Hi folks.

I'm close to buying my first MB and I was set on the E350 but it would have to be a 2013 to fit my budget. However, the new C300s are close enough that I might be able to stretch and afford one.

I'd love to hear general reactions as to which car you'd prefer. Assume the E350 has low miles. I know a direct comparison is impossible and I know we're talking turbo vs. non-turbo, 4 vs. 6 cylinder, but l'm hoping for just gut opinions and not lectures on how this isn't a great comparison, it's apples and oranges, etc.

 

Best thing to do is to drive both of them and also to compare luxury versions vs. the sport versions of each. Study the information available on MPG, cost to own, reliability, etc.
Sit in each one for a while, play with the features, think about how it makes you feel. Walk around each several times and analyze them.
BTW, most people (all?) on this board chose the E, so we're somewhat biased.

 

Thank you! I did my homework and also posted it on the C board! I'm hoping I didn't break any forum rules. I'm a member of a million car forums and some have the craziest rules.

 

Depends on what type of driving you do. I drive 500-800mi a week and it's almost entirely highway... the E class is much better for that.

If you're doing mostly city driving you may appreciate the smaller size and better gas mileage of the C.

 

Great point! I'm almost 50/50! I'd have to think about it a little bit. It's crazy but having test driven both of these cars today, I notice they're different, but I like them both almost equally! I'm presently driving a 2014 Dodge Dart (long story, don't laugh!) so I'm guessing ANY MB would seem world's better, even the basic CLA class. I will say I'm impressed with what felt like no turbo lag on the 300 but at the same time I like the linear acceleration of the naturally aspirated 6. I'm schizophrenic!

Again, thanks for indulging me everyone. This would be my first MB ever and I'm equally excited and terrified.

 

not that it would give you problems straight away, but turbo could be a costly fix. id go for the NA 6 cyl E anyday. imo, its more luxurious and comfortable. not to mention bigger in and out. but its entirely up to you mate. either way, you cant go wrong. goodluck!

 

Having owned both classes I prefer the E because I feel it's a better 'road' car. The larger size is only a few inches here and there but makes for a more roomy cabin space and cargo capacity as well. To me fit and finish is the same for both models although many feel the E is superior. With the new engines and transmissions the power characteristics of both are close enough to be a draw in normal driving.

 

I feel very qualified to contribute my two cents on this one. We just went thru the process of selecting our upgrade from a really great 2003 C320 Sport 4-matic. The candidates were a C300 or a E350.

My position was to wait a year, and then buy a low mileage one year old C300. It was based on "the numbers". Similar dimensions, similar power-to-weight ratio.

My wife's position was to buy a good used E350 now ! as in NOW!

Already, you can guess who won out.

But there actually was a consensus in our choice of the E350. I changed my tune after driving both.

Who are we? A 69-year old man with a 54 year old wife. I like sporty driving, and she is very conservative. We both have to drive on some of the country's worst roads - those of Westchester County, just north of NYC. Seriously badly maintained roads, so comfort is a concern to both of us.

Driving impressions: C300, first. It's a lighter car and quite responsive. Personally, I don't care for the sound and feel of a 4-cylinder engine anymore - turbo or not. No matter what you do to mask it, they come off as buzzy, and clattery. The road feel is harsh. Again, this applies to our horrible roads. The low profile tires give a tight, but harsh ride. The seats fit the same description. Tight fit, but hard surfaced. The cabin fittings are OK - more modern than the W212, but not luxury by a long shot. And the COMAND screen simply looks like a cheap add-on. Personally, I love the exterior style. Compared to the bland W204, the 205 has just the right curves and surfaces. This car is a real winner style-wise. (Around here, they are selling like hotcakes !)

Now, the E350. You are in another world here. Everything says luxury (for the masses) but luxury all the same. The materials are a notch or two better. The seats comfy not hard. The ride is the big difference. They are made to absorb a lot of road shocks before they can intrude on the cabin area. Perfect for our horrible rutted, potholed, uneven road surfaces. But there's a price to pay. You feel a lot less in control as you float over the road rather than navigating on it. The supple suspension has a lot of "give' in it - up to a point - and then takes over and connects you to the road. (We drove only Luxury models) Perhaps a sport might be different.

