OK, so I took my car in, and my SA did a ride along with me, heard the squeeks I heard, and wrote up what I needed done. Super-friendly and all that jazz, and in another 5 minutes I was in my loaner.

It's a 2008 C300 sport, dark gray metallic, and black/gray interior.

Today is my first day really driving a W204 for an extended period of time. My older sister has a C300 luxury, but I've only driven it twice for a couple of minutes to run to the store.

Basically, I still love the new exterior (prefer the luxury version), and I'm not fond of the interior.

I'd say more about the exterior, but since I like it, I don't really have any other comments on it.

Now that I've sat in it for awhile:
- The steering wheel is hard as a rock - not soft and spongy like mine. The leather grade is a step down as well on the wheel
- The seats are comfortable. The MBTex isn't bad. I think I still like my seat better. Not sure yet.
- The black/gray combo inside isn't as attractive as I thought it would be...then again if it was the C300 with wood inside, I think it would warm up a lot.
- I still don't like how the interior is so right angled and boxy - the interior of a car should flow around and wrap around the driver - I still think the facelifted W203 has a more flowing interior with more pleasing lines - much more luxurious
- Hard plastic - no soft touch...cheap
- Love the gauges...they are nice. Very classy
- The steering is way over boosted
- Braking is way over boosted as well. The W203 has a very linear response. A little bit of pedal gives you a little stopping power...you get the idea. The W204...barely touch the pedal and you lurch forward...not predictable and not linear...
- Granted...it's a C300 sport...but geez the ride is not as supple and feels cheaper...not very Mercedes like. I'm surprised.

If I could have the W204 exterior with the W203 interior...it would be closer to perfect. However, I'm not giving up my car anytime soon...not for this one.

That said, even with the nit-picking, the new C class is nice to be in, and isn't a bad car. I have no problem driving one while my car is in service...I just won't have this model on my shopping list. Hopefully the next generation will be more refined/as refined as the W203. By then, I might be willing to part with my 2005 C240 4MATIC, or I might keep it and by a new C.

i can totally relate to what you just said chris about the interior. when i drove it (friends c300 sport) it jsut felt cheap inside all hard plastic and the layout isn't as nice as the w203 facelift. in some angles i feel like im driving a B200 that my other friend has. really isn't what i expected the only things that i like about the interior was the gauges for sure, the FLIP up screen navigation kinda cool and the glass roof on the c350. everything else goes to the w203 interior (shift knob, steering wheel, cockpit layout and seats) i think they used better materials on the w203 i feel.

i guess i'll just wait for the facelift w204. if they follow the w203 past updates im expecting the facelift to arrive around 2010 with better layout interior!

The Command interface wasn't too hard to use...I still have to play around with it to figure all of it out. This one doesn't have the large display, just the small one under the pop-up door. It feels more like a gimmick, but it's clear and bright.

without the navigation it looks weird. so much empty space whats the point having the cover.

go w203 go!

I feel the same and posted this last month

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/256310-c230-vs-c300.html

good summary ChrisBrown !

thanks

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

I agree, the exterior isnt bad, I wouldn't say I prefer it over the w203, but its attractive in a way. The interior on the facelifted w203 is just so much nicer though.

The only thing I'm bitter about is the w204 gets some cool features standard on the technology side like Bluetooth, etc.

I guess its for the better though, if I thoroughly liked the w204 it would mean I'd be back at the bank for some more money. At least this way I'll have the w203 paid off and be able to have the car for a few years without a payment.

lets all wait for the w204 facelift with c350 300hp hopefully
or maybe a new kompressor I4 engine with 200hp+ like new audis 2.OT fsi.

lol

so since my C32 was in the shop I got a 2007 C230 blk/blk the first day and switch to a 2008 C350 loaner blk/blk because the 2007 smelled like sweat shops. my 204 is white blk/gray.

-leather grade on the steering wheel is and feels the same as the 2005-2007 w203 sport in the US. sport steering wheel including AMG, Brabus, has always been wrapped hard, so that you are less likely to make steering mistakes because of the retarded steering feel through the softer steering wheel. I never liked the overly soft steering wheel.

-seats are the same as the 203. these sport seats are just carried over. rear seats are exactly the same.

-unless you have the full leather option on your C240 4matic. you have the MB-tex too. full leather option on the 204 makes the door panel also in leather in the mid section which looks and feels 100x better. mine's option-less, so oh wellz.

-black/gray looks better than the all black interior. also looks better with the birds eye maple in the C350 vs the aluminum in C300. however the center console trim cuts off at the radio cluster which still look like crap.

-material are not as soft, but not a cheap material. the only reason it looks cheap is because it looks shiny.

-interior is more modern vs traditional. ergonomics are pretty much the same.

-the screen without the Comand is decent. I don't actually use it that much other than when i'm using the bluetooth. audio's set on aux to my ipod at all time. I leave my phone in that little covered area when I'm balling at the park. fits perfect.

