions of the CTS/E-Class. Both would of been in the same price range, and undoubtedly would of handled better.

The Jag should of been left out
It was an apples to apples comparison. All cars had 6 cylinders. The 540i competes with the E43
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      04-03-2017, 10:16 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocWeatherington
I would need to look at the entire review, not surprised the C won, it should have at the 94k, but this is more inline with a S6, CTS-v Sport.

They should of did this with the M550i and S6.

A comparable comparison would of been all the 4s...

basiluf
The BMW had the highest score for "powertrain"...It was the "chassis" score that was it's undoing and the subjective "fun to drive" score.
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      04-03-2017, 11:53 AM   #11
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Hard to get into a similarly equipped E43 (compared to a nicely equipped 540i) without touching $80k easily... The BMW is definitely less expensive.

But C&D seems to be the first review to really ding the chassis on the new G30 platform, whereas other reviews have praised it (as they've also praised with the Jag XF's driving dynamics.) It makes you wonder how car reviewers could be reviewing the same cars?
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      04-03-2017, 01:30 PM   #12
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Yawn. Some guy has some thoughts. It's all subjective. Salt pinch.
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      04-03-2017, 03:16 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine535Msport View Post
It was an apples to apples comparison. All cars had 6 cylinders. The 540i competes with the E43
True its 6s across the board, however you have power difference of almost 100hp across the board.

That is why you have the S6/ M550i to compete with the CTS-v sport and the E43... Its the mid tier in the performance line, with added performance content.

Based upon base price I disagree

E43 AMG Base price: 72,400
M550i Base price: 72,100
S6 Base price: 70,900
CTS V Sport Premium Base: 71,790

The Jag is the outliner...


This is a flawed review, not saying the outcome would of went to BMW. But the odds are high the rankings would of changed a bit.

Again the AMG version of the E-Class is AMG light, just as the S, M and V sport are all light version of the higher full on performance versions.

Its just that Audi/BMW put V8s in and AMG/Caddy use 6s in the "Performance Light"

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      04-03-2017, 03:18 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by basiluf View Post
The BMW had the highest score for "powertrain"...It was the "chassis" score that was it's undoing and the subjective "fun to drive" score.
You guys are missing my point. The AMG is on a difference playing field.
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      04-03-2017, 03:23 PM   #15
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Quote:
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You guys are missing my point. The AMG is on a difference playing field.
We are not missing your point. An E63 AMG is on a different playing field.

An E43 AMG is like saying a 540i M-Sport.
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      04-03-2017, 03:26 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine535Msport View Post
We are not missing your point. An E63 AMG is on a different playing field.

An E43 AMG is like saying a 540i M-Sport.
Its not, look at base price and intended audience.

E43 AMG Base price: 72,400
M550i Base price: 72,100
S6 Base price: 70,900
CTS V Sport Premium Base: 71,790

The E63=M5=RS6= CTS V.. Never mind the Plus, Comp Packs, S Version
The E43=M550i=S6=CTS v sport
The 540I=A6 3.0T= CTS V6 ( MB doesn't have a motor currently in this segment/ but the E43 AMG covers it)
The 530=A6 2.0t= CTS 2.0t= E300

Then there is Jaguar... the outliner

The 540I M-Sport is a little bit better, but its like getting the A6 competition... Its not on the same league, nor was it intended to be on the same as the S6,E43, CTS-V Sport.

Last edited by DocWeatherington; 04-03-2017 at 03:52 PM..
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      04-03-2017, 03:39 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocWeatherington View Post
Its not, look at base price and intended audience.

E43 AMG Base price: 72,400
M550i Base price: 72,100
S6 Base price: 70,900
CTS V Sport Premium Base: 71,790


The 540I M-Sport is a little bit better, but its like getting the A6 competition... Its not on the same league, nor was it intended to be on the same as the S6,E43, CTS-V Sport.


Its just that BMW/Audi and to some degree Cadillac have a wider spread in the engine lineup. Then there is Jag...
I wouldn't go by price. That means an E43 6 cylinder would compete with the M550i V8.

This comparison test was done to be more inline with Engines as I see it.
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      04-03-2017, 03:40 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpine535Msport View Post
I wouldn't go by price. That means an E43 6 cylinder would compete with the M550i V8.

This comparison test was done to be more inline with Engines as I see it.

