22withCLasS

Yeah it does. I'm in marketing and design and a good artist. I could only imagine how annoying it would be to have the owner of Hyundai telling me I can't make my own designs as he hands me a picture of an S Class or CLS to emulate. Even though they're selling like crazy it's just gotta be annoying for an artist to NOT be original.

Sidenote: Designing auto's is my passion I want to pursue, working my way there. That's why the CC, Sonata, and now Equus really bother me lol.

22withCLasS

Alright back on topic

K-A

In the homeland, the CLS's have just as lowly of motors as the rest of the brands offerings. I have a feeling the next gen will have a 350 and/or Diesel offering, which I would strongly consider (gasser), as I don't really need the V8's power (although it sure is nice, and I wouldn't complain with it), and cost is always a playing factor.

Take a look at the badge on this one (EU).






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Tjdehya

Is the CLS350 really coming to the USA.
I just read a Canadian article that says that they are getting the CLS350, so I would imagine that if they are getting it then so will the USA.
As selfish as this sounds and as others have said... I will not buy a CLS if there are planning to sell a CLS350.
If that's the case I will stick with driving my E.

UDWANIT2

Don't want it......here but if they r bringing itb......I'm have to get one in 350 but gas n debadge it....,

ChapelHillMBFan

I'd take a look at it. Seems like many folks here, so caught up in perceived prestige, are forgetting about handling. The CLS550 is not the greatest handler. It feels every one of its 4,000+ pounds, and throwing it through corners can sometimes feel like wrestling the car (though it always seems to do what it's asked). I still love mine, but my E350 with the AMG sport package was a much better handler and more fun to drive around turns.

Tjdehya

I have never driven an E350 but I refuse to believe that 200lbs would make that much of a difference. I would say that the reason why you may think that the E350 handles better than the E550 is purely because of the Airmatic. The Airmatic in sport mode tries its best but I seriously don't think it could compare to springs is the sport department and I don't think that springs can ever come close to Airmatic in the luxury department.

vtandon

Also you are comparing the new E class to the old CLS. Let the new CLS arrive and then you willl really know what handles better. I have had both the last generation E550 and the current CLS 550(which is going back tomorrow for lease being finished) and the CLS 550 handled much better than the E. I waiting for my new CLS to come in June.

K-A

If the CLS were to win me over enough for me to want to trade from my E into it and spend the extra cash, I'd be way more interested if they supplied the CLS350. In a way though, I do think that they should keep it at that nonsensical level of Luxury Prestige, with only a big V8 with mostly useless power and a needlessly complex and possibly expensive in the long run Airmatic, to keep the CLS at that ultimate "Exclusivity" factor in the U.S

ChapelHillMBFan

I think it is probably a combination of things, including less weight overall and particularly over the front wheels, the conventional steel spring suspension vs. the air spring suspension (I am not sure I am a fan of airmatic; I think GM's magnetic suspension...yes, I said GM...is the way to go with adjustable suspensions in cars with sporting intentions), and, maybe most significantly, the artificially heavy steering of the CLS550. My E350 had much nicer steering. I think in an attempt to make the CLS550 seem sportier, Mercedes simply made the steering heavier, and it only continues to get heavier as you progress off center, so I think that is what mainly contributes to my feeling of "wrestling" with the car. The CLS550 is really much more of a luxury car than a proper sport sedan, whereas the E350 has a more balanced combination of luxury and sport (that is, less luxury and more sport).

erifly

I agree that the CLS350 should stay out of north America. In a functional purpose, yes the car is very impractical compared to the E class but remember they are not marketed towards the same buyer. The CLS buyer, is more concerned with design style and exclusivity. If there were as many CLS models as there are E models driving around in my area(as a result of the E350)..I would have def. thought twice about my purchase.