PsychDoc

Lots of bandwidth about TL vs: 3 series/A4 but not even a whisper about the C300. Why? Although I cannot for the life of me understand why the C-class sells lots of cars. IIRC at least 2x what the TL sells month to month (in March it sold 6542 units!).

To me the C-class looks OK from the outside. From some angles it's downright attractive. But it's really, really small. The interior is simply awful beyond words. Simple, stark and lifeless (but then so is the interior of the 3 series).

Why do people pony up TL-type money for the C-class and how come there's not more discussion of that car in forums such as this? It's not as if it's not selling in big numbers.

Is that little 3-pointed star that big a selling point?

Stew4HD

IMO, yes, that is the biggest selling point. M B used to mean quality and reliability.. still does, I guess.

007Acura

I actually like the c class when optioned properly (sport, nav, xenon, pan roof etc)

I guess so many people buy the c300 because is offers a very attractive price to get into the merc brand. Factor in the brand following and attractive lease rates, and that can explain the sales figures.

I would compare this to the tsx as it is more similar in size.

blackbr

I can speak to this personally as a 2x former TL owner and a current MB C-300 AWD Sport driver.

Previous car was a 3G TL which is still my all-time favorite car. When it came time to turn it in, the 4G hadn't grown on me yet, I drove the FWD 4G when it came out and felt that it drove too similarly to my 3G. Plus, we had a tight garage and was worried that the 4G would feel too crammed in it.

I've always loved Mercedes and felt this was the time to take the plunge on a C. I considered the TSX which had far more features (for an identical lease payment) but the driving experience was nowhere near as refined (I found the four-cylinder thrashy). Here are the pros and cons of the MB as I see them:

PROS:
- Appeals to my brand snob personality
- Very refined
- I like the styling
- It feels very solid and well built
- Looks brand new at 25,000 miles

CONS:
- Lacks many features for the price (I only went with premium package 1 and skipped the multimedia package)
- Ride is borderline firm, borderline uncomfortable on rough roads
- Small - 6' son doesn't like riding in the back seat
- Expensive to service; fortunately I found a Euro specialist in my home town

I finally fell in love with the 4G when I crawled around a bronze/umber SHAWD at the Cleveland auto show. I test drove one for fun a little later and found it to be one of the most fun test drives I've ever taken.

Now we've moved and I have a bigger garage, and I'm lusting over the 4G. With the improvements made to the FWD model in 2012 and the lower price (gas mileage improvement is a BIG plus, I just spent $65 to fill my MB gas tank yesterday, WTF?!?!!), I would lean towards the FWD model if I was buying today. It would be a slam dunk if I could get the FWD model in the bronze/umber combination (WHY DOES ACURA DO THAT!?!?!??!).

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

^ marketing tactics!

same reason the KBP (electric blue) color was only on the 2G & 3G Type-s Models...

MB300/350 is a nice looking car... sporty ride... i would never buy one though. MB are NOT reliable.

My mother had a 2002 SL600 & 2008 CLK55 Cabrio... both were pieces of crap. beautiful, pretty and FAST.. but always in the shop

MB and BMW are for leasing.. not buying IMO

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

The new C class (face lifted) has a much better interior.

jasonwdp10

Yes.

For many of my relatives, when they start making more $$, they go straight from their hondas and toyotas to lexus/benz/bmw/audi.. etc

Acura and infiniti don't even exist to them, much like the rest of the public.

When my 2010 SHAWD was totaled, I got a C300 for a rental for a few days. I honestly really liked it. Despite it's smaller size, i fit 4 people fine with no complaints about rear seating. The 7 speed (?) auto I had seemed to shift pretty smooth in normal mode, but slow in the manual mode. However, it shifted with authority, and the C300 felt a lot sportier than both my TLs and I felt that it had a lot more low end even though the numbers were lower. It had that feeling of "thrust" that the TL lacks when you pretty on the gas pedal.

