Mike5215

We apparently suffer from the same mental disorder. You named my entire short list (except for the Lincoln).

The Volvo interior looks nice, mainly because it's rendered in white and it's something different. The seats look very comfortable. I like the big vertical infotainment screen. Some of the interior, especially the center console, looks blocky and flat. I'd prefer the cut away for the gear selector face the driver. Exterior looks okay, depending on the angle. Front looks good, tail looks weird. Not crazy about the T4. Too much "meh" to pull the trigger.

Genesis G90, great looking interior. So much of an S Class rip off I don't think I could do it. I was watching a review of the car (in Korean) on YouTube and the only word I understood was "S Class". They said "S Class" about three hundred times. Exterior is better than the Equus but still too geriatric.

Jag interior is still trapped in the 90's, even though they just re did it. Build quality isn't great, ride is very stiff.

The problem with a Lincoln at a price that's half a similar size Mercedes is that unfortunately it's actually only worth a quarter. Same with Cadillac. They have some cool cars but they price them like GM had nothing to do with them.

Honestly, the best bang for your buck performance buy is the $45,000 2016 Camaro SS. 455 hp Vette engine, magnetic ride control, variable exhaust, heads up,great leather heated/cooled seats, available 6 speed manual. I saw one in person. Interior was not "luxury" but it looked and felt nice and suited the car. Tons of standard equipment too. If you could get past the cartoonish exterior, that car would be a riot. Look up some reviews on YouTube. It just got 2016 Car Of The Year in some category or the other. Built on the new GM RWD platform that carries the CTS.

shortspark

Very good points, Mike. I must say that the most fun I ever had in a car was back around 1972, when I had a brand new Firebird Formula - 4 on the floor. I red lined it through every gear and it was a ball to drive. In a way, it was a great grand-dad of the Camaro you're talking about. Back then I saw the car as thrilling because I had reflexes like a cat. Today, alas, thrilling has turned to scary because the courage of youth and those sharp reflexes have dulled considerably as I approach 70 years of age. Nonetheless, it is still in me a little hence my passing interest in a Jag and a 400 hp Lincoln. The Camaro no doubt is all you say it is but although it may be ready for me as I can certainly afford it, I'm not so sure I'm ready for it!

Oh, I almost forgot one - Buick LaCrosse. I want to see this one in person.

Mike5215

I'm 54. Back in 2005 I went completely off my rocker and bought a new, 400HP GTO with a six speed manual for $28k. I hadn't owned a domestic car in thirty years. (The GTO was actually imported from a GM division in Australia for Pontiac, but close enough)

I hadn't been near a GM RWD coupe of any kind since the old Trans Am/IROC cars of the mid 70's. They were crude, cheap and looked ridiculous. But, on a whim I took the 2005 GTO on a test drive and fell in love. It rode so smoothly and quietly, the seats were terrific, it handled great, and when you went an extra half inch into the throttle, it transformed into a total beast.

I'm not a hot rodder by any stretch. I like a refined, smooth ride. But I thrashed the hell out of that Goat. You could take it to 130 on the interstate (so I've been told!) and it was totally composed. That 6.0 LS1 was barely taxed. Honestly, I traded it for an S500 ten years ago and I still miss it.

I'm gonna go drive one of those SS and see what I think.

Dema

- Volvo, although car looks nice, I doubt Mercedes buyers will seriously consider it. Volvo isn't a good for lease due low residual value. Long time reliability is also unknown.
- G90, major mistake of the Korean maker is trying copying reveals, if they targeted LS, now they switched to S class claiming longer wheel base and better handling due more rigidity of a body. However exterior is really awkward, Equus looked much better. Interior is nicer, although central console looks messy, they tried to mix controls from different makes and made the mess. Although price is half of S class I still believe S class buyer won't sit in Hyundai whatever they tried to name it But for E class price is still much better than G90 in any angle.
- Camaro.., I would seriously look in Buick Avista, if they pass concept state. The car looks really promising, and the concept exterior and interior look beautiful.
- Cadillac, they need seriously look in interior redesign. If car can look acceptable outside, it is still terrible inside.
- Lincoln, I want a new town car.

So far there are many nice offerings from all makers, but still I do not see any strong alternative to E class. Maybe only used S class?

Mike5215

Well I sat in the floor display SS. It's a beautiful little coupe in person. Black minimized all the grille business up front. I'm not serious enough to have them pull it out and get it dirty but they have an RS so tomorrow I'm going back to see how the ride and handling are. No magnetic shocks or 454 HP though. Less than a 10% chance I'd buy this thing but I like to drive everything when I'm in the market. Sometimes you'll find a little gem you never would've considered.

The Buick I think is a wet dream at this point, and by the time GM's accounting department gets through with it you wouldn't recognize it.

