Djames007

Hello...new member here thinking about purchasing a new Benz.

What are the major differences between the 300 spt and 350 besides the engine?

If I get the 300 I would get the P1, Pano roof, MM, IPOD and AMG 18's.

Similar setup for the 350. I think the price difference is near $4k. Not sure if the better engine would be worth the $4k as I live in L.A. and open road is hard to come by.

imboom

The C350 comes with the P1 package, 17" AMG wheels stock, and the rear spoiler.

I like the engine since it gives it a good amount of passing power.

cjh.

I test drove both models and honestly, if you don't think you will really get that much use out of the 350, then don't go for it. The difference in performance wasn't that big. But then again if you went for the 350, you won't sit there and say "darn, I wish I would have got the smaller engine." So the decision is up to you. I got the 350 because my budget allowed for it and I thought go big or go home.

EmCeeSmith

▲ +1

narky

Dunno if it's even an issue for you, but I ruled out the 350 when I saw that only the C300 could be equipped with a manual transmission.

I didn't test-drive the 350, but I think in most (<- key word) real world situations, the power difference would have a negligible effect.

At the same time, I do wish just about every day that M-B had offered the 350 engine mated to a manual transmission. WTF M-B... That's the reason why I'll never (I think?) go AMG. What good is massive power without a stick?

Untertürkheim

If the power is not an issue, why not buy the 300 with the 6MT, and you can add in P2 and leather and be at the price of the 350. The Xenons and other 2P2 options along with leather will probably be more useful to you than the power of the 350 (based on what you said).

TRauppius

In addition to the standard P1 package, 17" AMG wheels stock, and rear spoiler there a few other items worth mentioning.

These include the black Birdseye Maple trim with a no-cost with option to revert to faux aluminum trim, and the 7-speed auto + 2.82 axle setup.

I have ordered a 2009 C350 for European Delivery on 9/8/08 and noticed that the 7% discount, which is applied to the MSRP - BUT NOT OPTIONS, had the effect of reducing the price difference between a highly optioned EDP C300/AUTO/P2/Multi-Media and a comparable EDP C350/P2/Multi-Media down to about $2300. This seems to be a relative bargain compared with US pricing, especially as a C350 has a US resale advantage closer to $4000 than the EDP price difference between the two models.

I have driven both models and like the extra mid-range power of the C350; it can also handle the very, very nice auto without a performance hit. The C300 needs a bit more torque to overcome the initial torque converter loss.

c350blknav

i wish i got a c300 6 speed becuase I am twin turboing my car so a manual would have been better. I wonder if it's the bore or the stroke that makes the 350 have more displacement. If it's just stroked then it's not even worth it to have 350. You have lower engine speeds with a 300 and that is good for keeping heat low. The colder the engine runs at baseling the better for FI.

skillz1318

+1

Go with the C300 and go with the 6MT. It's a great transmission.

Untertürkheim

I agree with parts 1&3, although I think the ideal setup would be to switch the rear differentials from a C300 6MT and a C350. This would make the 7th gear on the 350 useful, since the gearing is too tall be to useful in the US, and make the 6TH on the 300 an excellent highway gear (since my single largest complaint about the 300 6MT is that the final drive gear is far too short).

Part 2, if your discount did not apply to the total MSRP of the car, including options, you were ripped off. The discount applies to the whole car as configuered.

Bubbles

Power feel difference between the two is substantial. I don't see how many of you claim it is a small difference, the cars are very different regardless of the manual option.

jangy

What good is a stick? The last true stick car MB made was the 2.3-16 and even that was only because they had to produce 5000 a year to qualify for the races. If you want an involved car, BMW is it. MBs are fast, but in no way uncomfortable. In fact, I'd say that an MB is one of the only cars that you can be sipping your coffee and still smoking most cars on the road. By the way, I come from a stick background and remember when the auto trannys sucked so bad, but these days they are way quicker than I am and can be programmed to drop gears at the perfect times.

The power between a 300 and a 350 is not small, especially in the real world where it is hard to keep trhe car in a good power spot. All you need to do is look at the TQ curve of the two and the gearing that you get with the 7 speed. Not a chance that you will be able to keep a steady RPM with a less powerful stick with less gears as you would with a more powerful engine with a 7 speed automatic tranny. It may not be as fun, but the performance is real.

