2012 Car and Driver Review C250/350
#26
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Also, lets not forget about Mercedes fake *** Tex leather, what the hell is that, in a $40k plus car??? Use real leather, shouldnt be an option, most C classes are over $40k if you add anything to them, Mine was $48k and still has the fake leather, lmao!!! I couldnt find one with real leather in it, though it is optional. But for a $40k plus car, should be standard.
#27
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Sorry, 4maticbenz & other. This whole thread is moot. I am not even going to bother with looking at the 2012. The interior copied the new CLS anyway.
Lets look at the 2014 C class, published by a German magazine. Now THATs my next car.
Hmmm... Nope its not. Check out the 2014 E (last picture). THATS MY NEXT CAR!!!!
Lets look at the 2014 C class, published by a German magazine. Now THATs my next car.
Hmmm... Nope its not. Check out the 2014 E (last picture). THATS MY NEXT CAR!!!!
#28
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Mercedes Benz C300 4matic 1967 Chevelle SS
You will not get consensus on that, and dedicated threads have covered this topic extensively! I want the MBTex..."real ***" of a cow has no "luxury" appeal to me, and it requires more maintenance and wears out more quickly...not a very "luxurious" outcome!! We looked for MBTex in our E Class as well, and that car stickered for $57k.
You may be right, the Tex does seem to hold up well, just for the money I think leather would be nice, it is what everyone else uses as far as I know, I do not know much about the Tex except my friends laugh at me for it, ( Good friends, lol!) Isnt it basically vinyl??? I didnt even know they offered it in an E class, though it was just the "lowly" C, lol!
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
#30
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You may be right, the Tex does seem to hold up well, just for the money I think leather would be nice, it is what everyone else uses as far as I know, I do not know much about the Tex except my friends laugh at me for it, ( Good friends, lol!) Isnt it basically vinyl??? I didnt even know they offered it in an E class, though it was just the "lowly" C, lol!
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
#32
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Mercedes Benz C300 4matic 1967 Chevelle SS
"Vinyl" is a generic term for a range of materials. MBTex is highly engineered for the purpose, and I know of few folks who are not delighted with its performance, unless they have "status" issues with it not being cow. BMW does the same thing, but they call it "leatherette"...I just checked their 3 series web site. I will bet your friends did not know what your seats were made from until you told them...some leather seats in other manufacturers (Asian, US) don't feel or look any better than MBTex, although granted, it doesn't feel/smell like Rolls Royce Connolly hides (if you like that sort of thing).
Good call, Sportstick, I feel better now about my Tex, thanks for the info!
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Last edited by 4maticbenz; 03-15-2011 at 11:15 PM.
#33
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
You will not get consensus on that, and dedicated threads have covered this topic extensively! I want the MBTex..."real ***" of a cow has no "luxury" appeal to me, and it requires more maintenance and wears out more quickly...not a very "luxurious" outcome!! We looked for MBTex in our E Class as well, and that car stickered for $57k.
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#34
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2009 C350-Sold. Now, M3 Vert
Yes. I will agree with SportStick on the Tex issue. Coming from two vehicles with "real, actual" leather, my MB Tex looks the same with almost 30'000 miles as it did with 3'000. I'll admit, my seats could be a bit more comfy, but I will not complain about the texture.
#35
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
I've always said it, but the W204's interior is an embarrassment and joke. I've had lots of seat time in them, and I don't think I ever left without leaving my stomach on the passenger side floor (....vomit). It's just not fit for a Benz, even an entry level, at all, and it especially doesn't match up to the beautiful exterior.
But I will bet the first thing that gets changed on the W212 is it's face. That lower bumper cover sticks out way too far, almost like an ape's lower lip.
#36
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Sorry, 4maticbenz & other. This whole thread is moot. I am not even going to bother with looking at the 2012. The interior copied the new CLS anyway.
Lets look at the 2014 C class, published by a German magazine. Now THATs my next car.
Hmmm... Nope its not. Check out the 2014 E (last picture). THATS MY NEXT CAR!!!!
Lets look at the 2014 C class, published by a German magazine. Now THATs my next car.
Hmmm... Nope its not. Check out the 2014 E (last picture). THATS MY NEXT CAR!!!!
That new bumper on the E (if it comes true) puts the grille right out front so SHE with the cell phone and little SUV with the spare on the back can back into it & destroy it.
#37
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@RLE: Maybe the 3.5L engine will be unavailable by then. For 2012 the compression has been increased to 12.2:1, and HP up to just over 300. However this is just a stop-gap patch as both BMW and Audi offer vehicle more powerful and more efficient.
The real winner for a 2012 W204 so far is the C250 with the 200 HP, 229 torque (!!!) 1.8L twin turbo. Maybe a redesigned 3.2L engine would produce 350 HP, one would be surprised that a 350 would still be available in 2014, red though it be.
The real winner for a 2012 W204 so far is the C250 with the 200 HP, 229 torque (!!!) 1.8L twin turbo. Maybe a redesigned 3.2L engine would produce 350 HP, one would be surprised that a 350 would still be available in 2014, red though it be.
#38
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2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
I would've liked to see a DSG/SMG/PDK type tranny though, especially considering the coupe is pretty sexy and may appeal to the enthusiast crowd more than the current model. It is going to have paddle shifters though, right?
#39
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2012 C250 Coupe
It looks almost like and s-class.
Also - I LOVE my MB-tex... Would get it again even if it were more expensive than leather.
