C-Class What is your favourite C CLass?

[Benzboi_inoz]

Greetings

Since the new W204 C Class has arrived, praise for the car has been almost universal from the world press.

The aesthetics have met with great approval, and the 'twin' design options of either Avantgarde or Elegance cater for different customers tastes.

Here on GCF, it appears that the sporty looking Avantgarde is the version that currys the most aesthetic favour. Not many seem to favour the Elegance version.

I wonder why that is so.

Is it because the majority of forum members here are perhaps mainly in their twenties and influenced by youthful connections such as sportiness?

Or putting sporty image/personal preference aside, do you think that the Avantgarde 'look' better suits the overall style and balance of the vehicle as a whole, more than the Elegance version from a design point of view?

Also, what do you think best suits the car objectively as regards both exterior, and interior colour choice and combination?

Please discuss.... and thank you

Best regards

John...

 

[Merc1]

I think my favorite will be the C350 Sport, but next year when it gets a proper 300+ hp engine and the sportiest suspension setup. I've done everything but drive the new C and I must say it is the first C that I could see myself driving/buying.

M

 

[NarutoRamen]

I'll take the new C350 sport, that is unless I can buy the C63 AMG.

After driving the C350sport I'm hooked. It's really a nice car.

 

[StewartM]

My favourite is the C320 CDI Elegance. I much prefer the conventional grille and gunsight to the big brash grille logo.

Same with BMWs, I don't like the M Sport body kits, I prefer the more restrained styling of the SEs.

Stewart.

 

[coolraoul]

My favourite is the C320 CDI Elegance. I much prefer the conventional grille and gunsight to the big brash grill logo

Me too, Elegance C320CDI for me (350 if the petrol wasn't so expensive...). The view of the star from the driver's place is so good... And it is more elegant than the AVG. the AVG with AMG package (series in the States in think) is beautiful too.

My Elegance C would have grey/black leather interior, the pop-up screen is a must.
Automatic of course, it's a Mercedes!
For the exterior I'm not sure: black is beautiful, bronze too, dark grey also... White does not suit the Elegance very well for me, but is beautiful with the AVG.

The C is a car that I really loves.

 

[fortuner]

hi i would in all reality take a c63 amg if the money wasnt a issue.

But since it is a issue i am very happy to choose my very own c220cdi avantgarde...

i prefer the avantgarde to elegance


although i like my interior colours i hink mb should give us more choices


i love the new c

 

[Mr. M]

The whole design of the C looks sporty and dynamic, a large star on the grille fits in perfectly with the theme. Suddenly the C now looks 10 years younger to me. I'd get a C280 or C350, although a C200 would probably be a more realistic choice.

 

[MB-JIM]

This may sound strange to our European friends but for me, in the USA, my 06 C350 is my favorite until I can get a W204 C350 Luxury Model with seat memory. I hope our so called marketing people wake up and stop treating us like children.

 

[cawimmer430]

For my personal needs, these C-Classes would suit me the most.

Gasoline: C180 Kompressor A/T

Diesel: C220 CDI A/T

The C180 Kompressor gets good fuel economy and is pretty agile, the same applies to the C220 CDI. Trim level, I don't mind Elegance but I'd want Avantgarde for my C-Class and that means a dark interior with aluminum would be ideal since it suits the cars sporty character. I also wouldn't mind those cream-colored interiors which some Elegance models possess.

Color wise, only black, white and red are my final choices. Silver will be too common, but red, white and black will make the car even better looking than it already is and turn heads. I know, I've seen a few in those colors and I stare and drool everytime!

 

[tennmb]

I was pretty critical of the new 204, but since I've had my new demo C300 luxury I'm warming up quite a bit. I still think MB missed the mark on a few things, such as no memory seats, only offering sport version with staggered tires and wheels, no tan interior on sport models (????). the car is super quiet and drives like a dream. 300 lacks the punch of the competition but is adequate.

I had a choice to take the sport (avantgarde) but I like the luxury. Especially the tan interior and traditional wood. Also the louvered air dam is very attractive.

 

[NTT]

Mine is the Sport in Tenorite Grey, a colour which will give me a lot more exclusivity, It looks really good in real life.

My interior combination is black, light colours require too much attention, and as I tend to keep my cars for a long period, light colours will show all the little accidents during ownership, especially the carpets.

