ballinsoldier

Anyone have an idea when the 2013 will come out and any speculations on changes to the new model?

I'm looking to get into a new car this summer and have been looking around a bit. I'm leaning heavily to the C350, but am also considering IS350, TL, and sorta thinking about a Mustang GT or perhaps a 1-2 year old C63 or E550. Not that any of that matters, I'm just curious. The smart/patient person in me says to wait for the 2014 models but that's going to be a tough wait...

LILBENZ230

The IS350 is very long in the tooth now.

The TL is perhaps the ugliest car ever.

The Mustang GT doesn't seem to fit in with the rest you're comparing it to.

The C350 facelift 2012 model would be my pick of that litter. 2013 changes are likely to be minor.

tasho3

you mean the car with 2 fronts, and no back! lol

ballinsoldier

haha, you're exactly right. I just see the new engines on the GT and it makes me want a muscle car, although I'm torn on the looks and fear I'd get tired of it quickly.

As far as the TL, sitting in one made me fall in love with it, but looking at the front end makes me feel differently. They did tone it down a bit for the 2012 model, but still iffy at best.

I'm leaning toward the c350 since it had a facelift (more on the inside) for the 2012 model and was wondering if I should wait on a '13 just to get whatever minor tweaks they make. I just don't have a clue when the '13 will be built. Late summer/fall? I'd hate to do what I did with my last car, buy in June and they release the new model 2 months later for the same price...

LILBENZ230

The TL has a gorgeous interior. Unfortunately I would not want a car I had to stare at the ground until I sat down in so as to avoid permanent eye damage. They toned it down from "OMG my eyes" to "WTF were they thinking".. it's as though someone said to Honda "I bet you can't design the world's ugliest car!" and Honda said "I accept your challenge."

Tis a pity, really. The 3G TL was a beauty.

user 7540208

Details on the 2013 model......

http://www.benzblogger.com/labels/C-Class.html

I ordered a C350 sedan last week. Supposedly production starts in late June, delivery starts in July in the US. No pricing info yet.

ballinsoldier

Thanks, good info. Looks like that will be right around the time I'd like to buy. Think I'll wait on the '13.

wireless200

Looks like almost no changes except for colors and stop/start. Why not get an EOY '12 at a great price and also avoid the "13" stigma ? Remember Apollo "13?" Not sure I'd want the restart stutter at lights either...

ballinsoldier

That was my other thought. If they've got a '12 I want and are willing to make it worthwhile by giving a good deal, I'd probably go that route.

The stop/start sounds interesting in theory to save negligible amounts of fuel, but not sure about reality.

user 7540208

Supposedly the ECO stop/start is well tested, I think it's been around awhile on other models. Might even be standard on the Euro C-class if I remember the original reviews of the 2012 C-class that were done in Europe. Plus you can turn if off apparently. There is another thread on ECO stop/start somewhere I recall reading, might be on this forum.
I ended up ordering a 2013 because I couldn't get the color/options I wanted on an existing 2012. I didn't think about the '13 stigma, lol. Hope I have better luck than the Apollo!

MBRedux

Almost no changes... except for one BIG one. The C300 and C300-4Matic will be getting a detuned 3.5L Direct Injected V6... that's HUGE! The 3.0L 90'V6 is gone next year!

user 7540208

Good point. Which to me begs the question: why even bother with the C300 badge at all? You can get a C350 Coupe with 4Matic as an option and it still retains the 300hp. So, why does the sedan get a detuned version and a 300 badge? Go figure. Marketing, I guess.

wireless200

"300" is a nice round number. People like that. : )

schvamf

Hopefully by the time my lease is up it will have 302 hp (4-matic sedan)!