luxury1

I was looking at some of the technology on the CLS and it seems that it really doesn't have anything more than the E. Does anyone know what cutting edge (if any) technology this thing will have. Are you basically paying for a bigger and differently shaped car?

glojo

Just had a quick look at Mercedes-Benz UK and they do not display any dimensions for the CLS. Is it bigger? I thought it was built around the E-class.

Regards,
John

lorinserbenz

From what I have read the outside is larger and the inside is SMALLER than the E class. Technology wise the car is the same as the E class. Personally I think the car is ugly and will not sell well. The car doesnt "fit" in the current Mercedes lineup. If I was going to spend $75k, I just get and S430 instead. Who spends that much money on a 4 Door car and to only seat 4 people? I have asked about 20 people what they thought about the car and all said it was not good looking and that it doesnt even look like a Mercedes Benz.
To me the car looks like a Dodge Intrepid with a Chrysler 300 C roof line.

brlazar2

I saw my 1st CLS in person the other day when i brought my E500 in for service. I parked next to it and was amazed at how much lower it was, as well as cramped inside. I am not saying it isnt beautiful, it is, but I feel it appeals to a different person than e class buyers for the most part. I was feeling like i should have waited to purchase cls b4 pulling trigger on e500 4matic........now i realize it would never have met my needs for space and everyday living. Everyday living for cls owners must be nice, no need for baby seats, carpools, in-laws, etc........lol

lorinserbenz

Excellent point. I dont see people spending that much money for a car without any space. If I want a coupe Ill buy a car with two doors..

shoes

I own an E Class and have sat in the CLS. I think we all agree that the CLS has less room in the cabin that the E.

Not according to MBUSA. Check out the cubic volume dimensions for the cabin for both. The CLS is listed at 104.3 cubic feet and the E Class is listed at 97.2 cubic feet.

lig

I'd much rather have an E55.

vitaman

Saw one a few months ago at the Love Mercedes tour. It was a stunner. Had it been the length of the E or slightly smaller I would have bought one in a heartbeat.

glojo

As the saying goes.

Figures make experts out as liars and liars out of experts.

That 'pun' is most certainly NOT directed at you, but one vehicle has a boot, and the other is a coupe. I wonder what the cubic area of my E-class is?? No doubt far greater than both.

Regards,
John

Omegaonne

Ditto

BudC

I'd much rather have an M5. Just think what the V10 will sound like headed for the redline!

Unfortunately, I'm too old and too married and too practical

luxury1

The price tag definitely seems steep but Mercedes truly believes there is a market there. I still don't know. I kind of like the look and I would definitely need the 4 doors but $70K (USD) is $15 more than I spent on my E (before tax). If I am going to drop more I really want more technology.

DavidNJ

It is supposed to be a 4-door 'coupe' version of the E-class. Like the CLK is a coupe of the C-class and the CL is a coupe version of the S-class.

luxury1

Call me stupid but I didn't even realize this.

Good point.

alewifebp

It really is supposed to be around 75K? I'd much rather have a E55 for that price. And considering the redesign of the S is coming, and would be around the same price as as S430, much rather have that too. Count me in the group that doesn't find the CLS very attractive.

sacguy

Totally agree!

hoffyvortex

There are probably many people who wont find the CLS attractive, and many that will. MB went out on a limb with this vehicle to capture a different chunk of the market - they werent trying to lure possible E class buyers, as there would be no point in that. They are looking for incremental business. After looking at the car in real life, i like it. I was not enamored by it from the pictures i had seen, but when i saw it in person, it took on a whole new look. I personally probably wouldnt buy it, because i need the extra space afforded by the E class, but i know many who would rather have the CLS. I suspect it will sell well, and given that much of the underpinnings are E class based, MB has less investment in tooling than a ground up design. This will afford Mercedes with the luxury of giving the CLS a shorter than typical lifecycle. I think they made a smart move with this vehicle... not sure if i like the Jaguar style slab-o-burl dash though.

lig

I love a high revving NA engine. I can overlook the looks of the M5 for that engine!

Maybe a test drive will change your wife's mind.

BudC

Yeah, right!

DavidNJ

M5 is an interesting engine. The interior is dime-store. And is lugging around 4000#. On run-flats. I would rather get a 997 if I wanted a sports car and an E350 or so for a 4-door sedan.

I don't think you will find this one in anything like the demand of the last one. Competition in the HP front...the last one was right at the leading edge, the new one isn't. And don't forget the cold, harsh, impersonal interior...complete with cheap plastics and ill-fitting panels...and the joys of the worst electronic interface in any car.

glojo

A month or so ago I stated that I did not like the looks, or the lack of room in the rear of this four door vehicle. I was then in a very minority of folks that held that view and everyone was saying what an excellent vehicle it was, both in design and space.

I still have the view that it should be 'horses for courses'. The E-class or S-class for folks that want the room, and space. The CL or SL for the Coupe or open top motoring, the CLS is neither one, nor the other?

Mercedes-Benz must believe they have found an untapped market for the CLS and have invested millions of pounds into that believe. They employ people to make these decisions and I wish them every success.

John

xraymd

As far as room, the CLS55 I just saw at the NAIAS seats only two in the rear. The center of the back seat is taken up by a console with that roll top desk sort of thing to cover it. Forget about seating five. I was surprised that the head room in the back looked about the same (we weren't allowed to get in). While the headliner had not yet dipped down over the back seat, the door frames were very low. I wonder how many folks would initially like the looks of your new CLS only to get angry when they hit their head on the roof getting in the back seat. People will be fighting to sit up front with you.

SHOTGUN!

guru

Where did the extra 7 cubic feet of interior space in the CLS vs E class go? Given that it has greater interior volume and lower roof, the extra space should go in the width (marginal) or increased legroom.....so why does the interior feel cramped? Is it just the roof height?

Incendiary

Agreed. Think it's weird how different the coupe versions are. It'd make more sense to me to do it the way BMW does it have have the coupe and sedan versions more than less similar. Like what MB used to do with the 500SE and 500CE...

glojo

To think I thought the CLK was a 'compact' version of the CL and the SLK was a 'compact' version of the SL.

Regards,
John