Schlitter

I really like the front end of the W205 more.

However, the W205 looks too Audi to me. The new navi screen looks cheap as hell, and the touch-style control for it seems like it would be even more distracting to use.

My friends uncle had the W205 as a loaner, and said the turbo lag was pretty awful and just was not as fun to drive as the W204

LogicalApex

What W205 loaner did he have? I haven't driven a W205 yet, but the W205 C300 seems very underpowered compared to the 2014 C300. It looks like to get the performance of the 2014 C300 (of course with some improvement) you have to step up to the C400.

Not sure if dealers are still doing C300 loaners as the norm.

MDMercedesGuy

The C300 I have been in for a week has no discernible turbo lag that I can feel - it is light years ahead of my M271 EVO in my C250 in that regard.

Granted, I am in a lux W205 and my W204 is a sport on 18's, and while it doesn't beg you to wail on it it is more than capable. I don't know if I would say it is as fun to drive, but it has a lot more road presence and feels like a more substantial car.

MDMercedesGuy

I'm confused as to how you can say the car seems underpowered when you have not driven one yet? Especially when the W205 C300 has 7 less HP but 22 ft/lb more torque, weighs 200lb less in 4matic guise and has a flatter and larger torque curve. Add to this how much quieter and more pleasant sounding it is (that one's subjective, but it doesn't have the constant exhaust drone of the V6), and there really isn't a comparison.

LogicalApex

I will admit I'm fairly new to cars so there is a lot I'm probably missing...

I was going purely off the highlighted specs from MB on the car.

The 2014 C300 has:
3.0L V6 w/ 248HP @ 6500 RPM, 251lb of Torque @ 3500 RPM

Source: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...-Sedan-362782/

2015 C300 has:
2.0L Inline-V4 w/ 241HP @ 5550 RPM, 273lb of Torque @ 1300 RPM

Source: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...-Sedan-372745/

The 2015 C300 seems like a tuned 2014 CLA 250:
2.0L Inline-V4 w/ 208 @ 5500 RPM, 258 @ 1250 RPM

Source: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...-Coupe-358490/

But as I said earlier, I'm fairly new so it is possible I'm not understanding the difference between an Inline-V4 vs a V6.

MDMercedesGuy

It is the same engine as in the CLA250, just in a longitudinal layout as the C is rear wheel drive by default.

With a turbo 4 cylinder, typically when the turbo isn't spooled, it will be economical but with little output. When the turbo spools up, it will have a lot of torque but also be less efficient. When you hear of turbo lag, that is the period between when you open the throttle and the turbo actually spools (it's a mechanical turbine that takes some time to get up to speed) - it's rather noticeable on the W204 C250, not so much on the W205 C300. When driving, the best way to describe the sensation is "wait for it, wait for it, and then it goes like hell".

When talking about real world performance you can feel, torque will be a more important number. A turbocharged engine typically will have a flatter and wider torque curve (in essence, it will seem like it is pulling harder and longer throughout the rev range, without working as hard).

It's easier felt than explained... take a trip in a turbo one versus your naturally aspirated one. They have very different driving characteristics, and some people prefer one over the other. I like the wall of torque that you get from a turbo engine more than an engine that winds up and screams to get moving, personally. Then again I'm turning into an old codger who at 32 wants to sell his sport C class for a Lux...

Schlitter

He drove the W205 C300, and didn't like it

LogicalApex

Thanks for the additional clarification.

It looks to me that Mercedes-Benz decided to push the price up in two ways to reposition the CLA as their Entry Level and the C300 as a more upscale car. They boosted the interior quality of the C300 and its base price, but pulled the engine in from the CLA for the C300 budget consumers. They created the C400 as their preferred successor to the C300, but with a price increase they didn't expect all of us would be happy with. As the C400 is about $10K more...

MDMercedesGuy

The C300 is not exactly a budget car... what I am considering to replace my C250 stickers for $59K. Manufacturers across the board are embracing turbo 4 cylinders to help boost their CAFE scores. Given the amount of thirstier engines that MB produces, having a their volume leaders with an economical engine is a win-win.

Over 450 miles of mixed (and quite a bit of not so nice) driving, the C300 I just turned in earlier was averaging 26MPG. My 1.8L C250 in the same cycle nets 24.5MPG with RWD... I'd call that progress.

LogicalApex

The C300 isn't budget anymore for MB. They are aggressively repositioning it out of that category with the CLA filling its spot there. My feeling is the C300 is being billed as Budget+ for right now and the C400 being completely out of the budget realm.

The key thing I guess will be if the C400 stays or if the C400 is just a bridge until they feel the market is fully comfortable with the removal of the C-Class from the budget box.

