skymast

OK -- I am not advocating that the TL is the same car as an E-Class but....have you driven a Acura TL S-type? This is an amazing car for $32K (fully loaded, leather, sport package, CD, 260HP, w/Nav!, etc).

It doesn't have the same ride as my e500 and floats a little more than I like on the highway, but this is a great car at about half the price of an E500.

monakh

You know, I think on any other board you would have been flamed all the way to oblivion. But here, we have civility

For what it's worth, if the TL Type S was not such a bland car, I would probably have one as my daily commuter. You are right, it offers great bang for the buck at the price. There is no comparing it with the E-Class though. Also, it is due for a redesign in October. If you are looking to buy, you may wanna wait a bit. The new shape is extremely radical and a helluva departure from the current car.

lig

This W211 board is pretty civilized! I agree that the car is boring - on paper it's really pretty nice and with simple bolt-ons can push 300hp pretty easily.

I haven't seen pics of the new design - I hope it has a lot more character than the current model...

monakh

Here you go...for those interested...

BigBohn

Total of 7 or 8 pages of pics from it at NYIAS. Click the 'jump to:' prompt and select the other pages to see the rest of the pictures.


http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...ticle_id=90864

6.3

Too much of a resemblence to Honda IMHO.

tbone

I actually like both the TL/CL type-S. Obviously, neither is in the same category as the E, but you get very good value for the money. It would be a great daily commuter I think.

pogotango

no

Dema

skymast

Do you have some information about new RL? Should it be RWD, or AWD? For those who is on tough budget I'd recommend to consider Infiniti G35. It looks much better than TL/S at least at test drive and also half price of E.

tbone

i agree that the G35 looks better, but i think the interior looks cheap. Other than that, it is also a great package for the money.

lig

I love the G35 coupe exterior. I'm not all that crazy about the interior... Can't really tell about the TL just yet. It does seem like a fancy Accord...

Dr Chill

I think the comparison should be between the RL and the E320. Regardless, either of these Japanese vehicles or the Lexus or Infinity mid line vehicles do not hold up well after three years, whereas Mercedes build, fit, finish, and interior is superior and the car ages very nicely. Simply put, what you give up in reliability and technical gadgetry, you gain in overall quality, longevity, and prestige. If you are in position to afford a quality German vehicle, it's worth the extra dough. I think the C230 Kompressor sports sedan is the greatest value in a $30,000 vehicle currently on the market. Having driven that same engine for a few years I can say it is powerful, reliable, and very adequate for that vehicle. It's a little loud though but I prefer it to the 2.6 L V6 in the C240.

Brav

I'm sorry, I have to dissagree on the C230 coupe.. the fit and finish, and quality of materials is not MB. As well as the sedan, possibly. And for $30,000 to shoehorn into a MB, is rediculous. If it were $20K, closer to VW, it would be worth it. On the subjective end, I dont care for the styling... Looks like awkward old VW Corrado. IMO, I don't think you get the real MB car until the E-class and up. The premium for the C is unjustified.

monakh

I don't want to get into a MB vs. Lexus/(insert Japanese Luxury brand here) argument, but you have GOT to be kidding with that remark about longevity and midline vehicles not holding up after a few years.

Have you every tried maintaining a Merc after the warranty period? Thank you.

I have tons of friends whose 'midline' Japanese cars have held up very nicely after six to ten years. Try a Lexus LS400 from 1993, or an ES250 from that time, there are still a few of those champs around running hassle-free after all these years. Hell, an Accord from the late 80s still runs like a champ with very little maintainence.

Your comments about MB sound to me like you are biased.

Also, ditto to the C230K interior remarks. That is some pretty 'cheap' worksmanship, but then again, it is a 'low-end' Merc.

I had a friend who has had Cs for the last six or so years. After sitting in my E, he remarked that it appears that MB reserves the better worksmanship and quality of interior materials for the higher-end cars.

Enough-said.

Let's give credit where it is due.

Dr Chill

The car I was referring to was the 4 door sedan C230k. I owned a 1999 C230 Kompressor and the car's interior was every bit as nice as the 1997 W210 E series sedan I owned, and the seats were more comfortable. I agree that the quality of the interior of the current C series is not as good as in previous models, but I do stand by my statement that a 3 year old MB C series will purely from an appearance standpoint look nicer and feel more solid than a low level Infiniti/Lexus/Acura. Yes the Japanese cars are more reliable but on a whole are bland (maybe G35 excepted).

lig

Our '92 ES300 is running like a champ with 146K miles and counting. The exterior and interior are still in great shape. The current C230 looks/feels downright cheap in comparison (in my opinion)

I only hope that my E320 is going to be just as solid!

I've experienced some minor HK audio system problems and many others on the W211 board have had other complaints that most are chalking up to "first year car" problems.

My ES never had any of those "first year" issues - period.

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion but personally I think this is just plain wrong.

QUOTE< Regardless, either of these Japanese vehicles or the Lexus or Infinity mid line vehicles do not hold up well after three years, whereas Mercedes build, fit, finish, and interior is superior and the car ages very nicely. Simply put, what you give up in reliability and technical gadgetry, you gain in overall quality, longevity, and prestige.>

Have you ever owned a Japanese car? Not enough *prestiege* for you?

monakh

Couldn't have said it better myself

I don't even *want* to go into the lame issues with the electronics in my E that I have faced, and that is excluding the wipers, the motor mounts...etc.

Oh well. I guess that is what you get for buying 'prestige'.

All I remember about my first model year Accord is that it was never in the shop. Hmmm...imagine THAT!

Dr Chill

I've owned three Toyota Supras from 1982-1996 and each were great cars-fast,reliable, held up pretty well. The interior plastics, fabrics, leather and the exterior paint don't compare to MB.