Driven 100 - Audi A4 wins, Volvo S60 second, and Merc C-Class comes last!!

[WhipLash]

It was an interesting comparison between the new Audi A4, Merc C180 and Volvo S60 on Driven last night. I have to admit at being impressed by the new A4's looks, both inside and out. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about the Merc. Great looking on the outside, but what a dreadful interior! :sick: People say that black interiors are dull, but after seeing the Mercs interior I certainly don't agree with that opinion. The S60 also looks very good inside and out IMHO. Very nice lines, safe, comfortable and good road manners.

So the overall scoring (why did the A4 score so low in Practicality - anyone?)....

Driveability
Volvo S60.................19
Audi A4....................20
Merc C-Class............18

Desirability
Volvo S60.................16
Audi A4....................19
Merc C-Class............16

Practicality
Volvo S60.................19
Audi A4....................16
Merc C-Class............17

Cost of Ownership
Volvo S60.................17
Audi A4....................17
Merc C-Class............17

Overall
Volvo S60.................71
Audi A4....................72
Merc C-Class............68

[BeCos]

well not that i'm biased or anything !!! ;)

But I had decided that the results would be a forgone conclusion. It was obvious that the Audi would win the test and pretty obvious that the C180 classic would come last.

The C180 Classic is a dog of a car. I was shocked when I actually looked inside one for the first time about 3 weeks ago. I had stopped at Belgard Motors to look at the new A4, funnily enough, and spotted the Merc in the other showroom. I hadn't seen Classic before and I was taken aback when I saw the interior. It's ghastly with very poor quality plastics used in vast quantities. The lack of alloy wheels, the more basic grille and lack of chromework don't do the exterior any favours either. This car was never going to win any test on drivability or performance either !!

Not that this is the only reason the Audi won though. I think the new A4 is a formiddable car in its own right. It drives well and looks well and actually seems like good value for money when compared to the BMW 3 series and the C-Class. However IMO in this Country it doesn't have the image that the other two have, and depending on your own personal needs this is either a good think or a very bad thing.

I dont know much about the Volvo outside what they said last night but it's not really my cup of tea.

I do know that the price of the A4 2.0 is IR£27,500 and the basic Merc is IR£29,995, not sure of the Volvo's but my point is that these cars do not really compete with eachother on price in Ireland. In fact the gap makes the A4 look even better.

I would seriously consider an A4 if I was spending £27-28k, but I'm not, I'm adding nearly £10k on to that price and for £36k ............I simply wouldn't buy an Audi OR a Volvo!!

The C-Class with the 200K engine would be a better performer and with the advantage of lower ride and bigger wheels I reckon it would handle better too. The interior of the Avantgarde is far nicer, more leather, aluminium and better spec.

Anyone considering an A4/S60 isn't going to be also considering a C200K Avantgarde and vice versa.

Simply put....the A4 is a superior package to the other two, although I'm sure the Volvo is probably a good package too, but the Mercedes is ...............a Mercedes !!


[Edited by BeCos on 21st March 2001 at 14:53]

[Anders]

I just read a comparison in an American magazine, can't remember which, between the Volvo S60 2.4T, BMW 330i, Merc C320, and the Lexus IS300. The Volvo came last, the Merc 3rd, the BMW was overall the best car, but the Lexus won because it is by far the cheapest and gives better driving thrills. I don't think the new Audi is available in the States yet. In fact, Driven should have included the IS200 in their test.

[BeCos]

Yeah the IS200 would have shown up the Mercs defficiencies even more, better engine, higher spec and probably a better drive.

Although I really dont think the C320 is a performance car at all.......no matter what spec you get, it wont match a 330i !!

I believe the new AMG C32 is a cracker. It is quicker than the old C43 AMG which had 4.3 litres of V8 muscle!! I'd like to see the test between that and an M3!!

So which would you buy.........an IS200 or a 2.0 A4 ??

[Anders]

The A4 is undoubtedly an attractive car, but the IS200 with a sports pack looks nice and you get an in-line six, rwd, and I imagine a better handling car. I would possibly consider the IS300 if I was in the market for such a car, which I'm not. Peter Farrel Supercars does an aftermarket kit that brings the IS300 up to 500bhp, btw.

[WhipLash]

As regards the handling of the ISS200, don't forget that the ISS200 Sport boasts a Torsen limited Slip Differential, among other things.

