anonymousmoose

I dropped of my W203 for a service. To my surprise, they loaned me their new C Class Coupe, C180 with innovations package.

As a W203 driver, I didn't quite feel the WOW factor I thought I would when I started to drive the car. Don't get me wrong, a fine car indeed, but not as exciting as I thought it would be. Maybe I oversold myself because I've been waiting to drive the C Coupe for a few months now (just never found the time to go to my dealer).

One thing that I don't really like is the doors. They are very high. I like to rest my elbow on the door frame when driving. But in the coupe the frame came up much higher than my w203 sedan and I couldn't do it. And I am fairly tall. The seats were good but not great. But this was the c180, the C250 in Australia has 'real' leather seats.

For a C180, the engine was pretty quick! A lot quicker than expected. Very smooth too. I liked it.

I guess the biggest disappointment was the interior could have been designed a bit better, even for the facelift. I really like the facelift w204 interior but when driving with it, nothing that special. I actually like the layout on my W203 a little better maybe... but then again, it all takes getting used to doesn't it.

Car looked pretty much like this one:


I also took the E250 coupe for a drive. That one I did like. Seats were better for a start. Interior looked almost the same but for some reason, I liked the E interior more. Maybe it was the extra features and the subtle changes.

I'll have a closer look at the w204 Sedan to compare to the C204 coupe.

To sum it up... I wouldn't be rushing out to upgrade... but when the times comes and my w203 is out of lease, I will probably be making the choice between C Sedan or C Coupe. Unless the E comes down in price but the C is probably the better value for money.

Perhaps when the time comes, a sedan with the sports package is the way to go:


Either way, I'm very happy with what I got! Maybe even moreso now after driving the new C Coupe... not because I think my car is better, that would be silly, but because the Coupe wasn't as exciting as I thought.

LILBENZ230

Your 203 sedan with its factory bi-xenons, parktronic, AMG body work, and those rims represents the best the W203 ever looked - and that's a hell of a lot better than the W204, even the facelift. The facelifted 204 is a good looking car (even the pre-facelift was on the outside) but it's just not as visually appealing as a properly equipped W203.

ncmudbug

I agree. I prefer the 203 to the 204. I've never really warmed up to the headlight treatment on the 204. Our neighbor got one and it's very nice - my wife likes it a bit better than her 203 because she thinks it's bigger (I'm not sure it's that much bigger but it does look bigger).

tommy

I like the look of the updated W204 better on the inside, but can't get past the character crease down the side. It just looks like oragami gone wrong to me.

IMHO, a 3 series coupe wins this war, no contest.

Glyn M Ruck

The 3 Series Coupe is the only 3 Series I like. But they are cars built for small people.

akb421

Did not like the w204 from the inside after getting it as a loaner for the dealer - both the 2010 and the 2011. Nothing really wrong with it but after having driven the c280 - it just felt not as elegant... the best way I can put it.

The engine and tranny are very smooth and responsive but on the whole I prefer the 'heavy' feel of the w203.

nlpamg

I respectfully disagree.

I've had the w202, w203 and now the c204. The new c204 is by far the best C-Class produced.

When I returned from Euro Delivery of my C250 the first car I drove was my 2005 C230. No offense to the other owners, but the C230 felt really primitive compared to the C250...

The extra 30ft-lbs of torque is huge. Even though the engines are similar, the C230 has the M271 and the C250 has the M271EVO, the C250 is significantly faster than the C230. I was able to take the C250 up to speeds past 135 mph on the autobahn with no problems whatsoever and it did it smoothly. The C230 struggles past 120 mph.

Perhaps it's b/c I have the special order dynamic handling package on the C250, but the steering is probably the best steering I've felt from any modern day non-AMG MB product. The steering is very precise and crisp. The car feels much more nimble than the w203.

The car is superior in every way imaginable. I don't have command in my w203 and I have every available electronic option on the c204, so it may not be a fair comparison, but the interior is way better heads and shoulders.

The transmission on the car is an MB transmission, so it's nothing special. But, I can't find any faults in the new 7G-Tronic+ transmission.

Looks, well that's subjective. I think the interior in the c204 is much more refined and classier looking than the w203. The lighting is absolutely superior to any lights on the w203. I still prefer the lines of the w203, but I'm used to the new MB look as well.

Some of the other OG's from this forum who all have w203's or had w203's have already checked out my coupe and they really like it.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the w203, it's a good car, but the c204 is so much better. Hell, if I didn't have a GT-R, I'd get a C63 Black Series, I love the c204 that much.

