That doesn't make sense considering that this C450 AMG is not scheduled to be released until the fall of 2015 in North America. According to C&D, the C400 and C450 will co-exist until the fall of 2016...

 

c4004matic can change his user name to c400orphan ~ LOL

 

You can't order a C400 or the upcoming C450. My salesman was a little surprised that neither was in the system. By co-exist they probably mean the C400's that haven't sold and are sitting on the lots as everyone waits for the C450 to become available.

 

Enough!
If anyone wants to wait another whole year for their car please feel free to do so!!!!! Those who want their fast Benz now don't need to wait. 30 Additional ponies (9%) will drop your 0-60 by less than 0.2 sec and increase your trap speed by 1-2 mph so who cares??????? Does anyone realize that once you get into the 4's it doesn't get much faster unless you have a ton more ponies or you are driving at double the speed limit? A Veyron has 250% more power and only improves on the 0-60 of the C400 by 2 seconds. A c63 with 507 hp is barely more than half a second faster. If you wish you can wait, I'll be enjoying my 400 3 weeks from now!

 

There's a lot more to it than a "faster" Benz and an additional 30 HP. If they (MB) kept the C300, C400, and added the C450 then I would be keeping my order. However, I personally do not want to own a single year production vehicle for resale, parts, and the fact that they are changing the looks. It really has nothing to do with 0-60 speed as I am not a racer on the street or track.

 

+1^ ~ Cherry picking from the range leaves gaping holes in the marketing rationale. Buyers notice this.

 

C&D doesn't say that the C400 and C450 will be sold together. They clearly state the C450 is replacing the C400.

I'm sure they're going to build a few more C400s, it all depends on when the C450 launches. The might do a short introductory model year with the C, just like the did with the S. The 2015 S-Classes came out in April/May of this year with some quality fixes and new features. The C might do the same.

M

 

Hilarious, you're telling everyone else to drop your favorite subject lol. I know you want make it seem like the C450 is nothing because you've invested in a C400, but you're just off base here. When AMG gets a hold of this car, it will be a completely different (better) driving experience. The truth is is that you don't how how the C450 or C63 will perform in real world testing yet.

M

 

I guess you are'ny reading much or simply think your thread is the most important one

 

I don't think c4004matic even owns a C400. I think it's on order.

 

he'll have it three weeks from now. detroit auto show is mid jan which means he will have about 20 days with it before its discontinued.

personally 9% more hp, amg tuned suspension, steering and styling is worth the 8 month wait for me. also the fact that i don't want a single year production model...

 

Understood. Members have become irritated at his comments without even owning the car.

 

Try forming a correct sentence man lol, that doesn't make any sense.

M

 

I get it...people tend to steer people to their personal decisions, be it politics, religion, or where they spend their money.

But......when dudes (it's seldom women) start debating horsepower, arguing 0-60 time differences or how their choice is the only one, it's usually related to microphallus or similar insecurity more than anything to do with automobiles. And when it's about their family sedan (e.g. any variation of a W205, 3 series, etc), not even a sports car, there really has to be a few little issues there...pun intended.

The original poster had good question....and unless anyone has an immediate need for a luxury sedan, after ACTUALLY test driving them all significantly, and is happy with the several trade offs for the C400 over the more popular versions of this car available in the world, few, if any, would honestly recommend say to jump on the C400 now over a C450. Once they're all out and you test them all thoroughly, the choice would be for you to make alone on what makes you/your family smile and fits your "needs".

 

So true..

 

I thought this thread would be interested in seeing MB's future plans. This was apparently taken at dealer meeting:





http://www.worldcarfans.com/11412058...t-in-september

C Coupe won't come until the Frankfurt auto show next year, meaning it will be a late 2016 MY car or 2017 MY. AMG Sport is coming very soon, i.e. next month. Some of these are market introduction/on sale dates, others are reveal dates.

M

 

I don't really care either way, I am more curious to how they are launching this model. I am perfectly content with my C400 right now, and since I lease I could give two ****s to things like resale or anything else that pertains to the longevity of the actual model. I am just stating that my comprehension is while it is being introduced at Detroit in Jan 2015, C&D states that it won't be launched until the fall. I don't see how they will not build any more . Just doesn't compute on top of the fact that the C&D article states that it will "supplant" the C400 by the fall of 2016, which is 2 years away.


Hence my response to the poster about the actual release of these vehicles, as a talking point, not a point to fight over...

 

I'll be honest with you, I am not sure because of how C&D worded it:


"The sheet will be pulled off at next January’s Detroit auto show, and the car will go on sale in the fall. Here’s the kicker: It will supplant the C400 completely after a year on the market."


