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Opinions please Audi or Mercedes?

Leanne1812
Leanne1812 Posts: 1,688 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
Hi all,

We are currently looking to trade in our 55 plate Audi A6 estate. Average trade in is around £4,200. 103,000 on the clock and it good condition.

Previously we had a merc estate which I loved. It's a dilemma what to go for now....hubby did want a bmw but I keep hearing they are rubbish for winter driving. Living in Scotland with cold icy conditions it's put me off but I take on board any comments that disagree. The new car doesn't need to be an estate but split rear seats would be a must. Max engine size 2.2 and preferably diesel.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Cheers

Leanne
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Comments

  • colino
    colino Posts: 5,059 Forumite
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    The Mercedes will have given you an idea of how the BMW would handle in ice and snow, it is different from front wheel, or all wheel drive, but just driving sensibly or putting on winter tyres will negate any downsides. It is a nice dilemma to be in, personally I'd stretch your aims though and test drive a BMW 530D. Watch out though, split rear seats were an uncommon option.
  • tberry6686
    tberry6686 Posts: 1,135 Forumite
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    depending upon where in Scotland you are, think about getting a cheap set of spare wheels and fit winter tyres to them. Just change the wheels over twice a year - the difference is huge

    Personally if I had a choice between an Audi or a Merc i'd take the merc every day due to audi's just being glorified (and expensive) VW's, skoda's and Seat's. If looking at the VW/audi range try a Skoda Octavia. Way cheaper than both options you have given with better reliability figures than Audi (bit odd seeing as how both makes share the same platforms, engines etc).
  • It comes down to personal choice really. audi, merc and bmw make some superb cars, despite the naysayers and various haters out there who decry one or the other. Having owned and driven all 3 at some time, I would say that Mercs seem to have really plasticky and boring interiors, surprisingly, as they are not cheap.
    The Audi has a really well made interior, but then you would know that having owned one, as does BMW.

    Repair costs have generally been similar in my experience, with Merc perhaps a little cheaper than the rest, but then my cars were petrol models, not modern diesels, so it may vary for you.

    The best driving experience of the three, for me, has been the BMW. I have also had a better experience with BMW main dealers than the other two.
    If you fit winter wheels - for instance, a set of cheap steels with appropriate tyres - to a rear wheel drive vehicle, the handling in winter changes dramatically for the better.

    Good luck with the search.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,600 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Leanne1812 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    We are currently looking to trade in our 55 plate Audi A6 estate. Average trade in is around £4,200. 103,000 on the clock and it good condition.

    Previously we had a merc estate which I loved. It's a dilemma what to go for now....hubby did want a bmw but I keep hearing they are rubbish for winter driving. Living in Scotland with cold icy conditions it's put me off but I take on board any comments that disagree. The new car doesn't need to be an estate but split rear seats would be a must. Max engine size 2.2 and preferably diesel.

    Any advice is much appreciated.

    Cheers

    Leanne

    ????

    BMW has the same wheels driven as the merc, so not sure why a BMW would be different to your experience with the merc?

    The trick is winter tyres, as others have already said - get a cheap set of rims and put GOOD winter tyres on them.

    If you're living somewhere where extreme weather is likely get something with higher ground clearance and stick winter tyres on it.
  • Replaced my 1994 Audi 80 Avant with a 1994 Merc 250d last year.

    I'd say go with the Audi.
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,178 Forumite
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    Mercedes current trend of fitting a satnav type device on the dash for audio, phone, satnav etc control which can't be removed is enough to put me off them.

    Idiots are breaking into Mercs thinking they are satnavs which haven't been removed.
  • Leanne1812
    Leanne1812 Posts: 1,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    And just to throw something else into the mix we saw a jag xf today that we both like. I think fuel consumption is higher and the car is a little more expensive (2.2 model). The garage is waiting on a merc 220 amg sport so we'll go back and have a look at that.

    We did look at a couple of bmw tourers but I just feel they look a bit dated now, due for a facelift maybe?

    Cheers for your advice especially regarding the winter tyres.

    Scots bob, we do like Audi but sometimes you need a new car and you just fancy a change. We feel we're getting a newer model and more for our money with mercedes.

    The budget was £17k but has risen a bit as it does......
  • Iceweasel
    Iceweasel Posts: 4,842 Forumite
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    I bought a BMW last year - fitted it with winter tyres - and have now sold my 4X4 Freelander as I no longer need it.

    I live in rural Aberdeenshire.

    It's all to do with tyres - rear-wheel drive is not the problem.
  • vansboy
    vansboy Posts: 6,483 Forumite
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    Until my change of situation I was going to treat myself to a new (convertible) car - well pre registered anyway.

    BMW doesn't appeal, so that was just personal taste.
    Merc SLK, was not impressed with interior finish and a friend has one now and she isn't raving about it.
    Audi A5 was the winner, I liked the build quality and just sitting in it felt 'right'. The interior is far superior to Merc's I think.

    So when things change back for me, I'll be looking in the Audi showrooms again.

    I do agree with the spare set of wheels though, for winter. If I'm correct, BMW were offering to sell you a set and store your summer rubber for you, if you've not got room at home.

    VB
  • Leanne1812
    Leanne1812 Posts: 1,688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I really like the A5, it's very sleek but the ones in our budget just haven't been right, 2 door coupe or no split rear seats. Beautiful car though.

    The jaguar is front runner at the moment but we're going back to the mercedes garage tomorrow so it could all change again.....

    Thanks again for all input.
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