htn75

Just wondering how the new A7 and CLS is affecting your current W212?
I'm kinda tempting to make the move. Decisions will be made after test drive...of course.

Tjdehya

I am very tempted by the CLS, I test drove one on Saturday and I may be driving one before the end of the year.
The A7 is not even on my radar, if anyone drives an E550 I cant imagine why the A7 would even be a thought.
I plan to test drive the XJ next week too.

ImInPA

Neither the A7 nor the CLS have diminished my satisfaction and contentment with my E350 Bluetec. Both are very nice vehicles, but, then again, so is the one I am driving. The CLS is just a bit cramped feeling in the rear comapred with the E. Now, the new 2012 S class is looking very tasty to me, but, when it boils right down to it, it would be hard to convince myself to actually pull the trigger. I truly believe that E350 Bluetec I purchased is put together correctly. A real Mercedes Benz. I have not had any (knocking wood) of the issues, concerns, or, problems that I have read reported here. Nearly 14K miles in 6 months, and, all of those miles have been trouble free. This could be the best car I have ever owned.

htn75

Tested the A7 today. The overall look is of course subjective and I find it okay...nothing spectacular where I reached for the check book. Interior is very comfortable. Much softer than our E's. The real wood is a nice touch. Cornering is very competent and at ease. The E feels much better off the line. Given the price tag, I'd rather stay with the E.
Next up is the CLS.... I'm already inlove with the looks.

TJdehya.... Please LMK how the XJ is. I've always liked the look, just not so sure on build quality.

K-A

The E is still far and away my #1. The only car that really has me curious is the CLS, but I'm not sure, and am leaning toward not liking it more-so than the E, especially with price as a factor, but we'll know soon enough.

I checked out the A7, and took side by side pics next to my E (been meaning to post the pics here), and not only was I ecstatic to find the E looking better than it from all angles, but I also found it to be more alluring in many elements, one also being that it comes in at a cheaper cost. Also, at 6'4, the A7 didn't have enough headroom for me in the driver seat.

Not to knock the A7, aside from the hideous rear, it is far nicer than I thought it would be. Interior feels almost Italian, and it drives wonderfully. Super stiff chassis and frame, dynamic ride that is both comfortable and very toss-able (felt like a go-kart compared to the E), a 310 HP Supercharged motor that feels peppy and strong, great torque for everyday driving, etc. It's a great car, I was very pleasantly surprised and won over. The E still takes the cake for me though.

Wig

From your description, it sounds like the A7 is superb. So what is it that makes the E 'take the cake'?

park423

The CLS is nice but I don't think it's worth an extra 15K over the E550

RobbieRob

I agree with that, the cls is very nice and shares the same chassis and drivetrain as the E, but so much more money. Why is that?

ImInPA

Actually the new CLS is still using the prior gen E chassis.

Tjdehya

The surfaces that are soft plastic in the E are Leather in the CLS.
If you were to option the E to be on par with the Base CLS then the price difference would only be roughly $8k.
That being said we still dont know what the new price of the 2012 will be with the V8TT, the price difference could be smaller or larger.
So you would be paying ~$8k for the body style and exclusivity (providing MBUSA doesnt plan to import the CLS350).
A few members have cited the MBUSA decision to downgrade the 2012 E550 as a way to boost CLS sales is entirely possible because paying the extra $8k for the CLS is somewhat unjustifiable with the E550 being such a great car.

K-A

Can't say too many things bad about that car, except for the awkward and probably tiring-after-time shape, ugly and awkward rear (although the detailing is generally fuss-free, and clean, simple, smooth and elegant - save for the rear), hatchback (I almost refuse to own a hatchback), poor headroom for taller people, and high cost (IMO).

What I like more about the E is the styling (pics below), no contest to me personally. And I'm happy to say that, as the E is a traditional 3-Box, timeless shape, while the A7 is the "new fad/new trend" "4-Door Coupe" look, so I was expected the A7 to have an initial "pop" to me, however, the E masterfully made me smile when I saw them together.

I always loved the Benz aura and feel, which I feel the W212 really captures, and after sitting in the luxurious and Italian-esque A7 interior, getting into my E also, surprisingly and happily, I didn't feel like I was getting into a lower-cost car. I felt like I was "back home in a Benz", and the more upright, solid, even hard, and stately interior and space made me enjoy the E's ambiance a tad more.

I will say, the driving dynamics of the A7 trump it though. The E drives appropriately for what it is: Luxurious, and tight/firm Sporty enough as well, however, where the A7 passes it is in the fact that the E feels just as bad, if not worse over rough roads, while the A7 has the benefits of handling to go with the rough ride over rough roads (I wouldn't be surprised if the A7 handled rough roads better). However, when just cruising, and over smooth roads, I prefer the more luxurious ride of the E.

