Watchgeek1

I currently own a sport CLA250 with the AMG package. The ride is harsh and stiff as a result of the sport suspension. I was looking at the 2016 C300 with the AMG package and it also has the sport suspension. I have not test drove the C300 yet but wanted your input on the ride for the C300 with this suspension. Is it a comfortable ride or harsh?

StanNH

You will get very subjective replies to this type of question; because nobody drives the same roads or feels the same way about ride comfort.

I have owned both the base and sport suspensions, and neither car has what I would call a soft or supple ride. Tire size has some impact on ride comfort, with the base 17's being the most forgiving ... but no RFT tire is very compliant.

Personally, I prefer the sport over the base, but it is somewhat stiffer than the base. The amount of ride discomfort is directly related to the condition of the road surface, and none of these cars do very well over bad roads. The Airmatic is the only available suspension option that seems to be able to soften things up a bit, so that might be a viable choice if you're concerned with ride comfort.

In my own C300 Sport with 18" tires, I don't have a problem with ride comfort on most roads. On fairly smooth roads, of course, the ride is excellent. It can get rough on really bad pavement, but I am okay with that since it's a small part of my driving.

Mikey53

My "subjective" opinion is the ride is GREAT! Not harsh but not a balloon ride either. I like feeling the road under the car.

I have 19 inch non-run flat all season tires. I think the run-flats may result in a more harsh ride.

Jdem22

^^This!

I have 19" MOE's as well and even in ECO mode, the ride is not what I would call supple. I actually do not notice much of a difference between Comfort and Sport+.

Subjectively, of course!

topsider

CLA rides way harder ive had one as a loaner

Mike5215

Eliminate all doubt and get AirMatic. Ride feels too firm? Flip a switch. Too soft for your mood that day? Switch it back. The only problem with a steel suspension is you're stuck with it for better or worse. If you love it, great. If not...how many months did you lease or finance the car for? Three years...four years? A long time to live with a mistake.

NYbenzzz

since being subjective has been mentioned:

i drive mostly in NYC, Brooklyn, Bronx. the roads are full of potholes, uneven pavement, you name it we've got it.

the ride on my c300 sport with 18" tires is as harsh as it can be. Very similar to my old maxima lowered on coilovers.

every pothole or bump i feel it with my A$$.

Specially now that i've been driving a rental caddy CTS for 1 month, i feel the difference being night and day.

StanNH

If you have the Airmatic, you can adjust the suspension. If you have any version of the steel suspension however, changing the driving mode has no effect on the ride. Steering weighting, throttle response, and shift points are about it.

Mike5215

The best riding 205 I drove (and I drove multiple examples of everything but a Lux and a 63) was the base car on 17" OEM RF. Put 18" on the same car and the ride deteriorates noticeably. 18" on the steel Sport was very stiff. 19", forget it.

My compromise (because I wanted the Sport look) was to do 18" on Air. I figured if I found myself using the AirMatic Sport or Sport + I could Plus One the wheels later since the 19" look so much better, but I can't live with those settings very long so I guess it's 18's for me.

Shadwell

Depends:
19' alloys with Conti Runflats on AMG sports springs will feel hard... (mine does) and about he same as a CLA 250 AMG pack..
18" alloys with runflats and AMG feels firm but noticably less abrupt.
18" alloys with runflats and standard springs is taught but smooth....
18" with air suspension can be as smoother than the standard springs and as firm as the AMG's... its prety good whn fitted with the lowering mod...


test drive and seek crap surfaces to see what feels good for you..