[Excommunicado]

It will be C300d for me. It is the perfect combination of comfortable ride quality, most advanced technology amongst its competitors and enough performance. Also, throw in great mileage for those who care.

The M340i is no doubt 'too good to be true' deal but then the 530i Msport and E220d sneak in when you talk about 78lakh on road price. Plus, how many of us can seriously tame that beast?

If looks and road presence were the primary criteria, then the A6 has its nose ahead of everyone.

[sgmuser]

Could be that I am getting older but I will go with MB. It is a class of its own when it comes to the badge value. MB is MB. BMW is actually targeting that young but well off crowd with its spiritedness and handling. MB is for those who are far more relaxed and 50+ onwards crowd who want to enjoy the life a bit more leisurely! This is the usual explanation given by people in the Auto industry when we discuss about MB and BMW.

Now, coming to BMW, the ride quality (in handling or attacking the bends, this is the king) is awful for my taste and it is so bumpy or I can say it is too hard for my liking. I would prefer (expect) a comfortable and balanced/matured ride and handling.

Anything Lexus is not that matured in India when it comes to both sales and support. So, no-go even though they are far more reliable.

Audi was good in the recent years but lost out in the race and now to third place. I like their RS rather any day compared to even MB/BMW.

Volvo, I do not have a liking for their sedans compared to the station wagons (V90 cross country is my dream vehicle) and SUVs. If I have money, I will go the V90 CC even for India. Its one of the most beautiful and practical car with a superb ride as that a sedan. So, No-No for the Sedans here in Volvo.

[Tutenkhamen]

From the options, C300d and M340i come closest to pulling the heart strings.

But with both being a class lower than 5/A6/E, 530d and E53 shine wrt daily practicality, performance and prestige. The C is just stratospherically priced meanwhile M340i passes by just as a sleeper 3. It’s only when it is given decent highway to stretch its legs, nothing comes close to it this side of E53 Amg.

Now, back to the main quorum. For most VFM, A4 and XE win it for me.
Out of these two, the exclusivity and head turning potential a Jaguar has, Audi cannot equal that.
With this reasoning and a mouth watering OTR of 44, yours humble truly brought home a SE XE (shameless plug for Sexee!)

[SolidSnake]

Originally Posted by divyadeeptsi

Audi A6 handsdown for me.

AWD > RWD

Value for money when compared to C and 3 series.

The A6 sold in India doesn’t have the Quattro system. So, it’s basically FWD.

A6 is definitely value for money for those looking for comfort but it’s performance is nothing to brag about.
It’s more of a chauffeur driven car.

That said , my vote would be for the 3 series. Either the 330i or the mighty 340i depending on the budget.

[senna]

Can’t really vote on this poll, but Audi A6 for me.
The others(read 340i and c300) tug the heart’s strings more but A6 is the sensible choice especially if it going to be a single car garage.
Can’t really make those highway trips if you don’t have enough space for luggage.

I have an A6 and it has much better road presence and ample performance for the city and highway. Most of the roads have strict speedcam checks so all that extra power doesn’t really seem so tempting any more.

[PSOPS]

Voted for C-Class. The tech in the car is something else.

While 3 series may be cheaper to buy and value for money, the customer in this segment wants the latest technology and ofcourse comfort ( which I feel Mercedes was always ahead ).

C300 interiors are something else. Simply loved the new interiors.

[pradyothcjohn]

Voted for the 3 series, having experienced it from a different perspective - in the guise of a wagon Having considered most of the alternatives here, settled on the G21 330i xDrive Touring because of the "completeness" of what it offered - driving pleasure, practicality, technology, and comfort, all put together in a (subjectively) beautiful package. Most of the negatives listed here are addressed through options/because it's a wagon - Bluey here has the HUD, adaptive suspension, laser lights, comfort access, ACC, and of course, a massive boot! Best thing is that I also got a nice discount on the hefty €74k sticker price (including all options) since this is a "jahres wagen" or a 1 year used car. I got it with 15k Kms on the odo, already pushing 21k Kms in just over 3 months
As for the others, the A4 is getting on a bit in age but still a very nice all round option, and the c-class is just a bit too garish for my taste on the inside, especially with the new massive center screen. Neither offers the thrills to price ratio of the 3 series either...

[techbro]

Hey there!

I have been on the hunt for a car for the last 4 months and still have not been able to decide on anything. I am 29 and this is going to be my first car. From what I remember, since childhood, my idea of an ideal car for me is something that revs hard, has gorgeous interiors, goes fast, and most importantly a sedan with sporty looks.

Knowing what I want from my car and my budget for the ex-showroom being 50L, I have started to take TD.

My previous driving experience: For the last few years, I have been driving my father's 2019 Hyundai Tuscon and 2013 Swift.