E43 AMG Base price: 72,400
M550i Base price: 72,100
S6 Base price: 70,900
CTS V Sport Premium Base: 71,790

The E63=M5=RS6= CTS V
The E43=M550i=S6=CTS v sport
The 540I=A6 3.0T= CTS V6 ( MB doesn't have a motor currently in this segment/ but the E43 AMG covers it at a very wide spread IDK)
The 530=A6 2.0t= CTS 2.0t= E300

See my edited post above.

That is how the line up works out, its a flaw in the E Class lineup. But I think MB knows most people skip that range in the E Class line up, as to why they don't have a cheaper V6 option.

If you look at a lot of the options on the 540i that kicked it into the 80k range a lot of those are standard on the M550i. An even loading up the M550i it would come in to similar price point of the E43, same as the S6.

With the outliners being the CTS-V Sport/ Jaguar.. winning on the added value.

They should of did 4 cylinders or used the A6 3.0t, XF, 540i and left the E-class out.

Look at the base price of a 540i vs the E43 AMG 56K vs 72k. Different design/ intended focus and that's before you add on 20-35k in options.

Just my thought,

Last edited by DocWeatherington; 04-03-2017 at 03:58 PM..
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      04-03-2017, 03:51 PM   #19
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Different guy different taste...

My bro has new C class and I had e91.. he told me BMW is sh*t and he will never buy it.. Now he says "only Audi" cuz his 2yo C klass has some problems.. (hehe I told him and later u will be for BMW and he replied "NEVER!" )

I think it's about prefference.
No doubt BMW always used to be an attractive and sporty. Merc symbol of comfort. Audi tried to be somewhere between these.

But time has changed.. everyone tries to be everything.. Still I think BMW is most attractive and sporty feel from these, Merc is "retromodern" (for old guys with memories) and Audi for people who just can decide between BMW or Merc (imho!)
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      04-03-2017, 03:56 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BiGFather View Post
Different guy different taste...

My bro has new C class and I had e91.. he told me BMW is sh*t and he will never buy it.. Now he says "only Audi" cuz his 2yo C klass has some problems.. (hehe I told him and later u will be for BMW and he replied "NEVER!" )

I think it's about prefference.
No doubt BMW always used to be an attractive and sporty. Merc symbol of comfort. Audi tried to be somewhere between these.

But time has changed.. everyone tries to be everything.. Still I think BMW is most attractive and sporty feel from these, Merc is "retromodern" (for old guys with memories) and Audi for people who just can decide between BMW or Merc (imho!)
I think BMW will still cater to those that like to drive with the MXXX versions just as Audi does with the S and MB does with the AMG light.

The M-Sport is just cash in Bmw's pocket and moves the line a bit for customers. Its marketing
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      04-03-2017, 05:21 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocWeatherington View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BiGFather View Post
Different guy different taste...

My bro has new C class and I had e91.. he told me BMW is sh*t and he will never buy it.. Now he says "only Audi" cuz his 2yo C klass has some problems.. (hehe I told him and later u will be for BMW and he replied "NEVER!" )

I think it's about prefference.
No doubt BMW always used to be an attractive and sporty. Merc symbol of comfort. Audi tried to be somewhere between these.

But time has changed.. everyone tries to be everything.. Still I think BMW is most attractive and sporty feel from these, Merc is "retromodern" (for old guys with memories) and Audi for people who just can decide between BMW or Merc (imho!)
I think BMW will still cater to those that like to drive with the MXXX versions just as Audi does with the S and MB does with the AMG light.

The M-Sport is just cash in Bmw's pocket and moves the line a bit for customers. Its marketing
This article is like the gadget show (you uk folk know what I mean) comparison reviews.

Choosing a number of cylinders is arbitrary. Like comparing the 330d and the 335d. Aren't they both 6 cylinders but clearly one is tuned to give a shed load more performance?

The price point is the right comparison alongside a level headed assessment of which cars are meant to be measured up against which other cars.

Doc's got this one right.
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      04-03-2017, 07:37 PM   #22
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I'd agree...

Except these are the exact 4 cars (minus the Cadillac) I'm cross shopping for my new ride this year. I buy a new car once every 8 years or so, so it's no small purchase. I've driven many BMWs so that's my go to. But I can't ignore other brands at this price point....
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