The big difference is in the engine. The power flow of the V6 is smooth and silent. Combined with the 7-speed transmission, it seems to always be about at the right rpm.

One number is crucial in the comparison - weight. The E350 is nearly 4000 lbs while the C300 comes in around 3500. That's a big difference.
The upcoming new E-class will weigh less than the current one, I hear.

Well, you already know the outcome. We bought a 2010 E350 4-matic CPO with lowish mileage (24k). Iridium Grey with ash interior. nice look.

The feel of this car is totally different from our C320 4-matic Sport that hugged the road, but gave a much more comfortable ride than the new C300,
and was much more fun to drive than my wife's new E350. After owning the C320 for six years, we changed mostly out of a desire for change. Beware that. Nothing can compare to the light blue tinted "thermal" glass of the C320 Sport !

My advise is to do as much test driving of both models before you choose. What was the right answer for us may not be for you. C-class cars are really fun to drive short and medium distances. An E class invites you to drive it cross country... Good luck

 

How many miles/year do you drive?

 

Like others have said, test drive both. I have had the C300 has a loaner and I liked it. The engine is pretty peppy for around town. What surprised me is how little room there is in the back. To me the E-class is the perfect car in that regard. Not too big and plenty of room both on the interior and in the trunk. While around town the C300 is better due to its size, on the highway the E-class excels. Also, I prefer the feeling of a 6 cylinder to an 4 cylinder turbo. In the end it is personal preference and the E-class was the car for me and my wife. My wife currently has a W211 E-class and when it comes time to replace it, I am pretty certain she will end up with the W213.

 

One other point - price.
The 2010 E350 CPO with 24k miles cost exactly 1/2 the price of the car when it was new.
Apart from an issue with wood trim fading, the car looks like new.
Depreciation on these cars is brutal in the first few years.
It's your money, but personally I find that a good used recent MB is a great deal.
The next few years of depreciation will be minimal compared to the first few years' depreciation so the cost of ownership for a good recent used one is actually quite reasonable. Your eventual resale price of a 10+ year old depends a lot on how many miles you put on, but especially how well you keep the car up - both mechanically and cosmetically.

 

I debated between a e350 and e550, but once I drove the e550, there was no looking back

 

[QUOTE=walterk55;6502900]



Who are we? A 69-year old man with a 54 year old wife. I like sporty driving, and she is very conservative. We both have to drive on some of the country's worst roads - those of Westchester County, just north of NYC. Seriously badly maintained roads, so comfort is a concern to both of us.

Saw a news show that discussed the Donald J. Trump State Park (closed) and its signs on the parkway.

 

[QUOTE=El Cid;6503385]there is the sport/eco drive mode along with sport/luxury suspension, I think the e550 will do the trick for you =D.. its very concentrative on the pedal, but gives you what you need when asked!

 

[QUOTE=KingDaddy;6503431]Thanks for the advise. I thought a lot about an E550. Some are available at quite reasonable prices. What put me off was the added complexity of these cars. They have a lot more electronic functions, and that means more to go wrong eventually.

On the other hand, since this car only gets driven about 6,000 miles a year, the lower gas mileage was not really an issue.

 

[QUOTE=walterk55;6503870]Do yourself the favor and test drive the E550 - it is just a dream. Plus really a 2012 plus is not going to be much more complex than a new C300. I love my wife's E350 but my E550 is a totally different beast. It will be a sad day when I have to replace it.

 

For what it's worth...

I normally drive an E-Wagon but I'm driving a C63 sedan for the summer. I love the wagon for its versatility and I dislike SUVs in general so an ML/GL is not an option for me. If it wasn't for my need for cargo space, I wouldn't drive an E-Class either. It's dated inside and out, the telematics are ancient, the ride is ok but the suspension chatters across bumps (not as bad in the wagon due to the rear air but the 5er is better mannered). We are fortunate to have the 400 engine available in the wagon in Canada and it's decent (tho the transmission is still painful).