The Elegance is growing fast on me as well, especially in Black and with the right Wheel package, 'Replica' mini 'S' Class.

I think the Elegance will claw back lost ground, the Sport package concept is captivating, hence the high take up, I suppose.

 

[dOmInIX]

If I could choose I'd take black C350 Avantgarde, with AMG kit...I think the car looks generally better and more fresh in Avantgarde version.

 

[Centurion]

I still think MB missed the mark on a few things, such as no memory seats, only offering sport version with staggered tires and wheels, no tan interior on sport models (????).

Very stupid and bothers me a lot. MB is THE luxury car brand number one and regardless of model customers should be able to opt for a tanned interior.

I'm the type of person who love tanned interior since they enlighten me, but I the sport kit is veeeeeeeery attraction. Why put people in a trance like that forcing them to choose between two of the most popular options????

I really hope that MB comes with a solution for the 09 models or with the face lift.

 

[Merc1]

I was pretty critical of the new 204, but since I've had my new demo C300 luxury I'm warming up quite a bit. I still think MB missed the mark on a few things, such as no memory seats, only offering sport version with staggered tires and wheels, no tan interior on sport models (????). the car is super quiet and drives like a dream. 300 lacks the punch of the competition but is adequate.

I had a choice to take the sport (avantgarde) but I like the luxury. Especially the tan interior and traditional wood. Also the louvered air dam is very attractive.

True, and what I really don't get is that other markets have most of these things, except the tan interior with sport pack. I don't see why in the world MBUSA wouldn't allow us to have memory seats yet Canada has them? I think the car will be complete next year after customers demand these items and we get the new V6s along with the sportiest suspension setup. I'm guessing the C300 will have about 258hp and the C350 about 310hp.

M

 

[Benzboi_inoz]

Thanks for the replies guys, and keep 'em coming.

When I first laid eyes on the Avantgarde version, it was admiration, but not instant 'love at first sight'. Ditto the Elegance, but between the two I preferred the Elegance as it seemed more the mini S Class 'look' than a saloon trying to be a coupe, and also the central mounted star on the Avantgarde looked huge with the more upright and higher bonnet line over the W203 as a result of current pedestrian safety regulations re front end design.

However the more I saw of them (only one on the road so far, the rest in dealers showrooms) my feelings started to swing towards the Avantgarde, as I felt that it's overall look better suited the lines of the car.

Now however, I'm starting to swing back slightly towards the Elegance, because to my mind, there is just something really fascinating and very likeable about the three pointed star on the bonnet, and I guess i just really like driving cars with a bonnet mounted emblem - sort of 'gunsight' I guess...lol

The other reason is that of the two designs, it is the one that most closely gives the mini S Class 'look' and I really like that.

I am really undecided upon exterior and interior colours. I think from what I have seen, that Iridium silver looks stunning on the car, and a dealer tells me that it is the most popular colour worldwide; however it is also a bit common.

Other choices would be either black/obsidian black, perhaps tanzinite blue, or the Carneol red - a deep burgundy.

On an Avantgarde with AMG kit (a must on the AVG IMHO) either the silver with either the black, or black/grey interior would look stunning IMHO, or same interior with white exterior.

Elegance?

Not so sure really. Silver again perhaps, but here the all black interior looks a bit 'bland'/monotone, and the black/grey is basically all grey with black highlights, which could look a bit washed out with a silver exterior.

Note, I have only seen black interiors so far, and one beige; no grey as yet in real life, only photos.

Other than that, possibly Black/Obsidian black with the two tone Beige interior - very classic that one.

Aah, decisions decisions, they're all nice....

Best Regards

John...

 

[tennmb]

I don't know why MB doesn't survey the sales force. Afterall we are the ones who talk face to face with the buyers and deal with the objections. Most importantly we deal with those who DON'T buy and usually know why.

I had a potential buyer this week. His first objection was the staggered wheels on the sport. He drives a lot of interstate miles. He wants the 350 because his Camry has more HP than the C300, but you can only get the 350 with staggered wheels. Next he wanted AWD, but you can't get AWD in the 350 in the USA. Great. We have umpteen models, but you can't get a C equipped how you want. Mercedes, please get rid of the staggered wheels except on AMG models.

I will say that MB did do a better job of simplifying the order guide. One change would be to make xenons a stand alone option and put memory seats in the P2 package.

