Moved from '09 C300 to '11 E350
08-21-2011, 07:18 PM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
Moved from '09 C300 to '11 E350
Nothing special, P1 and folding rear seats. I included a photo only because the color, Pearl Beige Metallic, seems to be pretty rare on the forum.
Overall I'm very pleased with the move. While the C300 was a great car, the E350 is worth its price premium.
Overall I'm very pleased with the move. While the C300 was a great car, the E350 is worth its price premium.
08-21-2011, 07:22 PM
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Haha, made the same move (albeit both 4matics). Did you steal your E350...it appears that the state troopers followed you home?
08-21-2011, 08:25 PM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
Didn't quite steal it but did get a really good price. MB is still running the Conquest Cash incentive and since my wife's car is a Volvo, we got an extra $4k off the negotiated price.
08-22-2011, 07:03 AM
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2012 CLS63
nice color! I SERIOUSLY considered that color.....LOL, I seriously considered all 4 of their colors! haha...but really....
that is a great color......also love the euro plate
that is a great color......also love the euro plate
08-22-2011, 08:19 PM
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Ahh, I just noticed that Euro plate as well. I dig that look. My friend used to have an American plate over a Euro plate on his S4, and as stupid as that sounds, it looked pretty cool. Something comes alive with these cars when you see them in a Euro context, I guess the plate helps that.
Nice work on a unique color as well.
Nice work on a unique color as well.
08-23-2011, 10:28 AM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
Regarding the Euro plate:
I had a similar one on my C300. One day a Neandertal Texas trooper pulled me over (I think because he saw my radar detector) and, as he walked around the car trying to cite me for something, he saw the plate and said: "Whut's this? Are y'all with NATO or sumthin'?" I replied: "No, the plate is a tribute to the car's heritage." He replied: "Huh?."
I had a similar one on my C300. One day a Neandertal Texas trooper pulled me over (I think because he saw my radar detector) and, as he walked around the car trying to cite me for something, he saw the plate and said: "Whut's this? Are y'all with NATO or sumthin'?" I replied: "No, the plate is a tribute to the car's heritage." He replied: "Huh?."
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08-23-2011, 07:12 PM
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2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
Nice color!! Hope it looks as good in person as it looks in the picture. Did the state trooper follow you home or is he having an affair with the good looking woman who lives in that nice looking house across the street? Regards. Ned.
08-23-2011, 07:43 PM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
Regarding the trooper, he is one of three who live within a few blocks. NM troopers take their cars home when off-duty, so there are always police cars parked nearby.
Needless to say, we have a very low crime rate and my new E350 is very secure.
08-24-2011, 05:18 PM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
It's been about two weeks now, so I thought I'd give my initial impressions of the E vs. C. It might be helpful to anyone contemplating the same move.
Handling: The C wins hands down. While the E is fun to drive, the C felt much closer to a driver's car: better road feel; tighter, firmer steering; less body roll.
Ride comfort: As you would expect, the E wins easily. The same suspension that gives the C great handling also gives it a harsher ride.
Road noise: A real weakness in the C and a real advantage in the E. C really needs more insulation.
Exterior styling: In the front, I like them both. The C is more pointed and aggressive while the E is taller and more upright, but they are both beautiful to me. In the rear I must say I have never liked the C too much. It always looked abrupt and unfinished. The tail lights are rather bland, too. The E rear, on the other hand, always appealed to me. I know it has been criticized roundly and had to grow on many, but I have always liked it. The vertical crease in the taillights is a really subtle touch of luxury.
Interior styling: The E really shines over the C here. The C interior, while highly functional, is truly minimalist in luxury. I can't speak to the new facelift C's just starting to appear. Additional features in the E like lots of wood, ambient lighting, and stitching on the MB-TEX are nice luxury treatments but the overall design itself is superior. Simple things like hiding the cup holders make a world of difference in overall feel in the cabin.
Engine: I'm comparing a 3L to a 3.5L here. In real-world driving with my conservative style, I don't see much difference. Comparing the HP/Wt ratios, the E has a fractional advantage on paper, but it's not noticeable to me. Perhaps this is a function of the added sound insulation.
Conclusion: Well, it's all about affordability, preferences and priorities, isn't it? Similarly equipped, there is a $9-10k difference in the two vehicles. To me, it is well worth it.
Handling: The C wins hands down. While the E is fun to drive, the C felt much closer to a driver's car: better road feel; tighter, firmer steering; less body roll.
Ride comfort: As you would expect, the E wins easily. The same suspension that gives the C great handling also gives it a harsher ride.
Road noise: A real weakness in the C and a real advantage in the E. C really needs more insulation.
Exterior styling: In the front, I like them both. The C is more pointed and aggressive while the E is taller and more upright, but they are both beautiful to me. In the rear I must say I have never liked the C too much. It always looked abrupt and unfinished. The tail lights are rather bland, too. The E rear, on the other hand, always appealed to me. I know it has been criticized roundly and had to grow on many, but I have always liked it. The vertical crease in the taillights is a really subtle touch of luxury.
Interior styling: The E really shines over the C here. The C interior, while highly functional, is truly minimalist in luxury. I can't speak to the new facelift C's just starting to appear. Additional features in the E like lots of wood, ambient lighting, and stitching on the MB-TEX are nice luxury treatments but the overall design itself is superior. Simple things like hiding the cup holders make a world of difference in overall feel in the cabin.