If you only drive 6000mi/yr, take a low mileage lease on a new C-Class and don't look back. Es are going to take a big hit in value when the new car comes out next year, whereas the C is still new and residuals are excellent.

Other than the 4 vs 6 cylinder debate (which you can eliminate by going with a C400), the C is a better driving, more nimble but still compliant car. If you can swing it, a C400 with AIRMATIC and the smaller wheels (18") is really a great choice, and you can probably find a deal on one as the 400 is being discontinued in favor of the C450 Sport.

 

Again, a little biased here as you are on the W212 forum. First off, the C300 is just too small, especially if you have a family or plan on hauling more than 2 people occasionally. Second, the E350 is just a better looking car by far. Third, your body will thank you if you spend a lot of time in it especially on longer trips.

 

E350 vs. E550. The 550 will cost more to purchase and maybe to service. Will definitely cost more to insure if that is a concern. MB's are costly to insure anyway.
Also, the 550's have air suspension. I'm sure a lot of people like them and have no problems, but I was advised to steer clear of air suspension when I was looking.
What is the main advantage to the 550? A V8 with more power. Do you need it?

 

we went ready to buy a c class, walked out with an e.

if you're single and don't have kids then save yourself the money and get the c. as a family car with kids + kid chairs/etc. c is pretty useless and has no space, i doubt you could fit 4 adults into a c comfortable, unless they're 5'5" or smaller.

we needed a family car and e is a family car (although i still think it could be a little bigger), otherwise c should be fine.

 

Great points! I agree about not wanting a harsh ride as well as growing tired of 4 cylinder engines. That's all I've ever owned so I'm ready to move into something softer and a V6 where the power seems easier to access. I know modern 4 cylinders are so much faster than they used to be, but I just don't like hearing them scream and revving them high for that power. They're just too loud for me anymore.

 

Approximately 18,000 miles.

 

I have a 2012 E550 4matic with M278 twin turbo engine. It's a great car. Love the distronic lighting, and active seats. 2012+ Airmatic was optional and mine does not have it. As long as your covered under warranty service/maintanance is a mute point. I got mine CPO so it has 2 extra years warranty and came with pre-paid service.

Now when I was purchasing this E550 there was a brand new C300 for the same money. I thought about it, but it lacked a lot of the options I wanted.

Fast forward to two weeks ago I took the E in for new headlights and got a C300 loaner. Thought it was nice for about 10 minutes, then the quality of the wood starting bothering me (my wife ridiculed it as soon as she got in the car). Then I noted how un-padded the door arm rest was - I mean there was less than 2mm of cusioning before you felt the plastic under the vinyl - on my E you can press really deep before it hits plastic - and I'm pretty sure that surface is vinyl in my car too (even thought I have leather). This was true of several contact surfaces. I didn't like/learn how the touchpad in the middle works and preferred my car's command system (I have nav and voice controls which the C I drove lacked). The turbo 4 was peppy and made some very sporty noises (engine/exhaust burbles when flogged in Sport mode all around,) of course my E wouldn't haven broken a sweat keeping up (and makes some nice v8 and turbo noises depnding on how you drive it).

I'd recommend an E over C sedan. The 2012+ have newer direct injection engines, but any W212 would get my vote.

 

If looking for "softer," you definitely need to try the Luxury versions. They have a much more comfortable suspension and ride. They also have 17" wheels instead of harsher riding 18" ones.
BTW, no MB is going to ride "soft." No German car does.

 

I did drive both the luxury and sport versions of the 350 and was shocked that the sport was soft enough for me. Going into the test drives I was positive I would prefer the luxury, but I didn't. Good advice though.

On a side note, what percentage of test drives has everyone been able to take on their own? Me? 25% if that. Can you ask to go alone? ha