Topic: Comparison Test: Sport Sedans

[Autos_Editor]

We line up five compact luxury sport sedans for an elimination round ahead of new arrivals from Infiniti and Lexus.

Read More...

[Mike]

You biased S.O.B.'s! If I were there to help add balance to the scoring...oh wait...I was

[Snowman]

Audi has got it together over the last few years. Add a flash to the ECU and that 3.0 can run with an RS4.

[vols1]

Nice reviews. Maybe Mercedes C class doesn't want to be a sports sedan. Judging from their sales numbers, which have grown over the 6 years of this version, they seem to have found their customers with their formula. You can bet the 2014 redesign will err on the less sporty side. Why mess with their customer base.

[tpl]

Nice reviews. Maybe Mercedes C class doesn't want to be a sports sedan. Judging from their sales numbers, which have grown over the 6 years of this version, they seem to have found their customers with their formula. You can bet the 2014 redesign will err on the less sporty side. Why mess with their customer base.

The C class is not a sports sedan just a smaller M-B sedan.   the new CLA and CLA AMG will be sports sedans I bet

[Spheric]

Was surprised to see the Mercedes C-Class in the line up in the first place....it's usually a (leased) car I associate with aspiring realtors in the GTA.

[dougjp]

“Hey you wretched pencil-pushing journos. I have a brother who can run all these girlie-man sport sedans into the rhubarb and have them crying for their mommies. And at $67,375 it undercuts your beloved $68,740 Audi S4. Can you say C 63 AMG? Can you say 451 horsepower and 443 lb-ft from one of the greatest V8 engines ever fashioned by humankind?

I’m listening. "

Thanks for doing our work for us, nothing for us to say on top of that.  Although I sense an AMG wouldn't have won anyway.

[Rupert]

On the speedo front...the Caddy is a clear winner. Large central speedo with satalites. Whilst I prefer single round instruments set in a flat background, the caddy combined display appears to be very nice. Second in this catagory is the MB I guess but I dislike the raised surrounds, still ok I guess. The rest nicely done only. Handling...who cares...they all must be more than adequate and appointments are all out of my league anyway. Welllll...you know...bench seat and all.
The handling of these cars...I propose is of secondary importance to the appointments. It has to be there of course but that is about it on our roads. The cars statement being...ahh..I could do all of that stuff... see the TV adds. I just prefer not to. Well; you can't bend such beautiful things can you.

[hemusbull]

Why is Acura out if Volvo is in?

[Snowman]

“Hey you wretched pencil-pushing journos. I have a brother who can run all these girlie-man sport sedans into the rhubarb and have them crying for their mommies. And at $67,375 it undercuts your beloved $68,740 Audi S4. Can you say C 63 AMG? Can you say 451 horsepower and 443 lb-ft from one of the greatest V8 engines ever fashioned by humankind?

I’m listening. "

Thanks for doing our work for us, nothing for us to say on top of that.  Although I sense an AMG wouldn't have won anyway.

Right, might as well bring in the M3 into the mix then . Not many people buy an M3 or C63 AMG in base trim.

[redman]

Nice review.
I agree that the MB is no sports sedan and MB needs some fixing there. Maybe saving to much for their AMG line.
The current BMW style also does not work me. It's simply become to mundane and superseded by many less expensive cars.

One thing that really stands out here is the cost of some of these vehicles, approaching $70K packaged out before tax.
Our easy acceptance of easy escalating price tags has become sad and will only lead to accelerated further "country pricing".
The industry is smiling. Caveat emptor

[bluelines]

I think the pricing has a lot to do with leasing. Audi and BMW have pretty healthy residuals so the monthly price, which is all most customers care about these days, remains somewhat affordable, at least in the context of them being +/- $70k vehicles. This is one factor that makes it very difficult for the domestic brands to compete, since their residuals are far worse, and therefore it probably costs the same to lease per month even if the sticker price is several thousand lower.

Nice review.
I agree that the MB is no sports sedan and MB needs some fixing there. Maybe saving to much for their AMG line.
The current BMW style also does not work me. It's simply become to mundane and superseded by many less expensive cars.

One thing that really stands out here is the cost of some of these vehicles, approaching $70K packaged out before tax.
Our easy acceptance of easy escalating price tags has become sad and will only lead to accelerated further "country pricing".
The industry is smiling. Caveat emptor

[redman]

Nice review.
I agree that the MB is no sports sedan and MB needs some fixing there. Maybe saving to much for their AMG line.
The current BMW style also does not work me. It's simply become to mundane and superseded by many less expensive cars.