 

[ismeto]

Thanks for the replies guys, and keep 'em coming.

When I first laid eyes on the Avantgarde version, it was admiration, but not instant 'love at first sight'. Ditto the Elegance, but between the two I preferred the Elegance as it seemed more the mini S Class 'look' than a saloon trying to be a coupe, and also the central mounted star on the Avantgarde looked huge with the more upright and higher bonnet line over the W203 as a result of current pedestrian safety regulations re front end design.

However the more I saw of them (only one on the road so far, the rest in dealers showrooms) my feelings started to swing towards the Avantgarde, as I felt that it's overall look better suited the lines of the car.

Now however, I'm starting to swing back slightly towards the Elegance, because to my mind, there is just something really fascinating and very likeable about the three pointed star on the bonnet, and I guess i just really like driving cars with a bonnet mounted emblem - sort of 'gunsight' I guess...lol

The other reason is that of the two designs, it is the one that most closely gives the mini S Class 'look' and I really like that.

I am really undecided upon exterior and interior colours. I think from what I have seen, that Iridium silver looks stunning on the car, and a dealer tells me that it is the most popular colour worldwide; however it is also a bit common.

Other choices would be either black/obsidian black, perhaps tanzinite blue, or the Carneol red - a deep burgundy.

On an Avantgarde with AMG kit (a must on the AVG IMHO) either the silver with either the black, or black/grey interior would look stunning IMHO, or same interior with white exterior.

Elegance?

Not so sure really. Silver again perhaps, but here the all black interior looks a bit 'bland'/monotone, and the black/grey is basically all grey with black highlights, which could look a bit washed out with a silver exterior.

Note, I have only seen black interiors so far, and one beige; no grey as yet in real life, only photos.

Other than that, possibly Black/Obsidian black with the two tone Beige interior - very classic that one.

Aah, decisions decisions, they're all nice....

Best Regards

John...

I have ObsidianBlack ! (W203) It is only good after Washer in 1 hour. It is very hard to keep clean !

Iridium Silver ; yes it is common but MB's silver different all other cars!s silver it seems clean .

Palladium Silver ; Thinkable

Tenorite -steel- Gray; My favorite

Corneol-baralo- red; Looking good also



my current inside Alpaca Gray ; Not so bad but black is better and new one gray more closey gray than alpaca called Stone Gray Heard it ?

 

[Tarek]

Well if i had the money i'd get a black C63 ,oh well i'll just be happy with any model

 

[timtsai]

For my personal needs, these C-Classes would suit me the most.

Gasoline: C180 Kompressor A/T

Diesel: C220 CDI A/T

After reading your favourable and excellent review, I finally ordered C220 CDI in late Aug, delivery late Dec/early Jan. The C220 CDI is the only diesel version currently available in australia.

I have test driven C220 & C280. The C280 is very smooth (with 7G transmission) but uninspiring. The C220 has more grunt and is sportier, even though it comes with 5 speed auto only. But it has minor engine noise and it shakes a little bit when it is started and turned off (Did you feel this in your test drive?) I guess I can live with these minor nuisance inherent to the diesel engine. Also consider these: it is A$20K cheaper; more economical to run; long range (1000km for 1 tankful of fuel). I believe C220 CDI is the best choice.

My C220 CDI will be:

Tenorite Grey
AMG Sports Pack
Vision Package (Sunroof, Bi-xenon, HK Logic-7)
Black leather with aluminium trim
Alarm

I've been struggling with Palladium Silver and Tenorite Grey. The Palladium Silver looks smart but is too common. Tenorite Grey looks very special and makes the silver grill/logo stand out to give a sharp contrast effect (this effect would be more intense with black paint, but I don't like black exterior).

As for the interior, I chose Reef Grey/Bird's-eye maple initially, but I changed it to black/aluminium the next day after signing the order. The aluminium (and the gear shift too) really stands out in the black interior and looks very sporty. Actually it is very similar to the interior in those C63 AMG pictures (though I changed it before seeing the pictures.) On the practical side, the black leather is easier to maintain and feels more classy. The two tone black/reef grey/maple interior would be a great choice for the Elegance model.

Thanks for your great review and info. Would be happy to hear from you and/or any comments from you guys.

 

[PanterroR]

This one: