Hi guys,
I'm currently driving around in the wife's Audi A3 (the 1.4 150bhp petrol) but the time has come to buy my own car. I am torn between the 4 Series GC or a Mercedes C-Class (prefer the coupe but should really get 4 doors so potentially saloon.)
I've test driven the 4 series (was a 435d xDrive) and I've got a test drive of the C-Class lined up for Friday. I wanted to take a straw poll on what you guys recommend, and what I'm potentially missing. But unless the Merc test drive on Friday completely changes my opinion I'm assuming, rightly or wrongly:
4 Series is the better car to drive.
Merc looks nicer, inside and out. Feels more... 'premium'
4 series is more practical (for taking my parents on day trips) in GC form over the coupe.
C-Class can be bought on very competitive PCP deals for 4 pot engines.
4 series 440i is the only realistic way I can get into a 6 cylinder engine for a reasonable price (TRL @ Berry Heathrow deal).
Now, I also drove a 540i (car was too big frankly and used PCP deal not competitive) but absolutely loved the engine. This will mainly be a toy for me (I will be doing less than 10k miles p/a) so my heart says buy the 440i with plenty of options. A C43 after discounts would still be 10k more which would push the PCP payments into wife considering divorce territory I think.
So with 3k down, and roughly ~£450p/m to play with with what would you guys do? C200\C300 premium plus with a couple of choice options or heavily specced 440i GC? Or this being motors, something entirely different?
PS - I've discounted the Audi A5 as I'm 6'3" and when I sat in it, I was sat on it. Even with the seat at it's lowest. Excluding driving experience days I've only ever driven a Fiesta then the subsequent Audi (which the wife bought) so had no idea how awful the driving position in the Audi was compared to the other German marquees. C-Class coupe and 4 Series were a much better fit for me.
So motors, thoughts?
I'm currently driving around in the wife's Audi A3 (the 1.4 150bhp petrol) but the time has come to buy my own car. I am torn between the 4 Series GC or a Mercedes C-Class (prefer the coupe but should really get 4 doors so potentially saloon.)
I've test driven the 4 series (was a 435d xDrive) and I've got a test drive of the C-Class lined up for Friday. I wanted to take a straw poll on what you guys recommend, and what I'm potentially missing. But unless the Merc test drive on Friday completely changes my opinion I'm assuming, rightly or wrongly:
4 Series is the better car to drive.
Merc looks nicer, inside and out. Feels more... 'premium'
4 series is more practical (for taking my parents on day trips) in GC form over the coupe.
C-Class can be bought on very competitive PCP deals for 4 pot engines.
4 series 440i is the only realistic way I can get into a 6 cylinder engine for a reasonable price (TRL @ Berry Heathrow deal).
Now, I also drove a 540i (car was too big frankly and used PCP deal not competitive) but absolutely loved the engine. This will mainly be a toy for me (I will be doing less than 10k miles p/a) so my heart says buy the 440i with plenty of options. A C43 after discounts would still be 10k more which would push the PCP payments into wife considering divorce territory I think.

So with 3k down, and roughly ~£450p/m to play with with what would you guys do? C200\C300 premium plus with a couple of choice options or heavily specced 440i GC? Or this being motors, something entirely different?

PS - I've discounted the Audi A5 as I'm 6'3" and when I sat in it, I was sat on it. Even with the seat at it's lowest. Excluding driving experience days I've only ever driven a Fiesta then the subsequent Audi (which the wife bought) so had no idea how awful the driving position in the Audi was compared to the other German marquees. C-Class coupe and 4 Series were a much better fit for me.
So motors, thoughts?