Difference between Classic, Elegance & Avantgarde in Australia
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I read on www.redbook.com.au the Australian mercs come with 'partial leather' seats.
Maybe your Classics are combo. Anyway - just look for the double stitching on leather seats - It's a dead giveaway.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Half right. I did not order the memory option on my car because it is really a one driver car & there were other options like Parktronic that I thought were more important to me.
My car has half powered seats. Back & forward is manual
Drivers seat is electric from then on for squab height & angle, lumbar support & backrest angle
Passenger seat is the same but squab angle is manual which is that knob.
Because we have a plant here our cars are a lot more individualised. If you don't mind waiting the factory will basically make one how you want it as was the case with my car. eg - I wanted a 6 CD stacker as well as the Audio 10 in dash that can play single CDs. I did not want a sunroof because they are trouble & too hot here.
Steering column angle is manual. Mirrors are fully electric & both heated but no memory. Headlamp washers are heated which is a big WOT in SA. But washers & clear fogs are part of the BiX installation with auto levelling. So it's take it all or no BiX. I wanted proper, self leveling BiX.
My car has half powered seats. Back & forward is manual
Drivers seat is electric from then on for squab height & angle, lumbar support & backrest angle
Passenger seat is the same but squab angle is manual which is that knob.
Because we have a plant here our cars are a lot more individualised. If you don't mind waiting the factory will basically make one how you want it as was the case with my car. eg - I wanted a 6 CD stacker as well as the Audio 10 in dash that can play single CDs. I did not want a sunroof because they are trouble & too hot here.
Steering column angle is manual. Mirrors are fully electric & both heated but no memory. Headlamp washers are heated which is a big WOT in SA. But washers & clear fogs are part of the BiX installation with auto levelling. So it's take it all or no BiX. I wanted proper, self leveling BiX.
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From: Australia
White w203 C200K Elegance
Interesting - most W203's to Aus came from SA but you could of course spec your cars the way you wanted them.
- So Aus Classic's had full leather? Here that was an option that many took & many got built to but not standard.
- Did they persist with that crappy Classic grill after 2000? From 2001 it changed in SA.
- So you had no choice between Thermatic & Thermotronic HVAC?
I know from the time I lived in Aus that the wheels were different on the cars - same as SA.
- So Aus Classic's had full leather? Here that was an option that many took & many got built to but not standard.
- Did they persist with that crappy Classic grill after 2000? From 2001 it changed in SA.
- So you had no choice between Thermatic & Thermotronic HVAC?
I know from the time I lived in Aus that the wheels were different on the cars - same as SA.
BUT your standard w203 comes with leather seats. (only sports model with out) I don't think any w203 has full leather. there all partial, IE the back of the seats an't leather.
Yes they had the crappy grill on the Classic w203 in Aus to the MY2005 I believe. (at very least to the MY2003)
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thanks. Yes - the full leather is a definition thing. In the US - partial leather meant that just the centre panel of the seats was leather (perforated bit) So they had no double stitching because the outer piece of the seat was MBTex. In SA everything was leather apart from back of front seat pocket etc.
Crappy grill for those who have never seen one in the US. A real plain Jane.
Crappy grill for those who have never seen one in the US. A real plain Jane.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 4, 2010 at 06:47 AM.
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Having the Elegance or Avantgarde trim piece on a USDM W203 is like eye candy or bassically the equivilence of a JDM piece on a USDM car, but just a EURO piece on a USDM car.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Those are wheel trims over a steel wheel. The Classic's are very ordinary. Later models got basic alloys.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 4, 2010 at 07:09 PM.
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2005 320 4Matic
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The base spec Classic was really built for the European/Middle East Taxi market. It could be ordered with rubber mats instead of carpets & prewired for Taxi roof lights etc.
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From: Alexandria, VA
2005 320 4Matic
Is it bad that I actually want a set?
I'm always such a neat freak about my car (not letting people eat or smoke in it, always keeping wipes for people with dirty fingers, and wipes for the dash) that the idea of easily cleanable rubber flooring sounds great.
I still have my oem mats (which are in my trunk), but I also have the Hexomats down to protect the carpets.
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From: KC, MO
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Rubber mats instead of carpet, eh?
Is it bad that I actually want a set?
I'm always such a neat freak about my car (not letting people eat or smoke in it, always keeping wipes for people with dirty fingers, and wipes for the dash) that the idea of easily cleanable rubber flooring sounds great.
I still have my oem mats (which are in my trunk), but I also have the Hexomats down to protect the carpets.
Is it bad that I actually want a set?
I'm always such a neat freak about my car (not letting people eat or smoke in it, always keeping wipes for people with dirty fingers, and wipes for the dash) that the idea of easily cleanable rubber flooring sounds great.
I still have my oem mats (which are in my trunk), but I also have the Hexomats down to protect the carpets.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Rubber mats instead of carpet, eh?
Is it bad that I actually want a set?
I'm always such a neat freak about my car (not letting people eat or smoke in it, always keeping wipes for people with dirty fingers, and wipes for the dash) that the idea of easily cleanable rubber flooring sounds great.
I still have my oem mats (which are in my trunk), but I also have the Hexomats down to protect the carpets.
Is it bad that I actually want a set?
I'm always such a neat freak about my car (not letting people eat or smoke in it, always keeping wipes for people with dirty fingers, and wipes for the dash) that the idea of easily cleanable rubber flooring sounds great.
I still have my oem mats (which are in my trunk), but I also have the Hexomats down to protect the carpets.
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Mercedes C230K 05
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Great! - I'd forgotten about this site. The brochures are not accurate for SA cars but give a good idea.
