ralawren

Has anyone done a comparison of ride quality/road feel as well as acceleration? The acceleration from 0-60 is only 0.1 seconds according to MB and the torque is similar.

Is the suspension on the C300 4matic softer than the suspension on the C350?

I am making a decision on which to acquire this week and am interested in others opinions. I actually drove them back to back, both with AMG 18" wheels, and thought there was a definite difference in road feel.

Acapulco Bill

The 0 to 60 times for the C350 Sport is 6.0 sec while the C300 4Matic is 6.8 sec, although some auto reviewers has tested the C300 4Matic at 7.1 sec. The C350 Sport has been tested at 5.8 secs.

As for the suspension, in the US the C300 4Matic is available in both Sport and Luxury models, the C350 only in Sport. I can tell you from experience that there is IMO a very large difference in the suspension setup between the Luxury and Sport. Unfortunately I purchased a Sport after having test driven a Luxury, and have been sorry ever since, the Sport being too busy all the time, not to mention the 19 mm lowered front suspension of the Sport causes crunching the undercarriage on speed bumps even crawling at a snail's pace. Many have complained modest driveway inclines are the source of horrendous front bumper scrapes with the Sport's lowered suspension.

If you decide on the C300 4Matic, insist on driving both the Sport and Luxury versions before you purchase., as this contributor actually went out and bought a fantastic Ford three weeks after the C300 Sport, dissatisfied with both the jolting suspension and the dismal 7G transmission's performance. Result: 14k uncomfortable miles in the W204 and 44k wonderful miles in the Ford.

Sportstick

I completely agree with Acapulco Bill about the degree of difference between Sport and Luxury....we just have different preferences (and possibly live in areas with different types of roads). I stiffened my Sport a bit with upsized antisway bars and added a strut tower brace to create a C Class which doesn't feel like the typical.....much more crisp and immediate response to steering input. You do need to buy the one which feels best to you. Your first post did not clarify if the C300 you are considering is a Sport or a Lux. There are some other issues to consider as well.

The 4Matic adds over 100lbs over the front wheels, which increases the tendency to understeer versus a rear wheel drive C350. However, in current production, the engine mass should be about the same between C300 and C350 as I understand the difference is in engine calibration, not the engine size, itself. Therefore, even Sport-to-Sport, the C350 should feel more responsive to steering input and handle better simply due to weight balance.

I see very little reason to consider 4MATIC. Even in our northerly winters, a great set of dedicated winter tires gets me through without having to carry around that extra mass all year. However, if you are more focused on ride than handling and seeking comfort, a C300 4MATIC Lux with 17" wheels will give the softest ride at the lower price. The step to 18" will deteriorate ride comfort on either model.

Good luck with the decision and your new car!

Edit: I see now that the title of your post addressed the 4MATIC being Sport. In this case, the extra weight in a Sport to Sport comparison probably made the 4MATIC ride a bit more smoothly, but at the cost of some handling/responsiveness. The choice will depend on your personal priority.

kevink2

You tested 18" wheeled versions, which will amplify the difference in suspensions, lux vs sport. The standard wheels for both cars is 17", for the better ride.

The height difference between sport and lux is .6" (15mm).

Of course no reply from me is complete until I disagree with a Sportstick opinion. True there is 100lbs close to the front axle due to AWD, and no weight difference due to engines as he stated, but I don't think it is a major influence in over/under steering. If you start at a 60/40 weight distribution for the C350, then the added weight for the AWD will give you a 61/39 distribution. The balance changes more with a full tank vs an empty tank.



You understate the difference in engine torque. The 0-60 times are largely based on the torque curve, while the 1/4 mile times are based on HP. The numbers, hp/torque, are 302/273 for the 350, and 248/251 for the 300. Just based on torque, the C350 should have a .5 sec advantage, not .1 sec. The C350 advantage: 22% more hp, 9% more torque.

Back to choice, things will be more comfortable for both with 17" wheels, and eventually DWS tires. And one mod'n that could possibly make the lux sportier, and soften the C350, would be to change sway bars. The AWD Lux could get the AWD Sports's bars, and the C350 may be able to use softer bars from an older C300 3L RWD. This would require some research.

