You are 100% correct, I also paid about what you did for a 2008 C350 in 2009 with 23k miles and I saved nearly $10 grand. It is far better than anything else I could have bought for $30 grand. I quickly get bored with cars and trade every 2-3 years. The C is not perfect but when I start looking for something else I can never find anything that I would be willing to trade the C for and not regret it. I guess that means I am attached to it, eh? The engine, transmission, and drive is superb but the interior is so boring to me... The 2012 models will fix all the flaws with the C but I won't be able to afford one until 2014, damnit...

 

Oh yes, forgot to mention that if my C50 had 4matic and 300hp I'd probably keep it forever! I really miss AWD...it's almost a must in the midwest during the winter months.

 

Two months ago I traded in my 07 G35 for a 08 C300. I was always in awe every time I saw a W204! After about a day, I had buyers remorse! Hated the slow pick up of the C300 and missed features that I did not think were important to me....ie. heated seats, satellite radio, back seats folding down, and so on.

Three weeks and $2500 later I worked out a deal with my original dealership to get into an 08 C350 fully loaded...Problem solved and now I am a happy camper. I will say that I am still missing some of the gusto of the G35 but that is soon to be fixed with a tune and secondary cat swap out with high flow cats.

All is good now and I am a happy benz owner!

 

I have a 2009 C300 4Matic with navigation and I absolutely love the car! The HK sound system is the best system out there in my opinion. I've test drove this along with BMW, Lexus, Cadillac, and a few others and I liked the C300 sound/navigation best, along with the driving comfort. I have no complaints with this vehicle. I've had it about 18 months and the only problem I've had was the thermostat sensor broke, but that was covered under warranty so it wasn't an issue.

 

Had a 2008 now have a 2011. I must like it.

 

Does the C not have fold down backseats as standard?

 

No it's not standard on the base C300 models but comes standard on C350... To get the split folding rear seats for the C300 you need to get the P1 package

 

Since this 2011 C is my first MB, as well as my 2nd car, I am still slowly learning all features. I just found all interior door handles have lights. What a nice tough! Just because of that I love this car more than I did a moment ago.

I wonder if other brand like BMW has that light or not. To long time owners it is nothing but to me it was a surprise of how much details MB has put into cars.

 

I feel my e46 is very rough in terms of the interior when compared to MBs. that is the main reason why I am going with MB next is because they seem more driver + passenger oriented. Spirited driving through the mountains was a dream on my 330. But 80-90% of the time, I'm sitting in bumper to bumper traffic or going on a long road trip...and bmw seats are not comfortable at all.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. After almost a year, finally let go of the 3er and am now a proud owner of a 2010 C300. Wish it had more options though, but so far I'm in love with the drive and comfort. I can see myself sitting quite happily in traffic tomorrow morning.

 

Congratulations

I was not a member when this thread was started, but my opinion based on the here and now would've been get the new updated 2012 C Class fully optioned and you'll love it !!!

Enjoy your C300

 

My wife just purchased a 2012 c350 pretty much loaded and the car is superb. Both my wife and I were very long time BMW owners but left the brand. My wife traded in her e46 which IMO was BMWs last great bimmer. The e90 wasn't bad, I went through two of those including two M3s. I regret selling my e46 M3. My e90 M3 wasn't a true M car. They lost the M. And the F30 is sad. The c350 is a much finer car. Anyway, Mercedes has done great. Keep up the great work. Good luck BMW..

 

I bought mine near half year,NO POWER, NOT FUN TO DRIVE, but I love how comfortable the car is, is quite inside,I put my whole set of stereo in mine and it is superb just for long drive.

 

I find the c350 a blast to drive and it's comfortable and a quiet ride. I did drive the c250 and yes it's not the same but a still really good looking machine. Benz wins in the design and refinement category IMO.

 

Dont mean to bring up old thread and probably too late to reply ot the OP. But just bought a used 2010 c300 fully loaded (p1, p2, media package). Only thing missing is keyless GO. Had it for a week and love it. I first test drove a c300 with just p1 package (heated and memory seats) and it felt so much cheaper. If you're going to go for this car, get it fully loaded.

 

@aznmode: Does it have paddle shifters, headlight washers, and memory seats for the passenger plus electrified lumbar support on both front seats?

 

Bill the C in the US doesnt get paddle shifters on c300 till 2012 I believe I kno c350 had it before, headlight washers im not sure I dont have them but I dont have p2 maybe its part of that n memory seats n power lumbar for passenger side we still dont have that in any of the c's except c63

 

No paddle shifters as I believe that's only option for C350 at the time. It does have headlight washers but only memory and 4 way electronic lumbar support on driver. I'm never a passenger so having those options on that side didn't matter to me. It's a c300 sport btw.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Wasn't aware of that.

 

Mine is a 2011 C300 4MATIC , MM, NAV, P1, P2, heated seats, memory seats, folding down rear seat, rear view camera, rear sun shade, Sports Package only thing missing is 18" wheel and Pano ... I can live without the Pano and I am purchasing 19" ADV.1 8TS ... love the rear sunshade and factory rear camera !!! this is my 1st MB and i plan on purchasing a MLK 350 and CLS as well .. Go Mercedes-Benz

 

Mine has rear view camera as well. Very useful in the dark when parallel parking or backing up. Down tilting passenger side mirror is great too. I use to always worry about hitting the Damn curb and scratching my rims. Which I've done on my c230s 19" rims. Ouch! Seems we have pretty much the same options. Cool.

 

I have that too ... my only complaint would be that the Mercedes should come off the line with EVERY option like the Acura's ... Its a luxury car !!!

 

Seems like the items that make the Benz a "luxury" car are missing in the US, especially for the former C300 and now C250/350 levels of class. My wife just loves the electric lumbar on the passenger side, since we only use the W204 for long trips (and frankly it isnt all that comfortable).

Surprised that the HK isnt included in the MM package.

The Euro spec we are forced to get in Mexico (no choosable options unless you go Designo) lack, of course, heated seats, split rear folddown seat, garage door openers, rear window shade, and no MM package as there was no map of Mexico until recently, AND no HK system except in the C63.

So its a mixed bag, we get the silly paddle shifters which dont do crap because of the lame 7G trans, but items like the LED taillights were standard in 2010. And lets face it, a Hyundai without options had better audio with iPod and MP3 capability with selection and complete information on each track (instead of the display with Track 01, Track 02 etc and no CD name) in 2004, as did BMW and Audi... And people ask me why I drive my 10-year old FORD as a daily driver and just LOVE it, instead of the W204? Better everything except brakes!!!!

 

The HK system was a part of the multimedia package in 2008-2009. For 2010-2011 it was a standalone option.

 

I agree. I got my '09 6 weeks ago with P1, P2, Nav, SiriusXM, HK, Keyless GO. Already switching to LED bulbs and other nice mods.