Sounds like the 205 interests you. Are you ready to "age" out of the 328i you're now driving? You and I will be trading places next time around.

 

I'm definitely interested. I like my 328i but the acres of plastic inside is getting on my nerves. I'm not a huge fan of its exterior, the W205 Sport/AMG Package that's used in most of the publicity shots is much more appealing. Heck, I like the W204 a lot too but I went with the 328i because I decided it drives better. But I think the weight loss and increased HP and torque will only improve the drive quality of the W205.

 

dont know about the U.S but in Canada I would say minimum 70% of all MB's that come with the option of AWD are AWD regardless of model. The real number is most likely over 90% in Toronto which has one of the warmer winter seasons vs the rest of the country

 

i meant to say new car. After 14 hour work day brain wasn't functioning properly

 

so when is it going to hit the dealers?

 

My dates in post #50 are for Europe.

 

hate LCD panel place too, seems on air and will fall down as soon as possible ! why Mercedes ?

on the image text means LIKE IT ? ! forget it -question mark that I do not like new design !

and also additional it close wiew and distracter ! it can also be dangerous

 

R.I.P 3 Series

 

As with A Class & derivatives, B Class & new S Class you will realise that this screen could never be stowed. It is part of your interface with the car for all major functions, everything from Seats to HVAC. It is no longer just a Nav screen.

+1^ ~ the new 3 Series is a soft car & has lost much of it's appeal. They have moved closer to older generation C Classes in feel while Benz has moved on.

 

To retain comfort & decent road holding while navigating real world roads you need long, well damped, suspension travel & progressive spring rates. This is why recent 3 Series cars have been so criticised for poor ride quality exacerbated by run flat low profile tyres. Many cars on these forums that get suspension messed with are totally impractical for normal use. Many ruin the design aerodynamics by dropping the tail too low. These cars are designed to be nose down, tail up to achieve optimum cd & control air under the car.

Our friend AcapulcoBill specified sport suspension on his W204 for Mexico City & now complains about the ride. What did he expect on crap Mexican roads? He should have bought an Elegance/Luxury & fitted it with 16 inch wheels with higher profile tyres.

So you can go for the whole "stance" thing but need to accept that you are compromising comfort, roadholding on less than perfect roads, & high speed stability because the tail of the car is too low.

 

I believe the seat heat controls are on the door, based on side panel pics I've seen, but that's not to say the screen has redundant function for that.

I think that once we actually sit in this thing, all the "negative" thoughts that anyone might have will go straight out the window...lol

The fact that it's a 2 liter DI turbo (albeit still a 4 cyl) with more horsepwer, I'm hoping that there is nice lower end power like the current v6's. I have a c250, and there is a definite lag from the time you slam the pedal and when it responds..

 

Yes, of course. They will be closing the assembly lines this afternoon.

Let's get real. The W205 was undoubtedly heavily researched, as are all new products, and was designed to successfully appeal to a target audience to meet MB's volume and profit goals. Great! I wish them success. They are clarifying their product strategy and focusing on their target market. In the process, they will not appeal to others, who will find their preferences satisfied elsewhere. Even here, with one of the most biased samples possible - the hyper-involved/enthusiast subset of actual owners - there is no consensus, although the majority seem to like what they see so far on the exterior, with most still disliking the screen inside.

One does not usually successfully compete by trying to be the same as the other guy. One wins by offering an alternative which either is far more satisfactory (out-do them at their own game) or providing something clearly different. BMW usually does the latter, and tripped by failing to take a clearer position with one strategy with the 3, falling somewhere between. However, they have clearly recovered their footing with the dynamics of the 4 Series Coupe (and following Gran Coupe), and the 2 Series which is next and has already been compared more to the original 2002 and spirit of the early 3s, and will also have a Coupe and Gran Coupe, about the same size as the W204. I expect they will get the 3 back on track. So, pick your driving experience from an increasingly wider array of choices....good for us consumers who win with more selections!

So, the net result is those who aspire to the luxury experience MB is clearly aiming to enhance in this segment will be delighted by the 205. Glyn recently said the "bank vault on wheels" feeling is fun for him. I can't relate to that viscerally, but I respect it, and wish all of those who feel that way a happy ownership with a 205! Those who want to have something more exciting in the manner to which I am accustomed will look elsewhere, where how the car feels at an apex, even in everyday driving, will be higher up on the list (and of course there's our old manual transmission issue!). We will all spend money for these cars, and the car companies will enjoy collecting it from everyone of us. Everyone prospers and no one needs to "R.I.P." Have a great day!

 

I show some of the typical screen interfaces in posts #25 & 26 here.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-revealed.html

 

My thoughts exactly. Looking forward to seeing it in person at NAIAS. Hoping the pictures don't do it justice.

 

MB's have always been known for their bank-vault solidity. Those of us who grew up w/ MB's from the 1980's (when they were known for been staid, safe, gentlemen's cars) are happy to see them return to their roots.... Although I actually really like the looks of the W204. The only C I really didn't like was the W203, and that could've been b/c the interior quality pre-facelift was terrible.

Are you referring to the image on the windshield? That's a heads up display, not an LCD screen (like that found in the Mazda 3). It won't fall down, and I'm sure you can turn it off.

 

I think that it looks great. Pretty excited to see it in person and hearing reports on how it drives.

 

We will have to agree to disagree. Always though the W204 taillights were one of the weakest aspects of that design. I see the W205's as being far more elegant.

 

Is the 2.0 petrol fundamentally a different engine than the 1.8 we get in the US? ie does it drive better and is it more refined sounding?

 

I'm not sure we disagree after all on what we see....just what we want. I agree with you about "elegant". I just don't see "elegant" as a desirable characteristic in a car. I would prefer "sporty/bold/strong".

 

Yea whatever R.I.P 3 series. This is coming from a hardcore BMW fan FYI. I've had every generation 3 series including 5 Different E9x's 3 - Non Ms and Two M3's. The F30 can't compare to this. Unless you absolutely want a manual I guess thats about it. As for driving dynamics the F30 hasn't been getting a whole lot of praise either so theres that.

 

Yes, but please re-read paragraph #2 above. That the F30 can't compare to its predecessors is true. The reviews of the F36 are different as are first impressions of the F22. They will put 2+2 together and correct the F30 situation, but the other surrounding choices are plenty. And, yes, the manual is a deal-breaker.

But none of that turns the W205 into anything which will make one's heart beat faster. Alsyli said it best, along with MBNUT1 adding the sense of "elegance". If this is what you seek, enjoy the W205!

 

Benz is punting the 2 litre twin scroll DI Turbo as a new engine. Time will tell if there is old M271 DNA in it. Very hushed on that score at preset. It is more frugal with more power & plenty of tech. I'm confused as Benz had stated that the new 2 litre was unsuitable for high fuel sulphur markets.

MBSA stated today that the W205 C Class will move upmarket on it's traditional opposition from Audi & BMW & W204 & will come standard with a lot of the S Class tech in our market (I hear price rise coming with that sort of speak)

Just looking at the Elegance makes my heart beat faster.

 

Those panels esp. the blonder of the zebra wood looks amazing!

btw -is the W205 a 2015 or 2014 model designation?

 

It's certainly a 2014 model designation in ROW.

 

Well played, sir! Touché!