mis3

I am sure some of you, w209 owners, have driven or even own the new C sedans. Can you please share your experiences?

I read bits and pieces from the w205 forum. I put this question in this forum because I like to get opinions from w209 owners. Do you see any deterioration in quality while North American C sedans are now made in US?

MarcusF

I did a review of the W205 in the Southwest Star magazine. The C is a step down in materials from the CLK.

mis3

I read many reviews of the new C sedan and most of them praised the interior of the new car. I read that the materials were on par with MB standards and much better than the CLA.

This is a relative measurement so I asked the question here. I like to know how it compares to our trusted CLK.

beejAMG

^^ I beg to disagree, the C class has one of the best interiors i have seen so far from merc. i was able to test drive both petrol and diesel, unfortunately, C250 is the biggest engine avail here down under for now. we placed an order for either a white or tenorite grey C250 with all options. not due till end of April.

mis3

Even when compared to your E Class and CLK, in turn of interior materials, fit and finish?

In Canada, C300 and C400 are readily available, all 4-matic, no diesel, no C250.

beejAMG

yep, since my cars are more than 10 yrs old, id say so. W205 is a baby S class, im very impressed with the interior tbh. we were thinking about either CLA or the C, no offense to CLA owners but, you cant compare them. youre lucky there in Canada, I wanted to wait for the C450 (i think) but i reckon C250 is more than enough for the mrs. its got turbo and it actually pulls when you need it to.

MarcusF

I disagree. A C is not a baby S. The difference is beyond words. No one goes into any Mercedes-Benz dealer looking for an S-Class, only to be overwhelmed by the C. If someone wants a C, they should buy a C. Not because MB sells the S, but because they happen to like the C.

beejAMG

Huh?! The only thing i mentioned on your reply is the new C is nicknamed a baby S. You can come down here and go to any Merc dealer and ask em yourself. I dont know where you you got the rest. I never said that one would want an S and walk to a dealer to be overwhelmed by the C

beejAMG

Here you go mate, have a read...

http://www.gtspirit.com/2014/03/17/2...-class-review/

Yidney

We talking about the new C class that has such quality materials that MB is having to replace many seat covers due to "bleeding" of plasticizer from the MB Tex?

mis3

I don't expect the new C is as good as the new S but I hope that the C is at least on par with the w209.

I own my w209 for more than 10 years now and the interior is still great (maybe a bit out-dated), no rattling, no color fade, etc. This experience with my car tells me that they did indeed use good material for the w209.

megacrazy

I thought the materials were pretty good. Definitely a step up from the 204. However, calling it a baby s-class is a huge stretch. It's not even in the same...class.

However, the design is fugly...I will never get past the pasted tablet looking screen in the middle and the 3 gigantic vents below it.

mis3

I think they called it a baby S-Class because of its exterior appearance.

Actually, I asked because I am interested to the new C Coupe. So far I see only a few spy shots of the new car.

I am hoping because of the smaller market of a coupe, they would make it in Germany.

beejAMG

Yes, the same. I said its very nice, not perfect. Besides, if you can afford it, why go with the MB tex? Get real leather. The "baby S" is a nickname given by some MB dealers, not me.

mis3

I read from a few different sources that MB-TEX is actually more durable than real leather. This is important to me because I keep my w209 for more than 10 years now. I extracted below from another post.

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Many dealers and people who are familiar with MBTEX will actually recommend it over Leather. It is commonly joked that you can tell if a 10 year old car has leather or MBTEX. The car with MBTEX interior will still look new while the car with leather will look worn. MBTEX is much more durable than leather, easier to clean and requires less attention. MBTEX is also a good idea to have on the seat bolsters as this is an area that is commonly worked well by drivers and passengers entering and exiting the vehicle. Leather bolsters will eventually crease and these creases over time develop into cracks. MBTEX does not have this crease problem.

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Yidney

[QUOTE=mis3;6324947]I read from a few different sources that MB-TEX is actually more durable than real leather. This is important to me because I keep my w209 for more than 10 years now. I extracted below from another post."

It's funny how people justify what was essentially a cost-cutting measure by rationalizing that it is "better." Is MBTex more durable than leather? I don't doubt that it is, at least in terms of keeping the brand new look longer. But so what? Full rubber floor mats like from an old pickup truck will be more durable than carpet. An old AM radio will be more durable than a complex stereo system. Using no wood trim will be more durable than wood trim, which sometimes cracks. MBTex is not because people were complaining about leather I don't think. MBTex is to keep a price point down. If you like it, fine, but I do not see myself buying an MB with plastic seats.

beejAMG

good read mate, i never knew. i have MB tex on my E and real leather on my CLK. both holding up well until now, although i like the feel of the CLK seats more than my E.

MarcusF

I’m fairly familiar with the S and the C. Based on this familiarity, the nickname “Baby S” is ridiculous.
I get it. Mercedes-Benz would like to move the C-Class upscale. The “design” of the W205 interior is a big step in that direction. It’s a better design than many other existing products. It’s a step up from the W204. But a "baby S"? Really? At some point, acclaim becomes hype. The expression “Baby S” is hype, puff, flimflam, hysteria, publicity speak for anyone who has never been in an S. Don’t get me wrong, the C is a nice car. If someone is in that segment, they owe it to themselves to look it over.

beejAMG

wasnt the 190E called "baby benz" when it came out in '82? my point is, its a "nickname" given to the new C, by MB, NOT ME. I can see the dna and i agree with them. i think its well built with good materials and great technology. but its just me. lets just agree to disagree.

Rudeney

The C-Class has always taken its styling cues from the S-Class. The E-Class has always been a bit more unique in its styling. The C has always been called a "baby S". That doesn't mean it's comparable to an S, just styled to look like a smaller version.

As for MB-Tex, it is about the best "pleather" money can buy. The average person might mistake it for leather, but it is plastic. It does not stain or wear like leather, but it also does not breathe. It does, however, wear better than leather. It does not peel or fade. It will crack, but only in extreme cold temps (and over the years, it has been better about that).