I had a pretty barebones model with pleather and the standard aluminum trim, so I can't really comment about the features, but it felt pretty solid.. even if it's "just" a c class. The vent in the moonroof was pretty neat, I remember them being at such an angle so that the sun wouldn't shine down on you at noon, and only would shine towards the front windshield/dash area. I liked the way it looks, except for the tail lights/trunk area, which seem unbalanced a bit. I feel that the design focus was much like the 09-11 TL where it wanted to showcase the company's emblem, pretty eye catching IMO.

If I got one, it would be the C350 fully optioned, I think the one I built online was about $52k before taxes?

potmilkz

ahhaah

dont you understand, people that do not know about the dynamics of a car will only go for what car will be the most luxurious car.

i mean come on, if you gave your daughter/son an option to buy a acura or a mercedez, seriously... which one would you think they would choose..

SL1200MK4

Or maybe because the C-class is actually a good car? Not a huge fan of the interior but the exterior styling is beautiful IMHO. Also, not everyone will appreciate or utilize the extra power and handling prowess of the TL. The C250 4Matic can be had for less than the TL SH-AWD in Canada. The C300 4Matic is priced about the same.

For the month of February and March in Canada, the C-class out sell the TL at a 3:1 ratio. The 3-series also did out sell the TL by about the same margin. I think exterior design, pricing, and overall dealership experience attributes to a lot of it.

Aman

Fun fact: the C-class has less interior space than a Civic.

I like the exterior styling of the sportier C-class, the 350 and the AMG of course, pre-facelift. Not a fan of the "base" models.

I agree that it's just a cheap way to get into the Merc game. It's also why you see a lot of Mercedes B-Classes around. I feel Merc owners in general are more likely to be badge whores than BMW drivers.

potmilkz

ppl just want to say that i drive a mercedez

MD-DRIVER

I looked at the C and was not impressed. It's a car built to a price point for people that need to say they drive a Mercedes. For what they are charging, there are better built, more reliable, and more fun cars out there.

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

Bear with me for a second, I've always liked the W204 C class. Don't think I'd buy one though. My sister has a 2008 C350 and it's a blast to drive. Plenty of low-end torque, coupled with RWD, a firm suspension and a 7AT transmission. Blows my 3G TL out of the water...can't speak for the 4G as I've never driven one.

I absolutely cannot stand the interior though (although, see below for the 2012). The quality of materials is top-notch and the COMAND navigation is awesome, but its just not designed well enough for a $45K car. Hell, an Accord EX-L has a nicer interior. The seats blow. A lot. I can never get comfortable driving it.

Its just the feel of the car that saves it. The solid thud when closing the door, the lack of rattles, the planted feel when driving, etc. And as tacky as this sounds, the feel of the buttons when you press them. Its like every detail was thought of. And it really is a great car to drive.

That said, I don't think I would personally buy one. Its just a lot of money for what you get. Same with the 3 series. Maintenance also kills. Each time you take it to the dealer, expect to pay no less than $150+. My dad recently had a brake job done on his GL450 that was well over $1000. Would I take a C class over a TL if someone else paid for it? Sure! I looked at many many 3 series before getting my TL a few years ago...I couldn't bring myself to like them. The TL had so much more for the money.

Same thing is said about BMWs a lot too but then some will say its the most reliable car they've ever owned. Seems to very from model to model, etc. The three MBs my family haven't had any issues really. The C350 needed a new Sirius antenna. The GL450 (with 95,000 miles) has only needed a new rear liftgate actuator. Talk to another owner and they might say their GL has been completely unreliable. Just isn't consistent like Hondas tend to be. I agree that leasing is the way to go. Its a gamble once the warranty is up.


You're not kidding. The 2012 interior is 100% different. It literally looks like not a single part remained...guess people really did hate it.





And that really is the truth, not just an assumption. People buy BMWs and Benzes for the image. And I personally don't see anything wrong with it, as long as you can afford it. Its no different than people buying designer clothes and nice watches and jewelry.

My mom recently got a GLK. I tried to get her to look at Acura ZDXs and the first thing she said was "That's pretty but its an Acura...I want a Mercedes. I like the feeling of driving a Mercedes down the road."