Prior to the CLA the C-Class (and the C300 specifically) was considered the "poor man's luxury car" (Entry Level) due to its aggressive price to attract people into the MB brand.

BlankProc

Shocking to read about the issues some W205s have with the MB-Tex that bleeds all over the seats and turns into a crusty looking goop.

The W204 interior is definitely more spartan but man - if I dropped $50k on a shiny new C that would borderline spoil the experience.

MDMercedesGuy

Every carline has its problems. How MB handles it will tell more than anything else.

MB-Tex on W204s likes to crack at an early age, so it is not without its problems either. It's a huge disappointment for me as I went with MB-Tex for its legendary durability (and the fact that W204 leather is not perforated)... at 25K my lower seat bolster cracked and had to be replaced under warranty.

S&MMBX2

Let's not forget my current ride, the 2014 C350 Sport Sedan:

Horsepower (Net @ RPM): 302 @ 6500 Torque (Net @ RPM): 273 @ 3500

Mileage is 29/20 hwy/city although I'm closer to the 20 than 29 over the first 1400 miles...mostly because it's so fun to get into it. It's my poor man's (and not wanting to buy new tires every 5,000 miles man, better MPG man, and cheaper maintenance man) AMG.

I've looked at the 2015 C400. The front end on the new C is pretty nice and aggressive looking. The rest is nice, but more lux than sport to me. The interior is better for sure, but that nav screen just makes me wonder what was going on in the design room that day. Overall the C350 sport is just what I was looking for: nice lines, sport feel combined with inherent MB lux feel in a sedan, and at least 300hp. Plus I got it new for almost $6k off sticker. Win-win for me.

Funkwagen

Well, I got to sit in a W205 at the NAIA, and I will say the interior really is much nicer, especially in comparison to my MY2010 interior.

I think the interior styling of the w205 combined with the exterior styling of the w204 would be pretty awesome.

Additionally, merc was displaying an AMG package w205 C450 4matic.. I hadn't heard of that before.

Doa

the C450 is the new AMG sports, somewhere between the C350 and the C63

teksurv

As my lease (leased due to bad experience with owning an Audi) comes due soon for my 2013 C350 I find this to be an interesting thread. I recently had a W205 C300 as a loaner car and for me it was as simple as this: The interior of the 205 is much nicer than even my facelift 204. The exterior however was not to my taste, especially the rear. And why does it ride so high, as in wheel gap?

Now, if the C Class coupe looks anything like the S Class coupe as some spy shots say it might, then that may change things down the line.

If Mercedes offers me a decent buy out for my C350 I'll probably do that, or lease a nice E until the C Coupe comes out.

Skyline45

Interior Looks: W205 all the way minus the stick being on the column -_-

Exterior Look: W204 will always win.

The new W205 just has too many "Bubbles" like BMW. I'm used to Mercedes being all about the "Lines" in their designs.

aznmode

I have to agree that the interior is one of the best out there even with the attached ipad. But the exterior though. What was MB thinking?

anxx3

Well said-- coming from a fellow 2014 C350 owner.

I Love my car.

S&MMBX2

Nice! As it happens mine is white too. I don't have the pano roof though, looks good. What lights are you running?

anxx3

Appreciate it

You could always vinyl the top black since you do not have the pano roof. I hear that's a good alternative.

As for the lights, I am running on Azn Optic's Morimoto HIDs and his 8000k LEDS for my parking lights as well as for my clear sidemarkers.

Moto_Guzzi

W204 preferred over W205. Seen a couple, 1st thought from rear that comes up is "Jaquar", from front the gaping holes to big, looks funny but not sprty, lines are confusing to eyes.

aznmode

I'm on a loaner c300 4matic now. Love the interior. Radio was off and did not know there was a ON button on the other side of the touchpad. Why did they put it on that side is beyond me as the touchpad completely blocks it from the driver side.

Still don't like the exterior though. But everyone at work is gawking at it.

subbu

I have the w204 avant-garde, I just had a loner 205 C200 for a week, I feel that the 204 is way ahead in driving dynamics, visibility, and the way they have positioned the buttons and knobs in the 204 you don't have to move or bend, it is so thoughtful while the 205 is all haywire. Also the 205 in India is almost double the cost but they have done away with basics like memory seats, electrically adjusted steering, electrically adjusted headrest among a lot many subtle but useful features.

I would rather move to E250 anyway. If I can't afford a S class (which I can't) then I am not going to settle for a look alike!!

204 has character while 205 is a me too!!

aznmode

So what's the verdict now 9 years later?