Autocar Rates new E above new 5 Series

[st4]

Anyone going to the "VIP Invitation" weekend at MB Milton Keynes next weekend?

Sorry buddy, live a) to far away b) was not invited.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I admit, I like Radio 2 - but then I'm no longer in my 20s...

You probably listened to the Light Programme when you were....

I have gone the other way. In my teens and twenties it was Radio 3 and as I motor to the wrong end of 44 Radio 2 features more.

 

[bpsorrel]

Sorry buddy, live a) to far away b) was not invited.

I don't why I was invited to be honest - I've only used them once for a service while the car was under warranty and bought a few bits and pieces. Never bought a car from them. Anyway, it's just a glorified way of selling some used cars! But I might go along and see...

 

[bpsorrel]

You probably listened to the Light Programme when you were....

I have gone the other way. In my teens and twenties it was Radio 3 and as I motor to the wrong end of 44 Radio 2 features more.

I just about remember listening to Radio Caroline in my bedroom and trying to record the top 20!! In fact - somewhere in my junkyard I call an attic there's a tape I recorded in '74 on my Phillips radio cassette of Johnny Walker and his hit parade! (Does that REALLY age me?!!) and, better even than that, I have a tape of my first ever band when I was 14 playing at a gig in the school hall one saturday night around '75! Full of honky tonk woman and johnny be good!

 

[gary350]

Next months What Car test BMW 5 v E Class V Jag XF, XF just pips the new 5 to first place again. A bit different to autocars result.

 

[Michael G]

Next months What Car test BMW 5 v E Class V Jag XF, XF just pips the new 5 to first place again. A bit different to autocars result.

Looks like BMW's monopolization of mid exec market is coming to an end.

 

[Rory]

I love to love XF, and a Police driver on another forum said they're astonishingly composed at high speed, but the look of the car just does nothing for me. It just seem to have too much acreage of sheet metal.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Reading the Autocar Road Test in this week's edition suggests that the 5-series is very sensitive to suspension spec and wheel and tyre choice - depending upon which combination you opt for will determine where it sits relative to an E-class. It also suggests that the top E/5/XF are very close.

 

[tylerdurden]

ive been looking at this recently and gone for an e.

The 5er was coming in at several grand more with no discount. Aslo no M Sport version at the mo

 

[hawk20]

Next months What Car test BMW 5 v E Class V Jag XF, XF just pips the new 5 to first place again. A bit different to autocars result.

Yes. And the Jag finishes 85th out of a hundred cars for reliabilty in the J.D. Power survey. And limited headroom in the back.

 

[scumbag]

Radio 2 is good. Better than radio 1 which I quite frankly refuse to listen too.

:

Good man. allowing Radio 1 to ruin your car will ultimatley lead to being banned from buying Mercedes in the future.

 

[Mactech]

Yes. And the Jag finishes 85th out of a hundred cars for reliabilty in the J.D. Power survey. And limited headroom in the back.

Yes, that and the fact that my wife felt the Jag to be too 'stiff' in the ride department put me off buying one when all except the BMW were in the frame at the end of last year.
I have just read the Whatcar road test and normally tend to agree with their findings to a large extent, but it really does depend what you want out of a car as to what you buy. Me, I'm happy with my current 'left of field' CLS at the moment.

 

[gIzzE]

The new 5 series is pretty dull looking imho, always loved the 5 series and had a few, the 535d sport touring was probably the best all round car I have owned and really the only car you ever need, remapped it was pretty quick and you could do 1000 miles in one sitting no problem at all.

Plus it was different!

BMW are now pandering to those that want soft and wafty, problem with that is they will probably still buy the Merc or Audi, there is a reason BMWs have always sold so well, because they are more focused, trying to appeal to other marques may end up loosing you your faithfulls, because I believe you by a BMW despit the badge, not because of it.

If it no longer offers me anything over a Merc or an Audi I will buy the Merc or the Audi as it pisses less people off.


The one area I have to disagree with though is the interior, the new 5 series is the nicest interior I have seen on any car, regardless or marque of price.
Everyone in the showroom agreed on this too.

And teh ambient interior lighting really does make it feel like a 1st class cabin too...

One thing that my dealer has said is the demo cars the have had without all the bells and whistles feel a lot more BMW than the ones with all the active steering and other crap.

 

[pamrit]

The one area I have to disagree with though is the interior, the new 5 series is the nicest interior I have seen on any car, regardless or marque of price.
Everyone in the showroom agreed on this too.


I still think the E Class interior looks class. Pic of Nick's E500 which he recently purchased

 

[mbenz76]

Agree, the E Class has a far nicer interior than any BMW I have ever seen, and the ambient lighting in the E is just as good, if not better than that pictured above for the BMW.

BMW interiors always look like they are stuck in the 90's (button wise) - just look like they have remodelled but still reused an old dash and buttons.

 

[st4]

Agree, the E Class has a far nicer interior than any BMW I have ever seen, and the ambient lighting in the E is just as good, if not better than that pictured above for the BMW.

BMW interiors always look like they are stuck in the 90's (button wise) - just look like they have remodelled but still reused an old dash and buttons.

Here they have done a good job, its a lovely car IMHO.

 

[Michael G]

I think that the BM interior looks nice until you look below the I-Drive screen.
It looks as if they've taken the buttons from the E60 and said 'zat vill do chaps zets go to zee pub.'
It's still good but that's a let down.
A W212 with ambient lighting is better than ones without IMO.

 

[Rory]

I think the lighter colour interiors look better so it's hard to compare - the stuff in the centre of the 5 Series dash does look weirdly stetched and squashed though. Wonder if the iDrive control and gear shift awap sides for RHD?

Why does the MB insist in using red lamps on the centre console so much? Really bugs me in my car that in normal use the a/c auto lamp is red - reds should be reserved for warnings.

 

[gIzzE]

I think the lighter colour interiors look better so it's hard to compare.

I agree, all the launch videos of the new E looked really luxurious in the light interiors, however, try and order one like that and you can't, it has to be all black with contrasting seats and door cards.

I have had so many cars with black interiors now that if going for a Merc I would prefer a lighter more elegant inmterior, nothing wrong with a black interior, but just feel the contrasting seats have been done to death over the last few years and now it is time for a change again.

 

[gary350]

Yes, that and the fact that my wife felt the Jag to be too 'stiff' in the ride department put me off buying one when all except the BMW were in the frame at the end of last year.
I have just read the Whatcar road test and normally tend to agree with their findings to a large extent, but it really does depend what you want out of a car as to what you buy. Me, I'm happy with my current 'left of field' CLS at the moment.

The CLS was my second choice and was the only other car that was anywhere near the XF in the driving experience but the 4 only seats was a no no. No problems with the XF its nearly 2 years old will buy another XF (an S) when the time comes.