Wagon: E320 vs. C320?
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2000 E320W 4Matic
Wagon: E320 vs. C320?
I'm looking for a wagon for my wife (she currently has a Ford Focus, and we love my E320 sedan). We want to get a 4Matic if possible, and it appears there's a C320 wagon with 4Matic, as well as the E320 wagon.
Does anyone have some good comparison points on these two vehicles? How do the engines compare? How different are they in size and appointment?
Does anyone have some good comparison points on these two vehicles? How do the engines compare? How different are they in size and appointment?
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98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
The C class is noticeably smaller. Lower, narrower and shorter. When you open the tailgate the back of the second row seats are close enough to touch. The interior is not as luxurious. Same engine but slightly better mileage due to weight. I predict inter-spousal disagreement on who gets to drive the E class in your future.
I'm sure there are advantages. If you haven't done so, you might post in a forum for the C class model.
I'm sure there are advantages. If you haven't done so, you might post in a forum for the C class model.
Last edited by RichardM98; Nov 3, 2013 at 12:36 PM.
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2000 E320W 4Matic
Actually smaller size is part of the reason we're considering the C-class. She thinks the E320 will be a bit too big for her. She has been happy with her Focus wagon, so she's not nearly as demanding as I am. Of course, she also only drives about 5,000 miles a year, and I have been known to drive that much in a month.
However, the smaller cargo area (apparently smaller than her Focus) might be an issue. She really likes being able to haul stuff in her wagon, so she may opt for the E-class just for the extra cargo room.
I'll post in the C-class forum, too, but I wanted to hear the E-class arguments, first, since that's the one I want to get.
However, the smaller cargo area (apparently smaller than her Focus) might be an issue. She really likes being able to haul stuff in her wagon, so she may opt for the E-class just for the extra cargo room.
I'll post in the C-class forum, too, but I wanted to hear the E-class arguments, first, since that's the one I want to get.
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I've owned both 210 and 203 wagons, along with more than a few other Mercedes.
What I liked about the 210 wagon was it's capacity and capability. Without being a huge car, it had plenty of room for family roadtrips, which include plenty of bicycles, dogs, luggage, etc. And the 210 wagon will deliver 28MPG on highway trips, which is very reasonable for a car of its size and performance.
The 203 is very much a somewhat smaller and sportier version of the same car. I very much liked the 203 for running around town. It's tidier size, sharp handling, and small turning circle make for easy maneuvering in the city. And we did use if for roadtrips, though packing was a bit tight. My wagon was a C240, which has a smaller capacity V6 from the same engine family as the E320/C320. The biggest downside of the 203 - especially the C240 - is fuel economy. Given the smaller size of the car, and the lower power of the C240, it just doesn't deliver the expected fuel economy benefits. I never topped 25MPG on highway trips in the C240.
I would be very surprised if the C class wagon does not have enough room for your wife. It is a very much larger car than a Ford Escort. The Escort has a wheelbase of 98.4 inches. The C-class is 106.9 inches. (An E-class is 111ish inches.) So the C-class is much closer in size to the E-Class than it is the Escort.
What I liked about the 210 wagon was it's capacity and capability. Without being a huge car, it had plenty of room for family roadtrips, which include plenty of bicycles, dogs, luggage, etc. And the 210 wagon will deliver 28MPG on highway trips, which is very reasonable for a car of its size and performance.
The 203 is very much a somewhat smaller and sportier version of the same car. I very much liked the 203 for running around town. It's tidier size, sharp handling, and small turning circle make for easy maneuvering in the city. And we did use if for roadtrips, though packing was a bit tight. My wagon was a C240, which has a smaller capacity V6 from the same engine family as the E320/C320. The biggest downside of the 203 - especially the C240 - is fuel economy. Given the smaller size of the car, and the lower power of the C240, it just doesn't deliver the expected fuel economy benefits. I never topped 25MPG on highway trips in the C240.
I would be very surprised if the C class wagon does not have enough room for your wife. It is a very much larger car than a Ford Escort. The Escort has a wheelbase of 98.4 inches. The C-class is 106.9 inches. (An E-class is 111ish inches.) So the C-class is much closer in size to the E-Class than it is the Escort.
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Get the E320 Wagon. More space, better looking, more comfort, better interior quality, more capacity for hauling, better mpg and performance. W203 size is too tight of a car in terms of space.
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Get the C240/C320 wagon. It's quite a bit larger than what she drives now, without being too large. Both are available in 4matic configuration in the U.S., at least for certain model years.
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My wife always complained about the 210 wagon because she could not see out the back to safely reverse it. She is 5'5". Strange, because she has no such issues with our 124, 203, of 211 wagons.
Considering that we are talking about ~10 year old used cars, perhaps he should purchase whichever he finds well maintained, in good condition, and at a realistic price.
Considering that we are talking about ~10 year old used cars, perhaps he should purchase whichever he finds well maintained, in good condition, and at a realistic price.
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98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
Maybe too obvious but did you adjust the seat, mirrors and steering wheel to your wife's position sitting in the car? Before SUV's the E wagon was heavily marketed to women as their daily driver.
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2000 E320W 4Matic
That's a fairly reverse-sexist attitude, actually. She prefers smaller vehicles, and any inclination toward the E-series thus far has been mine. Some people are simply more comfortable driving a smaller car (easier to park, more room in traffic, etc.).
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2000 E320W 4Matic
In the end, it will depend upon what's available when I get ready to buy, of course.
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2000 E320W 4Matic
It's not a matter of her ability to drive it (visibility, etc.) - she does fine driving my W210. She simply feels less comfortable with the wider car. Of course the C320 isn't much narrower, I think, but would be closer to what she's used to.
