When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
For the C300 (AWD), the two colors I am deciding between are polar (haha) opposites - the Polar White and Steel Gray. Here are my thought processes - I'm looking forward to this forum's input:
For the interior, I am choosing black. I actually prefer the beige; I think it shouts luxury. But I ride horses, which gets you really dirty, and the beige will look dirty quickly. Yeah I can put a towel down or get a cover, but it just needs one time for me to forget, and the beige will get dirty, and I don't have time to be cleaning the interior all the time. So I am choosing black. Plus I like the black ash trim.
So, with the black interior, I am concerned the steel gray is just too much dark. A bit gloomy perhaps. The Polar White would be a nice contrast to black interior. But when I look at the car in Polar White, particularly the rear view, it doesn't look as hot. Or does it? If it makes any difference, I am a chick. Chicks look good in white cars. But in Steel Gray, the C300 looks mean and hot. What do you think?
Well I am partial to polar white - that's what I have. I agree black and gray looks too dull. It's a shame you can't get the crystal gray interior - that's what I have and it looks great with the ash trim(great choice).
I agree with your choice of black & black ash trim, but I'd go with the Iridium Silver instead of the too dark gray or storm trooper white. Why do you think MB chose the Iridium Silver in most of the W205s beauty shots. Sliver & black is a good contrast BTW.
I found myself in the same boat a few weeks ago - choosing between Polar White, Tenorite Grey, and Obsidian Black...
I opted for the Tenorite - partly because I'm coming from a Mineral White BMW and fancied a change, and partly from a practicality perspective.
I don't think you'll be disappointed either way. The Grey does look lovely and provides a great contrast against the chrome splitter and silver wheels of the AMG Line, although i've always been partial to White which looks stunning when clean. Go with your gut!
I have Polar White with beige interior and this past weekend I parked next to a Steel Gray with red seats; the steel gray/red seats look really nice. If I have to do it over, I would go with that combo. Anyway, choose white if you're going with black interior as it does get too dark. Good luck.
I view color choice as a personal item, something based on:
- fond memories (your family has tradition of grey cars)
- favorite color, lucky charm (you wore green dress and won lottery that day)
- your house color (a white house, a white car)
Not to sound political'sh, but I do earnestly like all colors, I think you cant go wrong with either of your two choices.
Well I am partial to polar white - that's what I have. I agree black and gray looks too dull. It's a shame you can't get the crystal gray interior - that's what I have and it looks great with the ash trim(great choice).
That crystal gray interior looks so great - you have the beige seats which are beautiful with the crystal gray. I can't have the beige seats, and in fact I do like the all-crystal gray interior with crystal gray seats. But for some reason when you get the all-crystal gray, it only comes with gloss black center console which I do not like. I know I could special order it with ash console, but I am in a hurry to get a new car and want one that is available now.
The suggestion of the Iridium Silver is a no - because that's what my Dad has! Yes, my dad would be so happy that we could have twin MBs, but I cannot handle that, LOL.
That crystal gray interior looks so great - you have the beige seats which are beautiful with the crystal gray. I can't have the beige seats, and in fact I do like the all-crystal gray interior with crystal gray seats. But for some reason when you get the all-crystal gray, it only comes with gloss black center console which I do not like. I know I could special order it with ash console, but I am in a hurry to get a new car and want one that is available now.
The suggestion of the Iridium Silver is a no - because that's what my Dad has! Yes, my dad would be so happy that we could have twin MBs, but I cannot handle that, LOL.
Actually I DO have the crystal gray seats in Tex. I had to special order to get black ash with those seats and other options I wanted like HUD. For me, I would never buy off the lot - the wait is worth it to get what I want.
I think I would choose the grey, because I feel its a little more special and different than white .
Just to complicate the choice I would suggest 'Diamond Silver'. I have it on my 2014 C350 car and love it . Its a nice change from regular silver with a slight blue tinge to it .
As you can see, it all comes down to personal taste, that varies widely - too widely, for you to take any of this as objective advice.
If you REALLY would be happy with either, then you would be as well as to toss a coin - you won't learn anything here, other than some like white, some like grey....
As you can see, it all comes down to personal taste, that varies widely - too widely, for you to take any of this as objective advice.
If you REALLY would be happy with either, then you would be as well as to toss a coin - you won't learn anything here, other than some like white, some like grey....
+1 Who cares which color we'd buy unless you're buying the car for one of us. Get the color that you like. You really can't make a mistake with white or grey.
I had Steel Gray Metallic on my C204 and got tired of it. It looked nice when it was clean but I always felt it just didn't "pop" enough for me. I love the Iridium Silver on mine, and also love how the Polar White looks. My vote is Polar.
