Despite of being clearly a BMW focused online media, we try and many times succeed in keeping an objective tone in our articles. There are of course more times when we brag about our bimmers, but there are also times when we present to you less flattering articles.
Well today, it’s one of those times and courtesy of the British magazine Autocar, we bring you a short comparison between the new 2011 BMW 5 Series and its old-time competitor, the Mercedes Benz E-Class. The only difference this time is that the bimmer comes second.
While most of the articles until now were more than positive towards the F10 5 Series, we anticipated the day when a negative reaction will be shared as well. But we wouldn’t really call the Autocar’s reaction as being negative, the final decision came down more as a personal choice.
The BMW is a more complete car than the old model, and if that means it’s lost a little of the old enthusiasm, some would argue that this is a price worth [paying for its broader base of talents.
But the Mercedes has rediscovered the values of quality, comfort and luxury. The result is two gloriously different cars.
Truth is, buyers will probably choose on which skill set is more appropriate to their desires and circumstances.
But, forced to choose, Frankel goes for the Merc “by a gnat’s g-string”
And here is another excerpt from their driving impressions:
Driving
Here, it is a hideously close-run contest, determined by nuances here and there and a presumed order of priority that some customers may not share.
Most importantly, both are fine cars to drive fast or slow, in a straight line or through some bends.
The Merc can’t match the BMW engine objectively, because its 0-62mph time of 6.9sec is 0.6sec off the 530d’s benchmark. Instead, it contents itself with being quieter, smoother and, as a result, more sophisticated, while still being plenty swift enough to offer all the performance most buyers will ever want (or indeed use).
The BMW is easier to drive, requiring provocation few will dole out to unsettle it. The Mercedes is more softly sprung and rolls more, offering a little less grip. However, it has better steering and – more surprisingly – it’s actually better balanced too.
Full article available at Autocar
Author: Horatiu B.
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/02/06/autoc ... -5-series/