w205 vs w204 Quality!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
w205 vs w204 Quality!
Hi Guys,
I would love to start this thread and get different information from you to see how is your experience with the w205! the reason is to help the guys who are in the market for one to make a better decision! in my case I have a C300 Sport 4matic and I have driven the new c300 rear wheel drive twice when the dealer was servicing my car! I have found that my 08 C300 4matic handles better and have a very nice grip that I can't live without! and I also love how my 08 C300 is quieter than the new w205 C300 as far as wind and other road noise! I was very disappointed in that. I'm thinking about the new c300 4matic LUXURY! I do want a quiet ride and a strong grip! May I please know about your experience? especially those of you who have driven both of them!
And Thank you
I would love to start this thread and get different information from you to see how is your experience with the w205! the reason is to help the guys who are in the market for one to make a better decision! in my case I have a C300 Sport 4matic and I have driven the new c300 rear wheel drive twice when the dealer was servicing my car! I have found that my 08 C300 4matic handles better and have a very nice grip that I can't live without! and I also love how my 08 C300 is quieter than the new w205 C300 as far as wind and other road noise! I was very disappointed in that. I'm thinking about the new c300 4matic LUXURY! I do want a quiet ride and a strong grip! May I please know about your experience? especially those of you who have driven both of them!
And Thank you
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
Luxury is a body kit, smaller wheels and taller springs. Nothing that makes it any quieter than a Sport model. If you like the car you have, and dislike the newer version, what's the question? Keep the car you have.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
I do love what I have but every time I see the new COMAND system and the new interior I be like I want one but ride quality is not good!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
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From: San Diego, CA
2024 EQE 500
I had a '13 C350. The W204 is a tank. She's also heavy, and the W205 uses lighter materials that can affect one's perception of quality in many forms. I've driven the W205 multiple times, it is a good car. I chose the W204 on steroids, the W212. Her successor the W213, like the W205, uses lighter materials that can affect perception as noted above. Up to you.
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Thread Starter
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From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
I had a '13 C350. The W204 is a tank. She's also heavy, and the W205 uses lighter materials that can affect one's perception of quality in many forms. I've driven the W205 multiple times, it is a good car. I chose the W204 on steroids, the W212. Her successor the W213, like the W205, uses lighter materials that can affect perception as noted above. Up to you.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
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2016 C300
A sport or even base car on 18" with AirMatic (any version with Air is the same suspension) and Michelin Pilot Supersports rides really well. That and 4matic would be comparable to your 204 I think. But it's entirely possible to "upgrade" to a new model and end up regretting it, especially if you love the current model. Newer isn't always better. Don't ask me how I know this.
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Gold Coast, Oz.
C300 S205 AMG, GLA 45 AMG
Luxuary is also a lower spring rate (softer) and lighter damping which combined with the taller side profile tyres makes for noticeably less NVH input making it to the cabin.
But Mike is right, no diffference in NVH material sin th ecabin itself..
IME the outright grip is still surprisingly high but the body control is reduced.. and on crap road surfaces the luxury IME gives greater confidence and body control.. the sports suspension fidgets alot and pulls the car around scrabbling for grip.. the grip is there, its just a difference in feeling.. on smoother surfaces the sports suspension absolutley provides more body control and better feel..
(Got to drive the standard and the AMG pack at a dealer launch day on a small test track.. that was fun, they kept telling us to turn traction control back on
)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
A sport or even base car on 18" with AirMatic (any version with Air is the same suspension) and Michelin Pilot Supersports rides really well. That and 4matic would be comparable to your 204 I think. But it's entirely possible to "upgrade" to a new model and end up regretting it, especially if you love the current model. Newer isn't always better. Don't ask me how I know this.
I just drove a Lexus ES on my lot and it was very quiet!! I hope Mercedes follow their lead in that regards, I do understand ES is not a car to compare with C-Class.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 4
From: McKinney, Texas
08 C300 4matic Sport
Luxuary is also a lower spring rate (softer) and lighter damping which combined with the taller side profile tyres makes for noticeably less NVH input making it to the cabin.
But Mike is right, no diffference in NVH material sin th ecabin itself..
IME the outright grip is still surprisingly high but the body control is reduced.. and on crap road surfaces the luxury IME gives greater confidence and body control.. the sports suspension fidgets alot and pulls the car around scrabbling for grip.. the grip is there, its just a difference in feeling.. on smoother surfaces the sports suspension absolutley provides more body control and better feel..
(Got to drive the standard and the AMG pack at a dealer launch day on a small test track.. that was fun, they kept telling us to turn traction control back on )
But Mike is right, no diffference in NVH material sin th ecabin itself..
IME the outright grip is still surprisingly high but the body control is reduced.. and on crap road surfaces the luxury IME gives greater confidence and body control.. the sports suspension fidgets alot and pulls the car around scrabbling for grip.. the grip is there, its just a difference in feeling.. on smoother surfaces the sports suspension absolutley provides more body control and better feel..
(Got to drive the standard and the AMG pack at a dealer launch day on a small test track.. that was fun, they kept telling us to turn traction control back on
)
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 505
Likes: 58
From: Gold Coast, Oz.
C300 S205 AMG, GLA 45 AMG
To be literal.. it does have better insulation, the vehicle body is insulated from the road by both the tyres incaresed side walland pneumatic volume and the suspensions increased travel and softer damping.. , and in the luxury spec it therefore insulates to a greater degree.. but nothing beyond that.....
A decent compromise is to have luxuary or standard spec suspsension, maintain the original dampers and fit a mild sports spring (25mm drop and no more than 30% incaresed spring rate)... you get a little less body roll, (lower roll centre), a little more spring rate hence less dive in braking and cornering, but still with a relatively supple damper and ARB... (NOTE big drop springs on standa dampers is the morons route..).
I did this on my W204 and it struck a very good compromise..
A decent compromise is to have luxuary or standard spec suspsension, maintain the original dampers and fit a mild sports spring (25mm drop and no more than 30% incaresed spring rate)... you get a little less body roll, (lower roll centre), a little more spring rate hence less dive in braking and cornering, but still with a relatively supple damper and ARB... (NOTE big drop springs on standa dampers is the morons route..).
I did this on my W204 and it struck a very good compromise..
