When it comes to German auto makers, there's no rivalry greater than that of Mercedes and BMW.  It's a delicate subject that I'm sure everyone can weigh in on, and one that I have received numerous emails about.  So to briefly answer your question, here's a quick synopsis of how I view the two companies:

Although the two auto makers compete for similar markets, they are two entirely different creatures. When I view a Mercedes, and when I drive a Mercedes, the underlying trait that I feel defines the vehicles is luxury. Mercedes are first and foremost luxury vehicles, regardless of how fast they may be, and regardless of how they're marketed.

BMW, at least all the ones that I have driven, are not.  Now before I get thousands of emails telling me I'm biased, here me out.  I don't believe BMW manufactures vehicles that are based on luxury, I believe they manufacture vehicles based on "sportiness."  When driving one, they feel nothing at all like a Mercedes - that doesn't mean they feel worse, I just think they feel different, in a sportier kind of way.

I guess if I had to sum up the two companies in two sentences, here's how I'd do it:  I think BMW is a wonderfully made German sports car, hidden behind the mask of a luxury vehicle.  Mercedes, on the other hand, is a wonderfully made German luxury car, oftentimes hidden behind the mask of a sportier vehicle.

Now if you ask me to choose a Mercedes or a BMW, I would choose a Mercedes.  My reason for choosing a Mercedes is not because it is necessarily better than a BMW, but rather because I prefer the type of vehicle that Mercedes is, which ultimately is a luxury car.

OK, now that you know how I feel about the two, the real reason for the story.  The Car Connection published an article yesterday comparing the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW 645Ci convertible.  You're probably thinking that's a strange comparison, and I'd have to agree; however, when you look a little closer at the two vehicles, they do share some similar traits.

Although the Mercedes has four doors, it is marketed as a coupe; the BMW is a coupe, so there's no problems there.  Both are similarly powered, and both are around the same price point.  Take out the fact one is a convertible, and you have a pretty good comparison.

Ultimately, the reviewer found the same things to be true that I have already shared with you - the BMW is the sportier of the two, while the Mercedes focuses more on luxury. In the end, the Mercedes was declared the victor, despite Mercedes' so-called "quality problems" that I'm forced to hear about on a seemingly non-stop basis.

Anyways, to check out a more detailed comparison of the two vehicles, you can find the full article over at The Car Connection's website by clicking here.