Hi Folks...We're in the market for a 2nd car...and the W205 is on top of my shortlist. Can you tell me other vehicles you benchmarked the w205 against and why you settled on the w205 over the competition?

Looking forward to reading your insights.

I gave a fleeting moment's thought on the two primary competitors in the class. BMW 328 and Audi A4.

After many years driving Mercedes, I went BMW (335i) a few years ago. I never truly warmed up to the driving feel of the BMW and went back to Mercedes. To my eyes, the 2015 BMW looks pretty much like it did in 2007. I'm simply not fond of Audi's styling and haven't been enamored with them for a long time. I just don't get the Picnic Bench grill. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I know plenty of people who think Audi's styling is sexy.

Then MB came out with the 2015 C Class. Yes, I'm a loyal MB customer, but the styling and interior quality simply beats anything on the road in it's class.

Cross shopping the C450 against the following:
- 335i M Sport (current car)
- M235i
- Jag XE S
- Porsche Macan S
- S5 / SQ5
- CTS V Sport

Interesting list there. Are you looking for a Crossover/SUV or a Sedan?

I was in between the bmw 320i and the c300. I liked the looks of the c300 the best but the price of the 320i was appealing. Obviously ended up with the w205 c300 and love it.

Still waiting to hear about B9 S4 before committing on C450.

But I did crossshop the Macan S and SQ5 before deciding performance SUV is an oxymoron.

So ideal would be wagon version but only w205 wagon landing here is the c300d.

The only other car I considered was the Audi A6TDI. I settled on the C300 because the closest Audi dealer is 80 miles away. I have regretted my decision ever since due to the excessive wind/road noise with the C300. I'm very disappointed with Mercedes Benz lack of response to my and other folks complaints about this issue.

I had a good budget (relatively) to blow on a daily earlier this year, and so my shorlist was rather strange:
VW Passat Brline 2.0 TDI 240 Bit SCR 4 Motion (Moderately Equipped).
VW Golf R (Base Options).
Mercedes B250 4MATIC (Full Options).

While none of those cars could've been delivered in less than 2 months, I did not want to wait.

And so, there was a W205 C220 BlueTec fully equipped, and available immediately.

As my daily commute is short (10 km both directions, city traffic), and occasional weekend use, I find this choice to be... well, adequate to my use (it's a car that I don't drive much).

BMWs were/are still not as interesting, at least for now.

I'd get a VW over Audi (unless it's a proper RS).

BMW 328i xDrive.

The BMW is geared more towards performance/handling than the W205, but the W205 has definitely improved in that dept. over the W204. With the Sports suspension (486) and the 19" AMG wheels, my wife's 2014 328i xDrive is only slightly better in the handling department on the streets.

Overall the W205 is more refined than the BMW, the interior is FAR superior, and the styling is more up to date.

I do wish though the W205 had a heated sports steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a remote start.

Thank you everyone for your feedback.

I hear the 2016 will have heated steering wheel, which is a must have for those of us in the northeast.

Out of all the teething problems reported so far, my only concern right now is the reports of excessive wind noise. Other than that I'm ready to pull the trigger.

Not sure if the wind noise issue will be addressed in the 2016s

MKVII Golf R
3 series
4 gran coupe
E92 M3
A3/S3
Porsche Macan
996TT
Corvette C6
CLA45 and GLA45
and a few others.. yeah, I know.. I don't really know what I want until I drive it

I narrowed my list down to the below serious contenders. Ultimately, I went with the c400.

-4 Series Grand Coupe
-Hyundai Genesis
-c300
-

I was wondering if anyone would mention the Genesis. I currently have a BMW 335i Msport. It's a wonderful car but in the next one the emphasis will be on luxury and comfort. My current lease is not up until March of next year, so I've got plenty of time to make a decision. Early on the new C Class was at the top of my list, but now has dropped to number 2 after the Genesis. The Genesis is a big spacious car, slotted in size between the 5er and 7er BMWs, and between the E and S Class MBs. It's full of tech, safety, and luxury features. Fit and finish are very well done with quality components. The ride is very comfortable and the car feels very stable at highway speeds, but.....

on two test drives I could feel a slight vibration coming through the seat. The sales guys claimed that it was from flat spotting on the tires due to sitting on the sales lot, and that the vibration would go away in a few minutes. Well, it did not go away on either car. I set up a poll on the Genesis Forum and currently, with about 70 respondents, 27% have an unresolved vibration problem with their cars. For sure, when it is time to decide, I will have to find a car that does not have this issue, or it will be back to the beautiful C Class MB for me.

MB E350 Cabriolet
MB E350 Sedan
Lexus GX 470
Audi A6
Cadillac XTS
MB C300

I was looking at far pricier vehicles, but all through-out C300 was coming on top of my search, and despite fact it was the cheapest priced of all.

I ordered a C220d but considered:
- VW Golf GTE,
- Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
- Audi A3 Sedan 2.0 Tdi,
- Seat Leon Cupra 280,
- BMW 320d,
- BMW 420d,
- VW Passat 2.0D and GTE.

I took a 2015 optioned pretty nicely for a long test drive. I pushed it up to about 80 miles/hour and didn't notice any wind noise. Certainly no more than I get in my current 2012 E350 Coupe.

