I'm getting used to the tail of our 204 but focus groups in SA told Benz that the tail belonged on an old Camry - Everyone loves the nose in it's multiple styles. (just higher than Benz wanted to meet American requirements - the original more sleek 204 nose that did not make production was even better). 204 is a new era & a better car. A full house, leather interior in dual tone with the hooded clocks is really very nice.

Exterior wise it does not have the enduring & classic lines of the 203 - it won't age as well as the 203 especially that *** & remember we are comparing it with a +10 year old design.

I will replace my personal 203 with a 204 when I get some more miles on the clock - only done 50,000Km - and when the 204 chassis is more mature & they have fixed the problems - The wind noise is solved with the new mirrors & some changes to the door rubbers. The sound damping has already been substantially improved with the new damping kit. 2010 will see a further interior upgrade etc. I never buy a new model until it has matured.

So in the interim the lady of the family can enjoy the 204 & she does.

 

The biggest difference as far as interior quality to me is the material of door panels..
I just don't like the all rubber/plastic door trim/panels on the w204..
Really wish MB would have use same material from the w203 for the doors..
I can often feel the door panel vibrate when music is on..MB really should have used leather trim and heavier and better feel rubber for the panel even for the mb-tex cars..

Other than that, I think interior quality is about the same for w204 when compare to w203..
Road noise is about the same as far as I can tell, original w204 w/ larger side mirrors does has louder wind noise but the new smaller side mirrors has brought wind noise level to about on par with w203..
Not to mention w204 has better steering wheels, better button placement, better head units..

 

word.

the lack of even MB-tex on the door panel is pretty cheap imo.

i think all the dash board button lay-out is pretty much the same as the 203 just that in the 204 it's built with better precision. The painted area around the cup-holder has me worried tho. I think in a year or two they'll start peeling like the 203's interior door handle which is also painted in the same fashion.

 

Frank, are you talking about the trim area for the cup holder/storage compartment??
Mine actually has a couple small dings I don't know if is the result from the ring on my finder or my watch..
From the look of it, the trim is only about an inch thick and I think it shouldn't be that hard to replace..if we know what part number to order that is..

 

[QUOTE=Glyn M Ruck;3509548]
I never buy a new model until it has matured.

QUOTE]

The 220 CDI has well proven mechanicals with a new body .When you come to buy a W 204 you may have unproven mechanicals & a proven body.

I know what you are saying , our old 504 Peugeot was almost the last model & was bullet proof , 450,000km & original without the head being removed. Original steering joints & suspension joints just a few rubber bushes required.

 

The partially leather trimmed door panels look much better. What painted area are you talking about on the '203 door handle? No painted bits on SA models - just leather, chrome, soft plastic & cloth

 

Yeah it's that rubber trim that really gets to me. I don't know why but every time I get into a W204 I feel that the interior is "sticky", and I subconsciously feel like it's dirty due to the fact that I know how much dirt that rubber can trap.

In my W211 it has this really soft, smooth material, I'm assuming it's a more expensive material, but IMO they should have used invested that extra bit in the W204.

 

the interior door handle is actually a painted part. if feels soft to touch, but over time that thing will start to peel or gets sticky. it's evident that it's painted when you put some deep scratches on it. The 204 has this all over the center console. used on the buttons, faceplate of the radio and the back part of the console where the MM control knob is. this was also the same material they used for the steering wheel buttons on the w208/210 from 2000 and up. my sister's 208 steering wheel buttons I can scratch away layers of paint on it if i want.

 

I certainly do, I'd buy another!

 

Interesting - not on SA 203's - But the door panel is local content - made in SA & that may be why. I've seen them severly frigged up & there ain't no paint on the handle (I'm talking the door pull, The catch handle is chromed metal.) They also don't break. I've never looked that closely at the steering buttons here. Mine are still as new. The steering buttons could well be coated. They develop a high shine over time with a lot of use. I certainly know the painted items you talk of on the 204. It's actually a kind of PVA that the Japanese developed for plastic TV bezels & the like.

 

I recently rent a facelift W203 for some days in Italy.These are my notice.