Here are pics of my coupe in Europe and some vids:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-c...age-3-a-3.html

Carsy

You're a brave man !!

anonymousmoose

I think my gripes with the c204 was more the interior design etc, just didn't have the WOW factor I was hoping it would have. the engine and handing was superior to the w204. But not to a point where I am itching to upgrade.

If I say with Benz, I will eventually move onto a W204. Seems the natural progression. I don't buy cars brand new, so when the W205 comes out, I'll probably lease a run-out W204.

nlpamg

Understood. I think the interior, especially the seats with the deviated stitching is a step up from the w203. The facelift is huge! But, it's not going to impress you, it's a C-Class And, it's a contemporary interior, look at all the other cars in its class and they don't impress.

Well, you say that now, but when you see the w205, you may change your mind. I had the privilege of seeing the w205 prototypes and concepts and it looks fantastic.

anonymousmoose

Its just that mine has the upgraded interior and the C204 was the 180, with the entry level seats etc.

Got any photos of the W205??? Would love to see. PM if its a secret, I promise not to tell :-).

Do you know roughly when they are due out?

nlpamg

Ah, that makes sense.

Unfortunately, I do not. I had to empty my pockets and went through metal detectors and had security guards around me just so I could not. I was part of a focus group that gave MB opinions of the new w205 coupe, cab and the new 4-door coupe to be marketed under the C-Class.

They reflect MB's new corporate look seen on the SLS, SLK and SL. The cars are very sharp and I think look by far better than the BMW F30.

nlpamg

btw, I've been seeing you around on Rolexforums and Watchuseek, lol

Glyn M Ruck

Phil - I'm pleased you are excited about W205. I've seen everything from awful to beautiful teasers/concepts on the car. This is where I thought they were moving in the right direction.

Are they anything like this now?

LILBENZ230

I can agree with this. I think that a properly optioned, facelifted W203 like the OP has is a better looking car on the outside than the 204. The interior on the facelift 204 is a big step up, for sure.

I can also agree with refinement not being the strongest suit for our 2005 C230s. The 2006-2007s really stepped up in this regard. I'm pretty sure a 2007 C230 or 350 with their revised steering, suspension, and V6 engines would have felt much less primitive in comparison - though there's no real substitute for a "new car" feel/tightness.

anonymousmoose

another expensive set of toys, my watch collection. Although at least my watches are assets that don't seem to cost so much maintenance wise. And I'm pretty good at buying them from fellow collectors at prices that hold their value.

anonymousmoose

I went back to the dealer today to get a battery fitted (see other post). I had a closer look at the w204 sedans with the facelift. I like it a lot better than the coupe. The doors are not as high and the interior gives off a better feel. Maybe because there is more room inside. But I only really like the Avantguard steering wheel.

tommy

I agree with you there - if I had an M271 engine, I'd be eagerly trading it in on anything. Despite the lack of refinement, I'm much happier with my M111. Not to mention a manny , which will be gone from the MB line-up soon enough, I suppose.

nlpamg

Glyn, it doesn't look like it. The cues from the CLS, SLS, SL and SLK are all there.

I couldn't find any pictures online of renderings that came that close, but this is a good indicator of the CLC:


It's more of a departure from the current square and going to better curves. The prototype exhaust and LED tails looked phenominal.

nlpamg

you know, I just realized something. did you notice that the doors of the coupe were not as thick as they are on our w203's? the w203's have side impact airbags in the door, so the doors are pretty thick. but, the c204 has different seats from the w204 and that's b/c the side impact airbags are integrated into the seats. that's probably why the doors are different.

I love the sport steering wheel on the c204. I'm not sure which one the avantguard one is.

nlpamg

wait, what are you talking about? the outside of the w203 has no differences despite the options, aside from the AMG package. you can't say that the parktronic system with its little holes makes it look better.

I've driven 2006 and 2007 C230's as loaners and the steering, while better than our C230, does not compare to this steering at all.

tommy

Well, that sucks - that would make aftermarket seats a bad idea. Another strike against the W204s.

nlpamg

ah, that's smart. my latest purchase was from an AD, but I got a decent deal that I figured that I was only paying a few hundred more from an AD than someone online.

I'm finally getting more into watches. every time I'm ready to buy one, I end up just buying a car or spending money on mods. that's why I "forced" myself to get a new watch, rather than mods for the GT-R this December.

but, like cars, they're addicting and I'm already eyeing a couple new pieces.

LILBENZ230

Phil - I was referring to an AMG packaged W203 with the lighting package. Should've been more specific. Do not care for the luxury look of the W203 pre or post facelift.

nlpamg

I can definitely agree with you there. the C32 is the only exception (but it absolutely needs bix!)