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"annoyance" and "self-righteousness", amoung others...
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
About 60 - 66% of the price. 2/3 rds in price ratio. Probably the easiest way to express because in some markets a Classic cost more than the US paid for a Sport in absolute terms. The first mags fitted to the Classic's were uglier than the wheel trims. From the 2004 ROW facelift they fitted quite pretty alloys that looked similar to your 2007 Sport wheels but not staggered. I suppose in fairness to the original Classic we are looking back 10 years to MY 2000 but they really do look crap!
First alloy fitted to Classic - 15" & skinny
Post facelift Classic alloy - 16" X 7
First alloy fitted to Classic - 15" & skinny
Post facelift Classic alloy - 16" X 7
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 6, 2010 at 07:18 AM.
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From: Australia
White w203 C200K Elegance
Yes, the classic model w203 looks really basic, no alloys, crappy grille and crappy door handles make the car look really old and basic.
Don't get me started on the inside, no wood grain anywhere except the center panel.
The difference between an early classic model and elegance model was huge, but the gap some that closed with the later models 2003+ i think.
When Mercedes upgraded the really crappy features of the classic made it so much better. They got Alloy wheels and a better grille, with like $1000 more money they looked 10 times better.
Don't get me started on the inside, no wood grain anywhere except the center panel.
The difference between an early classic model and elegance model was huge, but the gap some that closed with the later models 2003+ i think.
When Mercedes upgraded the really crappy features of the classic made it so much better. They got Alloy wheels and a better grille, with like $1000 more money they looked 10 times better.
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C180k
Hi guys
Is the vehicle in this ad an Avantgarde?
http://carsls.com/aZLY
From looking at the trim it looks like its a classic although it does have paddle shift gear selectors which im not sure if you could get on a Classic.
The VIN is WDC2030462R247884
Any help here would be appreciated.
thanks
U-I
Is the vehicle in this ad an Avantgarde?
http://carsls.com/aZLY
From looking at the trim it looks like its a classic although it does have paddle shift gear selectors which im not sure if you could get on a Classic.
The VIN is WDC2030462R247884
Any help here would be appreciated.
thanks
U-I
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
Ok - Classic has less chrome, less trim, no leather, less wood, none on doors, smaller wheels & tyres & lower general spec.
Elegance & Avantgarde are basically the same spec. Both with leather. Avantgarde has Aluminium where Elegance has wood. Avantgarde has sportier body skirts & Elegance more conservative. They have different pattern wheels fitted. Elegance has green tinted windows & Avantgarde has blue tinted windows - very slight but there. Elegance has chrome on door handles. Avantgarde has painted body colour only - Classic has black. Elegance Grill is sprayed silver behind chrome - Avantgarde Grill is sprayed Black behind chrome. Elegance & Avantgarde were priced identically for same spec. I might have missed some very minor things but that's about it.
C180 & C200 have the same 1800 engine but the C200 is chipped for greater power output. The American version of this engine (M271) known as a C230 up to & including 2005 has a larger blower for greater power. Same fitted to the Aus/SA C230 Coupe.
From 2006 onward the C230 in US and Aus/SA is fitted with the 2.5 litre M272 V6 - my preferred buy.
Differences beyond this depend on what got ticked on the options list. US cars come with packages. Our cars as you spec them. US never got many of our options e.g Parktronic.
Elegance & Avantgarde are basically the same spec. Both with leather. Avantgarde has Aluminium where Elegance has wood. Avantgarde has sportier body skirts & Elegance more conservative. They have different pattern wheels fitted. Elegance has green tinted windows & Avantgarde has blue tinted windows - very slight but there. Elegance has chrome on door handles. Avantgarde has painted body colour only - Classic has black. Elegance Grill is sprayed silver behind chrome - Avantgarde Grill is sprayed Black behind chrome. Elegance & Avantgarde were priced identically for same spec. I might have missed some very minor things but that's about it.
C180 & C200 have the same 1800 engine but the C200 is chipped for greater power output. The American version of this engine (M271) known as a C230 up to & including 2005 has a larger blower for greater power. Same fitted to the Aus/SA C230 Coupe.
From 2006 onward the C230 in US and Aus/SA is fitted with the 2.5 litre M272 V6 - my preferred buy.
Differences beyond this depend on what got ticked on the options list. US cars come with packages. Our cars as you spec them. US never got many of our options e.g Parktronic.
Do I own a mutant?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Hi guys
Is the vehicle in this ad an Avantgarde?
http://carsls.com/aZLY
From looking at the trim it looks like its a classic although it does have paddle shift gear selectors which im not sure if you could get on a Classic.
The VIN is WDC2030462R247884
Any help here would be appreciated.
thanks
U-I
Is the vehicle in this ad an Avantgarde?
http://carsls.com/aZLY
From looking at the trim it looks like its a classic although it does have paddle shift gear selectors which im not sure if you could get on a Classic.
The VIN is WDC2030462R247884
Any help here would be appreciated.
thanks
U-I
Do you know the changes in the US models by any chance? A lot of the above things that I have on my car are split over Avantgarde and Elegance. Mine has the "aluminum" interior details on all doors, dash, and center console with no wood. It also has the "sportier" side skirts with the blue tinted windows and wheels I have yet to see on any other C320 I have seen on the road and the body color door handles. However, the shift knob has "Elegance" on it, and has the elegance grill coloring.
Do I own a mutant?
Do I own a mutant?
africa, avantgarde, blinker, class, classic, classicelegance, clear, difference, differences, elegance, grill, repeater, south, w203, wheels
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