each of these german automakers has its own personality, so lemme see if i got it right.

• mercedes - luxury and classy vehicles... newer lines are geared towards the performance driver as well
• beemer - also luxurious but more about fast cars and cheaper cars. not as "stately" as a benz
• audi - i know very little about audis but they seemed to be more about speed and luxury and less about overall appeal of the owner

am i along the right path?

let me take a stab at it ...

In general:
- it's MB vs BMW most of the time. Audi is in between or sometimes not mentioned at all.
- all are autobahn-bred, and bristle with engineering, safety and ergonomic features
- all have a rich genuine heritage

MB
* more conservative driving experience, with an emphasis on solidity, stability and predictability
* conservative styling, but this also translates into timeless designs - the 201 and 124 still look fresh, compared with their BMW counterparts of the time
* emphasis on torque vs absolute power (excluding the latest AMG models)
* emphasis on durability, as seen in the overdesign of the engines
* emphasis on safety
* typically more expensive than BMW counterparts; has the most cachet among the three


BMW
* decidedly sportier demeanor and styling

* strong orientation towards the driver:
- the best steering feel in the business
- instrument panels curved around the driver (for a while)
- availability of manual transmissions

* compared with MB, the BMW engineers are purists:
- they stick with the inline-6 (as against the V6 despite its packaging and modular manufacturing benefits)
- they stick with natural aspirated engines (of course, there were turbo models, like the old 745i)
- (almost?) each model is available with a manual transmission
- they also tend to use smaller engines than comparable MB models, squeezing the last ounce of performance from them (example: 530i vs E320)


Audi
* innovative drivetrains, like the quattro and their new direct-shift gearbox for example, which is a very clever design
* beautiful interiors
* beautiful exterior styling
* cachet is lessened somewhat due to platform-sharing with VW
* the only one with (available) front-wheel drive


Put another way, what does each of these brands say about the driver?

Mercedes is "THE" Luxury Car that everyone looks up to
BMW has taken a hit because of Chris Bangle's designs
Audi is now the Benchmark in Interior Ergonomics

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1998 C43 ///AMG
1999 C230 Custom 5-Speed Manual

I spoke with a friend recently who runs US advertising for a large import brand; he's been with them in marketing and advertising for 15 years. He says the volume luxury sector (vs. RR, Bentley, etc.) is broken into the first tier and the others. First tier - Mercedes and BMW (luxury vs. sport) and, surprisingly, Lexus. Wannabes: Jaguar, Audi, Infiniti, Acura, sort of Cadillac & Lincoln. The second tier simply can't charge what the first tier can, and their residuals are much weaker.

Audi has never been in the first tier, though it's made progress in moving to the second tier in the last 6-7 years since the introduction of the A4 - before that it was more like Volvo and Saab, i.e. not really a luxury player. Audi still has major problems living up to the image it wants to project, i.e. one of the "German Big Three". While list price is comparable to similar class MB and BMW, check out residuals - you can get a same-year A6 for a lot less than a comparable E class or 5 series. The only way Audi has been able to move the metal in the volumes it has is via seriously subsidized leases and manufacturer discounts (example - Audi telling its dealers to sell the large number of unsold 2002 TT's as used cars, and giving them substantial rebate money to make it happen). I've heard that every A8 sold in the US in the last few years (not many) has been at a large loss to the factory.

This is a great arbitrage opportunity for someone who likes the cars and isn't obsessed with cachet - take the lease deal and turn it in, or buy the used car at the lower price. Just don't buy a new Audi at anywhere near list.

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08 MDX Tech
93 525i

05 F650GS

First thing a "Beemer" is a Motorcylce Bimmer is the car
And the order you have them listed is the order I would rate them IMHO
Not sure on the newer models but on the MB's we have had and my BMW's here is what I noticed
Mercedes
Heavier, More Stable, More expensive to repair, A little more aimed towards comfort of the passengers
BMW
More nimble, The standard transmission is ver nice, Easy to find most parts for, A blast to drive agressivley but not all that nice of a ride under normal conditions, and I love how all the cockpit is aimed at me as the driver
Audi
Only been in a A8 once and I liked it but other than that I have nothing to say
Still would kill for a big body Benz or smaller benz like a 190e 2.3 16v or C32