.

ralawren

I appreciate all the input. I am comparing a US Spec C300 4 Matic SPORT to the C350 RWD Sport. I actually have a C204 C350 Coupe and my wife has a 2011 C300 4Matic. There is a huge difference in throttle response and road feel between the two. Now that we are replacing her 2011 C300 (has the 228 hp engine) we are not sure what to do. When I drove the two vehicles back to back with 18" AMG wheels I felt a similar difference. The 2013 C300 comes across with more power and a bit more acceleration than her 2011. But it did not have the "lively" road feel.

I am just worried that my bias for the sporty feel is clouding my judgment. If I had not driven the 2013 C350 Sedan I would have been very happy with the C300 4Matic Sport.

Nice problem to have though!!

Acapulco Bill

Could be something as simple as brand and model of OEM tires, which affects feel a lot between very similar vehicles. Between the C300 Sport 4Matic and the C350 Sport there is (only) a $2450 base price difference, and I havent checked the standard equipment difference. Maybe the C350 Sport is the better buy considering performance, which is nearly a full second faster than the C300 4Matic 0 to 60.

How more useful or safer has the current 4Matic's performance been in winter vs a RWD? Perhaps the safety advantage will decide the purchase.

kevink2

The C350 has always been the step below the C63, so that is no surprise. It's 3% lighter than the 4MATIC, and has 22% more hp and 9% more torque. It also has more aggressive sways, springs, and shocks vs the new C300 Sport ( I recall from an hour at the parts dept, a while back ). I bet as part of that theme, they made tip in more aggressive too.

So your wife's car has 18" rims, and I'm guessing the Sport Suspension? Could that lively road feel be due to the tires on her car may be higher performance, or perhaps 1/2 worn? Rappidly worn tires will have better grip vs new tires with tall, squirmy tread blocks. It also may be influenced by breaking in all the suspension joints.


[/QUOTE] I am just worried that my bias for the sporty feel is clouding my judgment. If I had not driven the 2013 C350 Sedan I would have been very happy with the C300 4Matic Sport.[/QUOTE]

You have your C350 coupe rocket, so I'd leave it up to her, with your input. I always enjoyed the 4MATIC, and the Audi 2.8 Quattro before it. When it's raining hard, leaves are falling, I just felt more secure knowing the car was being pushed by all 4 wheels ... esp with wet conditions and high speed on an Interstate trip.

buena suerte!

ralawren

thank you for the input. I actually am leaning towards the C300 4Matic Sport for the same reasons you mention. I have a C350 Coupe to drive for fun and will always have a sports coupe/car of some type. So why not go with the 4Matic for low traction situations such as rain, leaves, sand, off camber turns, etc. I am going to have her test drive the 2013 C300 4Matic and see if she is okay. Will let you know how we make out.

The good news is that there isn't a bad decision to be made.

kevink2

Make sure she tries the C300 lux model too. It gives a softer ride that Bill was looking for. We got the 3.0L early version, and while still at the dealer, both decided the sport front grill looked better. So I got one used and put it on, sold the lux grill. MB may still offer a kit with both sport grill and flat disc emblem for 2013. Check with parts dept if this can still be done.

With the lux, you get 4 wheels/tires the same spec as the Sport front, so no stagger. This makes tire full "X" rotation possible. And the .6" extra ride height makes for easier driving.

.

Acapulco Bill

Ditto. Double ditto.

ralawren

Thanks to all who provided advice. We ended up purchasing a 2013 C300 4matic Sport - Steel Grey/Ash interior. It has Keyless Go, Multimedia and P1. The car has better acceleration than the 2011 C300 4matic Sport it is replacing and we really like the new interior, larger Comand Screen and ride. If it was only my decision I probably would have gone for the C350 Sport Sedan, but the 4matic is the best choice for the whole family.

Acapulco Bill

I truly hope you got the Harman Kardon Logic 7 stereo.

ralawren

Yes, it is part of the P1 package in US. Sirius radio, heated seats, harmon kardon radio, split folding rear seats, memory drivers seat

Bu does not include rear window shade.