The interior I think is better than W204.Most plastic parts in W204 are sensitive to scratches,so cheap feeling.Steering wheels sensitive is not improved than latest W203 ,so w204 due design need more the optional parameter system to keep stable.Driving comfort of W204 is better than W203 but not so much as total new car.Maybe the larger side mirrors of my W204 and noise in speed is the negative point.

New button placement is not easy to use during driving a W204.
Even the basic audio 20 system in W203 is better in perfomance,except not able play Mp3 files,have SW radio reception and the telephone dial is more direct.Totaly W204 console looks like a very close small touchable wall,with outfashion popup cover.(compared also to new E class interior).

Extra cost advanced climate called thermotronic is also better in W203 facelift.Includes more air filters and electronic precicion of temperature even is not 3 zone.

Multi-function display have same fuctions in W203,but in W204 have bigger screeen.W203 have standard cruise control,w204 not.
Transmision also have same feeling as W204.

The W203 with biXenon lights are look more separate than other w203,same happened to new E class with xenon light packet.Also i think W203 Xenon lights are more powerfull (or clear) in beam than current W204.Rear light in W203 facelift is more bright in the night or when car stops.Folding side motormirrors closed complete in W203 but not close manual (or depends on edition).

W204 have better seats,rear space,head units in front (but my W204 have optional sport seats to compare.)
I also think baggages space in W204 looks like smaller than W203 in practice (maybe in load) but not in dimensions.

EDIT : I think all above will be fix in W204 facelift,but for value for money should be with first release since 2007.
People who like old W203 style or quality,must look forward waiting W204 facelift, because W203 not produced anymore.
Of course I still love my car and it's very modern external design.But If I had a choice now,I will waiting for W204 final changes coming later 2010 (turbo engines too).

 

+1

 

When we were shopping awd's, we passed on the W203 due to the mushy 5speed atx. The w204 7spd 4matic trans is a technical gem, with crisp shifts using T-Converter lock-up in all gears .... sold.

The w203 4matic we tested had a better quality ride and interior, and more muscler look due to wider rear track and fenders (note the w204 sport with wider rear wheels has less rear track vs front track).

 

The 722.6 - 5 speed transmission also locks up in all gears & is less mushy than the 722.9 - 7G

 

I think this about sums it up.

 

In the US I've been getting for the last few years a leased S. But in SA I needed a comfy car without a target painted on it. I went for a Legend, as the most inconspicuous, but to buy a car is more difficult than running for office. None is entering, we have some previous model, etc. etc. ... So, I read about the new C class being free of the sins of its elders, and looking inconspicuous enough not to attract any more undesirables than any other wheels. So, despite the terrible dealer's service I bought it, and since then my wife and I cannot be happier with the selection. Cheerio. JV

 

I own both a w203 and a w204. Here are my comments:

(i) it's worth remembering that the facelifted w203 was a substantial improvement over the 2001-2004 models, both driving-wise and (especially) styling/interior wise. The w203 was nice enough that I bought one, over an E46 330i and an RX-8.

(ii) the driving dynamics and handling/comfort compromise are what convinced me to buy a w204 (over an E92 BMW). Interior-wise, however, it did take me some time to warm to the the w204: I initially thought that my 2005 w203 was nicer. I have now changed my mind, with the w203 materials looking more dated by the week (not old, dated -- grain, etc.)

(iii) the w204 is truly a MAJOR improvement driving-wise. I still drive my coupe during the w-e, and even though I enjoy shifting the coupe's stick, the precision of the steering and the accuracy of the driving experience are not even comparable.

(iv) bottom-line, on looks/materials one may make arguments either way (it's a matter of tastes, IMHO), but anybody who prefers the w203 as a whole package over the w204 does not really like

 

I still prefer the quiteness of the w203 cabin, it was so quite more like an S class than the current W204. But, I do like the performance and handling of the W204 a BIT more, but it is different.

 

Remember that the W203 measured quieter inside than the S Class of the time due to the S Class having greater wind noise & having dropped the double glazing.