Agree re: Volvo and Genesis. Not a chance an S Class customer would do that G90. But a Lexus, Infinity or Cadillac shopper might.

MBNUT1

You may be in the minority but I am right there with you. It is disappointing how rapidly Mercedes moved away from the traditional grill on the C's and E's, but i guess that must be what the buying public wants. Why I don't know.

RNBRAD

The interior in the W213 is just wow!! I couldn't design it any better myself. The exterior I'm still skeptical about and really need to see in person. Some pics have favor, some are screaming "watch out for the grandparents". The w211 and w212 are still my favorite and hard to pick which one of the two. I'm sure the w213 will be stellar looking with just the right options. There are some I like more than others but for me it's really just splitting hairs. All these cars look better than anything else on the road. I want to order a w211 with a w213 interior??

Mike5215

You can have a traditional chrome slat grille and hood star on both the C and E. Just select the Luxury model vs the Base or Sport. You'll get all kinds of old school details and a wider selection of interior colors and wood trims.

In the "leaked"pics, the blue car is the Luxury model. Or config a C on the MBUSA website and see what I'm referring to.

jerome8283

This site has great images of autos. Check out the multiple colors of the front lights. What's that about?

http://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2017-e-class/

The App for mobile devices is nice too.

The Thomas J

No you aren't...at least as far as i'm concerned. If I had a sport model or AMG model I would swap out the grills and put a star on the hood.

The Thomas J

My w211 is going to look dated next to the w213 :-(

The Thomas J

Now your talking!

Dema

If car makers did parts interchangeable across all models line, then it was quite possible.

$100 GUY

Somehow, someway I liked your descriptions of each class LOL


Well, since I have don't have a sedan I am still kinda hopeful that the coupe version will look better. But, when I think about the new c class coupe, and just see the resemblance with the S class coupe, things don't look up.
I really like the big *** taillights of the current E, and now they are gone to mimic the ones in the little and bigger brother. Sucks.
Can the coupe have some differentiation please LOL

$100 GUY

Yeah, it is amazing what GM has brought to the table with the Camaro. Wow, what a performance.
I still prefer the Mustang between the two, thou in that class I dig the personality and charisma of the Challenger.
As far as performance and powertrains, I think the E is well served right now. You get the V8 and you have such a complete package with the rest of the car.

El Cid

Buick is coming out with a completely redesigned Lacrosse in Fall 2016. Probably not competitive with "E" or MB at all, but very interesting looking.
While an "S" Class customer would not go to a Genesis G90, an "E" Class one might.
Sat in a 2016 Genesis at a car show recently and it is very well done and they may up it somewhat when it morphs into a G80.
And MB is still stuck on its 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. Even Lexus has moved up.
2017 or 2018 look to be much more interesting years once all the "new" designs get here.
Happy Motoring!

baadmon

I like the car inside and out. I'm just still smh over the fact that they gave this car a 4 cylinder with 241 HP. I currently own a 14 MB E350 so getting the new E would be a downgrade in terms of engine performance.


I also hate the sound that most 4 cylinders have; completely annoying!

stealth.pilot

Not if you get the E43

LOGOSDJ

I don't know, I think you should wait to drive it before labeling it a "downgrade". If you were to remove the engine of your 14 E350 and throw this new 4-cylinder engine in there, then yes, that would be a downgrade for your E350, but this isn't your 14 E350.

Aside from the 2017 E-Class being 20% lighter in weight, literally no part or aspect of the vehicle has been carried over from 2016 to the new 2017. It's all new, inside and out, so I think we have to see how everything about the car (including the 9G-TRONIC transmission) comes together in terms of performance and comfort before we decide that this engine change was a bone-headed decision. Also, if someone is planning to buy an E-Class with the intent of driving super past, we know there will be 6 and 8 cylinder variants.

I don't really see or hear many 2015/2016 C300 drivers up in arms about their vehicles not having a 6-cylinder engine as past years did or saying they downgraded, since the new C300s feel quicker and more agile. Some would argue they handle just as good (if not better) than they did previously.

nycphotography

I saw them at the auto show in Detroit.

MB is going to tell the bejeesuz out of these.

BMWtoAMG

Yep, with this change I won't be able to easily differentiate between C/E/S. The styling is fine, but wonder if S class owners feel sold out a bit.

hyperion667

nope

LOGOSDJ

Why should they? The S-Class is the flagship Mercedes-Benz model and pinnacle of their sedan line-up. They should feel proud that they are driving the vehicle of which the other sedans in the line-up can only emulate in smaller, lesser ways, to a certain extent.

$100 GUY

You got the link where it says the E-Klasse is 20% lighter?

$100 GUY

Actually, E-Klasse owners feel sold out. Plot twist.