SD1

Hey there, I am long time Merc fan, I think I have had 100 Mercedes at the time of this writing. LOL. So my daily is a 17 GTI which I still like a lot but want to get a newer Benz. I have an older C230 which I also like a lot, but when I test drove the C450 (a used 16) and then a new C43, I was very let down at the ride quality. I have had several AMG cars, I can't remember one of them riding as harshly as this set up??? What the heck. What I used to love about these cars was the relative ferocity of the AMG packages coupled with what in the past was a pretty svelte ride...... What happened??? Kind of bummed. Pretty hard to find a Merc with anything other than a 4 banger that I would like to bring home. Anybody else share my opinion or is the general consensus that you will accept the shat ride quality for the improved handling?? TY

ShakyTom

Did it have run flat tyres? That would certainly explain the worst of the ride quality.

MVEOVR

18in vs 19in wheels could also play a part in the ride quality. Reviews have the MY19 C43 riding a bit better although still on the stiffer side.

SD1

https://www.schumachermb.com/invento...wf6eb2gu125730

This is the one I drove on Weds. It did have 19"s but didn't think to check if they were run flats. Its a sweet car, definitely had the AMG side of things nailed down. : ) I drove a new one a few weeks ago at a different dealer and that car sold. Pretty sure it had 19's, I think it had the exact same wheels.


edit.... Pzeros... the are MOE or Mercedes run flats

Read the related thread below, got my answer there, thanks for the comments.

unr1

Mr. J

Not really. The improvement in ride quality by switching from run-flat to go-flat is subtle and not some major transformation of the car. 18" wheels make a bigger difference than run-flat vs go-flat.
FWIW, I have a '16 c450 and I run go-flat Michelin AS3+ tires in the Winter and the stock run-flat Contis in the summer. My car is on 19'' wheels. The suspension set up is ****ty...period ...
It's the Achilles heel of this vehicle.

I test drove a '18 C43 coupe and the suspension was much improved over my C450. Potholes and road imperfections were much less jarring in the 2018 coupe than they are in my 2016 C450. The '18 C43 coupe was also riding on 19'' wheels so it appears that something may have changed with the newer suspensions.

user33

I have a 2017 C43 sedan and I can assure you that going from the 19" OEM Continental ContiSportContact 5 SSR (runflat) tires to a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires was very transformational. If I'd had to stay with the Continental runflat tires, I would have been very dissatisfied with the car. Its ride was very harsh and noisy, crashing over every little bump and imperfection in the road. Older ashphalt with a more "exposed aggregate" surface was like driving on a fine washboard with ride and sound to go with it. Upon switching the tires, even my wife -- who typically doesn't notice such things as ride and handling -- immediately remarked about the better ride quality.

I'd advise anyone to get rid of runflat tires and get a slime kit and DynaPlug kit (I've successfully DynaPlug'd one of my winter Xice Xi3 tires after running over a nail on the highway). If you want high performance, then it's likely impossible to beat the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires for their all-around ride, handling, comfort and tread-life combination but they can't be run in freezing temps so, depending upon where you live, you may also need a set of winter tires and/or rims.

My winter rims/tires are 18" (still staggered sizes) and I will say that the 18" setup does give a more gentle ride than the 19" setup and I suspect it has more to to with the higher profile (i.e., taller sidewall than the 19" setup), more than the difference in tires.

SD1

I decided to look at a different car. As much as I have enjoyed C classes in the past, from base Sport models through the AMG cars, I need a more comfortable sled. Thanks for the comments!

jonathan358

Yeah definitely don't get a C43 if you aren't looking for a harsh ride. I'd recommend the S4 if you want something in the same class. Or even the regular A4 or C300, both are very smooth.

BeemerToBenz

bhcubed

I recently swapped my stock Conti run-flats for the A/S 3+ and really didn't it made that much of a difference in ride quality. Also cracked another OEM wheel. Not happy at all with these OEM wheels or ride quality. I cross shopped the Audi S4 and regretting not buying that instead.

TModelle

I also regretted not sticking with Audi and replaced it with a C43. I should have gotten the RS5 Sportback instead, or upped my budget and go straight for a C63. Spent a good weekend driving a C63 that was loaned to me. Suspension is so much more comfortable and controlled.

Mr. J

yes