interesting differences: Sport vs. Luxury
#26
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From: Vancouver, BC
2008 Mercedes C300 4Matic
Are you kidding me? They're the exact same car built the exact same way with the exact same parts except for some specifically different parts between lux and sport. The materials used are identical, no different other than differences like wood vs aluminum. The wood takes more work and costs more! The suspension on the lux is the same, it's just configured differently. The lux has a more.... luxury feel. And you think that feels like a hyundai? Maybe what you're trying to say is that you don't like luxury suspension and prefer the stiffer sport suspension.
#27
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From: Long Island, New York
2013 C300 Sport Black Darth V3.0
Something I noticed on the 08 Lux loaner I have today, when I stomp on the gas the nose lifts a little it doesn't on my sport. BTW both are c300 with around the same mileage and both on S.
#28
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
#29
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Are you kidding me? They're the exact same car built the exact same way with the exact same parts except for some specifically different parts between lux and sport. The materials used are identical, no different other than differences like wood vs aluminum. The wood takes more work and costs more! The suspension on the lux is the same, it's just configured differently. The lux has a more.... luxury feel. And you think that feels like a hyundai? Maybe what you're trying to say is that you don't like luxury suspension and prefer the stiffer sport suspension.
#30
Strange, I saw some (what I thought were) 2009 Cs at a (European) motor show and only the AMG Pack ones (= US Sport) had the hooded dials. The Avantgarde, Classic and Elegance did not.
Reason I figured they were 2009s was because they all had the new 'BlueEfficiency' mirrors.
Anyway, I like the hooded dials and have an Avantgarde on order, so hoping for the best (although to be honest I didn't mind the flat alu panel on the Avantgarde I test drove either).
Reason I figured they were 2009s was because they all had the new 'BlueEfficiency' mirrors.
Anyway, I like the hooded dials and have an Avantgarde on order, so hoping for the best (although to be honest I didn't mind the flat alu panel on the Avantgarde I test drove either).
#31
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
It is strange. Even their websites around the world are a mess in this regard.
I guess MBSA made a decision on the spec of the cars for this market which has always been different to the USA. e.g all AMG's here have always been full house with Bi Xenon headlights et al as standard. In the US they are/were an option. On W203 you guys did not get Parktronic, Distronic & Linguatronic. Here these were readily available. Most cars here have leather. MB Tex is unheard of as is cloth.
Another interesting thing is in the past South Africa has always used the German promo literature & books they hand out. For W204 they are now printed here a show the local spec on the cars. Standard the cars come very well equiped with most things now standard that were options on the W203. All cars here have the new mirrors.
Ah well - we pay for all of this. I guess for the US they are looking at lower sticker prices to be competitive. Having the plant here allows for these decisions.
I guess MBSA made a decision on the spec of the cars for this market which has always been different to the USA. e.g all AMG's here have always been full house with Bi Xenon headlights et al as standard. In the US they are/were an option. On W203 you guys did not get Parktronic, Distronic & Linguatronic. Here these were readily available. Most cars here have leather. MB Tex is unheard of as is cloth.
Another interesting thing is in the past South Africa has always used the German promo literature & books they hand out. For W204 they are now printed here a show the local spec on the cars. Standard the cars come very well equiped with most things now standard that were options on the W203. All cars here have the new mirrors.
Ah well - we pay for all of this. I guess for the US they are looking at lower sticker prices to be competitive. Having the plant here allows for these decisions.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 02-07-2009 at 06:50 PM.
#32
Gyln, you sure the "leather" you get over there isnt MB-tex with leather inserts like we have here? The MB-tex can fool you VERY easily. Not sure if the W204 still has the leather inserts (I would think it does?), but the W203 does. If the portion of the seat you sit on is perforated and the rest isn't I believe that means you have leather inserts w/ MB-tex on the bolsters and sides / back of the seat.
#33
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Gyln, you sure the "leather" you get over there isnt MB-tex with leather inserts like we have here? The MB-tex can fool you VERY easily. Not sure if the W204 still has the leather inserts (I would think it does?), but the W203 does. If the portion of the seat you sit on is perforated and the rest isn't I believe that means you have leather inserts w/ MB-tex on the bolsters and sides / back of the seat.
(I have lived in both Dallas & Marin County - Bay Area - so I have a reasonable knowledge of that market.)
#35
#36
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From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
2005 C240 4MATIC, 2010 ML350
#37
Are you kidding me? They're the exact same car built the exact same way with the exact same parts except for some specifically different parts between lux and sport. The materials used are identical, no different other than differences like wood vs aluminum. The wood takes more work and costs more! The suspension on the lux is the same, it's just configured differently. The lux has a more.... luxury feel. And you think that feels like a hyundai? Maybe what you're trying to say is that you don't like luxury suspension and prefer the stiffer sport suspension.
#39
LOL, so the lux feels cheap huh? I think some of you guys just have the Sport, so automatically the Lux is garbage. It's pretty sad that you think that way. I like the sport, except that I prefer the less hyundai-like wood trim. . Some of you guys will say anything no matter how factually wrong it is.
You do realize that the luxury costs MORE than the sport, right?
Must be due to the cheaper material they use in the luxury model.
You do realize that the luxury costs MORE than the sport, right?
Must be due to the cheaper material they use in the luxury model.
Last edited by acr2001; 02-08-2009 at 10:48 PM.
