2104 E350 or 2015 C400?
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Joined: May 2003
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From: San Diego, CA
2014 Sport White on black
2104 E350 or 2015 C400?
What would you do? Keep 2014 Sport or trade in for 2015 C400 sport (fully loaded with more HP)? I test drove a C400 and I like the look and feel of the car but it is a little smaller than my 2014 E350 Sport. The demo C400 cost a bit more than my E350 sport but there are differences in the interior and exterior of the cars. For the 2015 C400 I liked the handing, HP and the extra accessories but styling was not as cool as my 2014. What would you chose?
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
Stay with your very futuristic (MY2104 !!!) E350 ! Did you mean 2014 ?
In any case, I have also just test driven a C400; it's no E Class. Yes, the TT V6 is a lovely engine and the car handles well. But, the new C is significantly smaller (both passenger space and trunk), has inferior sight lines, is not as comfortable nor as well put together as the E Class.
After reading various reports on the new C, I was expecting to be very impressed by the interior. Yes, the overall design is well done, but some of the materials looked and felt cheap to me. For example, both the glove box door and front door bins felt lower grade than an E Class.
In any case, I have also just test driven a C400; it's no E Class. Yes, the TT V6 is a lovely engine and the car handles well. But, the new C is significantly smaller (both passenger space and trunk), has inferior sight lines, is not as comfortable nor as well put together as the E Class.
After reading various reports on the new C, I was expecting to be very impressed by the interior. Yes, the overall design is well done, but some of the materials looked and felt cheap to me. For example, both the glove box door and front door bins felt lower grade than an E Class.
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W212 FL
I sat in the W205 C Class when I visited my dealer . It's definitely an upgrade from W204 , touchpad controller knob is fantastic as well as A/C button.You can even have LED lightning interior as standard as well as Airmatic in option .Not to mention how cool is the HUD 
Only thing I dislike is I-Pad looking o rlooking like fitted afterwards Comand screen
.
At the end of the day, I decided to stick to W212 being an upscale car
Only thing I dislike is I-Pad looking o rlooking like fitted afterwards Comand screen
.At the end of the day, I decided to stick to W212 being an upscale car
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From: Vancouver, BC
2015 E250 BT 4M
I have not seen the open pore black ash in a W205, but I did see the Linden trim on a car with only 700 km. Already, the wood trim around the centre console was covered with scratches. This suggests to me that the surface coating of the trim is not very durable.
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
First let me premise this with I haven't driven the C400 yet. I had high hopes for the W205 as I don't really want a car as big as the E Class. I really like the exterior miniS styling with the luxury grill and emblem. With all the hype about the interior it certainly a step up from the W204 but the ipad ruins it architecturally but I imagine with time you wouldn't notice it much. Again I drove the C300 and the motor while a big improvement over the C250 (which is setting the bar pretty low other than the power it makes) sounded like a Camry and the light feel of the front end didn't feel like a Mercedes. To me the car doesn't feel special in the way Mercedes historically have.
The day I drove the C300 I finished with driving a '12 E3504matic. Sitting that car felt like sitting in posh man's club reading room compared to the C300and it is so much more substantial feeling. It feels like a real Mercedes. The C400 may overcome many of my objections presented by the C300 but then it doesn't come in luxury trim so now I would have to buy a new bumper grill and emblem. The other thing is relative to what you can buy an E Class for I think that the W205 is overpriced. My BIL bought a new '13 E3504matic for 52k (8k discount). That would barely buy you a C4004matic.
The net result of this is I am looking at '12 or '13 E3504matics. They just feel so much better to drive and be in.
The day I drove the C300 I finished with driving a '12 E3504matic. Sitting that car felt like sitting in posh man's club reading room compared to the C300and it is so much more substantial feeling. It feels like a real Mercedes. The C400 may overcome many of my objections presented by the C300 but then it doesn't come in luxury trim so now I would have to buy a new bumper grill and emblem. The other thing is relative to what you can buy an E Class for I think that the W205 is overpriced. My BIL bought a new '13 E3504matic for 52k (8k discount). That would barely buy you a C4004matic.
The net result of this is I am looking at '12 or '13 E3504matics. They just feel so much better to drive and be in.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Oct 26, 2014 at 05:20 PM.
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2011 E550 (RIP), 2014 CLS 550C4
I dunno, I quite enjoyed many aspects of the C3004M loaner I drove for 3 days. The biggest "turn off"? The little V6 just doesn't sound right for an MB, very unrefined sounding. Sewing machine like, and not a high dollar one at that.
Loved the interior, but I do question how well the design will age visually with the floating tablet look. Nevertheless, I thought it was leaps and bounds over my '11 E which, even though has some delightful elements, does seem more of a modular design. "Alright, Jorge, let's stack the HVAC module on top of the console, then the secondary control button module on top of that, then the Comand module on top of that. Jah?" I still think the 211 dash/console was better. The new C class dash/console makes the current E set up look positively frumpy.
Also remember the target market for the C, which is definitely younger than that for the E.
Loved the interior, but I do question how well the design will age visually with the floating tablet look. Nevertheless, I thought it was leaps and bounds over my '11 E which, even though has some delightful elements, does seem more of a modular design. "Alright, Jorge, let's stack the HVAC module on top of the console, then the secondary control button module on top of that, then the Comand module on top of that. Jah?" I still think the 211 dash/console was better. The new C class dash/console makes the current E set up look positively frumpy.
Also remember the target market for the C, which is definitely younger than that for the E.
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