M3 FTW!!!

We just picked up a 06 C350 last year. I am thinking about an 08 E63.

Judging by the poll, it looks like that only me and a select few of us are seriously looking in to buying the w204. A lot of no ways! I know it's bad buy a car in the first year of production, they've tested the C-Class over 15 million miles! That's more than any other tests done!

If I wanted a car that looks like a BMW, I would buy a BMW.

I have absolutely no concern about first year reliability after the extennsive testing. Also, knowing that Mercedes wants to get top ratings in the US, they will not ship anything that isn't the very best. In addition, if we buy this fall there will be quite a few produced and in the field before our cars will be built.
My only concern about buying the first year is that I'm sure there will be changes coming in subsequent years that would be nice to have. For one thing, the new higher horsepower piezo injected models will be coming.

Definitely not gonna buy the first year production.

I'm liking the interior but not the exterior. I'll wait for body kits to make it look good.

wow way to sum up my car ocd too! i'm always like that, after a year or two i want a different car

Tell that to my 2002 C240. The first 75,000 miles were total hell for me. My wife was so mad at the car because it was always something. They can claim they have drove it to the moon and back and I would wait until the 4th model year because of their $34,000 car in my garage they called "the best yet" when we purchased it.

Mark my words, what they ship won't be the very best. It will be better than the W203's introduction models and most of us here will applaud them for that but we deserve better when we purchase that three pointed star on the hood (or grill ).

However, I am glad you are optimistic about it and I hope I am wrong.

new cars = too many new computers and sensors = MORE PROBLEMS, more things to go wrong

Buy that car? Are you nuts?

Seriously, its not doing anything at all for me. The dumpy narrow drooping butt, the headlights from a GL, and that cheap, almost knockoff looking grille on the sport version with the frisbee size star is just hideous. I like the body crease line...and that's about it.

Oh, the clamshell hood is OK...looks silly from the side however. The interior is an unmitigated disaster.

Also, whomever above listed the Acura RL as a car that hasn't aged well, I second and third that. I was watching an ad for the car last night during the Colts<>Pats game, and I just thought "wow, and I thought it was bad when it was new"....the proportions are just soooo wrong.

Why is it that nearly all complaints about the W204 are concerning cosmetics? Doesn't anyone look at the potential technical excellence of this new model? I feel it is a significant technical step up from the W203's and even the W211's.

My complaints are not.

The electrical stuff sucks on the W203.

I vote for, Let's wait and see what happens. Proove me wrong MB!

I agree. I think we all need wait for driving/real world reviews. We can all comment on pictures because that's all we have to go by for now. For one, the car has REALLY grown on me and I think it's a great forward thinking design with a hint of the 190 history. Someone has to change the bar and MB is great for doing that. We are all so used to most recent design, like in our routine everyday habits, people resist change. I think the W203 after seeing the new W204, looks all of a sudden out dated inside and out.

When the new 5 series came out I hated the look: weird trunk and lights, swooping front end/grill but over time I actually really liked the car. At first glance the W204 didn't jump at me but after looking at many different pics and reading about the features the past few days I love it

This could possibly be the best built Mercedes in recent times and I'm hoping so....they really need this car to succeed. Give it time yet...
.02

Hopefully MBUSA hears you. Those idiots will strip the car and give us what THEY think is best for consumers

Same here. At first glace, the w204 didn't do anything, but after all the press, I'm starting to like it more and more!

i have to see the car in person and always wait a year or two after the first year for mb to get rid of some of the quirks.

When I first saw pictures of it, i hated it. I must admit it's growing on me more now, but I still likely will not get it.
I just leased my 07, and likely the next car (March 2010) will be an E-Class.

Is it more aerodynamic?

That is what I want to know.

the cd is the same at .27

Which is good considering the car is longer and wider so I guess that is success. The front is still hideous. Wish the car had the smoothness of the new S or the avantguard shape of the CLS. Bring back Bruno to do the styling and fire the monkey rookies in that department. Wonder what is happening in Germany these days as there cars are getting ugly, witness the new A4 with that horible long overhang front, the borring Jetta and the hideous 3 series sedan. Even the Cayman looks awkward.

Cars that require an acquired taste in the way they look tells you that at the get-go there is something wrong in the styling. It is an ugly duckling and yes by starring at it for a long time you get used to it...just like having an ugly girlfriend you get used to her and start to see some the beauty in her until you get a reality check when you introduce her to someone new. Ugly is ugly no way to skirt this issue

Never heard anyone say that they once they got used to the look that they ended up liking the way it looked eg> Maranello, Daytona, 300zx, SLR, Carrera GT or E type, SL

I like the new design. Its unique. Must wait till it comes out until I decide.

I've got several buddies that are techs at the dealership and they recently attended a training session on the new w204, and he says that it's sick and it's got the most features for that type of car in the class. I don't know......we'll see. Reliability isn't that much of an issue, I know a clock keeper, a service rep, and a few mechanics, and 2 guys working at parts. It'll make it easier for me to service and cheaper once out of warranty.

What is a clock keeper?

so soon? it was just previewed in Germany on Thursday. I find it a bit hard to believe that the techs at a dealership (no doubt) were given a training session on the new car?? It has not even made its public debut which upcoming for the Geneva show

I know some senior people in Mercedes Benz Canada head office and they have been minorly briefed on the new car ( a couple of them flew over) but nothing such as a training sessions.

I think that your buddies are giving you a line and you are buying in. The date of launch for North America has not been announced yet nor have the lines and equipment levels been set. Have the dates in Europe even been yet?

The timing after the announcement is just too soon

Benzo-boy is now determined to buy the first versions despite all cautions and knowing him and his flip-flopping buying habits he'll probably change cars about another 4-5 times by the time we decide to buy it in mid model year