#41
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From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
Having said that, im not sure why he thought the build quality was worse in the lux, considering it's the exact same car.
Last edited by C300Kid; 02-09-2009 at 01:35 AM.
#42
Or maybe it's because the luxury model forces the buyer to get an automatic transmission and wood trim. When the auto and wood are added to the Sport its exactly the same price as the Lux..
Having said that, im not sure why he thought the build quality was worse in the lux, considering it's the exact same car.
Having said that, im not sure why he thought the build quality was worse in the lux, considering it's the exact same car.
#43
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From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
The suspension is also different. But you're right, afaik, they are otherwise identical. Like most people I prefer an auto, but I can understand why you would want a manual too. I just cant understand it for a car that you use for your daily commute. In that respect luxury makes sense with an auto and sport makes sense with a manual. Either way you're screwed if you want 4Matic, which at this point I couldn't imagine driving a car without. Even in the rain the difference is huge. Even on a dry road if you're driving the way I sometimes like to! I used to think wood trim was lame too, but then after sitting in different W203s with wood vs aluminum I quickly changed my mind. Carbon fiber definitely beats em both!
I like the 6 speed a lot and never would have bought the car if was auto-only. I'm a kid though, we love our manuals.
4Matic is nice, but in Texas it certainly doesn't snow and it doesn't really rain all that much either. I'd rather have the manual tranny.
As far as the wood vs. aluminum, I like the dark grey wood the best of all, but i think the reddish brown wood trim common in most C-Classes is tackier than the aluminum.
#44
I have the lux... and, honestly, after testing both, I found in mine a smoother ride than the sport, but even then, it wasn't a HUGE difference... at least not in the c300s... it's pretty much the same... maybe if we were comparing the 350 to the lux 300 then it would be something, but definitely not in the sport v lux 300... IMO
#45
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
For crying in a bucket. You have 5 wood trims to choose from. Eucalyptus (stunning), Bird's Eye maple (dark & stunning), Laurel (tired) Olive ash (Classic only), Burr Walnut (America's favourite & tired)
My Choice & South Africa's generally - Eucalyptus - class!
My Choice & South Africa's generally - Eucalyptus - class!
#46
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Orlando, FL
'09 C-300 Luxury and 1967 Jaguar mk2 sedan
I just recently purchased a C-300 Luxury (in fact, my first post here on this forum). Both the Sport and Luxury models are very similar, but the changes in appearance certainly do target them at different buyers. Which, as long as the changes do not cost MB too much to produce/support separately seems like a smart move.
I'm a bit more conservative/old-fashioned in my tastes, so the Luxury appealed more to me. I'm still one of those that prefers wood to aluminum for interior trim (My old Jag sedan is practically a shrine to the use of wood in an car interior LOL).
For whatever reason, the C-300 (at least in "Luxury" guise) reminded me more of what Mercedes did in the 80's, which is a time that I really liked the kind of product they turned out. Maybe not as luxuriously loaded out cars at that time, but very solid, well built. Whether the new car proves to be that will yet to be seen, but at least at this point it feels that way.
Just in case the above came across a certain way, I am not disparaging the Sport in any way. Just noting that they're obviously targeting different groups of people with the same vehicle with mostly subjective, styling/trim differences.
*oh, and in reference to an above post, I happen to like burled walnut. ;-). For whatever reason, the lighter woods and Birdseye grays for example don't click with me.
I'm a bit more conservative/old-fashioned in my tastes, so the Luxury appealed more to me. I'm still one of those that prefers wood to aluminum for interior trim (My old Jag sedan is practically a shrine to the use of wood in an car interior LOL).
For whatever reason, the C-300 (at least in "Luxury" guise) reminded me more of what Mercedes did in the 80's, which is a time that I really liked the kind of product they turned out. Maybe not as luxuriously loaded out cars at that time, but very solid, well built. Whether the new car proves to be that will yet to be seen, but at least at this point it feels that way.
Just in case the above came across a certain way, I am not disparaging the Sport in any way. Just noting that they're obviously targeting different groups of people with the same vehicle with mostly subjective, styling/trim differences.
*oh, and in reference to an above post, I happen to like burled walnut. ;-). For whatever reason, the lighter woods and Birdseye grays for example don't click with me.
#47
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I'm also more conservative and you must have what YOU like.
I'm restoring a 1965, wire wheeled 3.8 S Type Jag at the moment so I know what you mean. All that walnut with biscuit Connolly hide looks great. BTW the car is BRG
See sneak peek.
I'm restoring a 1965, wire wheeled 3.8 S Type Jag at the moment so I know what you mean. All that walnut with biscuit Connolly hide looks great. BTW the car is BRG
See sneak peek.
#49
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Wonderful - I'm keeping mine under wraps at the moment because we are fitting the new interior. Connolly, lambswool headlining & Wilton carpets. Fully restored wood. New wiring loom.
We sand blasted the body & started from scratch - a labour of love. I want to put her in the concours once to have it rated, then I'm driving it. No cars on trailers for me.
We sand blasted the body & started from scratch - a labour of love. I want to put her in the concours once to have it rated, then I'm driving it. No cars on trailers for me.
#50
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From: Long Island, New York
2013 C300 Sport Black Darth V3.0
Noticed anouther minor difference between the sport and Lux. In the lux there is an insert with a netting on the drivers side of the trunk. the sport has a hatch and the first aid kit is hidden in there, so where is the lux's first aid kit?