Source "Autocar" UK

 

For the folks who don't like to read:
- Owned both (2008 C350 Sport & 2006 C55)
- W204 Exterior beats W203
- W203 Interior beats W204

Better late than never. Here are my thoughts and I hope I'm qualified. I'll first start by saying that I've owned both cars and three other MB's in general so I know the product (credentials: 2005 ML320, 2006 E 350 Sport, 2008 C350 Sport, 2006 ML500 is my current SUV and along with the ML500, just added a 2006 C55). My brother has, and don't quote me, a 2006 C230 sport.

I loved my E350 Sport, but the hp/weight ratio made it a bit dull to drive for my taste so when the new C Class came out with that great body style I was immediately hooked. I figured the new C was larger (more like my E) and had the same engine so it'd be more fun to drive; the best of both worlds in theory.

I agree with a lot of folks when I say that the exterior was extremely aggressive, but the interior always felt very cheap. Now, in fairness, I thought it was b/c I was going from an E350 Sport to a C Class, but turns out I was 100% incorrect when my brother called me up and wanted to show off his C230 (bought it slightly used). When he got there and I sat in the car I was extremely impressed with the fit-n-finish and equally unimpressed/disappointed with my brand new C350 Sport. I couldn't get over the difference between the two vehicles.

All that being said, I never sat in a new C luxury so I can't speak to the quality, but I'm really thinking that too much time was spent on the exterior and the interior was almost an afterthought. I'm not exactly comparing apples to apples (2008 C350 to 2006 C55 AMG), but I figured if I like my brothers C230 interior as well, then I have to go with the W203 for interiors and W204 for Exterior.

 

sorry, I need a model/year/drive translation for those spec's. the w203 we tested was a new 2006 or 2007 C280 4matic. If it did have TC lock in all gears, did the TC have the same ft-lb capacity for max locked torque as our 7-speed?

Bottom line, for 3L 4matic, the difference in transmission performance was enough for me to wait for the w204. The sluggish feel (imho) of the w203 4matic 5speed could have also been due to more conservative shift logic.

Thanks for the info.

 

Got another loaner today from my dealer and this time it's a 09 c300 sport with almond/moca mb-tex interior..
I think almond/moca interior came straight from the luxury production line and differ from typical sport line interior in a few ways..
1. steering wheel is 4-point type and the leather feels softer
2. shift gear knob is leather wrapped not aluminum knob
3. interior door handle/armrest & center storage compartment cover is not hard plastic but feels like something more elastic..
maybe a layer of plastic/vinyl wrapped around a dense foam?? this material feels heavier but the outer layer still is too plastic..
4. seats are also softer and front seat cusion split into 2 part not 3 part..

Overall..I like the luxury interior better than the sport but not by that big of the margin..
I would still take the interior material of my wife's 06 w203 over the my 08 w204...sigh...

 

The torque converter on the 722.6 & 722.9 transmissions is fully locked (zero slip) from just after pull away to just before coming to a halt. Any perceived or otherwise differences in shift is governed by the respective software flashes which varies parameters such as ignition timing retardation at the point of change to reduce shift shock etc. There have been so many software changes that I think Benz have even lost count.

The 7G is not a mature transmission as yet and new software is being launched regularly to improve performance & satisfy customer complaints.

The major 7G changes in software have been to reduce change slur & hunting between gears. Also to reduce shift shock on down change especially when braking on the 2nd to 1st ratio change.

 

Just transitioned yesterday 08 MAY from 2004 C240 4matic to 2009 C300 Sport 4Matic. I haven't, obviously had too many miles to compare but driving dynamics, are superior though I am comparing softer to sportier setup. Build quality seems to have not lost a thing and in fact may even be better. Interior layout is naturally more modern and setup is better, (though cruise control location is a bit funny). Some interior components and bits, although they fit very well are a bit down market versus the W203 interior. All said, I'm happy with 95% of the W204. The crisper transmission and more power were a releif as my C-240 AWD was a bit sleepy.

 

Enjoy your car - the 3 litre engine is much better for the 4Matic.

I'm amused by the many comments in this thread praising the quality of the W203 interior.

It was universally crucified by the global motoring press in both pre & post face lift versions as being "fatally flawed," cheap & plasticy