This is why I think it's funny when people try and mod their E's to be "sportier", or more "handling" friendly. Drive something like an A7 and you'll realize that the E is not a handling or Sport machine, it's a stately luxurious ride, which unfortunately can't handle rough roads well (in Sport guise).

Pics of the car I tested:




Pics of it next to the E:

RJC

I think the A7 is more of a direct competitor to the new CLS not the E. Comp'd to the E, from the front and side (first 2 pics) the A7 wins. Any interior shots of the A7?

RJC

The CLS always seems to get the edge with the interior with the newest rendition no exception...it's nice the '12 E will get the new CLS sport wheel though.

Tjdehya

I am not a fan of either body style. Call me old fasion I guess.
JMO

RJC

The panamera never did it for me especially for being a 911 driver for many years; now if Porsche does a 2 door version ala modern day 928 GTS then maybe. I'll say one thing about the Panamera, the engine in the TT will pin your head to the back of the seat and continue to pull until there is road no more...

K-A

LOL. I agree. I'm very picky about car designs. Frankly, if a car looks awkward or tacky, or too "trying to make a statement" then I'm embarrassed to be in it. The Pana can look good from the front, but it NEEDS mods (opposite of an M-B), and that's mainly due to the huge presence it has with that Porsche snout... When you get to the rear door, it goes downhill fast.

If "old-fashioned" = Good taste, appreciation of evolved and timeless automobile design, then count me in as well.

RJC: No interior pics unfortunately, but it's a marvelous interior, no faults that bothered me.

To me, the beauty of the E, when seeing it next to the A7, is that it sticks to a more functional, timeless, and conservative 3-Box shape, yet the dynamic design makes it even more interesting and fun to look at, at the same time.

One must remember, for Designers, cars like the A7, CLS, etc. are an easy(er) task. They have more free range. Cars like E-Classes, C-Classes, S-Classes, 5-Series', etc. are as hard to design as it gets. They must do many things at once: Be conservative and sophisticated, be timeless and traditional, and be refined/exude premium presence/look expensive/look interesting enough to continuously attract legions of people even after seeing millions on the roads, then after, it's expected to one day be another star Classic in the brands lineage, whilst still being a mass-manufactured vehicle (think W124, W126, who pulled this off, then think of quirky trendy designs of the same time, that are rare, but aren't sought after anymore). That calls for very calculated work. Cars like the CLS and A7 need to have just 1 or 2 languages to convey.

RJC

KA was the dash covered in leather by chance? Why can't this be an option in the E?

park423

+1, I always thought with the leather covered dash like the S-class and a alcantara headliner, it would be a perfect interior

RJC

MB At least let us have the option

K-A

Yeah it was I believe.

It in in Europe, and option for the E's. They get all the good stuff.

M-B is the REAL M-B in Europe, we just get something close enough.

Alcantara/Suede headliner makes such a difference as well.

The only things that hold me back from being crazy about having a Leather Dash and Suede headliner, etc. (I those headliners though) is the upkeep and ease of spoiling/wearing it out. I'm all about ease of maintenance. Exterior wise, I will dedicate time to. Interior wise though, I want something nice and fancy, that will never wear out or look old, with just very simple and regular cleaning measures and care ("care" means garaging it).

park423

Never really liked the Panamera design but here in LA, among the sea of S-classes and 7's, it really does stand out, especially the Turbo, that thing is supercar fast and says money, perfect for L.A.

K-A

Give it a year or two, they'll be everywhere.

I'm already seeing them everywhere, almost as much as newer S's, etc. In reality, if we're talking sub-exotic pricing, if there are a lot of a certain car on the road, it means it's well received, a testament to it, and it's good, and if a relatively affordable car is "rare", then there's usually a good reason behind that too.

htn75

I have one small mark against the A7 interior... okay maybe 3.
1. cup holder is odd.
2. center console is useless, compared to the E.
3. Interior door handle is cheap plastic.

other than that, everything else looks tight.

BTW... I dig the Panamera and the BMW GT. I guess I am different.

K-A

No doubt, the E's interior is way more functional. I didn't even pay attention to storage and stuff. The E also sits much higher and more upright in the drivers seat, which I prefer more, although the lower and more couped-up feel the A7 is great in its own way, although it can get more claustrophobic.

Didn't pay attention the the door handles.

The plastics in the A7 are no way better than the E IMO. Where any material improvement may come in, is in the leather swathed stuff, etc.

Yosheego

the front of the A7 is nice and aggressive, but the rear is fugly.