2014 Mercedes C-Class Revealed
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes, but surprisingly little in this application. I thought it would have been more severe, and I have the bar on the stiffer set of holes. The 204 seems so well isolated that it manages the increased stiffness quite well and doesn't translate it into the cabin as harshly as one might expect. Eibach seems to have done very good development work on these bars to complement the 204 chassis.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I dunno, my pops has the sl550, my grandfather and grandmother had sl500's and whatever the 4 door was back then mid 80's, when I bought my c300 the first thing I noticed is it had this "mercedes" feel to it, reminded me of my grandparents lol, maybe it was the fake leather.
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Another round of ICE
I'd rather be in my lighter but stiffened 204 than my wife's 211 4Marshmallowmatic anytime! 
But, I do agree with you about overboosted steering.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I've always meant to ask you. Why don't you & your family drive American cars? Jeep discounted. Maybe other Chrysler products?
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 20, 2013 at 06:38 PM.
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Another round of ICE
Then, I started what turned out to be 24 years inside an American domestic, and had the privilege of ordering whatever I wished (that they made!) at no cost, including gas, insurance, washes. I was able to reorder about twice a year. Once I retired, I was appreciative of the career, but wanted to enjoy again the kind of driving experience I had earlier in life. The C300 is an OK first rebound car, but I know what I want next and no one on this continent builds it. Even McDonald's employees can prefer chateaubriand to cheeseburgers!
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From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
Once I retired, I was appreciative of the career, but wanted to enjoy again the kind of driving experience I had earlier in life. The C300 is an OK first rebound car, but I know what I want next and no one on this continent builds it. Even McDonald's employees can prefer chateaubriand to cheeseburgers!
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Another round of ICE
Driven it in six cylinder automatic form. Chassis is outstanding. The 2.0T/6speed combo (which would be my preference) is not the high point of the car, and it's still too "glitzy" for me. I'm one of those who likes the pre-facelift C Class interior better for its simplicity. The Bavarians are calling my name, although I am curious about the Alfa Giulia once it launches. Yes....I know.
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
For me, it's the SPIRIT of the car, as silly as that may sound. Modern MBs are of course objectively better than old ones. The characteristic body roll of the 1980s has given way to a well-snubbed ride. Cars w/ summer tires post high handling limits when magazines test them. They have all sorts of fun electronic gizmos. They're even pretty reliable now. But the cohesive and unfailingly GERMANIC sensibility isn't quite there anymore. And that's unfortunate, IMHO, although I still much like MBs. But that's just the way world works, no?
Are the stiffer anti-roll bars why the W211 used to skip around on bumpy pavement mid-corner in a *very* un-MB sort of way? =(
Are the stiffer anti-roll bars why the W211 used to skip around on bumpy pavement mid-corner in a *very* un-MB sort of way? =(
Last edited by MBNUT1; Nov 20, 2013 at 09:35 PM.
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C300 Sport/Palladium Silver on Black/P2
I dunno, my pops has the sl550, my grandfather and grandmother had sl500's and whatever the 4 door was back then mid 80's, when I bought my c300 the first thing I noticed is it had this "mercedes" feel to it, reminded me of my grandparents lol, maybe it was the fake leather.
I guess that must have been even more exaggerated in other Mercedes.
Furthermore, even with the sport suspension, I find the ride fairly comfortable. I drove a 2005 C230 sport that seemed much harsher.
I guess so much does come down to the specific model you compare against each other than just the series, W203 versus W204.
I do get the lighter steering complaint. I find the steering bit heavier/better than cheap cars on the road, but it is certainly lighter than my SLK with the mechanical speed sensitive setup.
Last edited by mac911; Nov 21, 2013 at 12:07 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The W211 was a product of computer simulated testing instead of doing it on the road & it showed. Not Benz best effort by a long way. With W204 & all other models of the era they went back to testing on the road in SA, Namibia & Finland. I even have a DVD from MBSA of the W204 testing regime. That's why it has been a relatively trouble free car.
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From: Montreal
2009 C300 4Matic Sport + Premium 2
This is getting worse by the minute. The more I see what the new W205 looks like, the more disappointed I am.
First, that 'installed-at-the-last-minute look' iPad nav screen really sucks. There's no way to put it away and looks out-of-place. As Steve Jobs would probably say, "There's no seamless integration between the software and the hardware. That guy is fired".
Secondly, who designed the new lines for the car? more bloated and rounded all around. It seems Mercedes and BMW are sharing the same designer for their latest models.
Thirdly, as Sportstick pointed out, what target market is this new model made for? it has lost most of its precise, masculine exterior lines in favor of a metrosexual look.
First, that 'installed-at-the-last-minute look' iPad nav screen really sucks. There's no way to put it away and looks out-of-place. As Steve Jobs would probably say, "There's no seamless integration between the software and the hardware. That guy is fired".
Secondly, who designed the new lines for the car? more bloated and rounded all around. It seems Mercedes and BMW are sharing the same designer for their latest models.
Thirdly, as Sportstick pointed out, what target market is this new model made for? it has lost most of its precise, masculine exterior lines in favor of a metrosexual look.
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Another round of ICE
This is getting worse by the minute. The more I see what the new W205 looks like, the more disappointed I am.
Thirdly, as Sportstick pointed out, what target market is this new model made for? it has lost most of its precise, masculine exterior lines in favor of a metrosexual look.
Thirdly, as Sportstick pointed out, what target market is this new model made for? it has lost most of its precise, masculine exterior lines in favor of a metrosexual look.
