wreinmicheal

Hi...I must say that when both of these models were unveiled, i was pretty impressed.

The W203 was a breath of fresh air, going away from the boxy design of the W201 and W202 and following the trend of the W210 (first E-Class with "bug eyes") and the first generation CLK (C208 is it??).

But now the W204 has gone back IMO to the tradition Benz design of yesteryear and they've done a great job. I think the car
is good looking from every angle and it's bang up to date.

I would prefer the W204, not just because its the new model but because I think the improved quality of the interior and reliablility (the rigorous testing during development) should make it a better car than the W203.

Batman372

+1
Me too, I am a BMW fan & never liked the MB (testing all previous models), but after seeing & testing the W204 , I liked it and felt that it is much closer to the Bmw feeling regarding handling/reliability . . . ect.
Also the new E W212 is a much better than the W211.

C300Kid

I'd assume we're a much younger group since the 204 is the only car MB has built that's aimed at the yuppie demographic. That explains the difference in maturity and attitudes.

I mean, I honestly hated MB for as long as I can remember, always preferring BMWs or Audis. They just had nothing of interest to me at all, the w203 is about as "cool" as a Ford Taurus to me. Nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't my thing.

I think MB got it close to perfect with the w204

Glyn M Ruck

A minor slip

Sportstick

I can understand "preferring" something else, and maybe "not liking" or "preferring" MB, but "hated MB" is a lot of emotion!! Why so over-the-top? Did an MB or a dealer do something very bad to you at some point?

Also...do you mean the W203 in your Taurus comparison? Seems to conflict with the final sentence?

C300Kid

hahaha..thank you..fixed

Moto_Guzzi

Yes and what would USA buyers say when they realised they missed out on the Advanced Agility Package not negociated by MBUSA ?

C300Kid

Yep meant the 203. I'd actually rather have the new 2010 taurus than a w203.

Also, I suppose hate wasn't the right word..I was just always a BMW fan and thought MB sucked in comparison.

Oddly enough I'd now rank Audi as my top pick, MB second, and BMW third..im not a fan of the direction the brand has been heading. I still prefer the way BMWs drive, but I think most Benzes are better looking by far.

C300Kid

pretty sure its available here now

chris5949

I decided to upgrade my w202 the first time I saw the new w204 two years ago

kremou

What about quality compare ?

After almost 2 years of my W204 use running 40000km carefully, I'm not satisfied about feeling quality comparing with my friend's W203 Fl. (2004 model)

Many lamps off need replace ,artico leather seats are got smooth and very sensitive to damage,noise increase from old bad design mirrors cause also increase fuel consumption when drive against wind.

Doors and windows needs often lubricates them,audio 20 system got scratches in reception and main buttons in main control fade.

Mercedes Alarm need replace siren ,due humidity inside,also the one corn too.Finally mercedes brand sign in back fade.

Arjy

when i first started looking at a car, before the w204 came out, i immediately said no to a c class. then after i had decided on another car, i went back and saw the w204 and immediately changed my mind.

tijn

I think this is an interesting topic, because first and foremost if there was no contest between the w203 and w204 there wouldn't be an argument.

Now that being said, before I bought my car I looked at both w203 and w204, and i thought the w203 my2005 looked like a newer car then the w204.

I think the w204 has ugly lights front and back, I think this is the w204 weakest point. (w212 has very ugly back lights, EEEW!) If the w204 lights were somehow updated, and I think finally kill the argument that the w203 can vs the w204.

I think the w203 was before its time and thats why this argument stands and is ongoing.

mac911

The W203 was probably a bit more of a classic look that will hold up over time.

The W204 is more of that latest European upscale sedan look. The problem too is the pedestrian safety laws. I wonder if we're doomed for cars with similar front ends for the rest of time.

K-A

on both accounts.

M-B apparently spent tons of money to keep the W212's front to retain a bit of the classic "slant" to the grille, and to not be so blunt. Which was allowable due to the grill Airbag and clamshell hood, amongst other things.

They stated that they will only be investing that R&D money to have some flexibility with the front design on the S and E Classes. Hopefully they don't give in even on those.

BTW, I find the W203 becoming increasingly pleasing to look at. A prime example still looks very modern and hot. I like the previous classic-design era from M-B (203/211, etc.) a lot.