So released in Jan 2015, fine. On sale in the fall of 2015, check. The kicker? "It" will supplant the C400 completely after a year on market. Which car after a year on market, the C400? Or the C450?


People are taking that they are talking about the C400 after a year on market. I think they mean the C450 after a year on market?

 

Nah they mean by the fall of 2015 the C400 will have been on the market for 1 year, and 1 year only, and that it (C400) will be replaced. Supplant, i.e. replace, not being sold side by side.

The MT article I quoted in an earlier post states it clearly that the C450 replaces the C400 next fall.


M

 

Dealers not taking orders for C400s seems to confirm what we've been saying. I actually agree with all the doubters to the extent that I think there is room for both cars but all signs point towards the 400 going away. How about this theory:? Maybe we end up with a C450 and a C450 AMG Sport... maybe the 400 will just be up-badged to match what BMW is doing with the 340i.

 

My dealer today received correspondence that there will not be a US 2016 C400 at this time. He has some sitting on lot if any takers. I still haven't heard 'more official' news on it, nor if C450 will be RWD.

 

What I don't understand is that it seems the c400 sale numbers aren't very high even though almost everybody wouldn't mind the extra HP. Tha leads me to believe price is the factor for lower sales. How do they plan to sell more cars if they discontinue the c400 and only sell the c450 which will be even more expensive? That would also limit the american market to only the c300 and the c450. Well if people aren't already buying the c400, I don't see the c450 doing more volume in sales. In Canada, where rebates are around 1% off MRSP and prices are 15% higher than in the U.S., I have yet to see a w205 on the road. Mercedes sales numbers are actually down in Canada for the c class (only 647 units sold in November and that includes w204), so unless they sell the c450 for 10% less then what you can get a c400 now, there will be few c450 in Canada. At the price point that a c450 will probably be, for a couple thousand more you can maybe get a c63 amg. A fully loaded c400 is already tipping the scales at 68000$ and you need to ad 15% tax to that so just try to imagine how well a 78000$ c class would sell in the USA. The few people that did buy a c400 will have the joy of owning a discontinued model and it seems a recipe to alienate buyers away from the brand. The new Audis are not out yet but just around the corner so this was the perfect window to grab sales away from them but now, you might as well wait 6 months to see what is coming from other manufactures.

I was really hoping for a new Mercedes but now I'm not so sure. I won't even mention the below average reliabilty of the w205. I'm glad both my cars are paid off and I can wait as long as I want for my new car. I really love the styling of the w205 but looks aren't everything.

 

For Some, it's not price Issue at all, it was the other trade offs on the C400, mostly in ride handling and heftier feel. If the C450 is RWD and better dynamics, I'd be interested, even for another few grand. For the buyers who got the current AWD C400, I'm happy that they made best choice for them.

Reliability isn't paramount for most any German car (very unfortunately). Later in life cycle some bugs get worked out, but....do you really want to pass on the latest innovations for less bugs? i guess a 'safer' option is buy a W204 now and use an iPhone 4 or earler Android. But you have to wait til you really want something to jump. I wouldn't wait until it 'seems popular' before deciding what's right for you.

I also think the models are selling. Vance has 2 24/7 assembly lines making them. How many you see will increase depending on where you live. I see many W205 here in Florida already, though you have to be close to tell the difference from it and an S...especially from sides and rear, and from front in luxury version.

 

Ryan U, You mention below average reliability in your post. Have you read something specific or just speculating? Thanks

 

My information comes from past reliability ratings, the numerous issues brought up here and the general consensus that German cars are notoriously less reliable than Japanese models. Add to that the fact that it's a first year model car which is always more prone to problems and I would tend to be comfortable saying the car is less reliable than average. Usually the problems aren't major ones such as the touch pad and the side view mirror welcome lights burning out after 3 months but the one that has me worried is the steering error codes that renders the car inoperable or the stop and go feature that sometimes doesn't want to restart the car. The 7g transmission is also a weak spot that they haven't made any changes to address. Supposedly the airmatic suspension is more reliable now but that is also a common and costly repair. There is a reason that the warranty is shorter than average.

It's also disappointing that some luxury options aren't standard or even available such as rear seat heating controls, heated rear seats, key memory seating, heated steering wheel and more paint options (don't get me started on the five different shades of silver) . Things that are widely available on cars 1/3 the price. Please don't get me wrong, I really like the car and it is still in the running for my next purchase but it isn't the slam dunk that Mercedes could of had if it just tweaked a few things.

Mercedes' sales are up in Canada but the c class numbers are down a lot so that tells me that people are opting for the affordable CLA or going to an e class once they see that the price is often less than that of an equipped c400.