DutchTim1

Arrived early in Europe. This is a full review of the new E Class Coupé amg package. Also demonstration of the differences with the sedan.

Somehow it has similarities with the C and S Coupé?

arnsbrae

I don't understand why people pay extra for less headroom!

This particular model starts off as an E Class sedan then they add reduced rear headroom, a shorter wheelbase, poorer ride and higher price.

It looks like a whale in white but is probably quite handsome in a darker colour.

Finally, those teensy windows at the C pillar look the gunge people get at the edge of their mouths when they're really thirsty.

Only a hairdresser would buy this car. You are paying extra for a variant that looks a wee bit sporty from some angles but is actually a lesser vehicle than the sedan. That's before you even think about the fact they've stolen two actually quite useful doors that make getting into the car much easier. And charged you extra for it.

I'm not a fan.

arnsbrae

*Cough*

Now I've learned a bit more about this car, I'm about to order one despite my stinging remarks above.
I must have posted round about the time my 2017 E Class sedan was being towed away to have a replacement for the failed turbocharger fitted.
Yes, that's my excuse - I was very angry and bitter. I'm not a hairdresser...

I've even chosen Designo White...

BenzMan369

Where oh where do I begin.

When I read your March post I found your description of the new design ("It looks like a whale in white" "Only a hairdresser would buy this car." ) even more fitting than my own initial impression: "It's like a bathtub on wheels." "After all my waiting, we get an amorphous lump of protoplasm for the new design?!"

And now here you are buying one! Well sir, you deserve an award for Bravery, Courage and Honesty in coming back here and fessing up.

I too had a higher opinion of the car after reading about its features and specifications, especially as compared to the E coupe I'm driving now. But I just don't know if I can get past the sheet metal. The car has no character to me. It says less to me than my hairdresser! Er, if I had a hairdresser that is. I'm sure though that others will rejoice in the less-is-more de$ign philo$ophy the car unabashedly displays. Hey you did, right?

I'll be anxious to read your hands-on impressions and experience with the car. Good luck!

And when I go to see one in person this summer, I'm hoping all the creases and angles and character lines we can't see now turn out to be there after all.
Of course, I'm still hoping the Tooth Fairy finally pays me what she owes me too. Sigh.

BenzMan369

Similarities is an understatement.

This seems to be the approach Daimler's CDO Gorden Wagener is taking. You take a C Class, blow it up a little and you get your E Class, rinse and repeat and you've got your S Class.

Of course there's a whole lot more to these cars - and the differences between them - than this. But I am not a fan of Mr. Wagener's "minimalist" design approach. I find it lazy and uninspiring. Maybe it'll grow on me. After all, moles have.

arnsbrae

I do share your frustration around the Russian doll syndrome manufacturers are adopting.

Audi, Mercedes and BMW have all gone down this road. The notable exception is Jaguar - it's easy to distinguish between them and if they could just bring a bit of flair to the interiors they'd be worth a second look...

BenzMan369

Good analogy and well stated Arnsbrae.

RickInHouston

Why buy a touring car with two doors?

petee1997

My wife considered the coupe because she has had them in past and they are sportier looking. In the end, she opted for the E43 sed because it is more practical. She has a July 10th build with ETA sometime in Sept.

Usually the sedans do better on trade in also, due to the fact there is more demand for sedans.

Egonvdv

I love the look of the Coupe (had one before) but it's ridiculous how small it is in the back; I'm 1.85 and cannot sit up straight.

Plus it has only 2 seat in the rear and it's a b*tch to get into.

Back then i took it cos in my mind i was usually driving with max 2 people.
however once you get a coupé you start to realize how often you take 3-4 passengers with you.

But the "cutless" side windows though.... beautiful!

c4004matic

I like it, but as others have pointed out, marginal as utility is concerned. I guess its a "must have it" proposition a true statement for any coupe. That is one of the biggest failings of the CLA, even with 4 doors, the rear is essentially useless, might as well get a 2 seater.

arnsbrae

I think the target market is the "Empty nester" that hasn't been completely crushed by life into submission and conformity.

At least that's what I'm telling myself...