The new Mercedes C220D: The first car to TD was the new C Class and my first impression after seeing the car was that it is huge. The interiors looked absolutely amazing with great materials, ambient lights, and smooth leather everywhere. The car smelled great too. I thought this is going to be it until I started driving it. Within the first KM, I started not liking the car at all. It did not feel any different from the diesel Tuscon I have been driving here and there. It felt clunky, let more vibrations than the Tuscon into the driver's seat, and more importantly, drove like a boat with nothing to be happy or amazed about. I don't know how to describe that feeling. It did not feel like I am happy driving the car than looking at it and being seated in it. I told the SA what I felt and he was like to experience the quality and engineering of German cars you have to take it on a long ride and push it hard. The back seats were also so uncomfortably set up with terrible under-thigh support and uncomfortable recline angles.

The 330i M Sport: I had requested cognac interiors from the SA for TD but to my disappointment came to know the geniuses at BMW decided to stop cognac interiors from the 330i M Sport model. Sometimes I feel these car companies should take a public vote and not make any decisions by themselves as they operate in a "yes sir" echo chamber. Anyways, so I started to drive it and my first impression was it was super smooth to drive as it was the first time I was driving a petrol car. I was in comfort and eco-pro mode throughout my drive and ended up coming up with the same impression. It did not feel any different from the Tuscon. Again, the SA told me the same thing about very sedate driving wont let me discover what these cars are capable of. But, in the back of my mind, I was kinda worried about pushing a TD car hard. Anyways I told him Il get back to him. Also, to my surprise, BMW had better back seats than Mercedes with an amazing recline angle, great under-thigh support, and usable knee room. This is enough to rule out the long-wheelbase version.

The Audi A4 : After my experience with these two cars I did not even bother to call Audi after seeing the reviews online.

Now, I am stuck in a dilemma. I want a car more than I need a car. The more I read reviews online, the more I am inclined towards 330i M sport. I thought of waiting for the festive season for discounts and it feels like BMW will never offer any discounts. The max I was able to get was 3L of the ex-showroom price. Also, this is going to be my first and last ICE car. To keep it relevant for the next 10 years, should I wait for the 330i LCI that is going to be launched early next year or just go with the current 330i M Sport at 50L ex-showroom? The new LCI looks more sporty from the back but has a curved screen which I am not a fan of and might be more expensive than the current 3.

Also, apart from this, are there any other cars I should consider? I don't like Skoda or Jags, so it does not leave me with any other choices.

[mfarhan]

Hello Team-BHP Community,

I am Farhan I'm new to this community but I've always been following the hottest and latest threads from Team-BHP.

Recently my friend decided to get a new luxury car he has a budget of 65 lakhs however he can increase the budget by 2-3 lakhs.He is a proud owner of the BMW 3 series 320d sport line 2015 model he wants to upgrade to a new car.He wants to lease the car for a term of 5 years then pay the full amount.

So what is he looking out for-

*A good engine (only Petrol)
*Comfort
*Roomy rear seats
*Fun to drive
*luxury
*Reliability
*A good Finance structure

The cars he has on his mind-

*BMW 3 series
*Mercedes-Benz C-Class
*Mercedes-Benz GLA
*Toyota-Innova (no idea why)
*Kia EV6 -GT line rear wheel drive
*Audi A4
*Audi Q3 Sportback

The cars he is not considering-
*Mercedes- Benz A class (He is 6'1)
*Mercedes-Benz GLB ( design not up to his liking)
*BMW 2 series (Same reason as the A Class)
*BMW X1(very poor engine)
*Toyota Fortuner (He does not think It is worth 55 Lakhs.PS sorry to all the
Fortuner fans I personally think it is a marvelous car.)
*Audi Q3
*Mini Cooper
*Volvo (Poor infotainment system and screen)

He is planning on booking this car by May 2023 so suggestions before that would be very helpful for him.

Thank you everyone for reading this thread.

Best regards,
M.Farhan

[iliketurtles]

Hi Farhan, welcome to the forum!

Your friend’s requirements have 330Li written all over it. It’s a roomy car that’s reasonably fun to drive, and given his ownership experience with the 320d, he will now be fully familiar with the ups and downs of owning a BMW. That car will be a true upgrade for him in every sense, be it space, power, features, interiors, or otherwise.

The other car I’d recommend he look at is the A6. I personally don’t prefer Audi’s (I drive myself around, and find their steering too numb for my taste), but the fact is it’s a class above the 3 series, and the interiors will largely feel like it. It deserves to be on his shortlist.

The Kia EV6 is a wonderful car, but it loses out to the 330Li in two key ways; badge value and interiors (I think BMWs new curved display is fantastic). Not that the Kia’s infotainment is bad, it’s just second-best to BMWs. Can he live with the loss of the badge? If he can, it’s a fun car to drive with lots of room. As a left field choice, he can even see the Ioniq 5. It’s nearly identical to the Kia (same platform, sister companies), but it’s down on the Kia by about 100 BHP. Looks the bomb though, and very roomy and practical.

