Can a C-class car be considered as "luxury car"?

[SummerHill]

I've a consideration of how a C-class car would be classified. Someone say that it can be considered as a "luxury car" (entry-level). But someone strongly disagree. What is your point of view? And what is the common point of view?

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[e1000]

strongly disagree? Yes, it would be classified as an entry level luxury car.

[advans]

sure?

when you bought ur C Class, did you buy a "Luxury Sedan" or a "Sport Sedan"

btw, I think the c class is a ENTRY LEVEL COMPACT SPORT and LUXURY SEDAN

[Moze]

I don't understand why the C-class is always being given such slack... even within groups of MB owners.

It is one of the lower-priced models, but it is also a small sedan. E, S, etc are larger, and so they cost more.

I've been in several upper model sedans made by MB. My dad used to own a E320... and sure, I can see the cosmetic differences... but its never anything substantial. My C240 has a very nice interior (I think) and the ride is amazing compared to other cars i've driven and owned.

The way I see it, I'd much rather have my C-class than some 'comparable' honda, toyota, mercury, etc... What defines 'luxury'? Leather, power, heated seats? Moonroof? Features most other cars on the market don't have --- headlight washers, power rear sunshade, rain sensing wipers, the mercedes-benz name?

I just don't see how you could NOT call it a luxury sedan. Especially at 35K MSRP. Just my 2 cents

[tifosiv122]

Well let's just see...mine has:

Leather
Power Seats
3 Memory seats (per side)
Huge Panoramic Roof
Automatic Climate Control
Dual heated seats
Bi-Xenon headlights
Air Conditioned armrest box
Leather steering wheel
Leather shifter
Remote entry
Alarm
Remote window open/close
IR Key
Ability to check oil level inside the car
24x7 Roadside for the life of the car

I could go on and on, but honestly, do I need to? In fact, besides the size difference and possibly cooled seats, the C class has very similar 'luxury' items as the rest of the lineup. There isn't much more out there that we don't have (well, besides an inlcuded CD player when Kia gives you one and MB wanted $1,200).

Erik

[TA-9FF]

I've had my 2006 C230 SS for almost a year, and everytime I look at it, I'm still ridiculously in love with it. To me, it's more car than I need, and I'm lucky to have it.

I had an Accord EX V6 loaded, before it met its doom, and granted, it had "luxury" appointments, but I was never smitten with it.

[Buellwinkle]

Sure, but you can get most of that in a Civic these days or at worst, a Camry. So is a fully loaded Camry a luxury car? I never considered my car as a "luxury car", a label best reserved for what the elderly would drive, like big American iron (Lincoln, Cadillac), big Euro iron (S class, 7 Series, Jag, Bentley, Rolls), or big Asian iron (Lexus LS). We have an area near where I live called Seizure World (aka Leisure World) and I see these "luxury cars" all the time and I give them wide berth.

[ScottW911]

Sure, almost every car offers "luxury" features these days.

To me, what sets a true "luxury" car apart from the wannabe's is the sound the doors make when they close and the feel of the ride on the pavement. MB's have always had a cool "thump" as the doors close and felt very heavy (in a good way) on the road. Hondas feel like a strong wind might blow them away.

So, yes, the C is a luxury car to me.

[anonymouse]

I sat in a Hyundai the other day and the doors closed with a satifying clunk too. Dual zone climate control,leather, moonroof, yada yada yada. Was that a luxury car too?

[dalazernet]

A luxury car is one that is priced higher than the others (sometimes seemingly for no reason)... that has luxurious ammenities and is revered as an unobtainable luxury car as a result of reputation in the eyes of most people. For example - I believe it was discussed in past threads that sometimes people see someone in a Mercedes and assume they are spending LOADS of money on it, when in fact it may cost that person more money on their Chevy Tahoe or other expensive bohemoth....

Just my two cents, argue as you will. ;-)

[Moze]

A Hyundai is not a mercedes-benz. A name can just be a name, but it can also be much more than that.

[Moze]

This goes against my argument... but it's notable.

I find it interesting that KBB (Kelly Blue Book) does NOT list the C-Class in the LUXURY category. You have to go through the 'Sedan' category to select it...






HOWEVER, Edmunds has a different opinion... MB C-class IS listed as a luxury sedan...



Soooo... the argument goes on...

Just to note, though... NEITHER KBB nor Edmunds listed ford, mercury, toyota, etc etc etc as luxury for ANY of their models...

[NG C-Klasse]

It's a Mercedes Sedan...it's luxury. Now the A class...that isn't luxury.