Engine: I'm comparing a 3L to a 3.5L here. In real-world driving with my conservative style, I don't see much difference. Comparing the HP/Wt ratios, the E has a fractional advantage on paper, but it's not noticeable to me. Perhaps this is a function of the added sound insulation.
Conclusion: Well, it's all about affordability, preferences and priorities, isn't it? Similarly equipped, there is a $9-10k difference in the two vehicles. To me, it is well worth it.
08-24-2011, 07:59 PM
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2012 CLS63
wow, I just ralized that's the perfect color for the desert. haha, nice!
08-25-2011, 12:09 AM
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'14 ML350 GONE-'12 GL450/'10 E550/'10 ML350/'09 C300/'07 ML350/'03 E320
It's been about two weeks now, so I thought I'd give my initial impressions of the E vs. C. It might be helpful to anyone contemplating the same move.
Handling: The C wins hands down. While the E is fun to drive, the C felt much closer to a driver's car: better road feel; tighter, firmer steering; less body roll.
Ride comfort: As you would expect, the E wins easily. The same suspension that gives the C great handling also gives it a harsher ride.
Road noise: A real weakness in the C and a real advantage in the E. C really needs more insulation.
Exterior styling: In the front, I like them both. The C is more pointed and aggressive while the E is taller and more upright, but they are both beautiful to me. In the rear I must say I have never liked the C too much. It always looked abrupt and unfinished. The tail lights are rather bland, too. The E rear, on the other hand, always appealed to me. I know it has been criticized roundly and had to grow on many, but I have always liked it. The vertical crease in the taillights is a really subtle touch of luxury.
Interior styling: The E really shines over the C here. The C interior, while highly functional, is truly minimalist in luxury. I can't speak to the new facelift C's just starting to appear. Additional features in the E like lots of wood, ambient lighting, and stitching on the MB-TEX are nice luxury treatments but the overall design itself is superior. Simple things like hiding the cup holders make a world of difference in overall feel in the cabin.
Engine: I'm comparing a 3L to a 3.5L here. In real-world driving with my conservative style, I don't see much difference. Comparing the HP/Wt ratios, the E has a fractional advantage on paper, but it's not noticeable to me. Perhaps this is a function of the added sound insulation.
Conclusion: Well, it's all about affordability, preferences and priorities, isn't it? Similarly equipped, there is a $9-10k difference in the two vehicles. To me, it is well worth it.
Handling: The C wins hands down. While the E is fun to drive, the C felt much closer to a driver's car: better road feel; tighter, firmer steering; less body roll.
Ride comfort: As you would expect, the E wins easily. The same suspension that gives the C great handling also gives it a harsher ride.
Road noise: A real weakness in the C and a real advantage in the E. C really needs more insulation.
Exterior styling: In the front, I like them both. The C is more pointed and aggressive while the E is taller and more upright, but they are both beautiful to me. In the rear I must say I have never liked the C too much. It always looked abrupt and unfinished. The tail lights are rather bland, too. The E rear, on the other hand, always appealed to me. I know it has been criticized roundly and had to grow on many, but I have always liked it. The vertical crease in the taillights is a really subtle touch of luxury.
Interior styling: The E really shines over the C here. The C interior, while highly functional, is truly minimalist in luxury. I can't speak to the new facelift C's just starting to appear. Additional features in the E like lots of wood, ambient lighting, and stitching on the MB-TEX are nice luxury treatments but the overall design itself is superior. Simple things like hiding the cup holders make a world of difference in overall feel in the cabin.
Engine: I'm comparing a 3L to a 3.5L here. In real-world driving with my conservative style, I don't see much difference. Comparing the HP/Wt ratios, the E has a fractional advantage on paper, but it's not noticeable to me. Perhaps this is a function of the added sound insulation.
Conclusion: Well, it's all about affordability, preferences and priorities, isn't it? Similarly equipped, there is a $9-10k difference in the two vehicles. To me, it is well worth it.
08-25-2011, 10:58 AM
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2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
I have had a C Luxury as a loaner. I found the ride and noise supression to be exemplary. Put a diesel in it and I would drive one in a heartbeat. You do not see many C Luxury sedans on the road where I am. To me they have an exterior presence like a small S. MB did a great job on the C, and, the new interior is like a smaller version of the E, that is to say, very nice.
08-25-2011, 08:43 PM
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Great color and great comparison. A biege metallic masks dirt better than any color I have had (300TE and 190 16V were both a similar color, albeit smoke silver).
08-25-2011, 11:59 PM
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'14 ML350 GONE-'12 GL450/'10 E550/'10 ML350/'09 C300/'07 ML350/'03 E320
dbtk - I see you have a BMW 135i, how is it? I was thinking about picking one up used in a year or so as a track/auto X car. I assume it is plenty of power and great handling...
08-26-2011, 02:53 PM
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2014 E350, 2012 SL550
That sounds absurd. I don't know anything about leases on preowned, but compared to what MBUSA shows on their web site, $800 is far higher than they advertise for new E classes. They give an example of a selling price of $52k with $4684 down (including 1st month lease payment) for 33 months at $589 + taxes.
