Chi-Benz

Great pics pmb, thanks!

Chi-Benz

I think MBUSA is very scared about the reliability perception of this 1st year car. Their ratings are already at the bottom and can't afford anymore bad press especially with this car.

It seems they are not giving us all the options this first year to cut down on complaints etc..Why no new engines?? They don't want to deal with something new on a new car etc, etc, etc... They are being VERY cautious...but I don't blame them.
.02

E55Freak

This white one is pretty darn sweet..I think the twin spokes make it look much better than the others posted in the NJ thread.

pmb600

Thanks for the compliment on the pics. I hadn't thought of your reasoning, but now that you mention it, you are right they cannot afford to mess up the C-Class since it is such a high volume vehicle. I hope to see these options available in the near future, and I hope we don't have to wait until the mid-life update otherwise that's when I'm going to have to wait to buy it.

Also sort of related, I spoke with Mark Ramsey last night and I told him that there are a lot of enthusiasts that would like to see more options in American cars that they have in Europe and what can we do to let MBUSA know what we want to see. He just said to write/call and that they really do listen to that.

GPI

Here is the third brake light:

atiqa

I was there, and I requested (begged) them to open it up- they did after a while and I must say, all the pictures do it no justice. The interior is GREAT, definitely better than I expected.
I would have taken pictures if my boyfriend hadn't left the camera at home lol.

If you do decide to go again, just ask them to open it up for you, and express your enthusiasm.
Also, if you bring your car key, you can go up to the VIP section for complimentary refreshments- only for Mercedes owners

MB2006

I was there also , car looks good.
beter then i expected.

NY C32

I was on the fence about the W204 but after looking at countless pictures, I'm liking the C350SS, especially in white

pmb600

I went back yesterday and they had the doors on the red one open on the platform. Did they actually let you get in the car? Or just look in?

atiqa

Well, they said they weren't supposed to let anyone on the platform but I almost convinced one of the guys (I think his name is Scott) to let me on one day this week, not the weekend since it was so busy- I promised that I'd sign a contract saying that I wouldn't sue if I fell lol.
I really think that with a little bit of convincing, you should be able to get on that platform- on a slower day, maybe Tuesday afternoon?

If they don't let you on, ask them to open up the Sport, the black interior looks much nicer than the tan.

pmb600

Cool, yeah I was thinking they would be more flexible on a weekday. For the past few years they were extremely flexible with me, and they let me in several cars that were up on platforms even some that were spinning. The woman that helped me two years ago was there but she was a lot less friendly that she was when I first met her.

atiqa

Well, there were supposedly several incidents of vandalism of cars at the show- people were scratching the paint, slashing seats etc. They had all the cars on lockdown for a while for that reason. That also may be why they were being so strict with letting people in the cars.

A moronic few ruin it for the rest of us

Nevertheless, try a weekday! lol.

pmb600

Ugh, yeah. I know I have seen some bad stuff at the car show because I usually go on the Friday before it ends. I have seen door lock pins ripped out, a variety of broken interior parts and a missing hood emblem. It will never cease to amaze me the disrespect and primitive way that people treat other people's stuff.

Thanks for the tip though...I will see if I can get there on a weekday. Unfortunately this week is pretty packed for me, my only day off from work or school is a day I have an interview scheduled for a summer internship.

atiqa

Aw, well, that stinks.
I guess you'll just have to take my word for it - it looks great!

RLE

_____________________________

I obtained these prices today from my MB salesman who looked them up in the internal MBUSA website. There is NO link available. I have edited the package contents above to agree with the MBUSA package contents.

But first.....

Since I will be buying the underpowered Luxury version, I am going to use the outgoing C280 price ($33400) and add 5% for the '08 figure. Pure guesswork on my part because base prices are not yet available.

Shipping charge is $700

These numbers are from the C300W (MY 08) price chart. NOT C350 Sport.

Colors: There are eleven exterior colors and three interior colors in Tex or Leather. Any color exterior can be matched with any color interior which is something new for MB. About time, I'd say.

Black
Grey/Black
Savanna/Cashmere Beige

Leather charge is $1550

Sand Beige Metallic C300 Luxury sedan only
Savanna/Cashmere interior C300 Luxury only
Mars Red C300 Sport only

The new metallic red shown on the MB Germany website, Carneol Red, is not listed on the color sheet but rather the old metallic red, Barolo Red. I am very disappointed about this MBUSA decision.

