German Car Zone

Wow, interesting the 7 got 3rd, I would have initially thought 1st or 2nd at least.

I love the new 7, I think it's a great step in Automotive design, as it goes back to what really makes Luxury cars nice IMO: Elegance, smooth & coherent beauty, and understated yet sharp and just aggressive enough, it will age better than the W221 I will bet.

I do think the front of it is a bit weak, in comparison with the rest of the car.

Interior wise, when gazing by those Pics, the Audi has a very fancy look with all the wood, but it looks too fussy and busy, and the design is a bit unnatractively laid out IMO. The Bimmers looks the best I think, but as usual, its materials, coddling, and build quality doesn't match the M-B's. The S's looks too plain and cold for my tastes, with too many flat, non-wood surfaces, but the F/L helps with that.

Exterior wise, IMO Audi has a great formula for making a nice front end, almost unmatchable IMO, and the S I've always loved some, and disliked some when it comes to its design. Right now I'd give it to the 7 overall.

The S is hard to dethrone though, as much as I love the new 7, if I were gonna spend $80K+ on one of these cars, I almost feel like it has to be an M-B, that may be unfair, but it just shows how well M-B has done historically with their high-end models, and how much affect on our brains it has had.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

You're absolutely right. The full size luxury segment will always belong to Mercedes. BMW has the 3 series, the X3, and the 1 series as its most revered cars, and Mercedes has the S, E, and SL. The hi-class full size segment will always have the S-class sitting on its throne. I just can't understand why the Bimmer got last...

Agreed. I think M-B is most known (Sedan wise at least) for its S-Class, with the E trailing very slightly behind it. And BMW for its 3-Series models (Coupe included). Also, M-B for its SL of course.

I think the closest battle in the sedans between the two usually goes between the 5'er and E-Class though, as it seems they tend to fight tooth and nail in comparison to how the 3 usually gets the bench-mark handily over the C, and the S over the 7, etc.

Excactly. The E and 5er are the closest, with MB winning out on luxury and comfort and the bimmer winning out on performance/handling etc.

Yeah, I think the 5 VS E comparo is the best testament to what both manufacturers offer over the other, and IMO they both uphold the brands trademarks to a 'T'.

All this is true except the part about the X3 and 1-Series being "revered", they aren't in the least. BMW's talent is at the 3-Series and 5-Series.....and to a degree the X5.


M

I agree with you on your opinion regarding X3 and 1er. Neither car really did bring anything but premium pricing* to their respective segments. And, after all, they are first generation attempts.

The 7er, is of course, a 5th or 6th (can't recall exactly) generation model and it has the experience of dealing with the S-Klasse - the clear and present market leader - for decades now. Barring the slightly jarring DRG, the new 7er is a great looker and a fabulously well engineered piece of kit. If I were a BMW fan, I'd be equally miffed at this kick-in-the-teeth result for the 7er. I feel that the 7er is a far better car than it is being given credit for in this thread.

*Now, 1er fans, don't go out shooting me down in flames because I disregarded rear-wheel drive and BMW dynamics - that's another debate altogether in a hatchback thread elsewhere.

I always thought you were????

Let's just say I'm a fan of many brands of cars. I'm more of a fan of individual cars that inspire me than being an outright brand fan. True, I do have a soft spot for many a BMW but it's not like I think that everything they do turns to magic.

I'm with you on this one. There are certain qualities in cars that I want and like. These demands have previously often been met by BMW. But not always.