I dunno...isn't BMW fairly luxurious? I drove a Lexus 430 and didn't feel it that special other then I liked the dash better. Seats are nicer in the BMW I felt...

 

People look for different things in cars, buyers who prefer their Jag, Lexus, or whatever to the E60 probably have different priorities, doesn't mean the cars are crap or their priorities are wrong.

 

Having recently moved from a M-B E Class Avangarde to the 530d SE I can honestly say the BMW is a better drivers car (save for the run flats) but the M-B is better appointed with standard equipment and all M-Bs from the C-Class up have heater controls for the front driver & passenger, not so in the BMW.
The M-B E Class has less rear room than the Five but it has a better rear arm rest, & the transmission tunnel is smaller. The Xenon head lights & the rain sensors are better in the M-B, but the standard front seats are better in the Five. The dipping rear view mirrors & doors mirrors are more effective in the Five, the E-Class 6 disc CD player is hidden behind a neat flap that motors up to reveal the changer in the centre console so it is easy to get to, not shoved at the back of the glove box. In SE spec the Five gets one power socket upfront while the E-Class gets three, front, centre & in the trunk.
The Five 3.0d engine is a peach & the auto box is better than the old M-B five speeder mated to the 2.7d engine that has now been replaced by a 3.0d engine & seven speed auto neither of which Ive tried.

So conclusion, driver appeal & enjoyment BMW Five, well appointed car with compliant ride E-Class.

 

Stroke folks different. And, I might add that the what I have is best and what you have is trash (as well as the what I have is better than what you have) attitude is likely to smack of various attitudes that one might profit from rethinking.

 

One word: MARKETING.

If you hear it enough times, read it enough times and are told it enough times ... you will begin to believe it as gospel.

BMW markets its cars as the "Ultimate Driving Machine" and creates this aura and expectation within the mind of the consumer/buyer that that is what its cars are all about -- regardless of whether it is true or not.

And, I'm curious ... in all of your test drives, were you really able to discern the handling characteristics of each car (e.g. MB 350, Jag S-Type, RL) to such a significant extent as to conclude that "Not one of these cars come near the driving experience of my '06 525i"?

I mean, seriously, none of those cars "come near" the driving experience of the Bimmer? That's quite a statement.

And, let's come clean. What did those test drives really involve? 5 minute scoot around the block with a twitchy, chatty and nervous dealer sitting next to you? Maybe a 30 minute casual spin around town? A long cruise through the hills to carve up some twisties? Or perhaps an overnight test drive so you can take the baby home and see if it fits in the garage? Did you take any of these cars to the track to figure our cornering characteristics, under/over steer, braking from 100-0mph, etc.? Have you ever done this with your own BMW?

Just curious. So many times people will say X car handles like crap when it's simply a regurgitation of what a hack at MotorTrend might have said in a review ...

Not saying this is you, but just pointing out what marketing hype can do to prejudice consumer expectations.

Cheers.

 

Will the defendant rise and take the stand?

 

ipse dixit, Well done!
IMHO as much as my friends here don't like to hear it...there are many good cars out there including Mercedes Benz...

ok, I said it guys...don't hate me

 

Couldn't have said it better.

 

Couldn't have said it better.
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OK, what do you really have against Mercs? Are you simply saying that you prefer to have a car that starts with sport (BMW) and adding luxury rather than one that starts with luxury (M and adds sport (assuming that this is the way things are)?

 

OK, what do you really have against Mercs? Are you simply saying that you prefer not to have a car that starts with luxury (M and adds sport rather than starting with sport (BMW) and adding luxury (assuming that this is the way things are)?
[/quote]

Pretty much, why do you care about what I think about MB anyways?