CE750

I have been doing a bit of research on this, since it's hard to believe, but these cars are the same size OR BIGGER than the W211 (not heavier usually however).

-Honda Accord (same)
-Toyota Camry (same)
-Nissan Altima (longer 2")
-Nissan Maxima (longer 3")
-Mitsubishi Galant (longer 1")

In all cases the MB weighs at around 400-600lbs more, and in all cars but the MB, the sheet metal is all steel. The MB is mostly Aluminum. Width and height are all with in .5"

Also, the wheel base of the MB is 112" while most of the others are 107"...


Am I the only one that find this odd? When I look at my car, I see a BIG car, and when I look at those other cars I don't.. is that some kind of built in MB Bias?

reb03

I also see a much bigger car. I think the longer wheelbase with shorter overhangs throws us off. I don't know what the interior space is of the other cars but I bet the MB has considerably more due to the longer wheelbase. Of course I may be totally wrong...

HELL ONA HARLEY

Totally agree...... May I also add a longer wheel base equals better stability at higher speeds.

vraa

I personally think the W211's curves really *and I really mean it..* hide most of the bulk.

Mercedes' designers (for the most part) are top notch. The R230 weighs a good two tons and more, but it looks like a lightweight

Kanji

also noted that MB's vehicles are heavier as you said, thus stability at higher speed and less prone to shaking at higher speed also. I've driven an Accord at high speed and it tends to rattle and almost difficult to keep the vehicle straight do to its weight. The parts on MB, also you mentioned its built in material is different, the Accord & Camry most are syntectic plastic and there's no vibration dampener. my $0.02 in.

CE750

the key point is that the MB has all aluminum body panels (excepting the doors and roof) while the others are all steel...which should even make them YET heavier, and with that they're still significantly lighter.

My purpose here btw isn't to knock the other cars as they're all 1/2 to 1/3 the retail price... it's just that I (and most friends I ask) can't believe the E is the size of a Accord or Camry..

alewifebp

Alhtough if you have every been in the back seat of an Accord or Camry compared to the E, you will notice a huge difference. Much more room in both of those cars than in the E. I have driven a few hundred miles in an Accord, and had to pull it in to the same garage that I park my E, and it was very tight. To further mess with our size perception, when I have an ML loaner, it is much easier to park it in my tight garage than my E, which is also something that you would not expect.

lig

Visually the W211 looks far more substantial than the other cars mentioned. I was surprised when I first learned that the Camry was within 1 or 2 inches in overall length of the W211.

The other cars mentioned do have more legroom than the E. I'm only guessing that the reason is the FWD in the other cars.

As far as overhangs go - I love the E46 BMW overhangs. Perfect, IMO.

jprescott

It's MB design. I remember when I purchased my S430 in 2001 a sales person told me that the designers use certain lines an curves that are made to create an "optical illusion" to dampen down the huge size of the S. Really when you think of how huge it is, one does not get that sense even when parked next to a smaller car. I believe the same design principal is true for the W211.

JimPurdy

The backseat room in cars like the Camry are deceptive. There isn't enough room for a driver my size! I have rented Camrys and Avalons that have more backseat room than driver room. I would prefer to see a real life comparison of driver room - not what is published - but from different sized drivers impressions and the interior volume and trunk volume.

aceman

I don't think the E looks big, actually, i think it feels larger on the inside than it looks on the outside - perhaps the way they designed teh exterior - dunno. The backseat however is tight for 3 people. I think its the width that you lose when you compare it to other cars. I my case, i was comparing it to the new M35/M45 and that car just felt huge compared to the E.

Aceman

CE750

It must just be that Mercedes "presence" that makes it look big..

...although, the C sure doesn't look big.

ruykava

hmm, yeah it's a well known fact that the Camry/Accord are really at least just as large as the E, while the Altima is bigger.

i think there is a subtle curving on the Merc's flanks, which make it appear much more substantial. take a good look at your Es and you'll notice that the sides are not flat, unlike the afore-mentioned cars. and (as usual) Lexus has also found the trick to this in their new GS, which also appears more solid than almost any other car they've made thus far - of course, they call it l' finesse.. we all know it's really l'bruno now, don't we?

i think the good paintjob also makes a huge difference. there is no comparison between the paint finish on a Toyota/Honda and a Merc. i don't think it's the badge - even from afar it's easy to pick out which are the luxo-execs and which are the usuals.

heh, if size WERE everything, we'd all be driving around in Ssanyong Chairmans! lol less than the price of the E-class, with the interior space of a W140!

aceman

Just this past weekend, a friend came over and said as he looked in my open garage fromt the bay next to the merc, "oh - you bought a baby benz" to which i promptly walked him to the drivers door via the rear of the car to politely correct him

Aceman

CE750

Maybe in the Orient, but here in the US, anyone I mention it to has an initial reaction of "really?" or "no.."

It truly doesn't look small in my eyes at least.

harryTAM

If some one really do a comparision of the width of those cars, you will find that the E is wider than all of the rest. That's why its heavier even with lots of aluminum parts.

Harry

CE750

No, no, no.. it's not any wider... wrong! (margin of error +/-.5")

next theory...