Last edited by Sportstick; Nov 21, 2013 at 12:15 PM. Reason: Data clarification: Applies to US only
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From: Montreal
2009 C300 4Matic Sport + Premium 2
The members of this forum are a non-representative subset of C Class owners, and bring our own biases as hyper-involved with our cars. The mean C Class buyer is a 58 year old man, and the typical attitudinal positions are most certainly less enthusiastic than in our community here. That is for whom the car is designed.
But for me or others here, this is a turn off.
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From: Belgium
W205
The members of this forum are a non-representative subset of C Class owners, and bring our own biases as hyper-involved with our cars. The mean C Class buyer is a 58 year old man, and the typical attitudinal positions are most certainly less enthusiastic than in our community here. That is for whom the car is designed.
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From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
I also don't judge a car simply by spy pics (or even official pics, for that matter). I thought the A5 was utterly boring looking in pics; it's quite the opposite (for me) in real life. I also didn't think the W204 looked good in spy pics but think it's quite handsome in the flesh.
I've seen light camouflaged W205's driving around my area. The proportions definitely seem to be more upright and conservative. I personally like this....
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Another round of ICE
For you and *some* others here, it is a turn off. In LA, my impression is that the vast majority of C-classes are driven by females of all ages. I've never thought of any C-class, including the current one, as being particularly masculine.
I also don't judge a car simply by spy pics (or even official pics, for that matter). I thought the A5 was utterly boring looking in pics; it's quite the opposite (for me) in real life. I also didn't think the W204 looked good in spy pics but think it's quite handsome in the flesh.
I've seen light camouflaged W205's driving around my area. The proportions definitely seem to be more upright and conservative. I personally like this....
I also don't judge a car simply by spy pics (or even official pics, for that matter). I thought the A5 was utterly boring looking in pics; it's quite the opposite (for me) in real life. I also didn't think the W204 looked good in spy pics but think it's quite handsome in the flesh.
I've seen light camouflaged W205's driving around my area. The proportions definitely seem to be more upright and conservative. I personally like this....
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From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
I'm sure LA lies outside the mean in a variety of ways.... My point was more that styling is so subjective, so people should perhaps be careful of generalizing their own opinion onto a whole population. In LA, my impression is that the C-Class appeals to be people who are relatively new to the brand and/or can't afford a more expensive MB and to "empty-nesters" who like MBs, perhaps can afford more, but simply don't need or want a bigger car (esp w/ gas prices being what they are nowadays). I'm myself am not new to the brand but can't afford a more expensive one (and probably wouldn't want to fork over the $ if I could) and simply don't need a bigger car....
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Whether by design or accident, one would hope by design & as with the W220 they have launched the new S Class (W222) ahead of the W205. This will hopefully create pull for the W205 as it did for the highly successful W203.
A Class & especially CLA at it's price point for the US market is supposed to be the offering to the younger buyer.
While MBUSA has stated that W205 will not see price rises over W204 I suspect that this is to a degree disingenuous & that 4 cylinder models of W205 will keep entry price down while 6 cylinder versions will see a price hike over time.
EDIT: The US probably messes up the Benz overall global strategy by not offering the full product range.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Nov 22, 2013 at 06:29 AM. Reason: sp
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From: BLR-BFL-LAX
2015 Acura TLX
Oh, I wasn't doubting the accuracy of your data. I'm sure LA lies outside the mean in a variety of ways.... My point was more that styling is so subjective, so people should perhaps be careful of generalizing their own opinion onto a whole population.
In LA, my impression is that the C-Class appeals to be people who are relatively new to the brand and/or can't afford a more expensive MB and to "empty-nesters" who like MBs, perhaps can afford more, but simply don't need or want a bigger car (esp w/ gas prices being what they are nowadays). I'm myself am not new to the brand but can't afford a more expensive one (and probably wouldn't want to fork over the $ if I could) and simply don't need a bigger car....
I'm sure LA lies outside the mean in a variety of ways.... My point was more that styling is so subjective, so people should perhaps be careful of generalizing their own opinion onto a whole population. In LA, my impression is that the C-Class appeals to be people who are relatively new to the brand and/or can't afford a more expensive MB and to "empty-nesters" who like MBs, perhaps can afford more, but simply don't need or want a bigger car (esp w/ gas prices being what they are nowadays). I'm myself am not new to the brand but can't afford a more expensive one (and probably wouldn't want to fork over the $ if I could) and simply don't need a bigger car....
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Makes sense. Many around the world are trading down even if the can afford the more expensive models.
Then you have the company car influence & they are trading down. One must remember that a large proportion of Benz cars go into company fleets or to individual execs as company cars.
Then you have the company car influence & they are trading down. One must remember that a large proportion of Benz cars go into company fleets or to individual execs as company cars.
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From: French Riviera
2011 C180 Coupé (prev '99 CLK200)
For the same price I prefer a smaller car full of options than a bigger one entry level.
In europe big cars are often a pain to drive and park in old towns where parking places and streets were made for fiat 500.
Taxes are really high for big blocks and the gazoline price is around $8/$9 a gallon where it's around $3/$3.5 in the us almost 3x more expensive...
Pascal
In europe big cars are often a pain to drive and park in old towns where parking places and streets were made for fiat 500.
Taxes are really high for big blocks and the gazoline price is around $8/$9 a gallon where it's around $3/$3.5 in the us almost 3x more expensive...
Pascal
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From: BLR-BFL-LAX
2015 Acura TLX
Makes sense. Many around the world are trading down even if the can afford the more expensive models.
Then you have the company car influence & they are trading down. One must remember that a large proportion of Benz cars go into company fleets or to individual execs as company cars.
Then you have the company car influence & they are trading down. One must remember that a large proportion of Benz cars go into company fleets or to individual execs as company cars.
