Car choice, Merc C220Cdi, Audi A4.

[A210AMG]

Hello

Brother currently has his new car list to choose from, and from this he has narrowed it down to

- Merc C220Cdi Estate Auto SE
- Audi A4 Avant 2.0tdi Auto SE


Now he has had both to test over a couple of days....and the Audi is ahead.

Both models he is allowed are the SE models not the Sport so they 'look' a bit ordinary. The merc I have to say looks basic. In almost standard trim lots of plastic. The radio with the pop up display looks old fashioned and the centre button does the stations but not the volume?, Also leg room is silly, I'm 6ft 2 and I could not get in the back of it with seat in my position?. The one they gave him to try was a C220 Cdi Sport Estate, in white, full panaramic roof, heated seats, electric seats, electric tail gate, Park sense, multi wheel. Probably £30K 's worth of car and it simply did not look it insde. Not much different than a new corsa?? lots of plastic. The good thing and it was good was the engine, Pulled very very well and sounded great given 'just a 220?'

So the Audi, feels larger inside, more leg room (the way the seats are shaped), the Radio set up looks much neater, standard kit slighly better. Feels and looked a 'better' car. Engine not as good (143bhp vs 170bhp). A shame as I would have like him to get the Merc but I can see why he made the choice...


Have to say first time I saw the C63's in Geneva I was supprised inside is little different to the basic C180's and for these cars they do 'Look' plasticy...and not a good quality plastic.

I agree the sport models look nice, but the SE is pretty bland except for the engine, A real shame as he does 60K miles a year.


There must be some great lease deals on these as you see shed loads, not sure people would really spend that much on them with there own money?

I can see why on forum member sent his C63 to be re trimmed with extra leather, you should expect that with the top of the range?

ooh well anyone else tested these two cars?

 

[st13phil]

The current A4 is a bigger car than the W204 C-Class which explains the legroom and the feeling of space. In fact, it's about the same size as the previous generation A6!

I agree that Audi make nice looking cabins, but having had several VAG cars over the last few years I can tell you that they deteriorate faster than the "cheap looking" plastic in the W204. My own W204's interior - which, as you say, doesn't look as plush as the Audi's - is indistinguishable from that in a new car after 2+ years and 33k miles. I know that all my VW's were showing evidence of wear by then.

Actually, it's a pity he compared the C-Class in Sport trim against the Audi as in that guise it sacrifices a bit of the W204 chassis' trump card: the ride quality. In SE and Elegance form the ride quality is so obviously superior to the Audi that it's like being in cars from a different market segment. Personally, if I were hammering a car for 60k miles a year I'd go for the Merc, regardless of the "prettier" Audi interior.

 

[Rory]

Interesting that you found the legroom OK in the Audi - I looked at A4 when I got my current car and I don't think anyone could have sat in the back with the front seats in a normal position. They must have really reworked th interior, or is the latest version a bit bigger?
ETA: Ah! I see the answer above.

I do agree on the interior of the W204 - I honestly think my W203 is way better and these cars really do need leather, and COMAND "lifts" it too. Like your brother I had a *very* high spec loaner from MB before I bought mine (got it from MB Corporate through our leasing company, but then decided to opt out). The C220CDI estate I got was brand-new and really did have "every conceivable extra". Luckily the one I ended up buying was an ex-MB management car and that was nearly as well equipped. Would have listed at £35K in late 2004.

Could he get the C200CDi Executive SE? It lists cheaper than C220CDi SE. He'd get Comand which might help the interior although the car wouldn't have quite the same performance.

 

[A210AMG]

As for choice its has to be the SE in either the Audio or Merc

He's pushing it for an Estate and Auto athough he has had this pass the fleet man.

Daft thing is probably as the merc the Audi has an option currenlty for £700 you get leather, sat nav, reversing camera but he cannot 'add' it even if he pays !!

He is torn as the engine is much nicer, he's not as keen on RWD either however. In completly basic trim the C class looks....erm.....Basic.... The audi in 'basic' trim does have more kit.

Its a shame as both are really nice cars, maybe it would be easier without having a choice.

I'm still supprised what you get for £30K mind, on both to be honest if its your money your spending on it.

 

[tpwuk]

I have an Audi A4 2.0 SE Auto - it's a petrol one though and can safely say it's one of the best cars I've ever owned. The gearbox is really great. It's clocked over 110K miles now and still drives perfect. No rattles, creaks, groans etc.

 

[A210AMG]

^ In approx 18months they are handed back anyway. The Millage he does proably kills any resale. So even the 'wrong' choice isn't the end of the world for long

 

[Merco]

I've just been in exactly the same position as your brother. Test driven a ton of cars from a Vauxhall Insignia, BMW and Mondeo to the Audi 2.0 and the Merc 220 and 200. I also test drove the Audi A6.

Eventually, it came down to the Audi and the Merc and I obviously opted for the Merc - SE Executive 200. All were estates btw.

Reasons: I actually felt the Merc was roomier with a better driver position and for me, the bootspace in the Merc was better styled. The curved Audi rear, although looking good, cut out just a little of the practicality for me although there was not much in it. Also, if he has a choice between the 220 and the A4, it's 220 all the way. The 220 BE has much better fuel economy, emissions and power - you can really feel it lift off. I would have gone for it myself but with that engine and the spec I wanted was pushing the cost up for me so went for the Executive SE 200. It still does the job and although might be a little sluggish through the high gears, still felt like a smoother drive to me. Although the trim might not be your taste, the leather interior/ artico you can get on the merc gives it a far more 'luxury' feel than the cloth interior Audi and as mentioned before, the COMMAND really lifts the dash. All in all, because of that, and the famous Mercedes reliability, it was only ever going to be the Merc in the end!

