encoder

My trade-in for the C350 was a Volvo S60 T5. I loved the Volvo 5-cylinder engine. Seemed, when matched with that beastly turbo, to be just the right balance. Less power, better economy than a 335i, more power than the C230 Kompressor.

Of course, it was an entirely different machine than the Mercedes. Funny aside, when we bought it, my GF kept going on and on about how it's smaller than the volvo, she hated driving the volvo, it was so big, this is so nice that it's smaller.

It's not smaller, of course. Not even close. It's the agility and improved turning radius and nimbleness.

Of course, a few days after we bought it, i had a dream I bought an S60R as my "work car" so the Benz wouldn't see too much use. I'm a software engineer. I work from home No need for a work car but I think my dreaming mind was on to something

nyca

You can thank the EPA for forcing MB to offer a 4 cylinder model - the next 3 series will suffer the same fate. What you will likely see then is, the "base" 6 cylinder car (C300) will rise in price to make room for the 4 cylinder, as MB needs to price incentivize customers to go for the 4 cylinder model to allow them to meet their CAFE requirements.

mr inkredibul

There will still be only 3 C models in the US. The base C will be a twin turboed 4 cyinder (think audi), the c350 will be a DI V6, and the C63 will be a 4.7 ltr twin turbo.

joshg1001

there will be 4. the C300 is not being dropped. its C250, C300, C350, C63

though it would make sense to drop the C300, not very fuel efficient and not that much hp

mr inkredibul

Where is this news, everything i've read for the last two years has said that the 300 would change to a turbo 4, and the 350 would get DI.

Viper98912

C63 wagon facelift in white with the new motor is what I'd be all over.....

len56

love the interior, don't love the headlights. not agressive enough

maybe I'll like it more in person (I liked the 2008 MY more in person)

Sportstick

Here is this news........

"The mid-grade C300 retains its 3.0-liter V-6 with 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, but now is offered only with 4MATIC all-wheel drive (and will be the only C-class available thus equipped)."

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car...nfo-auto_shows

K-A

Oh, wow. So the C300 isn't truly "offered", (for my area at least). If 4-Matic isn't a necessity or want for you, then the 4-banger is it. So, in SoCal, 99% of W204 facelifts will be 4-bangers? Wow, kind of weird. The C300 will be the ******* child either way, now with the least torque, and mandatory AWD, it will probably be quite a bit more sluggish in real world traffic than the 4-Cyl, not to mention, get by far the worst gas mileage of the bunch.

mr inkredibul

Thanks thats the only article in 24 months that stated there would be 3. I wonder the rational. I can see that going away in 2013. Audi did away with the 3.2 because the 2.0t had almost identical performance numbers and way better gas mileage, thus no one purchased it.

nyca

Well, it forces people who want a 6 and RWD to pay up to get the 350. But the 4MATIC won't sell with a 4 cylinder, so they have to keep the 3.0L - but its true, that without a revision on the 3.0L to DI, its going to be down on power and MPG. At some point (W205 likely) the 350 will get 4MATIC and the 3.0L will be dropped entirely.

nyca

Yes, but Audi has conditioned their buyers to accept/expect 4 cylinder turbo power. Mercedes hasn't, and neither has BMW in the 3 series. Both MB and BMW are going to have problems selling 4 cylinder cars in this segment - its just not what their buyers expect. I wouldn't buy one.

theonidis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUNqsmyLgBs

encoder

Thank the EPA? Bollocks. Mercedes CAFE underperforms it's competitors, often significantly so. Not the EPAs fault, as-if everybody is suffering under the yolk of oppression in meeting 27.5 Whole MPG.

encoder

What? Surely you're familiar with.. ya know... W203. And even W202 before that. Kompressor is a well-known brand amongst buyers in this segment.

And I don't know how you separate "audi buyers" and "mb buyers" and "bmw buyers." From my perspective, if you're a "german sport sedan buyer" you're familiar with and are shopping amongst all of these. And if you're not -- if you're so MB specific that you've been immune to Audi's "conditioning" (whatever that really means), won't those buyers just buy whatever Mercedes is selling?

I think a lot of people care less than you think. That's why there's so many C300's which I personally wouldn't buy as it's underpowered. Likewise 328i. Those people will all of a sudden care that they have a 2.5T instead? Color me doubtful. Especially the massive number of female buyers in that segment.

And of the ones that do care, I think there are just many who prefer a smaller displacement, twin-turbo engine as there are who believe in this old school Detroit Mentality of Big Displacement Wins.

ChrisBrown

Love the interior changes. It's about time they got the W204 interior up to the standard of the W203 face-lift interior. Now it actually looks like a newer and improved car over the out-going model. The new "matte" type of finish on the wood looks interesting. Not as much gloss as in the past. At least it's still real wood and not plastic.

lithium332

The 4-bangers are already available in Asia and personally, the C250 CGI (which will be coming to the US) is just a better engine overall compared to the C300.

I never understood the mentality of preferring a v6, when hanging on to the v6 means less torque, worse mileage and a larger price tag. Are you concerned about the sound of the exhaust? The only valid reason I can think of is turbo lag but from driving my friend's C300, it's not very noticeable because there's normal throttle lag in the C300 anyway. To me it seems like it's an obsession with a value, just like some people who only care for the size of an engine or the horsepower when it doesn't necessarily equate with better performance as in this case.

noka

Is there something not valid about wanting a different exhaust note? Maybe some people prefer NA to FI for reliability reasons as well.

lithium332

Yeah true, that's why I mentioned the exhaust note. But the exhaust note can still be modded, and nyca mentioned power, when the new four-banger delivers similar performance as the c300 v6. And yes, I'm wondering what other reasons there might be.

snarlingchicken

They're actually keeping the 6.2L V8 for the C63.

I think I'm gonna look into retrofitting one of the flat-bottomed steering wheels from the 2012 models once they come out. Beats the hell of out the bleak steering wheel on the standard sport models.

mbars

Love the facelifted interior. Makes me want to looking at the current W204 interior.
LOL eat your heart out.

mr inkredibul

So interesting how some people love the new interior and hate the old and vice versa. I wonder if its two diff types of consumers. I love the old. I can't stand the new especially the new steering wheel.

C300Kid

I'd say the new interior is far sportier, the old one is more business-like. The new steering wheel is infinitely better though, I don't know how you dont like it.

mr inkredibul

I'm not sure if u made a mistake when typing cuz I think the exact opposite lol! The current is sportier and the new is more business like to me. I don't like the buttons and that awful "aluminum" portion. I love the all black with the simple chrome accents with black wood (soon to be CF). I do however like the new wheel with the flat bottom.

Noone has commented on how one interior shot has seats that are not seen in ANY other picture tho.

MB300AMG

The interior is a nice change for sure, but those headlights are AWFUL!

They would have looked less offensive if they'd kept the current 2010 bumper, but with the change it looks like the car has a gaping maw and horrible eyes!