MB_FTW

werd.

ShoremNJ

I am very happy with mineell and today on the highway i got 26MPG but I was taking it easy.

430752

if'n you don't need the 4matic, absolutely get the c350. Otherwise, Camry's will be blowing past you.

I personally like the car, despite my dissing of it, but I only like it since life changes have landed me with the no fun police and this car fits that like a glove. Sporting pretensions, somewhat quick, very stable, nice looking, no one can knock it, but just kinda blah and bland, like the honda accords used to be (still are?) before they got some quickness. Meaning, its not the truly fun, genuinely sporty car that you want to drive like you stole it, but then again I'm not at that stage in my life anymore, my nuts have now officially been kept in the jar next to my wife's side of the bed long enough that I actually don't miss an Evo or an STi.

Does that help you make your mind?

oblu

I'm with you. Except I'm already itching to get done with this lease so I can get a 135i/CTS-V/M3 4 door/whatever else is hot in 3yrs if gas hasn't climbed to $6/gal by then.

My wife's glad I didn't buy this one, I'd have already talked her into letting me trade it in on a 135i.

TCinOC

LMAO! Nice one.

mac911

I don't really see the desire to have a car like this be all about performance. It serves a utility, and it does that in a beautiful way with a comfortable ride, good handling, and some Mercedes benz class. I don't really want anything else.

jollar

This is great news, i'm glad you brought this up! My wife and I actually wanted to bring in a car seat to see how much room would be left over in the back. But, since we don't have one... we bought the car anyway based on specs.

In regards to performance, the 335i and the g35 are better vehicles if you want more "sports" car IMHO. One of the reasons went for the c300 because we wanted a car that would still have a curb appeal after 5 years. The C300 is a great looking car and still has enough umph to press you back into your seat when putting the pedal to the metal.

Baron Samedi

So far, I love the C350 (I only have 100 miles on it). Smooth, powerful (enough), refined. Lots of oomph from 0 to 60. Just what I wanted. Haven't yet heard the wind noise from the rr that some complain about, but I can hear (some) tire noise from that area. The car has Conti 18s and if they're noisy with 100 miles on them, I can't wait to hear them once they start to wear.

I like the sound system, though I'm no audiophile. The satellite radio is cool, but I don't know if I'll end up subscribing or not. I like the Blues channel.

I know people have commented on the lack of room in the car, but I honestly can't complain. Granted I'm only 5'8", but with the front seat set for me, I have plenty of leg room in the back seat. I'm a little disappointed with the spare...on first inspection, it appears to be a doughnut and I'm used to having a full-size (even if it's on a steel wheel) spare.

I love the color combination (Steel Grey with Grey/Black leather). Hope I can keep the light-colored leather clean.

norcal5

I spent 3 months reading up on cars I was interested in, test drove them, compared them against my needs and wants; I settled on the new C. After driving my C almost daily for the past 5 months, I am happy with my purchase.

oblu

I got rid of an e90 for the C300, I can vouch for that.

shag

Please, do tell. I was hesitating between an '08 E90 323i and a '08 W204 C230W... any insights?

The E90 gets a head start because of the Sport Package seats. But I am not set on either one of them.

oblu

Had an e90 330i. For having less torque than the C300 engine and only 20 some odd horsepower more, the bmw motor felt a lot quicker. Also revved smoother, but I'm putting that down to it being an I6.

Interior quality felt better, sports seats felt better, interior felt larger too.

Exterior styling of the e90 was the poop. When I bought it I'd convinced myself that the looks were okay and for awhile they grew on me. Until the W204 came out.

W204 doesn't handle as well as the e90, but it sure rides 10x better.

I give a lot of weight to the pano roof too; I live in Seattle and the e90 interior, even with sunroof, still felt like a cave when it was raining. Oddly, the e90 was hard to see out of for me.

That's my 10sec review. Ultimately, this was my first mercedes and it'll be my last. I just don't see the fabled "mercedes quality", in fact I see just the opposite. Everywhere I see corners cut for profit like a domestic product. Maybe I'm just not ready to fan-boy up and drink the koolaid?

This summer I bet I'll be looking to see what it'd take to get out of my lease and probably get a 135i. Or at least something more exciting. Otherwise I'll just drive as a commuter car until the lease is up and work on getting a weekend car for fun.

narky

But the w204 looks better than any other car in its class right now, no? That's pretty much the only reason why I bought this car instead of all the other fun, great, and exciting choices we currently have. Quite shallow and vain, I know... and I used to think pure performance was the only true goal.

mac911

I think you're probably right about the looks especially when you factor in the outside and inside. I still like the looks of the 3 series on the outside, but for me, the new C-Class is much more beautiful inside.