C300Sport

I don't quite understand your thinking here... You say the W203 is classic while the W204 has the latest European upscale look with a similar to all front end (i.e. trendy). I have to disagree. While the W203 was not a bad looking car, I could never get past those oddly morphed headlights...it's like they just couldn't figure out what to do so they went with some "organic" shape...didn't work for me anyhow.
I don't find the front of the W204 to be similar to any other car(other than a couple other MBs)...whether or not you like that big ol star on the grill, it stands apart from most anything else out there.
To me the W204 is more muscular while the W203 was a bit more feminine (and I do indeed appreciate the female form so that is not intended as a dig) and I think both will age quite well.

Glyn M Ruck

I'm sorry - I agree with the European motoring scribes. (e.g Autocar). They predicted that the organic beauty of line & classic design of the MY2000 mini S Class would age well & have recently patted themselves on the back for being correct. It still holds up remarkably well if in clean condition & fitted with BiX/clears.

The W204 has already aged badly & looks behind the modern design language curve. Mark my words the 2014/15 replacement will be back to a more organic design much like AMG's SLS. Magic organic design that echos the SL300 Gullwing but in a totally modern context.

The W204 could have been designed by the Koreans asthetically. If you took the star off it does not shout Merc.

We own both. My low mileage C240 & the lady of the home's W204 C350 Elegance. So I have no axe to grind. The 204 looks more slab sided by the day. I frequently look at it's untidy bulbous rump & tail poking out of our garage & wonder what they were thinking. At least the bob tail of the Elegance is not as vulgar as that of the C63 AMG.

But at the end of the day both have been very good cars if not as rock solid as our older Mercs were.

C300Kid

Hmm..I dont think my W204 is aging poorly..I still likes its looks as much as I did the day I bought it.

It's not drop dead gorgeous but I think it's still the best looking in its class.

K-A

I think the W204 still looks fresh. However, problem with very modern/sharp designs, is how when they get one-upped, they show their age big-time. I.e, the W204 came out incredibly crisp, etc. and still is, but now the W212 looks even more-so, so the W204 next to it is very clearly a more "dated" design. The W212 is perhaps the sharpest and most sculpted/detailed design now on the roads IMO, and I hope for my own sake, M-B stop while they're ahead, and try not to keep topping themselves in regards to how sharp/angular they can design a car.

tijn

right on. I was thinking along this sort of line, but i couldn't put it into words. The main problem with the w204 is, take all the badges away and put say a Honda badge on it, and no one would ever know.

K-A

I think the W204 is a very good looking car in its own right. However, I can't disagree with that for the most part. ^^

I've mistaken a W204 for an older Camry, or current Accord from behind, many times.

FrankW

minus the stupid looking star grille...

black insert elegance grille FTW!



the tail light without the LED lighting package does look old however

C300Sport

I love how it seems to be the same guys that continue to chime in about how the W203 is such a classic and in many ways superior Benz compared to the W204. The fact that the W203 was basically crap and an embarrassment to MB never really seems to come up. The athletic look of the W204 has apparently brought in a lot of new buyers that could never get past the "unsubstantial" look and feel of its predecessor.
As far as styling, MB was the first auto maker to use the "slash" taillight design and has been copied by many of the Asian brands. Just because others have copied this look and the fact that you personally don't like it certainly doesn't mean it is not well styled...to each his own I suppose.
And for those stating that you could take the badge off and not tell it isn't a Hyundai, Honda, etc, it seems you are simply just telling everyone you don't know what you are talking about anyhow. Take a look at the grill (with or without the Star) the fender blisters, the clamshell hood, the tumblehome, etc.

Glyn M Ruck

Ah! The height of tolerance.

tijn

same guys with 3 posts?

This is true, the w203 is fragile, BUT this isn't the point I was making. The point was the design of the car itself, mainly the looks. The mechanics of the w204 are far superior to that of the w203. Also the w204 is made in Germany while the w203 is made in South Africa, and we all know how good they are at building cars. While MB made the right choice with bringing the manufacturing back to Germany there new car design needs some work.

As i said "slash" taillight design was good 10 years ago, something fresh would be good, that was the point. Like the w212 front headlights, me like very much.

So let me get this straight, if someone thinks a w204 looks like Honda it means they don't know what there talking about? Most people would call this an observation, or at very least a difference of opinion. So if someones opinion differs from yours there stupid right?

As i said earlier the point I was making wasn't that the w203 is a better car all round. THE W203 IS NOT A BETTER CAR ALL ROUND! lets make that clear.

The point was that I think the w204 doesn't look up to date, it looks old and looks way to similar to the rest of the market of cars.