With the wraps finally off the BMW 2-Series, we now have a full slate of entry-level products from the German luxury designed to bring a whole new demographic into the arms of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. As much hand wringing as there is over the possible brand dilution going on here (all in the name of ever more important volume), it's a damn good time to be a German car fan with around $30k to spend.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA is the first to hit the market, with the all-important sub$30,000 pricepoint. $29,900 gets you a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and swoopy, pseudo-CLS styling. But you won't be staying there for long – pretty much everything is an option, and the price can creep upward really quickly.
For the same $29,900, Audi will also offer you a same sedan that is front-drive, with an engine 200cc smaller and the same "looks like a big Audi, till a big Audi pull up" styling. The A3 at least has a fair bit of standard equipment: xenon lights, leather and a moonroof are all standard.
Of the Germans, only BMW has breached the $30,000 barrier, with its all new 228i, which starts at $33,025. But the 228i offers two things that the Audi and M-B can't give you at any price: rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. Of course, it's also got two doors, while the other have four.
Tell me which one you'd prefer in the comments, or if you'd rather have a W-Body paid for in cash because owning one of these past the warranty period is an exercise is masochism.
from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com
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