[Phil]

Am I right in saying, that when IS200 comes to handling/braking in the wet, that it very unresponsive and unsafe compared to other cars in its same class.

No matter how much trickery you put under the hood, it just does'nt cut the mustard.

[BeCos]

You sure it's a "Torsen" diff ? I fail to see the reason for this over a standard "limo" or traction control??

[BeCos]

Oh yeah I've just read in Top Gear that the C180 stops 5 feet earlier from 60mph than the new A4 !!!

What's that about??

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by BeCos
You sure it's a "Torsen" diff ? I fail to see the reason for this over a standard "limo" or traction control??

Well I did remember reading that before about the Sports version...as far as I can remember I read it in Whatcar. I’ve double checked it on their web site (Lexus) and it says it there too, so I guess it must be Torsen?!!

BTW, isn't there a more powerfully engined IS200 on the way? Maybe the Sports version was given the Torsen diff with the idea that this set-up would nicely complement the additional power of the higher powered model?

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by BeCos
Oh yeah I've just read in Top Gear that the C180 stops 5 feet earlier from 60mph than the new A4 !!!

What's that about??

The Audi A4 looks like a heavier car than the Merc (right??), so I suppose that could explain some of that distance??

What about the performance of the new VAG 2.0 litre though? I think I recently read that the new VW Passat 2.0 litre petrol takes about 11.3 seconds from 0-60!! WTF?!!! Is the equivalent Audi A4 as bad as that???

[Junior]

WTF !!! Over 11 Seconds OMG thats almost the same as my measely 1.4 Golf being flogged to death !!!

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by Junior
WTF !!! Over 11 Seconds OMG thats almost the same as my measely 1.4 Golf being flogged to death !!!

For the VW Passat...

2.0 litre... MPH=124, Acceleration secs 0-62 11.2 seconds, 115BHP
1.6 litre... MPH=119, Acceleration secs 0-62 ?? seconds, 102BHP

[BeCos]

Whippy I meant why did Lexus choose a Torsen unit as oppossed to traction control/a standard LSD. I didn't mean the IS200 didn't need one. Just curious.

The A4 is not heavier than the Merc. As far as I know the Passat and the A4 do not share their 2.0 engines. The Audi 2.0 unit is a new one.

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by BeCos
Whippy I meant why did Lexus choose a Torsen unit as oppossed to traction control/a standard LSD. I didn't mean the IS200 didn't need one. Just curious.



I dunno...in fact to be quite honest I don't even know the difference between the two!! :embarass:

So which one is best then - slip diff or traction control? Isn't slip diff usually to be found on serious off-roaders? Is SD the real macoy compared to TC?? Anyone care to explain the difference between the two? :confused:

Originally posted by BeCos
The A4 is not heavier than the Merc. As far as I know the Passat and the A4 do not share their 2.0 engines. The Audi 2.0 unit is a new one.


I just checked the stats on the Audi 2.0 litre engine - it has 130bhp and goes 0-62 in 9.9 seconds.

[Justin]

The new Impreza WRX gets my vote at this level. OK then, if I can't have that, the Volvo. But Becos is right, go up 10k and a Volvo or (in my opinion) Audi won't do.

[Junior]

Oh-er I'm not so sure about the new Impreza, looks and interior tackiness leave it badly down in this class. But performance wise it walks away with it.

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by Junior
Oh-er I'm not so sure about the new Impreza, looks and interior tackiness leave it badly down in this class. But performance wise it walks away with it.

Interior wise, the new Impreza is actually very acceptable, having being graced with softer, more pleasing plastics, great bucket seats, aluminium dash/pedals and a Momo steering wheel.

http://www.eforecourt.com/news/features/images/wrx21.jpg

Really, the new interior is quite impressive!

As for the exterior, well its not exactly ugly, just highly anonymous, like most other Jap cars unfortunately.

http://www.eforecourt.com/news/features/images/wrx17.jpg


http://www.eforecourt.com/news/features/images/wrx19.jpg

(Err...how did that one slip in there??? ;) )

[Junior]

That may have been the show Car, but BeCos has been in the Road model and from what I understand.. it's shyte with a capital Tackiness and an extra serving of cheapness

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by Junior
That may have been the show Car, but BeCos has been in the Road model and from what I understand.. it's shyte with a capital Tackiness and an extra serving of cheapness

Hmm, maybe so - I haven't seen it in the dealer showrooms myself. But any review of the car I have seen says the same about the vastly improved quality of the interior.