C-Class (W204) Official Mercedes-Benz W204 C-Class Discussion Thread

[Zafiro]

 

[mercmad]

My bro gone out but he told me to post this,

ELEGANCE MODEL:

http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e1nc6.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e3qu7.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e4vz8.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e5zk9.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e6gs6.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=e7zd2.jpg

AVANTGARDE MODEL:
http://img464.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a1oe4.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a2gp5.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a3gr2.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a4zk6.jpg

http://img464.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a6xu5.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a7vi3.jpg


http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=a10yn4.jpg
(mbworld)

 

[EnI]

First impresson:

very upscale & top-notch quality inside & outside. MB did a good job with their quality improvement programme. A bit disappointed with engine specs & car performance. I thought MB would attack BMW more sevrely.

Design: appealing, but VERY conservative & boring (even the Avantgarde version & AMG kit). I can't see this car attracting younger buyers like eg. 3er or A4 do. MB addressed their loyal customer base (Grandpas) & offered an understated design , superb quality & extraordinary level of comfort.

Like I said eariler: it seems BMW, MB & Audi are offering even more agile & comfortable with top-notch fit & finish (MB on par with Audi, BMW getting much better lately & will improve significantly in the next years) cars, yet each brand started to focus more on their core values - MB: great quality, comfort & safety + conservative kitchy design, BMW: excelent dynamics & exciting expressive design, Audi: all-roundness + extremely simple & clean design. I like that positioning.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

Well, time to even things out. i understand one can be a fan of a certain Brand. I am a fan of BMW, as many of you know.

But let's be honest. the New C-class interior IMO doesn't deserve all the praise it's getting here. I mean come on, it's almost 100% plastic. I have the same problem with this interior as I have with the ML. It's parly nice in design, but the materials used are sooooo bad. Just like in the ML you have huge empty plastic surfaces. There is just that very tiny strip on the left and that's it.

MB is all about comfort and luxury. They emphasize that with the new C-class and every new car. That's what customers want from an MB. But when even a spartan 3 series without the I-drive has a more richer looking interior, they have a problem IMO.

and what's with that screen. It's like in a 350Z, although I do assume the materials will be better than that nissan.

those phonelike buttons make the centre console look empty and they don't fit in. That central button, I know they're truying to mimic the Command III button, but like that it looks very Audi to me.

So that's it, the exterior looks great, with the right package, something that MB seems to realize judging by the amount of pictures with AMG-package or the more expensive non-AMG ones. But the interior: more wood, less plastics, different screen and buttons.

 

[saler13]

The Avantgarde is a sweet looking vehicle, first time with the 3 pointed star in the grill of a sedan on a production model. Looks tough and should be a real sales winner. Look out 3 series!!!!

 

[PHYBENZ]

If you ask me the C class interior is far more luxurious than the ML and R. The leather on the doors look so nice and the door panels themselves look like they have been taken off an S.

 

[LaArtist]

lol rik you cant say it doesent deserve the praise..
in your opinion maybe not.. but everyone else seems to like it yet..

it amazes me that the problem before was the design of the interior and now its the plastic..how do you know how good a quality the plastic is??

imo your doing the same misstake that got you burned just a second ago..making judgements on things that cant be judge by a picture..
go and sit in it and come back with an impression on the plastic

Here is from a person who sat drove and ride the 3er on a pretty regular basis..
The interior is nothing short of sterlile, no feeling.. no emotion.. just cold.. hard edged plastic..
but its good quality plastic though

 

[PHYBENZ]

So tired of this discussion but here is a nice amount of plastic in the the 3. Maybe you like it because there is more beige plastic mixed in?

 

[cracker123]

Questions:

will this car have any ambiant light similar to S-Class may be a little bit not at the same level.

The command APS screen have only up and close or are their other stages ? Like partially up or is there a screen behind the Command APS ? that you can use for non-navigation purposes.

 

[MBness]

Uh oh, one of the unique Mercedes features is gone on this car: The traditional grill is not part of the hood! Besides cost saving (one hood for all trims) I can't think of any other reason for this.

This C is VERY RADICAL in the grill department here.

But overall, I love the design.

Welcome to GermanCarForum!

Thanks, carwimmer. back at cha.

