Twist of Fate. BMW-BENZ.

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Twist of Fate
One's better to drive and the other to ride. Can you guess which one is which?
Published: 1/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post: Newspaper section: Motoring

For many Thais, the idea to drive _ or be driven _ in luxury saloons is a statement of their success in professional career as well as in life. That's why the Mercedes-Benz S-class usually ends up on top of the wish list of many leading businessmen.



But for many others likewise, the S-class and its likes can be a little extravagant, overstating and expensive. Which is why the next thing closet to it but smaller, the E-class executive car comes in handy as a more sensible alternative.

Key product attributes of an executive car in Thailand are quite similar to its luxury equivalent, that is, space, comfort, refinement and opulence.

Imagine if Thais were offered the choice of long wheelbase versions of executive cars, as is the case in China, the segment could become more interesting. However, that is yet to happen.

But there is one maker trying to push the boundaries in the executive car segment, and that is BMW with its all-new 5-series. As you all know well, it is not only the biggest car in the 5-series bloodline but also the largest in its class. And no, we aren't talking about the stretched version.

As Motoring found out last month, the 5-series has become an even more serious threat to Thailand's best-selling executive saloon, the E-class, when you take the traits required of this particular segment, as mentioned earlier, into view.

Thus if you're looking for the roomier car between the two, the 5-series definitely wins in terms of sheer dimensions. It not only looks big from the outside but also feels so inside, except for some small details that may make the E-class seem airier.

Although you can feel the sumptuous amount of space when sitting on those large chairs up front, the same cannot be said for the rear where there's a bigger transmission tunnel at the centre, while those so-called Comfort Seats up front make for a claustrophobic ambience behind.

It feels a tad more liberating in the E-class even though you sit low like in the 5-series. The only way you will truly appreciate the rear seats in the 5-series is to consider it a place for only two. And had it not been for those front armchair-like seats, the seats are comfier to sit in than the E-class's.

Strange but true, exactly the opposite could be said for the S-class and 7-series. Earlier this year, a shootout between the two conducted by Motoring revealed that the Merc had soother seats that ultimately led to its victory over the Bimmer.

But the 5-series hasn't won here yet, it's only the beginning. After seat comfort, the next point where the 5-series excels over the E-class is interior ambience, although by an even slimmer margin.

Both cars have cabins beautifully finished with fine materials used all over. But it's the 5-series that looks and feels more modern and business-like. The view from the driver's side, in particular, looks more inspiring than the dull setup found in the E-class.

The 5-series is gadget-laden, too, and gives the feeling that it is better equipped for the money you pay. Talking about price and equipment balance, the 5-series in 523i Highline trim trumps the E250 CGI Avantgarde because at B4.249m it is B50,000 cheaper.

Outstanding features in the 523i Highline include those Comfort Seats, sat-nav system and a host of other convenience items evident from the array of buttons on the centre console.

Technical add-ons consist of four-wheel steering and Sport driving mode. So basically speaking, this 5-series offers better value than its rival.

This definitely shows how intense is the competition between them, arch rivals and the best of the field. You may wonder why the price is practically the same when the 523i and E250 use motors of different size but still deliver an equal 204hp.

The E250 comes with a 1.8-litre turbo unit attracting 30% excise tax, while the 523i features a normally aspirated 2.5-litre variation making it liable to 35% tax. But BMW made it E20-compatible to qualify for a 5% discount; the Merc takes E10 at the most.

Despite being level in tax terms, they perform rather differently on the move. Turbo engines yield merits of tractable real-world performance and fuel economy _ and it shows in the E250.

The higher amount of torque in the E250 makes it more effortless to drive at low to medium speeds than the 523i, which feels more breathless in comparison. And if you drive with more enthusiasm, the E250 feels quicker and more convincing going from point A to B.

But if you haven't driven the E250 yet, the 523i still has ample performance. You just have to use more revs to get a kick out of things, and it does so freely to its redline where it sounds better than the Merc's turbo'd four.

But that doesn't prevent it from being inferior to the E250 when it comes to utter performance.

Where the 523i actually shines over the E250 is smoother and more linear power delivery. Thanks to an electronically-controlled eight-speed automatic, gear-shifting is quick and fluid.

The conventional five-speed auto in the Merc, on the other hand, feels lazier to shift. And because there is turbo lag below 2,000rpm, the only way to keep the pace going well is to keep the engine in its powerband when the turbo is alive.

But the 523i loses out to the E250 in fuel economy. Regardless of what their makers claim, during a test drive to Kanchanaburi the Merc was more economical throughout, by some 10%, but BMW's effort with the transmission's top gear shone when cruising in a straight line.

That said, the merits of small engines with forced induction clearly paves the way for the future, just that in Mercedes application its flaws were brought to the fore by the BMW.