Like you, I also like getting a car with a lot of focus on looks. I think it is close to be the most important reason, when you really think about it. You should love looking at your car.

ProV1

whoever commented on how 'cheap' W204 interior looks/feels, i have to agree. even the $18k 2009 hyundai sonata i sat in had a *much* more rich & luxurious interior.. sad..

Derspeed

Really? I was looking at a Sonata for my girlfirend and I thought it felt spartan and plastic. Oh, it was the $20,000 version. I didn't like the angularity of the C's interior at first. It has really grown on me though. The 3series did nothing for me.

joebenz

good stuff guys. really great reviews!


norcal5:

what other cars did you compare with?

ProV1

is the C300 slow? no
is the C300 adequate for everyday commuting, which 99.9% of C-class buyers use these cars for? yes

but..

is it severely underpowered and will it get its *** handed to them by many cars costing $5000+ less? YES




what i do not understand is that with a V6 motor only producing 228HP, and with a 7 speed transmission can only muster 18MPG city and 25MPG highway. this car needs to get at least 30MPG on the hwy

mac911

I have gotten 29 MPG on the highway.

jrct9454

Yeah, two reactions:

-I don't care who "hands me my ***", or what they paid for their car. Performance on the road for the C300 is superb; quick, quiet, safe, and plenty in reserve when you need it. I don't pay for horsepower, but for the total package. You want the cheapest hp/$, look elsewhere. This has never been what Mercedes is about, and I've been buying them for 40 years.

-We too generally see 28-30 mpg on long, steady freeway runs. General running around the suburbs for shopping nets 20-22mpg. Beyond the fact that I want the 4 cyl turbodiesel in this car [not enough hp for you, though, right??] and thus get 35-40 mpg, I simply couldn't be happier with the decision to buy our C300.

pgaduane

On a recent 850 mile trip driving an average of 75 MPH and a couple stints up to 123 MPH I averaged 26.7 MPG. Most of that was 50/50 2 lane vs. Interstate. I really enjoy my C300 Sport and have no real complaints.

As far as cars blowing me away that costs $5k less. I can spend $30k less and by an old 85 - 90 Camaro IROC or Z-28 that will hand me my lunch. Doesn't mean much to me.

In fact when I was driving back from my trip between Vegas and Phx there was a new Shelby Mustang 500 that passed me while we were both doing around 80. It was nice that he went in front of me so the Highway Patrol would pull him over and not me. I kept up with him, although he could pull away from me if he wanted to. But I thought to myself. Here's a car that costs $10k MORE than mine and it's a Ford Mustang. How much will it be worth 2 -5 years from now and who's car will sell more quickly? I feel I have a much better car than he did.

webada

I hear ya but if its indeed a shelby GT500, then that FORD car *might* worth more than ours in 10 years and more likely so as time passes by with a possibility of being a collector's item.... ford shelby has been putting out some nice car recently....

but does that mean i want trade the c300 for it? no way

rockafellaRCC

the weight vs the jap is so much diff - WOW

norcal5

Nice to see there are other content W204 owners

aequitas300

Better looking - that's debatable.
Shades of blue.... Montego vs Capri:





vs.



Here are the cars I'm considering:
2008 Audi A4 2.0T quattro Tiptronic Sedan
24 Month - Residual 59% of MSRP - .00023 Base Rate
36 Month - Residual 51% of MSRP - .00023 Base Rate

2008 Audi A5 Tiptronic Coupe
24 Month - Residual 59% of MSRP - .00256 Base Rate
36 Month - Residual 51% of MSRP - .00256 Base Rate

2008 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Tiptronic Coupe
24 Month - Residual 58% of MSRP - .00024 Base Rate
36 Month - Residual 50% of MSRP - .00024 Base Rate



2008 Mercedes C300 Sport 4matic
24 Month – Residual 66% of MSRP – .00270 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 57% of MSRP – .00250 Base Rate



2008 BMW 128i Coupe
24 Month – Residual 76% of MSRP – .00285 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 62% of MSRP – .00285 Base Rate

2008 BMW 135i Coupe
24 Month – Residual 71% of MSRP – .00285 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00285 Base Rate

2008 BMW 328xi Coupe
24 Month – Residual 70% of MSRP – .00195 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 60% of MSRP – .00195 Base Rate

2008 BMW 328xi Sedan
24 Month – Residual 71% of MSRP – .00175 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 61% of MSRP – .00175 Base Rate

2008 BMW 335xi Sedan
24 Month – Residual 71% of MSRP – .00210 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 61% of MSRP – .00210 Base Rate


lol..