No question, both are great cars and at the end of the day it's all personal choice and I'm sure an equally good case could be made for the Audi. All this is fine, but truth be told, I went with my heart and I can't say 'I always wanted to drive an Audi'... just doesn't sound right... but the Merc... well...

 

[Rory]

^ In approx 18months they are handed back anyway. The Millage he does proably kills any resale. So even the 'wrong' choice isn't the end of the world for long

To be honest, if I was choosing a vehicle to be out on the road in year round, possibly a long way from home, then I would probably choose the Audi if only for its front wheel drive, unless I could put winter tyres on the Merc, which is unlikely on a company car.

I know current FWD cars, with wide tyres are not as good as they used to be, but RWD MB's in snow/ice on summer tyres are utterly useless.

 

[flango]

I tested both of these when I was looking last year and finally bought the Volvo which IMHO is better than both of them. If it were a straight choice between the 2 then the MB would win on a few counts, engine is much more refined although does less mpg wise, interior of the MB stands up a lot better than the Audi which if used for high mileage soon looks very tired and worn.

Both MB & Audi are good cars but there are better for the money

 

[A210AMG]

^ I agree but that's his choice...

Too be honest if you look inside a basic merc compared to a basic Audi the Audi does look better.

He also like FWD, and athough the Audi is slower I'm sure his many track days helps when it comes to driving a little quick...it's not all about power its using it correctly

He's yet to make a choice, I will tell him about the 200 SE executive? didn't know about that, but if its not on the list even though its cheaper he may not be allowed it.

 

[gkerr4]

the 143 bhp 2.0TDi is awful with an auto box - i mean really bad - the c220 and even the c200 cdi are much much better to drive - the 143bhp audi just doesn't have the torque (or so it feels) to use an auto box. I was looking at the a6 when I bought my c220 - and it would have to have been the 2.7V6 tdi in that car.

 

[A210AMG]

I think what he would like is

Merc 220Cdi engine
Audi Body

But he cannot, and each have good points and bad.

Honestly though a Basic one looks a bit basic... almost everyone you see is a sport

 

[Chris Akabusi]

If it was me, based on what you have said it would be the Audi i'd pick.

 

[MUGGY]

let me think about this - would I prefer to do 60,000 miles a year in a MB or an Audi


Comfort is the key - it has to MB

I have done this sort of mileage and believe me how nice the dash looks will not make up for the lack of long journey comfort - MB every time

 

[A210AMG]

^

Would either the Audi or Merc really be much difference in comfort? the Audi also feels bigger inside, more arm / leg room even for Driver so not sure that's a reason.

The ONLY reason (and a good one) really is the performance of the Merc is better. Nothing else given the spec is helping its case

ooh well no doubt I will find out what he has chosen soon

 

[st13phil]

Would either the Audi or Merc really be much difference in comfort?

As I said in an earlier post, the ride quality of the W204 chasis in SE or Elegance guise is absolutely top of the class. The Audi has a horrible crashing ride by comparison, which I would have though was important for someone who spends as much of his waking hours in a car as your BIL does.

 

[A210AMG]

Perhaps it didn't help for the few days he had one on loan they gave him a sport model with 17" alloys...


The Audi was on 16" alloys so its not even a fair comparison


I've not been updated yet on what he's going for...

 

[Rory]

As I said in an earlier post, the ride quality of the W204 chasis in SE or Elegance guise is absolutely top of the class. The Audi has a horrible crashing ride by comparison, which I would have though was important for someone who spends as much of his waking hours in a car as your BIL does.

If the use is mainly long distance motorway trips then the Audi would be fine in that environment.

My W203 on 16" is horrendous on poorly surfaced / pot holed roads but is fine on the motorway (except for surface joints on motor-way flyovers. I made the mistake of using the M6 right through Birmingham once - never again!

 

[st13phil]

If the use is mainly long distance motorway trips then the Audi would be fine in that environment.

Fair comment. Unfortunately, there's always the non-motorway bit at either end of the journey.

The reality is that the Audi A4 is a good car and we all have different takes on what works best for us as a compromise. My preference is for ride quality and an interior that looks the same at 100k miles as it did at zero miles. Others happily sacrifice those attributes for (initially) nicer looking interior materials and a higher "toy count" and there's no problem with that.

By way of an example, until recently a local taxi firm had on its fleet a W210 and a Skoda Superb. Both similar size cars, both been used for the same purpose (mainly airport runs) from almost new. At almost 400k miles the only evidence of wear on the interior of the Merc was a slightly shiny steering wheel; at 200k on the Skoda it looked like it'd done every one of those miles with broken bits of trim, seat stitching coming undone, the nice looking soft coating on the door handles peeling off and so on. I know which one I prefered to ride in.

 

[Rory]

.....and an interior that looks the same at 100k miles as it did at zero miles. Others happily sacrifice those attributes for (initially) nicer looking interior materials and a higher "toy count" and there's no problem with that.

It's different for someone, who, as in the case in this thread, is choosing a company car which will be changed in 18mths.

I ran mass market cars for 2 years and 60-70K miles and they looked good as new when they went back. Even a Peugeot 406 Exec that I hung on to for 4 years to avoid the move to diesel was still in perfect condition and that had a cream leather interior.

I chose that car for its toys when everyone else was choosing A4 or 3 Series BMWs - the Peugeot had literally no option list, even metallic paint was included in the price. I still miss its elec memory seats and the climate control was way better than in my current C Class.