Octane

Not sure if it's true but Autoblog has the new pricing for the new E-Class. Can't wait to get my hand on one later this year. This car is now very agressively priced and will be a huge success.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/04/m...lass/#comments

What do you guys think of the car with that kind pricing?

Wig

I think it is a great move by MBUSA. The W212 will be a big hit. I think the styling will grow on people. I remember when the W204 was first released, many people were very critical of its appearance, but now it is widely regarded as a great design.

K-A

I think the car will need the lower price to sell, consider the economic climate and the styling (personal opinion). As well, they had to save that money somewhere, and if the W204 is an indication of how the materials are going to compare to the outgoing model, I'm guessing that's where the savings will be.

MB Fanatic

Having sat in a W212 I can assure you all the materials are amazing. It makes the W211 look like crap. Let's not even talk about build quality, this thing is well above what Mercedes has put together in the past 15 years in its E class range. Think S class fit and finish and S class materials in an all new shape (angular). I particularly enjoyed the matte wood finish. The car has to be seen up close and touched, pictures do not do it justice.

K-A

I'm looking forward to sitting in it. So far I've seen a lot of reviewers/people say the materials are of the cheaper fare akin to the W204, and the interior is more plasticy and less elegant than the W211's, and I've seen a lot of people say otherwise. Seems it might come down to being subjective

I do know, design wise I'm not into that incredibly boxed and square look and prefer a more swoopy/curvaceous look like the W211's. Also I'm not too big on the hooded dash and how M-B has incorporated it into this car, just doesn't flow with even the hooded guage cluster right next to it.

I guess we'll see, but I'm obviously upset about it so far. I like the W221's interior but it's by no means night and day to me over the W211's, and the W204 is a step backwards to me compared to the interior of the W203, so I'm curious to see how M-B pleases me personally with this one when I sit in it.