well, i got a e320 for a loaner (only 1600 miles on it!)... some comments.

*the 320 engine is plenty of power (yes, i want more... ). you press go and it goes... needs better traction, etc.
*it feels really dated inside. (i like the way it looks from the outside). and i know that luxury is perception; i perceived cheapiness... i think i seem to be on the opposite side of what feels cheap and what doesn't from many other posters...
*that target mercedes ornament - i started getting used to it but started thinking i wish it was centered based on the driver's point of view, not on the hood
*no one-touch close on the moonroof... unless i missed it.
*window controls on the center armrest like a BMW
*a cool-er cupholder i'll take a video...
*trunk is odd. full spare, but there some weird layout under the mat.
*seat controls on the door. couldn't figure out how to lower the headrest. it was an electronic control.
*no auto lights setting
*no 3 signal lane change
*auto shifter was slightly clickier and the shiftronic wasn't as responsive as on the coupe. i guess they tweaked it more.
*no dead pedal... is MB against dead pedals? i don't think any model has it.

having seen it much more in depth, i'm glad the new model is coming out.

i guess people who want a bigger car would get the e320 instead of a c320. or b/c it costs more... i would guess that what was once a high end feature when the e first came out, has become more of a standard feature in the newer C-class and it is time for the new E to raise the bar once more.

btw, while i was there, i checked out the SLs. they are awesome! i sat in it and it felt great and i loved the seating position (unlike the e sedan). when you open the door, the glass goes down a notch and goes back up when you close it. the service guy said it was so that the glass doesn't crimp the mouldings. they had 3 sl500s (black, desert silver, and a blue one) i'm going to break my piggy bank... i gotta have at least $32 in there...

 

I think the E-Class looks like a nice car - both the current version and the new one.

However, I wonder if it is $25,000 CDN BETTER than the C-Class. I mean, the profit margin in the E must be a lot greater, as a lot of the core engineering and parts are very similar between the C and E. There is not a massive difference in the base equipment either. I just don't see where they put the extra $30K - well, maybe in a Swiss bank account

I could say the same about the S-Class, only moreso, substitute $55K CDN for $25K...

About the SL, side windows coming down a touch before opening the door (to maintain a better seal) is nothing new - the Pininfarina-styled and built Peugeot 406 Coupé has had this feature since 1996...

I hope the SL is sized for normal people, as I can't fit in an SLK - even with the seat in the lowest, furthest back position, my eyes were at the level of the upper windshield frame. I am not giant, only 6'3". Pity - I like the SLK.

 

I think that the C is much nicer than the current E, although i have both, a C here in the U.S. and an E back home, i still think that the C is more sporty in everyway, but I can say that the new W211 E class is better than both of them without a doubt.

 

When I decided to get a sedan instead of the coupe, I thought about the E320. Our neighbor has one, and I've always thought it was quite nice. However, I couldn't justify the extra money over the C320. Also, with the new version coming out, I did not want to buy a car that would look dated so quickly. I'm really looking forward to the new E. I will probably upgrade to the E when it's time to part with my current baby benz.

 

I was in an e-class for a two weeks and I liked my c better. I did think that the seats were more comfy in the e-class and I loved the digital climate control thing, but in the end, I don't think the e is worth the 20K extra.

 

I still like the trusty E-class better than the new C. The new 2003 E-class is going to have a tough act to follow.

 

The V-8 in the E-Class changes the whole car somehow. I don't think there are any substantial chassis changes compared to the V-6, but somehow it feels sportier, especially when you run the tire pressures up to 36-38 psi. It's not as intimate inside as the smaller C-Class, and the interior actually feels much larger than it's physical size. At 100 mph on a narrow, bumpy country road it is superior to a C-Class, not being as nervous and having much better directional stability, yet turn-in seems equal to the C-Class, IMO. I do wish M/B would go back to a proper dead pedal like they had in the 123 and 124 chassis cars. The carpeted hump in the floor is too easy to soil.

 

The dealer here in Tucson said that they will be getting their first shipment of the new E-class in Aug. I will test one out then. When I see pictures of the new dash, I am not sure if I like it or not. Maybe pictures do not do it justice. But I do like the new body styling. But the question is, is it worth the extra $$$$$ over the C-class (if you compare E320 vs C320)? The other question is, if you are considering spending that much for an E-class, would you not consider the C32?

