whiteC3002016

Both have same engine and are roughly $10-$20k in price difference with similar package options.

Why would anyone ever buy a E300?

sean1.8t

It's easy to point out the similarities but there are many differences. Like the entire car for that matter lol; the E class is a larger chassis overall and rides smoother because of this. Plus the new E class interior is basically an S-class' interior at the moment.

"Status" also has a bit to do with it. Gotta pay to play with these types of cars.

Mr. J

Quite a few standard features of the E300 are expensive options on the C300. Some of the new safety tech on the E300 is not available at all on the C300.

E300 is really a luxury cruiser. It's not meant to be sporty. It's bigger and heavier. It has a much softer more compliant ride. It's the type of car that's better suited to driving your mom to her doctor's appointment than to cutting corners on a country road.

Yeezus

I would buy one but a year down the road. The interior is the biggest attraction to me, love the ambient lights and huge screen. But it isn't as attractive on the outside. When it hits the low 40s I'm gonna pull the trigger for that as a daily.


On the e class forums I can tell they are really having issues with these first year delivery cars, so I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger on it yet. But anyone who leases and there lease was up I get why not getting it now. Out of the a6 and the 5 series Mercedes is killing it.

Mplayers2006

What problems have you heard so far with the e class?

I was warned to never buy a first generation model car cause they tend to have issues. I just only wish someone told me that before I bought my 15 c300.

powerrrrr

The E Class is more of a traditional luxury sedan, it's a good interior size with a long wheel base which translates to a more comfortable ride and it has much better seating space in the back while the back of the C Class isn't really the best place to be on long road trips. The E class platform makes for a better luxury sedan and the C class makes a better performance sedan.

However, that new E63S makes me moist.

sean1.8t

Haha /Thread right there. Especially with that last line. Could not agree more

Sam Manuel

Obviously Mercedes is going to loose a big portion of status symbol buyers ,the E looks almost identical to the C on the road.

otherwise I would buy the E class over the C for the interior quality,those displays alone have my heart haha

B2FiNiTY

new e class ftw

whiteC3002016

True that, its very hard to differentiate the new ones.

Mplayers2006

It's easy to tell the difference when they are close up; head lights, and the tail end gives it away every time. far away they are harder to tell.


I think the question should be phrased more like, why would someone buy an S class over an E. The E class is more closer to the S class in both Exterior and interior design.

Yeezus

a lot of rattles and a lot of people complaining about the v4 same as the one we have in the c300. I think for that size of a car the v4 isn't doing it justice. There have complaints about the ambient lighting going out. I know if you're on a forum you're mostly gonna have people posting complaints rather than saying good about the car, but the new e class is very complicated probably more than the s class due to the auto driving and other safety features. That's why I would wait till next two years for it.

sean1.8t

Yes, you should really steer clear of first years of a new generation model. And you should NEVER EVER buy first or second year of a completely new model!


That being said, I bought a C450

DapperStyle

Remember it's Inline 4, not V. And yeah buying any Merc with bleeding edge tech like what's in the new E is a recipe for lots of dealer visits. MB will take what they learn and refine the issues as they have done with the W205.

Mike5215

Exterior, I have an issue with the OEM wheel offsets and chunky sidewalls. The body looks like it's swallowing the chassis. The very plain jane design of the huge lower front grilles looks like plasticky and cheap filler panels, as if a higher end option was available but you cheaped out. Otherwise I like the exterior.

Inside, whereas in the C you sit in sort of a wrap around cockpit, with the E you sit high. You sit IN the C seats. You sit ON the E seats. I didn't find the seats themselves to be great either. Lots of fancy contours but I couldn't find the sweet spot in the adjustments. Love the C seats, as long as I don't get any fatter.

The all glass dash is cool, but it's a $12,000 package. $11k for P3 and another grand for the second screen. The alternate analog gauge thingie they glued on there in its place looks like an analog gauge thingie they glued on there in its place.

It looks like you're stuck with the "piano black" for the center console. It's cheap looking, scratches easily and shows fingerprints.

The base audio system is the same weak Burmester the C gets, but now it's got even more cabin volume to fill and as a result sounds even weaker. I haven't heard the premium $6400 upgraded Burmester, but it's probably pretty good.

