I have been a member of this forum forever, I check every thread a couple of times everyday, but I don't post anything...why? Because of conversations like this...
The bottom line is that this thread is supposed to be mainly about comparing the technology, comfort, ride, handling, safety and other technological and mechanical characteristics of the cars...and also looks, to a certain extent...looks are subjective...beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...and all of those other similar idioms...comparing the looks of these cars is simply a waste of time...you are entitled to your opinion, obviously, and you can state it, but trying to win over another by forcing them to like your opinion about the looks of a flagship is simply out of pace, and if not so, simply not worth tens of pages and hours of pointless arguments...another fact is that Merc and Bimemr lovers are usually two different group of people with differing characters and paranolities...In other words, car personaility of a Merc fanatic is usually quite different from a Bimmer fanboy...or to be more precsie, they look for difefrnt things in car...so obviosuly their tastes would be different...although I reserve space for those with attracation to both, such as myself...
Personally, I find the new 7er attractive, despite the fact that I can't help but feel disappointed that the Bangle effects are diminishing in BMW designs...the previous generation 7er was a benchmark in looks and design, and a true revolution in the upper segment in terms of overall looks...while this one could be easily passed as the generation preceding the previous generation...almost a step back...Another thing to note is that BMW designs tend to grow on you, so we all need to see this beast in real life for a while to see its real beauty...
Also, all these argumnets about copying Lexus is nonesecne...they are certainly similar, but anyone with enough knowledge of cars and manufacuring knows hat the intial sketches of this car were made more than 5 years ago...long before the new Lexus came out...Merc and BMW usually spend more than 6 years perefcting the quality and looks of their cars...so all these argugments are irrevant...those of you with more knowldege and good memeory will remmeber the report and the picture by Autospies a couple of years ago (I think actually 4) of the new S-class, looking perfectly like what it is right now...meaning that the design sketchs were done way before that...you get the point?...so if anyone argues that the Merc design was influenced by anything that has come out after 2000, well, then they're talking rubish...
Yes, there is room for argument...designs go through evolution before production, and certainly the BMW designer may have been influneced by the magnetic look of Lexus's rear lights and profile design, but the bottom line is that Lexus stole a lot of those cues from Merc and Bimmer in the first place...so there you go...
On the ther hand, I find the Merc quite eyecatching, solid, and confident, with a lot of presence...it is trully what a Merc is supposed to be, and that is what they aimed for at Mercedes this time around, and they got it...it's all that matters...
And although I find the Mercedes interior more ergonomic and attractive, I find the BMW interior where I would like to sepnd my time driving, because ultimately that is where you end up...in the interior, not the exteriror...BMW interiors are more inviting and driver oriented, which is a prioirty to me...
Overally, I think Mrecedes, unlike the past 20 yaers, has the upper hand in terms of looks this time around...same is true about 3er and C...especially the wheel bulges have helped neutralize the gigantic dimensions of the car, unlike BMW and Lexus that look like tanks...that's quite an accomplishment...they eliminated one problem that always turned me off when it came to flagships...and BMW almost got it last time with the Bangle butt, but obviously they didn't man up to bring it around this time too...
So now let's compare the more important stuff so I can learn something from you, other than how you feel about the looks of this or that...