#40
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I am not looking for a "sporty" car (that word has styling-driven pretender connotations for me, although you may have meant it differently)...I want a sports sedan, likely such as the new 3 series coming. I compromise full sports car enjoyment for the realities of day to day life, which was the raison d'etre for the creation of the sports sedan segment waaay back with BMW 1600s. Today, the MB is superior in many ways to competition, and with some tire/chassis work, the manual version is even more enjoyable for an enthusiast. But, several of us will be leaving the brand for the sake of a transmission, as an SLK is essentially useless.
Last edited by Sportstick; 03-30-2011 at 02:29 PM.
#42
If you think that's bad - look at the new Hyundai Equus (The apparant Hyundai version of the S-class)... They stole the headlights from the 2011 s-class. The interior from the s-class and the side profile rear arch lines from the e-class...
It looks almost like and s-class.
Also - I LOVE my MB-tex... Would get it again even if it were more expensive than leather.
It looks almost like and s-class.
Also - I LOVE my MB-tex... Would get it again even if it were more expensive than leather.
#43
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2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
I am not looking for a "sporty" car (that word has styling-driven pretender connotations for me, although you may have meant it differently)...I want a sports sedan, likely such as the new 3 series coming. I compromise full sports car enjoyment for the realities of day to day life, which was the raison d'etre for the creation of the sports sedan segment waaay back with BMW 1600s. Today, the MB is superior in many ways to competition, and with some tire/chassis work, the manual version is even more enjoyable for an enthusiast. But, several of us will be leaving the brand for the sake of a transmission, as an SLK is essentially useless.
Based on what I've read in your posts, don't you think you'd be far better served by a BMW?..thats what MB thinks..hence their decision to drop the stick.
Last edited by C300Kid; 03-30-2011 at 04:09 PM.
#44
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2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
Are you talking about the steering wheel? The sport still has a 3 spoke, the luxury still has a 4 spoke..like always.
#45
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I meant sporty in regards to driving dynamics, not styling. As much as I do love my car as a daily driver, it's not the kind of car that entices the enthusiast side of me to come out regularly. A mediocre manual gearbox doesn't transform the personality of the car into something that it's not.
Based on what I've read in your posts, you'd be far better served by a BMW, and like I said, MB knows this..hence their decision to drop the stick.
Based on what I've read in your posts, you'd be far better served by a BMW, and like I said, MB knows this..hence their decision to drop the stick.
![mercy](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/mecry.gif)
But, I think something else also may be afoot here. Although each additional powertrain family certification costs money, it is relatively minor and easily offset with a small volume of sales. However, if the plants are facilitized for a certain number of powertrain combinations, the investment to increase that can be significant. With the advent of a North American 4 cylinder twin turbo, it is possible that something had to go, and looking around, the current rate of 3 liter manuals in the U.S. was the low runner which was sacrificed first. So, what MBUSA is trying to position as a market-driven action may in fact be their best effort to cloak an unwillingness to invest for additional powertrain complexity.
Last edited by Sportstick; 03-30-2011 at 04:25 PM.
#47
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2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
I agree with much of what you said, but still regret the bottom line as MB is superior for other aspects, such as overall quality, which I prize highly, and which would have kept my dollars going in their direction. BMW is MB's most direct competitor, so the strategy to target within the more youthful C segment for the lesser enthusiastic German sport/luxury sedan drivers seems suboptimal. However, it is sadly consistent with their current strategy for larger models as well...note their advertising showing absent-minded, distracted drivers being saved by their E or S Class's technology. On their Advisors owners online community, they are now asking about a tv spot for the C Class freshening, and the one feature they highlight for the spot.....the drowsy driver alert. This is heading to becoming the (mentally) old folks/disengaged driver brand.
And, Audi advertising shows they have noticed as well!
But, I think something else also may be afoot here. Although each additional powertrain family certification costs money, it is relatively minor and easily offset with a small volume of sales. However, if the plants are facilitized for a certain number of powertrain combinations, the investment to increase that can be significant. With the advent of a North American 4 cylinder twin turbo, it is possible that something had to go, and looking around, the current rate of 3 liter manuals in the U.S. was the low runner which was sacrificed first. So, what MBUSA is trying to position as a market-driven action may in fact be their best effort to cloak an unwillingness to invest for additional powertrain complexity.
![mercy](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/mecry.gif)
But, I think something else also may be afoot here. Although each additional powertrain family certification costs money, it is relatively minor and easily offset with a small volume of sales. However, if the plants are facilitized for a certain number of powertrain combinations, the investment to increase that can be significant. With the advent of a North American 4 cylinder twin turbo, it is possible that something had to go, and looking around, the current rate of 3 liter manuals in the U.S. was the low runner which was sacrificed first. So, what MBUSA is trying to position as a market-driven action may in fact be their best effort to cloak an unwillingness to invest for additional powertrain complexity.
#48
Just FYI, I purchased my 08 C350 only 6 weeks ago. Even when I knew the updated version was coming down the road. But I usually buy CPO's anyway. It was between the C350, 335i, G37, and A4. I went with the C350, cause even after 40k miles this car was TIGHT. Maybe it was the person who owned it last - but I've never been in a tighter 40k mile car. It was a good sign, and much better than anything else I drove.
I'm jealous about the New Interior and new Direct Injection Engine, but that will only make the pre-2012/2013 C63's that much more affordable for me to UPGRADE!!! Just give me a good looking quick car and I'll sit on a wooden bench with a tractor sized steering wheel.
I'm jealous about the New Interior and new Direct Injection Engine, but that will only make the pre-2012/2013 C63's that much more affordable for me to UPGRADE!!! Just give me a good looking quick car and I'll sit on a wooden bench with a tractor sized steering wheel.