If you get one and there's wind noise, you get the dealership to address it. I don't think it's epidemic on the C Class to begin with (which is not to say some people don't have the issue).

BMW 435 Gran Coupe, M-Sport
MB C400 (now C450)

I would purchase either fully optioned. My comparison:

1. Driving dynamics are comparable, but they are different. I have to drive a C450 before I make a final decision.
2. The BMW transmission is superior although you probably wouldn't notice it in day-to-day driving except for the MB reduced gas mileage.
3. The engine response is comparable with a very slight edge to the BMW at lower RPMs. Probably not important or noticeable in day-to-day driving.
4. Each has options that I wish the other offered. The BMW doesn't have an electrically operated steering column. The C450 does not have a heated steering wheel (even the 2016 will not), speed limit display in the HUD, surround view, and heated rear seats. None of these are deal breakers, but they could influence my decision although surround view is important to me.
5. The C450 exhaust sound may be too much boy racer for my driving pleasure. I have to hear it.
6. Exterior design favors the 435. That is of course a matter of personal taste.
7. Interior design favors the C-Class. Also personal taste.
8. I-drive vs. MB Comand. I-drive is slightly easier to use, Comand has better graphics. In the end they are probably equivalent. You can set BMW navigation while moving. That's a big advantage if you have a passenger.
9. C-Class problems as reported by many are a concern.
10. I trust my BMW dealer's service. MB is an unknown.
11. MSRP is comparable equipped the way I want them. $65K or so.

At this point it is a toss up between the two for me. I was impressed by the C400. It may come down to value although the C450 driving dynamics could be a deal clincher. As far as value goes, the best I have gotten so far is 4% off msrp on the C450 while I can obtain the 435 for close to 9% off of msrp plus a BMW car club rebate of $1000 plus a $1000 test drive incentive. If I pick up the 435 in Munich there is approximately another 5% discount.

Current car: 2014 Porsche Cayman
Last few previous cars: 2008 Porsche Cayman, 2009 Audi A4, 2011 Audi TT

I need four seats now, so I looked at the S3 and considered the Macan. I decided that I'm not a SUV person, and just wasn't very impressed by the S3- though I still almost ordered it because it's fast, and a good car. Good thing I test drove the C300.

Having test drove a Mercedes C class several years ago, and feeling unimpressed by it, I have never even really considered Mercedes. Until recently. For the last year or so, many of the newer Mercedes have been catching my attention, so I decided to check out the new/2015 C300; wow. I was immediately impressed by the luxurious feeling of the interior, and the drive was much, much better than I remembered. I just ordered a well optioned 2016 C300 and am really looking forward to driving it soon.

2015 428i X-Drive Gran Coupe

I was originally looking at something bigger to replace my BMW 5 series and was looking at:
Audi a6
Bmw 5 series
Mercedes e class

However I dismissed the a6 as just too dull inside and to drive and the e class as too boxy and old man!

I had therefore settled on another BMW 5 series until I sat in a new c class and was offered a test drive. I immediately fell in love with the interior and the seats and it was bigger than my perception and the airmatic offered both comfort and the ability to stiffen up the car.
As a result my new c class will be arriving first week of September (new reg in UK)
C300 hybrid amg line with premium plus, airmatic etc in brilliant blue MY16 model.
I'm so excited .......

-Audi A4 (nice car be in desperate need of a redesign)
-Porsche Macan (fast and fun but very pricey for what you get)
-Jaguar XF (larger but in need of a redesign, the supercharged V6 wasn't as peppy as I would have liked)
-BMW 328i xDrive (nice car but very business interior [couldn't find one in manual])
-BMW 535i xDrive (great car and interior but couldn't find a good example in my price range)
-Lexus IS (the car just needs more power even the 350 seemed sluggish, also very small back seat)
-Lexus ES (this has to be the most boring car to drive)
-Acura TLX (an improvement over the previous generation but wasn't a huge fan of the powertrain)

Had a 2015 Audi S4 did not like it much so started to shop looked at
1) Lexus IS 350 Fsport had a 250 f sport and liked it
2) Infinity Q50s was like buying a Nissan
3) BMW 428/328 four door, was nice but I had a lot of problems with my old M3

Not entirely sure... commuting into DC 1-2 times a week and mostly highway driving has me considering a sporty SUV.. the Macan S would be #1 on my list for sure but easily creeps over 60k with normal options... i did test drive an M235i and it is an immensely better driving/feeling car than the 335i M Sport with DHP that i have now but it's a little less practical and not 'that' fast although a $400 tune would certainly help... the C63 AMG Coupe is my dream car as of today but out of my price range for now so i'm leaning towards the 450 to see what the MB experience is like and may jump to the AMG in a few years if all goes well... i can also get employee pricing on MB which helps... for reference, before the 335 i had an 07 CTS-V

If a Sporty SUV is something you'd consider, did you look at the GLA45? It's pretty potent for a lot less $$$ than the Macon. And of course the GLC is about to hit Showrooms across the country any day now.

The GLA gets good reviews but seems more fitting for a rich high school kid... and the GLC with a 240hp 4 cylinder will definitely not be entertaining to drive at all... it's the new benz soccer mom unit