Metallic paint is $710 extra.

Multimedia Package $2700

P1 Premium Package I $1400

P2 Premium Package II (includes P1 package) $2750

TeleAid $830

Panorama sunroof $1000

AMG 5 twin-spoke Aluminum wheels $1000

I'm guessing this is the 18" wheel since 17" is standard. The 18" wheel can be seen on the MB Germany website car configurator. It is vastly more attractive than the 17" wheels (245/40-17 tires), either stock or AMG. I will order the 18s but don't know the tire size. I am concerned that the tire profile will be so low that the ride will be affected and wheel or tire damage will be possible when hitting a chuckhole or some such. M3 drivers are well aware of this problem.

There are a few other items with no prices so I omitted them. The rear trunk drawer, for example.
___________

Using an estimated base price of $35070 for my C300 Luxury Sedan:

Freight $700
Metallic paint $710
Leather interior $1550
Multimedia package $2700
P2 Package $2750
18" AMG wheels $1000

Total $44530
__________________

So, now we wait.

pmb600

Great info. I got a call from the dealer yesterday saying that he had all the info in his computer so I went over and took a look. The prices for the packages actually seem really reasonable. Just one thing I noticed, when he was punching in all of my choices in NetStar, there was the choice of Saddle MB Tex, I assume this was a mistake, but I got excited thinking that there might be a brown interior color available like in the E-Class sport. There are some great pictures on Auto Spies which show that the European markets will get the two-tone sport interiors like on the E-Class, I assume we will not be as lucky. He was also really disappointed that Keyless Go will not be available.

pmb600

Something else I noticed is that in our luxury models the leather will not have the vertical ridges like the current C-Class luxury. In pictures of the European Elegance version (sort of equivalent) to our luxury model they have this.

atiqa

Are these options prices set in stone? My MB Salesman seems to be the last one to get the information, it's really frusterating!
BTW, I was told that there would be a 3% price increase from the W203, not 5%.

I ordered :
C300 Sport
4Matic
P2 Premium Package
Multimedia Package
Panorama Sunroof

I ordered it in white, so I don't have the metallic paint charge. Also I am most likely doing European Delivery so I don't think I'll have the Delivery Fee, plus I'll be saving up to 7%.

I've heard that the C300 4Matic is probably close in pricing to the C350. I'm still debating whether I should get the C350, and deal with getting stuck in the snow a couple of times.
I've had horrible experiences with the snow in my C230KSS so that's the only reason I am considering the less powerful C300 4Matic.

Opinions on the matter are welcome!

GPI

I was wondering if you do European Delivery, will you be able to get the options that are available in Europe and not in the U.S? (Keyless Go, two-tone interior etc.)

pmb600

Congrats! Sounds like an awesome car and nicely loaded. Keep us updated.

pmb600

I went to the Auto Show today one last time...I know I'm insane...but they still would not let me sit in the C-Class. I got into every luxury/exotic booth at the show (Lambo, Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Aston, and even the S8 with Bang & Olufsen sound) but yet they will not let me sit in the C350. They insisted that there was no way they could let me in but the woman did go over to the sport sedan so I at least got to look inside. She opened the doors while I stood behind the glass, which was close so I got a good look--the car is BEAUTIFUL. I feel bad for saying everything bad I did. The interior was great. Of course the C350 does come with the Black wood which makes it look nicer (the C300 sport comes with alumninum, the luxury with burl walnut). Anyway the car is beautiful, awesome, and I want one now haha. I asked her to push the button so I could see the new COMAND system pop out and she said no, and then tried to say that there was no battery in the car. I wanted to say if there is no battery in the car then why did the remote work and why did the dash light up when you opened the door you stupid c***.



It's so pretty!!!

atiqa

lmao that's hilarious!
I hope you agree that the pictures do it no justice!
After seeing it in person, I'm almost obsessed with this car. I cannot wait until the delivery date! It's less than 4 months away!

pmb600

I know I love it now. But I will probably wait because I want them to offer a C350 Sport 4Matic. More importantly though, I have to see what I'm doing after graduation next year. If I move in the NYC I will sell my current Benz and have no car.

Btw, welcome to MBWorld atiqa!

atiqa

Thanks!
I'm in a similar situation- I've had my current car for 2 years, but it was worth every minute. I have 2 years until I leave NY for Medical School so I figured I'd get the '08 for those 2 years at least.
And I'm very impatient so I'll deal with the choices they're offering now, lol.