So to spec the E in a way that would keep me amused for the length of the lease (P3, digital dash, Burmester 3D, acoustic package, AirMatic), I'm squarely in C63 money, or very close to S550 money. Even a base S is nicely appointed and somewhat loaded up, and I get the TTV8 vs the T4. I'd prefer either of those to the E. See the conundrum? Why does everything always happen to me?

Yeezus

I just see a lot of s550 now in the 55-65k range used. So a 2015 s550 is my next car. If I'm spending anywhere near 60k I just can't see a e class being worth that much especially e300. E43 is gonna be close to 85k, which is crazy.

Mike5215

The only drawback to a used S is that it's murder owning one out of warranty, so if you're financing and spreading payments out past the factory warranty expiration date you either need to go CPO, plus buy the CPO extension, or get a really good exclusionary warranty thru your bank or CU. However you approach it, dump the car before the warranties expire. I once pushed my luck 3 months out of CPO and ate a $6000 transmission.

NYbenzzz

it's funny, i have several friends with E classes.

one is a 2014 E350 sports package with a 300 hp v6. compare this model to a 2014 C class. the E kills it in EVERY aspect. power, styling, interior, etc.
i think this generation E class is one of the most beatiful ever.

now i have another friend who just leased a E300 sports without P3.
it still looks gorgeous inside, but that piano black REALLY has got to go. kind of looks like a aftermarket dash kit they sell on ebay for $100.
Again, the turbo 4 which doesn't even belong on a C class, definitelly does not belong on a $60k car.
Also, they really need to design the front and back differently to further alienate the E class from the C class.
Like Mike said, the front bumper black plastic looks like a toyota camry without the fog lights option.
as it looks now with the turbo 4, i wouldn't even lease one for $500 a month.

LILBENZ230

There is no doubt the W212 is the higher end car by driving it, but my 2014 C350 has the same powertrain as a 2014 E350 so not sure there about the "power" advantage. A loaded C350 like mine matched the E350 in performance and nearly in features.

That said, the W212 simply feels more premium. I agree that I think the facelift 2014-2016 E-class is the best one.

NYbenzzz

but your C350 is not a base model. base would be C250.

C350 would have to be compared to E550.

that's like saying C63 would destroy a E350.

you gotta admit the w212 E class interior destroys the W204's interior.

but the new E class interior, as nice as it is, is not THAT FAR better than a W205 C class. that's what i'm implying here, that simply the new E class does not offer enough bang for your buck in comparing it to a C class.

And thus, to answer the OP's question: "Why would anyone buy an E over a C?"

i wouldn't unless the E class was offered to me at the same price as a C class.

Darrington

When I was shopping around...I first started looking at 2014 E350s. There are tons of them coming off lease. Beautiful car...but the showstopper for me was the motor, not much room for upgrades (if it did my research properly). So that put me at the E550, which meant more mileage to be in my price range.

Then I stumbled on the 2015 C400...more power, ability to add even more power, refreshed model with awesome interior. Couldn't be happier.

But I think we're getting off topic.... This is about the new E class comparo, right?

netboy

I have 2016 c450, two coworkers asked me is that a s class. they probably saw me driving it or see my car parked but didn't take a closer look at the badge

sean1.8t

I'm surprised they even know that much about cars to call it an S class. Most of the general public around here just think "oh, he drives Mercedes. Every Mercedes is worth 100k". Seriously had some randoms/friends tell me something like this. Like, nah man, you ever heard of the "poor man's Mercedes"?

NYbenzzz

funny, the vice president of my company called me one day to his room shortly after i bought my car.

i'm the lead buyer in my company and i report directly to the VP.

now once i get into his room he starts a lecture into why shouldn't be bringing a mercedes to work. He implies that my superiors might think i'm getting kickbacks from my vendors. i'm like WTF?????? REALLY? on a C class?
at which point he's like: "ohhhh, that's just a C class?" "never mind, i thought it was an E class".

LILBENZ230

Your VP cares about your car? Would not want to work in an organization with that much scrutiny. What you drive is your business.