walmartcars

Hey guys,

I'm planning to buy my first car (and hopefully my first MB) within the next few months. I'd really appreciate comments from you gurus regarding buying a 2011 C300 or 350 (because prices will go down) in summer or wait till fall for a 2012 C250 or C300 (because the upgrade looks really decent)? My geographic location is SF Bay Area (high traffic area) so I'm kind of leaning towards 4-cylinder C250.

TIA

joshg1001

pretty obvious decision to me to wait for the new model. Sure you will be paying less with the 2011 model, but then you have already lost 1 full year of depreciation in reality because you are buying a 1 year old model. So really you havent gained anything with the cheaper '11 model.

Also, Im guessing the C250 will start at a lower price point than the C300 at the moment. And lets not forget the better interior and better options

Cant go wrong with either since both are great cars (the same car?) but I would just wait. It has always been my personality to get the newest of things though

Sportstick

The benefit of the 4 cylinder fuel economy in your area and the interior improvements are in favor of waiting. Exterior changes are close to invisible. Reasons not to wait are if you want a manual trans, which I realize is unlikely (dropped for 2012), or if you can just afford the discounted 2011 as they close them out. As with all model changeovers for all companies, it would be unrealistic not to allow for some additional unpredictable likely minor quality issues with that much interior and powertrain change..

Acapulco Bill

The C250 MAY (not sure) come with the standard transmission, and despite its 1.8L turbo engine, produces 200 HP and a whopping 229 lb feet of torque!!!!! (thats 1 torque more than the C300). Just this plus the economy, is reason enough to wait until the August release.

No more manual transmissions for the C300 or C350 in the US or Canada.

hitokiri89

Considering where you live I would wait and get the 250 .

Acapulco Bill

@hitokiri89: You recommend walmartcars a diesel for the SF Bay area?

Sportstick

C250 is a new US/Canada model for 2012 with a 4 cylinder twin turbocharged gasoline engine, rear wheel drive, automatic trans only, per MBUSA.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t_drive_review

Samieee

If SF traffic is anything like NYC traffic I suggest waiting for the C250. As Acapulco Bill mentioned, that 1.8L engine has awesome torque and IMO is worth waiting for. 200 HP is way more than enough for city driving

joshg1001

I dont know why being in SF may warrant the smaller engine...

if people are suggesting that you are mostly sitting in traffic in SF, then he should buy a hybrid. But really, its not that bad in SF.

CA-C300

Wait it out! the 2012 C is just too good lookin to pass up.. and get the coupe

Sportstick

High west coast gas prices, and the 250 will be more than adequate for his particular situation, as he describes it. If MB made a hybrid, that might be the best choice for him.

MBnewby

Wait for 2012, the new interior alone is worth the wait! The C250 should also be a fun punchy little car around town. Anyone know the estimated highway mpg on the C250?

Anyone else find it completely amazing that Kia can offer a turbo 4 that gets 32 mpg on the highway?!!! That is incredible. Have Kia and Hyundai found some engine technology that no one else has mastered? I still can't quite get over the whole Kia image but damn they are getting better in design and engine tech. Sorry to take over the thread...just my random thoughts.

joshg1001

What we really need is the start stop function to come over the the US...I dont know why they didnt add this seeing as how there is a button to turn it off if the driver doesnt like it