Front Seats arent Nearly as Comfortable As I Thought
03-09-2009, 12:38 PM
#26
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
From my non scientific calculation....those front seats are made for someone that's exactly 6' tall.
The back seats are made for groceries, not people.
The back seats are made for groceries, not people.
Last edited by JimPap; 03-09-2009 at 12:40 PM.
03-09-2009, 06:24 PM
#29
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
Although it may sound like I'm being a bit of a goof, it does seem that those who are around your heigth are comfortable and those taller and shorter aren't.
03-10-2009, 12:43 AM
#30
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Seats
My W202 '95 C280's seats were quite comfortable. When I bought my W203 2001 C-320 I thought the seats were terrible. Good thing it had seat controls on the door because I was moving the seat all the time trying to find a comfortable setting. Never did.
When I got my C300 (Oct '07) I thought, here we go again, lousy rock-hard seats, but I have finally become accustomed to them and now I don't think about it.
BTW, all three cars had leather seats and that does make a small difference for the better.
03-10-2009, 12:15 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
C-300, XC70, Wrangler
Comfortable seats are largely a function of your own body type. Much is said about folk being 6' as the "ideal" driver, but that's incorrect.
Look at your sitting height, not your standing height. I stand 5'9", but when I sit in the driver's seat, my head pokes out the top of the sunroof. That means that my thigh bones are shorter in proportion to my back, and that means that the length of the driver's seat is just barely okay. In fact, in the C it works fine, but in some cars, the seat's too long and I find those cars hard to drive.
One of the very first tests I make in a car is to sit in it. If the seat is properly adjusted, but I don't fit, then I'm out of there. You should see the look on a salesman's face when I say "It doesn't fit!" The seat's all the way down and I'm poking out the top. I love it when they say: "Lay the back down so you fit better!" Not a chance, I don't lie down to drive!
Look at your sitting height, not your standing height. I stand 5'9", but when I sit in the driver's seat, my head pokes out the top of the sunroof. That means that my thigh bones are shorter in proportion to my back, and that means that the length of the driver's seat is just barely okay. In fact, in the C it works fine, but in some cars, the seat's too long and I find those cars hard to drive.
One of the very first tests I make in a car is to sit in it. If the seat is properly adjusted, but I don't fit, then I'm out of there. You should see the look on a salesman's face when I say "It doesn't fit!" The seat's all the way down and I'm poking out the top. I love it when they say: "Lay the back down so you fit better!" Not a chance, I don't lie down to drive!
03-10-2009, 12:47 PM
#32
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
I have no serious problems. I just wish the side bolsters were better..mb should have given the sport different seats, or at least made them an option.
03-10-2009, 03:36 PM
#33
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
09 C350
I would have liked something closer to the C63 seats for ponying up to buy the C350. Not the exact seats, just something a little better regarding side bolsters.
03-10-2009, 03:54 PM
#35
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
This I gotta see
Comfortable seats are largely a function of your own body type. Much is said about folk being 6' as the "ideal" driver, but that's incorrect.Look at your sitting height, not your standing height. I stand 5'9", but when I sit in the driver's seat, my head pokes out the top of the sunroof.
I'm 6'0" with a 30" inseam and have all kinds of headroom.
03-10-2009, 04:02 PM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C350
While looking at the European models of the W204 C-Class I noticed that there are ( If I'm not mistaken ) 3 different kind of seats. Depending on what version you buy Avantgarde, Elegance or Classic.
Too bad we don't have that choice here in the US
Too bad we don't have that choice here in the US
03-10-2009, 08:31 PM
#39
Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The seats only differ in trim patterns, actual seats are the same. Only different seats offered are the multicontour front seats.
03-11-2009, 01:46 AM
#40
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
This discussion went on shortly after the w204 was released, you can search the board for some of the topics regarding the seats. When compared to other cars in its class (Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3, Cadillac CTS) the seats look and feel awful. You can even go outside of its class with cars such as (Honda Accord, Hyundai Genesis) having better looking and feeling seats. But, lets face it, the seats in the C have been this way for years and if you were a previous owner you knew what you were getting into before you bought it. It can't be that costly to put in some nice looking and fitting seats...then again the Corvette comes to mind 
03-11-2009, 10:49 AM
#41
Super Moderator
Americans have never liked the firm/hard Mercedes seats. This is nothing new. The rest of the world generally likes them. Endless testing has proven that firm seats see you more refreshed after a 12 hour run than soft ones as our Australian friend alludes to.
If you prefer the soggy compliance all round of a Cadillac you will probably never like the Benz approach. Trouble is the ROW does & hates the Cadillac feel & it is not as safe. Even the Swedish built BLS comes in for criticism in this regard & it's more to European taste.
Benz already fits softer spring rates & dampers to cars destined for America. I don't know why they don't just make soft seats for American butts if that is the preference.
I suspect the better seats are not available in the US due to the substantially lower prices you pay for a Benz which is why your cars are not speced as highly as those in ROW. What I don't understand is why they don't make them available as an extra cost option.
03-11-2009, 04:29 PM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2008 C350
Switching between my GL and C is difficult...the GL's seats are like a big leather recliner's. Whereas the C's are like a dining room chair. Still tolerable, none the less.
03-11-2009, 05:21 PM
#44
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
Seat options would of been nice. I may of opted for better ones but I don't mind ours. They are firm but comfy. (I'm 5'11") More side bolsters would be good. I test drove a C63 last week and those seats are heaven. Might be too much for a daily driver but I bet I'd get used to it. 
03-11-2009, 05:22 PM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Davenport IA
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C350
I find the C's seats pretty comfortable, (I don't have the car, but I spent a lot of time in demos 
) but, I can see how they might be un-supportive for taller people.
Plus, I'm really young, and compared to the plastic chairs in my school, the seats are paradise. And young people aren't bothered that much by rough seating anyway (we get through the plastic chairs 
), so none of my friends should mind the backseats...
) but, I can see how they might be un-supportive for taller people.Plus, I'm really young, and compared to the plastic chairs in my school, the seats are paradise
. And young people aren't bothered that much by rough seating anyway (we get through the plastic chairs ), so none of my friends should mind the backseats...
03-12-2009, 05:00 PM
#46
Super Moderator
As alluded to by Carsy. They are designed for large American & German butts 
03-16-2009, 03:23 PM
#49
Super Member
Can anyone recommend a fix for the seat issue? I notice that MB doesn't even offer the premium seat option on this car anymore, but is there a pad or something that would help?