Krytech

+1

narky

+1 on just about everything you said. But your last sentence is especially important for me.

I know that these days the computer can shift much, much faster than I can. And I know that the 350 engine + 7G has a far superior performance potential out of the box.

BUT, it's not as fun. If I had to choose between having a manual trans and a bigger engine, I choose the manual.

It's not even about performance (i.e. pure speed) for me, really. If I wanted that, I could've chosen to buy a few other fine cars for the same price. This car was chosen for its looks--something I never thought I'd do--yet I still couldn't give up the stick. I dunno. Maybe I'm weird?

I'm not dead set against automatics or anything. I'm just not ready for one yet.

jangy

Nah, bro...you are an enthusiast. Nothing worng with that. I had a 4 cylinder M3, so i get it.

TRauppius

Yes, I think you are right about part 2, but I have not been ripped off as the pricing matched the MBUSA EDP "build your own" guidance. Also, the order confirmation from MB Germany notes that the contract is subjected to revision based on technical specification changes and finalized 2009 EDP pricing.

P.S. I just thought of another C350 difference; the standard 17" AMG 6 spoke AMG style wheels with all season tires (my preference, actually). I drove several models with the 18" wheel package and the ride was just a bit too hard/choppy on our local grained roads and potholes. Also, the C300 standard wheels are not very attractive (almost painted looking, actually).

Derspeed

Amen.

ayilar

Re: Brakes and performance:

The front brakes are 1 inch bigger on the C350 Sport than on the C300 Sport. Brake size is similar for all C300 models, but perforated on the Sport.

I have by now read several reviews that strongly suggest the brakes on the C300 Luxury are not great resistance-wise.

I stated in a review I wrote last year that the C350 has substantially better performance. While I still agree with my initial impression, I had a chance to push a C300 with several thousand miles pretty hard on small, bad roads recently. In S mode, I was quite happy with it.

C63newdude

3.5 liter engine plus auto transmision

mac911

Just try to get a little more money off and get the 350 if you can. Of course, it's not the end of the world if you get the 300 either. Competent, solid cars.

I just agree, you'd probably never regret the 350.

I regret to some degree the 300 over 350, but I don't sweat it much since I have a SLK350. If I only had the C, I'd want it in the 350 I think.

encoder

I drove both, I thought the power difference to be significant and the 350 more fun to drive. If you're coming from a more traditional down-market 4-door sedan (If you're trading in an old 4-cyl Camry or Dodge Avenger or Accord) and you truly aren't looking for more power, a C300 is a great car, and more than powerful enough.

For me, though, the C350 was no contest.

As others mentioned, I also appreciate the bigger brakes, and the P1 being standard. Also: Does the C300 Sport have the tire offset? I can't remember.

Finally, somebody suggested Leather. Honestly, I say NO NO NO. I love my MB-Tex. I spend several hours a month cleaning the car as-is, having to worry about leather would be more work for no reward whatsoever beyond the smell of fresh leather.

MB-Tex stays far cooler in the summer (no leg scorching), and it'll look fantastic in when you trade the car in, even if you give it virtually zero attention from day 1 of ownership

Acapulco Bill

@encoder: C300 Sport with AMG trim package comes with 17" 6-twin spoke rims and offset tire sizes. And the Beige MB Tex never gets hot, even in the tropical sun we have 350 days a year here. Our cars with black leather interiors all have cardboard boxes to protect our b***s.

As for C350 vs C300, sometimes I regret not paying the extra $7,000 (in Mexico). However more than the difference in engine size, the cause for lack of performance with either engine is the incompetent 7G transmission. Neither of the two setting "C" for "Catatonic" and "S" for "Snail" (hey, at least snails move...) provide an exciting experience. As my C300 has the Euro 2 package with the paddle shifters, there is also the "M" for "Maybe" setting. "Maybe" because even using the paddle shifters, by the time the 7G transmission makes up its mind that you actually asked it to shift, many, many seconds go by and I usually just shift back to the gear the tranny is already in, the overtake opportunity having passed long ago. Any comments, sports fans?

encoder

Exactly!! MB-Tex is really great. Screw leather :/