Coming from someone with a polar white and the beige leather interior, my vote would be the polar white. I saw a steel grey C300 sport model come in from a test drive when I was taking a delivery, and thought maybe I made a mistake. You are right....it does look hot! But so does a Polar white with tinted windows. Plus, my experiences with grey cars in the past, they always look dirty/dusty and they show scratches pretty easily. Its a headache to keep clean. After 8 months with my C300, no issues whatsoever keeping it clean. Plus, the dark interior with the black ash wood trim perfectly complements the white. The car stays cooler in a hot climate. Plus, you'd save a few dollars over steel grey. It's almost like getting a $720 rebate.
This thread was incredibly helpful in making my decision. Great to see the pictures, great to hear your first-hand experiences with these colors. I am leaning toward the white. When I go to the dealership, I want to see the color combos with me seated behind the wheel, but the white contrasted with the black/black ash is calling to me.
Darwin329 - your C400 looks amazing. How can I get those wheels on the c300 - me want!
I guess I will have to be the dissenting opinion. Of course, I am partial - I have the E400 in steel grey with black leather/black ash interior. I do not feel that it is too "dark." It is less so than black with black interior, isn't it?
Also, in Chicago, if you choose white, you will be just like all the others. When I was looking for a car, almost all the stock at any local dealers were black or white. I asked my sales consultant, and he said that they could sell black or white cars all day long. These are the most popular, most common colors in the recent years. I didn't want to be "another" white or black car.
I must agree that when it is not clean, the steel grey doesn't "pop" but when it is clean, it is really nice.
It does boil down to individual choice, but don't you want to be just a little bit different?
Darwin329 - your C400 looks amazing. How can I get those wheels on the c300 - me want!
I'm not Darwin329, but anyone can get those 19" AMG wheels (silver or black inlays) when you order the car with the "Sport" pkg...for me it was $500 option. Keep in mind the tires that come with those 19" wheels are Summer only.
The stock 18" AMG wheels that come with the "Sport" pkg. are those 5 star pattern wheels...and they come with all-season tires.
I have Steel Grey with Beige and burl walnut inside and it is awesome. It is a work of art. I get compliments on the color all the time. When it is clean, it looks fantastic. Steel does show some dirt but I find that waxing it helps repel dirt build up. Some of the high dynamic range photos I snapped of the car on my phone look so good that I just want to stare at them. The front end is really gorgeous and the steel grey makes even the base model 300 look like a fierce piece of metal. It does have a very metallic vibe especially in the sun. Its a looker. My base model gets parked in the front of some pretty fancy Chicago restaurants like it is an S class because it just looks good enough for that. It is an expensive looking color. It has its merits. I think the car is gorgeous in every color but I much prefer Steel to White. I have not seen another C300 on the road that I think looks better than my car, except I do like the sport package which I do not have, although I have seen some pretty spectacular photos of cars in Iridium which seems to be the go to color for this car. Steel tends to look different depending on the lighting conditions, but it always looks good in my opinion.
I actually had a very similar color in an Acura before I got this car. Very similar color. This is nothing like that car, however, in presentation.
My wife actually picked the color on the lot. The pano roof sort of blends into steel grey, which is good or not good depending on how much contrast you want. With the lighter silvers and white there is more contrast with the pano roof, which is very cool.
I like the car in white--it is gorgeous in every color, but the Steel is more unique.
It is not easy to pick a color for a car that looks good in every color, so you may want to lest destiny play a role. Finding the right interior and features will be a factor. I did not expect to get Steel but that was what happened.
This thread was incredibly helpful in making my decision. Great to see the pictures, great to hear your first-hand experiences with these colors. I am leaning toward the white. When I go to the dealership, I want to see the color combos with me seated behind the wheel, but the white contrasted with the black/black ash is calling to me.
Darwin329 - your C400 looks amazing. How can I get those wheels on the c300 - me want!
Thank you. Great choice! You wont regret white color. MASSC300 was correct just make sure you don't order it separately otherwise its 2k usd instead of $500. You can also add night package or delete all chrome parts if you want your car to look sick
see attached pic
still need to blackout those chrome in the window
After seeing the two colors at the dealership, I actually prefer the exterior Steel Gray. My issue though is that I like Steel Gray, but I'd want it with the Crystal Gray interior (pictured beautifully by Hpilot above). I looked at that interior at the showroom, and I can tell that it--like the Beige interior--will be a problem with my horseback riding. Not only does riding get you really dirty, but the riding breeches have suede leg panels that sometimes bleed. So I need to have dark upholstery. I do think the Steel Gray combined with a black interior would be overall too dark for me.
I like the Polar White only a smidge less than the Steel Gray. And it looks sharp as heck with the black interior. Plus Chicago is gloomy from Nov. thru April, so white is nice when the skies are overcast. OK then, my decision is made, thanks to this forum helping me sort it out!
Now the dealership is telling me it's hard to find a 2016 Polar White with black interior with the black ash trim - though one with black gloss trim is easy to find. WTH? He is getting back to me today with results of his search.
09-29-2015, 09:01 AM
