Mike5215

http://www.freep.com

MBNUT1

You win. I want one! It's pretty damn perfect.

Mike5215

I'm a little...just a little...bummed about the engine offering being limited to a Turbo 4. I know BMW does it in the 528, but it seems like a proper mid sized sport sedan would have an inline 6. (Which is coming, just not in the early production period). Maybe the new 9 speed tranny will make it work out.

Other than that, I think it's sexier than both the S and the C. Although if I'm stuck with a 4 banger I'd rather it be in a C where it actually performs really well.

First world problems.

MBNUT1

You'll just have to wait for the E400. It is the best overall execution of the design language. Never say never but I just can't do the ipad in the C

The Thomas J

Looks good. Love the interior which is something I couldn't say about the last generation E class.

DaveW68

The tech is cool and the interior is a massive upgrade over the ugly and cheap looking current model....but the exterior is feminine and meh. Very vanilla looking, like the rest of the sedans. Reminds me of the blandness of Audi sedans. BMW's have MUCH better looking exteriors. IMO, Benz designers missed the boat with this current generation of sedans.

Mike5215

Yeah, I agree. Put that interior in a 5 Series and watch the sales quadruple. BMWs have a menacing presence to them, very muscular and aggressive, even the little ones. I think the current 5 is the best looking mid sized sport sedan on the road. I came really close on a black 550 with an M Sport package. Could not pull the trigger based on the interior.

I guess MB decided to do their own androgynous thing instead. Not the way I would have liked them to go but it is paying off for them. Last year they booked their best year ever on the backs of the new C and S.

Mike5215

That thing bugged me until it didn't. The C has a way of getting under your skin just by how much fun it is to drive one and push the handling. It's like you meet a nice girl but you notice she has an overbite so you write her off. Then somehow you end up sleeping with her and she just blows you away in the sack. Suddenly the over bite is kind of cute, actually.

(Then you marry the girl but after awhile every damn time she opens her mouth all you see is a giant IPad.)

The C suffers mainly by having the least appealing execution of the exterior design...very stubby behind the C pillar... and the interior, while it can be spec'd up really lavishly, is tight. You almost "wear" a C Class from the driver's seat.

hoseclamp

Looks awesome, would totally consider one, but the 4cyl options, that is disappointing.

DaveW68

Mike5215

The 4 is a real problem. I'd planned on ordering when it opens up in April and a 90 day build. I'm not sure I want to roll the dice on that car with that engine before I get some seat time in one.

Probably won't see inventory cars to test drive on the lots before June. Pushes me past the expiration of CPO on the S.

The 9 speed tranny probably gives that 4 enough range but not sure I'd bet on that.

DaveW68

I wouldn't do it. That 4 banger is going to get the cheaper analog gauges and likely won't have all of the equipment you want. It will likely have cheaper and tacky interior materials too. I think you'd be better off finding a tweener car for a couple of years so you can get exactly what you want.

Mike5215

Not 100% but if the order guide mirrors the C, you'll be able to option everything into the car including the glass dash. The engine size in MB is usually decoupled from the trim level.

They'll break the car up into Base, Luxury Base and Sport Base. Each of those will have a few trim choices that you can't get on the others but you can build a $38k Base C300 to $60k if you want.

Restrictions on the C450 are no AirMatic but it gets a Nappa leather option the others don't. Minimally I'll have to wait for the configurator to go live anyway.

The Thomas J

Hope the new generation of airmatic is reliable.

Mike5215

They must feel they've figured it out if they're putting it in C and E class. Both sell a lot more units than the S. Right?

The Thomas J

I agree.

I understand that these things will wear out over time but it seems that no matter what car maker American, Foreign used an air system they all failed within 5 years. Kind of unacceptable. Not to mention the cost to repair and replace.

Mike5215

Yeah, five years is about right. All three of my S had an AirMatic failure, luckily always covered under warranty.