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We’re fortunate enough here at the crankandpiston loft to have some seriously exotic metal through our gates on a regular basis. We won’t deny it, it’s great. But not everyone can afford such wonders. And, if we’re honest, if it weren’t for the fact that we review them for a living, we wouldn’t be driving them, as we can’t afford them either.
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So with that in mind, we decided to look at some more affordable cars than Lamborghinis. Something more practical than a Ferrari. Something that you can put the kids in, and turn up to business meetings in without looking like you charge too much. Welcome to the world of executive saloons.
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We’ve assembled three of the most popular compact saloons around. They’re all German, they’ve all got four doors and they all work the number 3 into their name somehow. From Mercedes-Benz, we have the C350. Audi gives us the A4 3.0T, and BMW has provided the new 335i. What we want to know is, after the meetings are done and the children taken to school, which is the most fun to drive?
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Let’s meet the candidates. The Mercedes C350 is the oldest of the trio, having been around in its current W204 generation since the end of 2007. Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, it makes 302bhp which goes to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. We’ve got ours in black, with the optional AMG sports package (an extra $2,224) which adds funky five-spoke alloys, sports seats and tweaked suspension, as well as some glossy bits on the outside. It has a mean, almost gangsterly air to it.
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Next to it, looking positively radiant in bright red, is the Audi A4. It’s the least powerful car here, making 268bhp from its 3.0-litre supercharged V6, but that power goes through a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox to all-four wheels in the form of the famous Quattro system. That should mean that it’s fast off the line, but will it have the punch required against the competition?
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The BMW is almost brand new, having just touched down in the Middle East in the past few months. This 335i has already impressed us when we road tested it in the last issue, so we’re expecting great things. It’s the top of the line 3 Series until the new M3 arrives, and boasts a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six and 302bhp, with an eight-speed auto transmission. The power is equal to that of the Merc, but it’s newer and has an extra gear. Let battle commence.
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Today will see myself, and colleagues James Gent and Phil McGovern head through Dubai, out into the desert and go exploring in the middle of the UAE. This seems apt for several reasons. It’ll give us a variety of driving environments in which to compare these three and it’ll replicate the situation many travelling executives find themselves in, spending ages pootling around trying to find the location of their next important meeting.
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Off we set from the crankandpiston loft, for around an hour of motorway cruising. I start in the BMW, and it’s a familiar, warming feeling. It’s only a month since I last drove this particular car, and I still think it’s great. The seat is low, snug and supporting, both on the lower back and laterally, which bodes well for twisty fun later on. The engine is an old favourite honed to almost perfection; crisp in feel, creamy in delivery of its power. The eight speed, for now kept in auto mode with all settings on Comfort, is almost seamless. The cabin is unremarkable in its design, but it’s clean and functional, although the materials feel less special than I hoped for, like they’ve been chosen due to budget constraints. I spend half an hour moving through flowing traffic, and I can find little to complain about, save for the ride, which is a little less stiff than I remember or would like – there’s a slight feeling of riding on waves as we cruise, too much up-and-down movement. But on the plus side, the damping of imperfections is excellent.