 

[fredkarl]

Any information on prices yet? I think the MB boss said during the presentation that the Classic model will start below 30 000 euros. Since sales in Germany are said to begin next Monday, shouldn't there be price lists around by now?

 

[LaArtist]

prices will be exactly like the previous modell

 

[PHYBENZ]

The one MB feature I am very sad to see go is the retractable rear headrests. That stinks.

 

[fredkarl]

prices will be exactly like the previous modell

That is good news! But how do you know? Did you see a price list? Or did I miss something during the presentation?

 

[LaArtist]

you missed it from the presentation..they said it on there..just before saying that it will start under 30K

 

[Beemer B773ER]

WOW... check the speed at which this thread is going!!

I have to give it to MB this time. Unlike the S and CL, the new C-class is instantly to my liking. Great proportions and thankfully it isn't a baby-S-class.

The front looks pretty good. As most of you have said it's rather conservative, but it's still very well thought-out from a design point of view. Side profile is very nice too although from the side the nose of the car seems a little 'squished up'.. but overall very nice.
The rear is probably the weakest part of the car. Although not ugly the rear is a little unimaginative, conservative and simple.. but it still looks nice enough to match the rest of the car.

Now to the interior. It's turned out better than I initially thought. Yes there is a big bunch of plastic there, but it's quality is instantly visible. Although I find the interior of the new C to be a little boring compared to the 3er's interior, it's still very nicely done, especially in being trim, although black with alu' inserts is good looking too.

Overall I have to give 2 thumbs up to Mercedes. This is the first MB car which I've liked from its launch. Well done!

--

After looking at these pics I thought I'd try a PS or two.
First is the front. I still think the mouth of the C is a bit of a forced design, so I did a little editing and turned the mouth of the C-class from an aggressive look to the usual MB 'smiley' look. What do you guys think?




As I said above, the rear of the car is the weakest part of the car IMO, especially the lighting compartment. So I did some little changes and produced a few variations of the C's rear light. What do you guys think of these?

..And oh, these 'chops' weren't done in Photoshop, but actually Windows Paintbrush.

 

[Matt]

I dont see how someone could look at this car and honestly say its ugly. Its gorgeous. The detail on the outside is 100 percent better than the W203. The proportions are sexy, the cut lines attractive, and the overall shape very desirable. I do agree that the interior leaves something to be desired-i would've appreciated a bit more detail-or attention to detail. The car is attractive but unfortunately expected and even a bit, for lack of a better word, monotonous. Can it compete against the 3 series? Who knows. We shall see. Overall i like it and mercedes should be proud to have produced such a good looking car. I cant wait to see it in person.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

lol rik you cant say it doesent deserve the praise..
in your opinion maybe not.. but everyone else seems to like it yet..

it amazes me that the problem before was the design of the interior and now its the plastic..how do you know how good a quality the plastic is??

imo your doing the same misstake that got you burned just a second ago..making judgements on things that cant be judge by a picture..
go and sit in it and come back with an impression on the plastic

Here is from a person who sat drove and ride the 3er on a pretty regular basis..
The interior is nothing short of sterlile, no feeling.. no emotion.. just cold.. hard edged plastic..
but its good quality plastic though

If you read my post correctly you will see that "IMO" are placed on several occasions.
Second, I do not complain about the quality of the plastics, just the huge amount of it and the lack of other materials creating huge empty surfaces.

As for the 3, sat in quite a few myself and when it comes to looks, which is the only thing I'm judging here, the new C doesn't come close in my book.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

So tired of this discussion but here is a nice amount of plastic in the the 3. Maybe you like it because there is more beige plastic mixed in?

now circle the wood in this picture and the wood in the C-class interior and compare

 

[MBness]

--

After looking at these pics I thought I'd try a PS or two.
First is the front. I still think the mouth of the C is a bit of a forced design, so I did a little editing and turned the mouth of the C-class from an aggressive look to the usual MB 'smiley' look. What do you guys think?

---

As I said above, the rear of the car is the weakest part of the car IMO, especially the lighting compartment. So I did some little changes and produced a few variations of the C's rear light. What do you guys think of these?


..And oh, these 'chops' weren't done in Photoshop, but actually Windows Paintbrush.

Hey BeeMer Boi, I like your chop on the front bumper. On the rear light, I like the upper left one. It looks more like a Benz: a little more ribbing.