The E320 lists in Europe for 43500 euros(about $41,000 USD, correct me if I'm a little off), which is the base for the "classic" not "elegance" trim level. Since the US gets what amounts to a pretty well optioned out "elegance" as our base model (at least thats what they did with the C), I'm betting our E320 will base around $45-47k. That leaves a large price gap between the competitions' entry level mid-size price and the E's. So....does anyone think they will offer the E240 in the U.S. at just below 40k? It's funny how they've upped the HP figures on that engine to 177....doesn't it only make 168Hp in the C240? Sounds like the perfect candidate to compete with the 525, maybe MB will even offer us Americans the 6-speed. I'm sure some people will argue that MB already offers the C320. The fact of the matter is some of us are willing to trade 0-60 times and horepower figures (SO important to the average American "car enthusiast" who reads Motor Trend) for a larger, roomier car. What do you guys think?

 

According to preliminary information from MBUSA (going by the computer records used by MBUSA retailers), the E240 will not be offered in the US; only the E320 and E500 will be offered for the 2003 Model Year.

I can bet that the reason why the E240 is not being offered is that MB and some folks falsely believe that the E240 would compete with the C320 Sedan and Wagon, and that the E240 is not powerful enough for US tastes.

However, I agree with you 110% about the merits of offering an entry-level E-Class in the US. Perhaps sk76 and I are the only people who understand why MB so desperately needs to add the E240:

1. There is no entry level E-Class model in the US. The E300 Turbodiesel was cancelled in 2000. This model had a price in the low $40,000s but its successor, the E320 CDI, could not be introduced due to low diesel fuel quality in the US.

2. The price of the E-Class has skyrocketed over the last six years (relative to other luxury cars). In 1996, the MSRP for the E320 was $43,000. In 2002, the MSRP of the E320 is about $50,000.

3. Not every E-Class customer uses their car like a sports car. If they want more performance, they will check out the E500 and E55 AMG.

4. The E240 comes with a standard 6-speed manual transmission, which can be targeted to enthusiasts, as well as cost-efficient and fuel-efficient customers.

5. MBUSA could make tons of easy profits by selling E240s at around a base price of $42,000. When equipped with popular options, the price would be about $45,000, which is neither in C320 nor E320 territory.

6. The purposes of the C320 Sedan, C320 Sport Wagon, and E240 Sedan are competely different. The C320 Sedan is targeted towards people who desire good performance but with less necessity for space. The C320 Sport Wagon is for people with an active lifestyle or perhaps a very small family. The E240 is the value-conscious executive car for people who want a car with status for personal use, family use, and for use on the job with clients, etc.

7. This formula is not new at all; in fact, it's very successful. Look at BMW. BMW sells the 525i Sedan and even the 525i Sport Wagon for about $36,000. And guess what? It also sells the 325i Sedan for about $33,000. No one seems to be complaining about the 525i, its price, or its performance (184 hp). According to BMW USA, the aim of introducing the 525i models was to enter "a new, competitive pricing position and territory." It seems like they have already won: while Mercedes-Benz claims to post record sales, BMW is set to (or already has) overtake Mercedes as the second-best selling luxury nameplate in the US. By using the same tactics as BMW, Lexus overtook Mercedes in 1999, and is the luxury nameplate king of the US.

So, in actuality, the proposition of selling a E240 for 2003 is not that absurd. If Mercedes sells the E240 for $42,000 to $43,000, with slightly less techno-wizardry as the E320, and slightly less features, such as no digital COMAND system or leather seating inserts in place of leather upholstery, I know that Mercedes will immediately rack up tons of new sales.

Even though MBUSA has already decided to offer only the E320 and E500 for the 2003 model year, the final, final decisions have not been made yet. Contact the Customer Service center or better yet, Ms. Lisa Eig. She's the Product Manager for the E-Class.

Contact: eigl@mbusa.com

or

Ms. Lisa Eig
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
3 Paragon Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645



Jason

 

I'm surprised that the E240 would not be available in the US. Its certainly the model that I'll be aiming for. however, that is mainly due to the extortionate fuel prices that we have to put up with in the UK.

Oh and one other thing, beware of MB manual gearboxes. They simply do not compare with the equivalent manual boxes from the likes of BMW, Audi , Alfa, etc