[mctwin2kman]

Luxury to me equates to comfort and quite. Both of which the C Class has. I was in a friends Celica GTS this weekend and have been in Hyundia's as well. And neither are quite on the road and neither are very comfortable for long trips. The C Class to me is just as comfortable as a Lincoln or Caddi and the interior to me is built very well and panels fit together properly and do not pop off. That is the luxury part, the comfort, the quiet and the build.

[mannnu81]

Originally Posted by e1000

strongly disagree? Yes, it would be classified as an entry level luxury car.

lolol...yessssss!

[ScottW911]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

I sat in a Hyundai the other day and the doors closed with a satifying clunk too. Dual zone climate control,leather, moonroof, yada yada yada. Was that a luxury car too?

You're kidding me. You SAT in a hyundai and would even attempt to convice us that it is comparable to any MB? A clunk is not the MB thump we all know. I've driven Hyundai's before, and there is no way in hell I'd compare them to MB. Geez. The point was that features/options don't nessesarily make something a luxury car these days. It's more about the feel.

Wait, I just got it. your comment was intended to be sarcasim. Well done. You really had me going for a minute.

[TruTaing]

IMO, us C-Classes would be considered luxury.

Luxury cars should not be defined upon how many featuers it has, but instead upon the quality of the features it has. For instance, my parents 94 c280 (maybe 95?) has near 200k miles on the thing, and yet it still runs flawlessly and has no issues w/ any of its features. The leather reamins uncracked and still vibrantly colored, the dash board is still its original color and has no cracks either, the exterior paint is still in great shape, and the car still performs as if it only has 30k miles on it. The best part about this car is that it hasnt required any major maintience. It just runs and all of its features have been completely reliable.

My coworker's 94 accord which has many similiar featuers and miles has a worn out interior, cracked dash and trim items, and he had to replace the entire rear axel(or something of the sort back there), and yet the accord has been maintained in a very similiarly fashion.

I dunno, I think we, C-class owners, drive luxury cars, but I think im a bit biased.

-j0hn

edit: I sat in a mid sized kia (forgot the name), but the thing had great features, nice interior, and a smooth ride. I later found out that this kia is supposed to average 18/24 mpg, but my coworker who drives this car has never averaged more than 13 mpg. - that kinda stuff scares me :x

[Buellwinkle]

So then a Kia Amanti is a luxury car, big, plush, lots of leather.

[sdsilverm3]

I guess you could consider the C-Class entry level luxury and that's about it. There are other cars in that price range I would buy before the C-class.

[JDM]

It is a luxuryto drive a Mercedes..therefore any and all Mercedes cars are luxury cars. A hyundai is not a luxury car even if it was a full house and had two sunroofs, however it would be a luxury hyundai.

[eckc21]

Over here in general, a compact-to-mid size sedan that has its starting MSRP (no options at all) above or close to $30,000 is considered as a luxury car, with exception of super-engined and hybrid car.

Audi A4 and Acura TSX are MSRP priced quite close to $30k and so they are likely to be considered as luxury cars.

Volvo S40 and VW Passat are priced a bit below $25k and so they are less likely to be considered as luxury cars.

Honda Accord, Toyota Camery, and Hyundai Sonata are all priced just above or below $20k and so they are certainly not considered as luxury cars, no matter how many added options they have.

Subaru STI and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO are priced at $30k but they are not luxury cars because the price is coming from their extrodinary powerful engines.

According to this "guideline", our baby Benz is definitely a luxury car (with prefix/suffix of entry-level, compact, sports, etc...)

[ScottW911]

Originally Posted by Buellwinkle

So then a Kia Amanti is a luxury car, big, plush, lots of leather.

Huh? Who said that. I think most posters are saying that luxury is a feel and quality, not nessesarily "big, plush, lots of leather".

I guess I'm confused. Do you, or do you not think the C is a luxury car?

I, for one would never confuse a Kia or Hyundai with a luxury car.

[Tangerine]

i consider my car near luxury

i think the word luxury is vague. if an e class was stripped of all its interior/features and recieved everything from the c class (including the engine) would that be considered a luxury car?

[yeuchau]

I think C320 is more like a luxury car than C240 or 230, just because it had more luxury components, such as dual memory seats, also memory on steeling wheels..etc
but if you can call camery a luxury car, then any MB is definintely a luxury car as well.

[gens]

I'd vote for "luxury". A MB definately has many things that aren't absolutely necessary.
Power Seats - stop the car and adjust manually
3 Memory seats (per side) - just adjust it every time
Automatic Climate Control - just adjust manually if you feel too cold/hot
Dual heated seats - wear more cloths
Remote entry - use a key physically
Rear sunshade - wear darker sunglasses

MB - luxury = VOLVO