I would not consider the C class because while it has the best interiors of any car mentioned here (IMO), the decision to cram all its controls into the tablet up front along with its high price make it a no-go for me.

Those would be my choices then. Good luck to your friend, and happy shopping!

[navin]

Originally Posted by mfarhan

Recently my friend decided to get a new luxury car he has a budget of 65 lakhs however he can increase the budget by 2-3 lakhs.
So what is he looking out for-

*A good engine (only Petrol)
*Comfort
*Roomy rear seats
*Fun to drive
*Luxury
*Reliability
*A good Finance structure

I am not sure about the "Fun to Drive" and "Finance Structure" but I would add the Camry to this list. My family has both the 2012 version and the 2019 (hybrid) version. As of 2023, the average cost of maintenance (including tyres and battery) has been 40,000/year for the 2012 version and about 13,000/year for the 2019 version.

Disclaimer: we are almost always chauffeured, so backseat comfort and reliability are our primary concerns. On the occasions that I have had to drive the Camry, it has offered more than enough "oomph" for in-city driving even at 6 am (aka low traffic conditions). Then again I am "officially" a senior citizen so spirited drives aren't safe.

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

Your friend’s requirements have 330Li written all over it.
The other car I’d recommend he look at is the A6.
The Kia EV6 is a wonderful car,
As a left-field choice, he can even see the Ioniq 5. It’s nearly identical to the Kia (same platform, sister companies), but it’s down on the Kia by about 100 BHP.

I would not consider the C class because while it has the best interiors of any car mentioned here (IMO)

I found the C Class to be cramped in the back. For that matter, I find the 2019 Camry to be more cramped than the 2012 version. No idea why.

Are the 330Li or the A6 roomier than the C class or Camry? I usually like to sit cross-legged in the back seat with my laptop, paperwork and files occupying the middle seat.

The electric cars (EV6 / Ioniq5) have a rather odd seating arrangement where the knees are pushed a bit higher because of the battery. Besides, since I keep my cars for 10+ years, I don't want to worry about having to change batteries after 5-7 years.

[shancz]

Voted for the 3 series.

Always have and will be a BMW fanboy, until they decide to move away from the front engine rear wheel drive approach

Lucky enough to get a chance to drive one for a couple of days and unlucky enough to not be able to afford one
But the dream of the twisties and the first love lives on.

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by navin

Are the 330Li or the A6 roomier than the C class or Camry? I usually like to sit cross-legged in the back seat with my laptop, paperwork and files occupying the middle seat.

Both are roomier than the C, though a little short compared to the Camry. And compared to the F30 dynamics and softly sprung rear suspension, both of these would be an upgrade.

I too would vote for A6: more space, better interiors, features etc. compared to 3LWB / 5 series and any of the options mentioned here.

[iliketurtles]

Originally Posted by navin

Are the 330Li or the A6 roomier than the C class or Camry? I usually like to sit cross-legged in the back seat with my laptop, paperwork and files occupying the middle seat.

I haven't sat in the A6 or Camry for some time now, but the 330Li is 100% roomier than the C. I did a test drive of the two a few weeks back, and the 3 easily offers more legroom at the back. Bizarrely, the C also scraped over a few speed breakers, while the 3 didn't. That's not a dealbreaker for me, but I found it very strange given that it's the 3 that has a longer wheelbase.

Originally Posted by navin

The electric cars (EV6 / Ioniq5) have a rather odd seating arrangement where the knees are pushed a bit higher because of the battery. Besides, since I keep my cars for 10+ years, I don't want to worry about having to change batteries after 5-7 years.

Both fair points. I drove the EV6 recently too (yes, I've been out and about) and your point is valid. And while the rear seat can be reclined to reduce this knees-up position you mentioned, it's not for you if the rear seat is your prime consideration. Your use case is all 330Li, or the A6, as Lambo said just above my post. The EV6 is a much better choice if you're self-driven as opposed to being chauffeured about.

One last thing; take this with a liberal pinch of salt, but when I posed this very concern about the battery to the sales rep, he said the warranty on the battery is for 8 years, and it won't need changing until about 15 years. Make of that what you will.

[navin]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

Both are roomier than the C, though a little short compared to the Camry. I too would vote for A6.

Thanks, I'll check out the A6. My car is more of an extension of my office, not something I want to race with. Mumbai traffic is terrible, and the ability to get work done while in traffic makes it tolerable.

For self-drive, my wife and I prefer to use the Corolla. It can seat 5 in relative comfort yet isn't so big as to have trouble parking.