One thing that really stands out here is the cost of some of these vehicles, approaching $70K packaged out before tax.
Our easy acceptance of easy escalating price tags has become sad and will only lead to accelerated further "country pricing".
Caveat emptor. The industry is smiling.

If you want the nice stuff you have to pay for it.

"Welcome the sheep"

Your statement is exactly what I'm referring to. You must be a great negotiator (sarcasm)
Markets react to market demands. As long as we as a nation are willing to pay whatever is posted and not question value or price equivalency to other territories, we're on wrong end.
That being said I agree with "bluelines" comment that these vehicles are mostly leased and based on high residual costs effecting the montly costs and so much about the final costs.

[5 Wheel Drive]

Good comparison, I enjoyed reading it.  I was surprised to see the Mercedes last.  My top 2 would be the same.  Add the M sport pack and manual gearbox to the 335, and that would be a very tough call for me.

[whaddaiknow]

You biased S.O.B.'s! If I were there to help add balance to the scoring...oh wait...I was

Very entertaining reading. Unfortunately, you guys did it so well you left virtually nothing for me to b1tch about. 
Keep'em coming! 

The Q50, CLA, IS350 and even the aging TL thrown in the mix will add a few interesting pages to the next article.

[Fobroader]

“Hey you wretched pencil-pushing journos. I have a brother who can run all these girlie-man sport sedans into the rhubarb and have them crying for their mommies. And at $67,375 it undercuts your beloved $68,740 Audi S4. Can you say C 63 AMG? Can you say 451 horsepower and 443 lb-ft from one of the greatest V8 engines ever fashioned by humankind?

I’m listening. "

Thanks for doing our work for us, nothing for us to say on top of that.  Although I sense an AMG wouldn't have won anyway.

Right, might as well bring in the M3 into the mix then . Not many people buy an M3 or C63 AMG in base trim.

What do you need more than a howling V8 soundtrack and the rich smell of burning tire rubber??  If I was spending close to $70K, CPO E class AMG or an M3 sedan thank you. The Audi is beautiful, but I like my german sedans all conquering.

[redman]

I'm a sheep because I'm not a cheap w.h.o.r.e and understand the notion that nicer stuff costs more money?

Go ahead, buy a 30 thousand dollar sports sedan and let me know how it stacks up.

At $30K the FR-S is a great car. My point being is that these cars are not twice the car but are priced at twice or more.

It's about value for the price. Even nicer stuff have an inherent value. In this case it's just become skewed and we the public have allowed that. That's my point.

[evil_twin]

For me this would quickly be narrowed down to Audi vs BMW, simply because no one else offers a manual (at least not in the their top engine trim).

I'd sacrifice some the the 'frivolous' (IMO) packages and simply add Sport packages and the stick.   No idea what I'd choose without vigorous test driving.  I do prefer the Audi's styling.

Great time to be shopping in this category....especially as these may represent some of the last generations for a manual sport sedan.  Pity...

[evil_twin]

I'm a sheep because I'm not a cheap w.h.o.r.e and understand the notion that nicer stuff costs more money?

Go ahead, buy a 30 thousand dollar sports sedan and let me know how it stacks up.

At $30K the FR-S is a great car. My point being is that these cars are not twice the car but are priced at twice or more.

It's about value for the price. Even nicer stuff has an inherent. In this case it's just become skewed and we the public have allowed that. That's my point.

In your opinion.  The FR-S is filled with plastic, has a 4 cylinder engine, and peaks at 151 lb ft of torque.

I'm sure there are MANY people who feel an S4 is twice the car. 

It's all relative...

[Northernridge]

Fun review...no quibbles here plus I haven't driven all of these cars. I have driven several C Class though and have never been impressed with them – neither as sports nor luxury sedans. Have also driven plenty of A4s and 3 Series and I like them both but prefer the Audi. Audi would be my choice in this mix...but I would pause at the BMW...

But – at nearly 70K I'd walk right past the S4 and buy a garden variety A6 and not look back. Unless I'm going with the RS, AMG and M version of these cars the value equation falls away for me north of $55k...at which point I'd step up to the mid-sized sedans. However, I do value luxury over sport sedan prowess by a small margin.