2009 Mercedes Benz C350 vs. 2009 Mercedes Benz C300
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From: Davenport IA
C350
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: san jose, ca
2009 C350 P2 MM Pano
My personal opinion is that if the C-class were my only car, then the manual tranny would outweigh any other option available. Since it isn't, I have my WRX for when I want to do some hard driving. More power, bigger brakes, marginally worse gas mileage, and only like $2k more made the C350 over the C300 a no-brainer for me.
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From: Ottawa, Canada
B200, C70 HPT Coupe
If I were only interested in straight forward power, I would buy a twin turbo BMW. But because I would rather buy a C class, I would get the C300 for the 6 speed, and superior interior and exterior styling. The best of both worlds. I loved my old E500, but I always wished it were a stick like my Volvo.
Last edited by E500C70; May 18, 2009 at 04:35 AM.
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
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From: North Carolina
2008 C-350 Palladium Silver and MM.
I have 3 basic reasons why I went with the C350 over c300.
#1 I liked the AMG wheels that came with it as much as the 5 spoke optionals.
#2 I loved the black birdseye maple.
#3 It never hurts to have a bit more power especially if it doesn't cost much in additional gas.
#1 I liked the AMG wheels that came with it as much as the 5 spoke optionals.
#2 I loved the black birdseye maple.
#3 It never hurts to have a bit more power especially if it doesn't cost much in additional gas.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: orange county
99 DC2, 08 C350
power was my reason to get the 350. it was only 2-3k more, so that wasn't a big deal. when driving the 300, the power felt like my 4banger accord and that was such a bore to drive.
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From: Toronto, ON
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
In Canada, you can get the 4Matic with the C230, C300 and C350... but only the C350 has the option for the panoramic roof. Sadly, that's what did it for me...
Oh yeah, the 40 additional HP is a nice bonus.
Oh yeah, the 40 additional HP is a nice bonus.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Toronto
2009 C300 4Matic
I went for the C300 4Matic over the C350 4Matic due to the residual value (61% vs 57%), price (with all the options, 5K CAD less), and payments (140.00 less a month). Could not justify it but would have loved the extra 40 HP and Pano roof but from what I hear, i am not regretting the pano roof due to heat it generates in the summer months. I have added the AMG spoiler purchased after market and got the AMG rims as well. So I am pretty happy.
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From: PR
C350 2008
For me, C350 is much better, 268 hp vs 228 - P1 is include in C350 and 7 speed, bigger Front breaks. What is the cost to increase 40 hp to C300?
Here, the different is more than $6K btw C300 & C350, I paid $54K for C350 with P2, CD changer of 6, AMG wheels. POWER is needed in MB.
Here, the different is more than $6K btw C300 & C350, I paid $54K for C350 with P2, CD changer of 6, AMG wheels. POWER is needed in MB.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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.
Since the OP asked for the small differences, here are my two suggestions:
(i) leather covering on the steering wheel -- very pleasant on my C350, not so pleasant material on the no-option C300 (Sport and Luxury) that I had as rentals in the last month. If I understand correctly, this minor flaw will be fixed on the 2010 C300.
(ii) the Luxury C300 model, in addition to the significantly smoother ride, has an MB star sticking out on the hood. This feature is extremely useful in placing the car on the road (as well as for parking), especially in tight quarters. While I do like the look of the Sport models slightly more, the "gunvisor" is truly helpful -- indeed, enough so that, combined with the better ride, I might have bought a Luxury C350 is the latter had been available in the States.
(i) leather covering on the steering wheel -- very pleasant on my C350, not so pleasant material on the no-option C300 (Sport and Luxury) that I had as rentals in the last month. If I understand correctly, this minor flaw will be fixed on the 2010 C300.
(ii) the Luxury C300 model, in addition to the significantly smoother ride, has an MB star sticking out on the hood. This feature is extremely useful in placing the car on the road (as well as for parking), especially in tight quarters. While I do like the look of the Sport models slightly more, the "gunvisor" is truly helpful -- indeed, enough so that, combined with the better ride, I might have bought a Luxury C350 is the latter had been available in the States.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
gets me from point A-B
IMHO, the differences between the two cars are NOT minor in the following three respects: power, steering, brakes.
Power: I have driven a few hundreds of miles in various C300s (when my C350 was in the shop), and indeed rented one for three days last Summer prior to deciding whether to spring for a C350. For me, it was not even close. The C350 is good enough that I bought it, even though a stick was not available.
Steering: Dunno the reason why I feel a big difference -- amount of weight on the front wheels, different suspension settings?
Brakes: Perhaps the most underrated difference is the brakes. The C350 has strong brakes, whereas I'd say that the C300 has merely adequate ones.
Power: I have driven a few hundreds of miles in various C300s (when my C350 was in the shop), and indeed rented one for three days last Summer prior to deciding whether to spring for a C350. For me, it was not even close. The C350 is good enough that I bought it, even though a stick was not available.
Steering: Dunno the reason why I feel a big difference -- amount of weight on the front wheels, different suspension settings?
Brakes: Perhaps the most underrated difference is the brakes. The C350 has strong brakes, whereas I'd say that the C300 has merely adequate ones.
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.
The C300 Sport ride/handling/feeling compromise not do it for me. This being said, I like the C300 Luxury quite a bit -- Strangely, if the 3.0 Luxury were available with a manual tranny, I might buy one if I had to replace my 3.5. Given both come with the automatic, though, I prefer a C350.
Hope this helps.
