CPanda

I don't buy japanese cars. they all look the same (if not ugly, then classless) and lack perceived luxury. BMWs are butt ugly imo. the taillights are an esstential part of the design of any car.

430752

I used to kinda that way too, and is a large part why I bought the merc (that, and the infiniti g35x was too long for my garage - 3 inches too long). But now that I own a merc, I realize I'm probably just an a** that bought into the 3 pointed star. Don't get me wrong - I'm happy like a pig in slop, but no longer think others lack luxury they just lack a certain 3 pointed star. This has been an eye opener where the Merc just doesn't match what others offer (except maybe looks) in terms of "luxury" and the buying experience was the worst of the subaru (Legacy spec.B), audi (A42.0tQ), infiniti (g35x), lexus (IS250awd) brands. Not just one dealer, but 3 merc dealers. Of course, it may only be buyer's remorse. Well, time will only tell when in a year or two I feel that I made a mistake since could've gotten more for less, or whether it was worth it in the end.
Happy driving.

CinOttawa

I partly agree with the post title...I didn't like the tail lights when i saw the pics......but I also have do admit, they look better in person.

To me it is not the rear view i hate, it is the side view...the rear light's design makes the trunk look like it is drooping...reminds me of the old infiniti J30

BUT that front end is to die for....and makes it worth living with a droopy butt :-)

peabers

Soo..... you have said that the W204 is crossed off your list, the BMW is ugly, and Japanese cars are not good enough for you. I'd say you should go for the CTS then.

CPanda

right.. my choices are MB cadillac and audi pretty much. I do love the chrysler 300 design as well.

peabers

In my opinion, the CTS has a really nice looking frontend. Very aggressive looking. I really liked the 300C when it first came out, but is getting a little long in the tooth, in my opinion.

Interestingly, neither car has a good looking rear-end.

CPanda

I love the CTS taillights, and the 300's atleast doesn't look like a camry.

wase4711

please tell me someone is or is not going to buy a car based on how the taillights look

KA8

Why not. Looks matter doesn't it? I see it often nowadays and still not sold on the tail lights.

wase4711

well, I could see if you hated something you saw all the time, like the dashboard, the radio display, the steering wheel, or whatever..but, how often do you see/look at your taillights??

PoaMike

They do, but look at the front of the new c class... nuf said lol

peabers

Nobody is holding a gun to your head to buy one.

And even then, you can always choose death.

It's a personal choice, if the guy does not like the taillights... that's his opinion. I asked that he give it a fair chance and have a look in person, but I am not going try to convince him otherwise.

CPanda

If you read all the posts in this thread, I *have* seen it in person already. It didn't have the LED strip in the middle though. Perhaps with that and chrome modded, it might be tolerable. All I ask of the back, if it's not going to be sexy like the Caddy's, atleast *don't* look like a Camry please!

delirium

I agree the tail lights look like the old camry's.

RLE

<<It's a personal choice, if the guy does not like the taillights... that's his opinion. I asked that he give it a fair chance and have a look in person, but I am not going try to convince him otherwise>>

Since I've written the check and the C300 is in the garage, I can say that I wish the rear lights were a bit different, perhaps a bit squarer (is that a word?) but the red paint does tone down their curved appearance a bit.

The 18" wheels do help to improve the rear 3/4 view since the tires are so wide but the trade-off is the harsher noisier ride than on the 17s.

But when I drive it and when I think how improved it is over my W203, all is forgiven. Well, almost all.

1200 miles now and still no malfunctions. Unbelievable.

CPanda

You know when it comes down to it, I will probably end up getting this benz after all. I may not want to wait for the B8 A4, and the Caddy is ... no MB unfortunately. (The lack of signaling lights on the side mirrors are annoyingly absent, even on the 2008 model).

That leaves pretty much no room for choices! I suppose I will chrome up the taillights, makes sure to get the P2 (LED strip), add a small spoiler, and debadge (clean up) and hopefully it'll look distinctive enough.

JimPap

I do like the looks of the chrome trim pieces. One concern that I have is that it seems that I remember something said about the slots in the original taillamp lenses being there to facilitate some kind of air movement. If so, I wonder if the crome trim pieces blocks that air movement.

chilledbenz

If you click the picture and see the large version, the air slots are still there. Although I'm sure they would hamper any air flow to the actual vents underneath. No one has really explained what the vents do, why they are good, or if they help anything. Probably yet another one of those "key points" they tell their salesmen to talk up, but really doesn't serve a purpose.

lx Raven xl

The air is sucked up from under the car and then to the bumper and released through the airvents and the way it comes out creates tidier air dynamics and hence reduce the lift.