 

the w211 is supposed to be a technological tour de force, showcasing the latest of what mercedes has to offer (brake-by-wire, abc, etc.). also they say that the level of quality has been improved over models of late. whether or not the improvements over the w210 warrant the $premuim over a c-class is too subjective to answer, but it's hard to deny the fact that they have taken the model several steps forward from the previous E.

 

i agree that the new E sounds awesome! i think the improvements made/gadgets added may be worth the extra $15k. but i hope it doesn't have problems like the new SL seems to have... (see the new SL forum - mbtech's list of problems for the new SL... makes you wanna cry). but i won't be suprised at all if the first year or 2 of the new E has many problems to work out...

the older e class, i think, suffers in comparison just because it is older and the new c has received the benefit of the trickle down effect.

 

Is a e-350 a 8 cylinder car? Like the post previously implied.

Thanks

Beth

 

If I remember correctly,

E320 - 3.2L V6
E430 - 4.3L V8
E500 - 5.0L V8

I just read the article in Mercedes Enthusiast...they have all the motors available....some not available here in the US.

 

As far as I know, the E320 is a 6 cylinder, and the E430 is an 8.

 

The E320 has the same 3.2L V6 as the C320 (although the MBUSA website says the E has 6 more HP-- 221 vs. 215. What's that about? )

I was going to suggest that young imagine that 3.2L motor from the E in a MUCH lighter C-Class chassis, but then I checked the website and it says the current E-Class is only 3640 lbs (just 200 lbs more than the C320). I would have thought the E-Class was easily a 3800-4000 lb car. But it isn't. Hmmmm!

But I still like the headlights and taillights in the C-Sedan better. It's good the E is getting the new model this year... the old model's age is showing, IMO.

Young, your comment about the upright ornament being better if it were in front of you was hilarious. Only problem is that if it came to be, my wife would want one for her side of the car, too. And that "just wouldn't be right!!!"

 

I'm replacing my ornamet with a "Jack in the Box" head.

Actually, I like the ornament. Although it would be cool if it was centered, and you could select "Red Barron" on the dashboard display, and the steering wheel buttons would make machine gun sounds.....

 

i forgot to mention another difference:

*has the single wiper - like a whip across the windscreen


and yes, i was thinking along the lines of a targeting system when i mentioned the hood ornament

 

Maybe I should put the original hood star back on my car. So I can pretend to shoot the guys who cut me off....too bad there isnt a targeting system to ....... okay better stop raging myself....

But I really do like the new E-class. But if the cost of the car is near the C32, then it will be a hard decision to make. I have not seen any price estimates on the new E-class. Has anyone seen them?

 

So, not to beat a dead horse, but why did the V6 e-class that I drove get better mileage than my V4 c230. Is it the kompressor? Shouldn't the hills of SF have the same affect in mpg in either car.

(perhaps one day they will make a hybrid that goes from 0 to 60 in less than 30 min )

Thx

Beth

 

My Jaguar XK8 Convertible has the same feature, at first i didn't like it becuase u cant just open the doors that quick but i got used to it now i like it. And when someone opens the door they hear it go down and they are like what the ??? they have no idea the window would actually go down when they open the door.

 

than my V4 c230. Is it the kompressor?

Beth [/B][/QUOTE]

there is no car made with a V4 i guess u mean inline 4. and i am not sure why the E had better gas mileage than the C Inline 4 lol

 

[/B][/QUOTE]

there is no car made with a V4 [/B][/QUOTE]Saab made a V4 a few decades ago

 

i'm disappointed w/ the mileage too!

anyway, i know that it is an inline 4, but i grew up thing V stood for valves (i know it doesn't)... so i still make this mistake. my friend who is a car nut, got annoyed one day and straightened me out (pun intended )...

here's a pic of the e's door panel...

 

Why the fascination with the door panel?

 

there is no car made with a V4 [/B][/QUOTE]Saab made a V4 a few decades ago [/B][/QUOTE]

yea but none currently

 

here's a pic of the trunk... note the big squared off cover over the exhaust area. i thought there was some sort of compartment in there but couldn't find any.

(dave, no fascination, just some pics that i took before i turned it back in)