Proeliator2001

I'm partial to coupes but only ever owned one (recent stint with a Peugeot RCZ). I like 2/3 door cars in general since, being tall and usually having the seat fully back, i find 4/5 door cars have intrusive B pillars. The downside is very long doors that make getting out of coupés that much harder in narrow UK car parking spaces.

As the latest E coupé is based on the actual W213 chassis, so is bigger than the old model, I'd have thought room in the back would be adequate even on fairly long journeys. I fitted real entire adults in the back of the RCZ and it was only the low double bubble roof that really limited taking 4 adults for more then a few miles.

Were i given the option now of having the saloon or coupé, I'd go two doors (though i do now fall in to the empty nester category!).

arnsbrae

I played around with one at the dealer at the weekend. I think up to about 6' 3" the back seats are great.
It looks great with both windows down and since my saloon has just been returned to the lease company I got the chance to change. My company will lease a new car that Mercedes has in stock for me, so I'll have it in a week or two. It has the 20" drug dealer wheels.
You are correct about the long doors - I have an SL and you have to be careful...
The RCZ is cool.

Proeliator2001

Funny you said about the drug dealer wheels, just saw a thread where a fellow member posted pictures of their lowered black car with carbon wrapped wheels and whilst it looks very good, first thing that went through my mind was "how much for a gram?". Maybe it's a UK thing.

RCZ was very good, nice sprightly 200 hp engine with very grippy flat handling but oh dear God the ICE/sat nav was ancient and horrific to use. Got to rag a 270bhp R round Bedford autodrome and it was epic, so easy to sling around being front drive with an LSD. If i had had that version i think i may still have owned it (with a tomtom glued to the screen)

SL is a tasty car but are the doors really that long being a two seater, albeit one with a deep rear parcel shelf/cubby hole that has seatbelts attached for some reason

arnsbrae

Yes, even though there is no rear access needed for seats, the doors are long. There's a surprising amount of space behind the seats. These cars are not cheap to maintain though, so they're not for everyone.
One funny thing I find is that after driving a diesel so much, when I get back into the SL after winter I have to remember to rev it much more to pull away!

ua549

With the front seats all the way back (the way I drive), only a double amputee can fit in the rear of E Class coupe or sedan. IMO the back seat is for children. To carry rear seat passengers one needs a full size vehicle.

arnsbrae

That's an interesting view.

Proeliator2001

This is the grocery getter remember? E class not being a full size car! I'm 6 foot 4 and like my leg space up front yet my seat is not at its rearmost setting and i could stomach a reasonable length journey sat behind myself in the saloon.

What's a full size car then i wonder, they come with the word Greyhound written on the side with seating for 80?

arnsbrae

Ah, he's the grocery getter guy - I should have spotted that.

Are you familiar with this story?

A guy from Florida is visiting the UK and stops to talk to a farmer.

"Hey dude, those potatoes are tiny. Over in Florida, we grow 'em 12" wide."

"Yes," says the farmer, "We grow them to fit our mouths too."

ua549

The E Class is classified as a mid-size vehicle. Front leg room is overstated at 41.7" with the seat fully back, but the brake pedal intrudes making the effective leg room several inches less. In the back seat there is less than 5" of knee room from the front seat back to the rear seat cushion.

petee1997

I always thought the E class was a full size car. For most people, the rear sear seat is quite comfortable. Of course, like everything else, there are exceptions.

arnsbrae

Yes, and when you factor in the average size of a grocery bag X 20 (for the larger grocery getter), the trunk is basically the size of a child's pocketbook.

Probably.

ua549

Actually the 4 canvas grocery bags my wife uses each day are 12" x 8" x 13". They will fit nicely in the trunk along with a spare tire, jack, lug wrench and compressor.

I asked my wife about her daily shopping. She visits 4 shops each day. They are:
supermarket for dairy & non-edible items;
green grocer for fruits & vegetables;
butcher for meat/seafood;
package store for soft drinks & wine.

Proeliator2001

If you have to position the w213 seat fully rearwards to be comfortable, you're either closing in on 6 foot 8+ (you're a retired pilot i think, so I'm guessing you're not that tall or life must have been hell on the job) or, as i more likely suspect, wearing impressively​ uplifting high heels. In which case I'd recommend keeping some flats in the car