-the interior of the 204 doesn't squeak and rattle like the w203. some squeaks and rattle are in the 203 even in my C32 from day one. including where your right knee can push in the center console when sitting in the driver seat.

-suspension is firmer than the 2007 C230 sport. steering response is better in the 204 as well as handling. both power steering are over boosted.

-brake feel is better on the w204, but more linear on the 203. both stops very well.

overall the 204 has brought back some of the solidness like the old 202 where the 203 lacked.

+1 I agree with you in all respects with the exception of 2

1) My 203 (late 2003) has no squeaks and rattles - dead silent on all surfaces at 45,000 Kms. The company I retired from had over 200 W 203s in the fleet & none of them squeaked or rattled and some did really high mileage. RHD pre production prototypes showed up some squeaks & rattles and a production kit was engineered to remove them. The console used to creak apparently and that was redesigned.

2) Light, overboosted steering? You have piqued my interest. RHD W204s on this market do not have over light steering or South Africans would *****, they hate it. I find no difference in steering weight between my 203 & new 204s. Both load up nicely as you apply more lock. I'll put money on the fact that they are increasing boost for the American market because they think Americans like it. I'm going to do some investigating & see if the factory will play ball and tell me.

ps everything here is full leather unless you do a special order.

Glyn,

Here if you move the steering wheel on the W204 an inch the car launches to either direction. It's very different than the W203. To me, I'd say it's a bit past being good, sporty steering. I've driven the 3 series, and I had a 6th gen Accord, and the steering on those were very responsive, but not over-boosted.

The black/gray grew on me as a combo, it was very classy for the interior. Again, to me, if the wood was in there instead of the aluminum, it would be very classy.

I have a C240, so the luxury model steering wheel is soft and spongy, not hard like the sport models. My favorite leather on any steering wheel right now is on the Volvo S40, it's so soft and buttery smooth.

I guess I have to disagree with FrankW on the modern vs traditional thing. A box is a box, and quite frankly, there are very modern interiors out there right now that FLOW, and are not boring straight, simple lines. Mercedes has much better interiors out there right now that are similar to the W203 on current models. The CLK, SLK, and SL are wonderful, modern flowing designs that similar to the W203 and hold up better than the W204. I'm scared to see the E-class when it arrives. It will have a great exterior with an inferior interior. They should have used a derivative of the S class, or of the models I mentioned above. Mercedes is better than that.

Chris,
Have you seen the new E class interior - it's awful - I hope Benz listen to comments on the leaked photos - probably too late

The W204 Elegance (Luxury) here, with grey full leather and black, comes with "Eucalyptus". This looks great! I don't like the aluminium - especially around the clocks - I like that black.

Merc SA have already announced an interior 204 face lift for this market in 2009 - also more new wheels - as if there are not enough choices already. There are 11 wheel styles available here ex factory.

I have seen the E Class photos ... my jaw dropped. The interior is ruined. Basically what we're seeing here is a design rebranding...which means this new interior design will creep into all Mercedes models at some point...the question is when.

Even if there is a facelift for the W204, the interior design won't change a ton: the design lines and trim will be an evolution, just like the W203 went through...fortunately for the better. I'm scared to see what will happen when this design philosophy spreads to the CLK, SL, SLK, ML and GL. They are all beautiful cars now...I hope they stay that way.

Funny thing is, the S class has been left alone...it's as if someone knows that this "box" thing is horrid and that if it touches the S class they will have hell to pay.

Agreed all round - yes it will be evolutionary - I think BMW have also lost the way although the new 7 is a move in the right direction. Apart from the good Mercs you mention above I think Audi is doing a good job of interiors

I've always liked Audi interiors and the current A6, both the exterior and the interior for the American market is lovely.

The current interior for the 3 series - without iDrive/Navigation, is very pleasant in it's simplicity. It's better that the last one. I thought everyone had a better interior than the previous 3 series, that's one of the things that won me over to the facelifted W203 - just more refined design-wise all the way around. It may not be as sporty as a 3 series, but boy, it's a Mercedes Benz ;-)

my car is at in for service and i have a 2008 C300 as a loaner right now and i agree with everything your saying about the car it seems really cheap inside the W203 is way better the only thing i like about the car would be the cluster thats all

Check out the new CLC coupe. It has the W204 looks with the W203 interior. Very weird.

I have. I think the problem with the "look" is that the W204 design cues don't really lend themselves really really well to a hatchback. Now, if they did a traditional coupe...I think that might look pretty good. But if they did, that would have to slot under the CLK, and that might screw up sales.

because MB's too cheap to design a brand new car that won't really sell that well. much cheaper this way and if they do fail on the market they can just kill it off with little regret.

And it's built on the W203 platform. I think if Benz had really had their way they would have killed off the Coupe. They were never happy with Coupe sales & certainly were not about to design a complete new car - It's all a matter of economics