Anywho. Sorry for the long post. I'm just very familiar with the brand.

potmilkz

i just hate how mercedez leather sux. its rough and hard just like bmw.. but i love how the acura leather is "self healing" leather on top of that its soo soft..

VQPower37

^ thats a first, i agree acura leather is soft, but it shows its age very quickly IMO

potmilkz

not if you take care of it..


had my car for about 9 months, still looks new because i use leather conditioner.. leatherique ftw!


looks like when i first got it.. remember guys!!


"always treat your leather to make it look better!"

renedcruz

iTrader: (8)

I have a friend who owns a 2010 TL AWD and a friend who owns a 2009 C350. I've never driven either one but have taken a few rides with them. The TL is a beast. It's fast, handles good, aggressive exterior styling and the interior is amazing. But the C350 is also pretty fast. I love the exterior styling (AMG wheels, etc...), it handles really good and the interior is okay I guess. If I were to buy a new car right now, I would lean towards the TL because of the reliability factor. The MB is a really nice car but I don't know if I would be able to cope with having to go to the mechanic every 2 weeks.

jasonwdp10

umm I don't know about the "self healing" leather you're talking about.

my 1 yr old TL is showing wear on both front seats. I clean and condition the leather every other month for the front seats and every 2-3 months for the rear seats and the rest of the car.. still showing wear really early

go onto the ZDX, MDX forums to see other accounts of wear showing up early on..

potmilkz

well i dont drive people around much so all my seats are new.. my driver side is the only one that look used yet still seem like it came out of the lot few weeks ago.

btw it depends on what products you use.. leatherique is only suppose to be used 2-3 times a year.. so in span of 3-4 months

also when getting in the car, dont slide your ass on the side of the seat but rather try to land right in the middle when first sitting down. this what causes your side of the seat to start cracking because of flexing. im a very light guy.. about 143 at 5'10 so i dont make much dent on seat. dont put your wallet in your back pocket and sit down on the seat, it will stretch it.

jspagna1

My mon had an 1986 190E which was a crap car, my sister has a 2006 C280 4Matic and my brother-in-law has a 2008 E350.
These cars are just too expensive to repair and maintain period!
I would take a Mercedes C-Class over a 3 Series BMW anytime because of interior space.

Back in 2007 went to the local Infiniti dealer for the debuting of the new 2007 G35. While walking around gat to talking with a guy and he said he was driving a MB E-Class and he was sick and tired of the car being in the shop all the time and he was going to buy an Infiniti. Enough said!

TL Tech 18

I guess we all differ in our opinions... and our taste in vehicles. Personally, I don't choose a car based on the ego's of others ......

jasonwdp10

wow the interior change for 2012 is pretty dam significant

KillerG

the 2012 interior takes after the e-class interior.

funnily enough, alot of MB owners have said they hate the new steering wheel, and said it looks like a honda wheel

i actually like it, a much needed refresh (i be hangin out on mbworld sometimes yo)

TechnoCat

I had a Mercedes for a while years ago, and drive a C3xx series for several months maybe three years ago. It was a fine car. Inside, it felt higher quality than my 2010 TL SH-AWD did - meaning more composed, better quality switches and materials, quieter. Not in the same handling league. Nice enough car. I'd have bought one instead of the TL if I could have gotten one with more power, AWD and 6MT; that was what I required from a car.

Six Shifter

I'm saving my opinion on the new C-Class until I see the new Coupe this fall, although I'm sure the 4Matic version (if it is even offered in the Coupe) will lack anything close to desireable hp because of the use of the smaller engine as in the Sedan - let alone no stick as mentioned above.

Hamma Tyme

There are 3 versions of leather on a BMW, Leatherette, Dakota, and Nappa. The Dakota is what you describe as hard and the Nappa soft. The leather quality of Benz & BMW are much higher then Acura. This is a fact. Yes, the German cars are more expensive then Japanese/American cars, but the leather and real wood trim are only 2 of many differences why you pay more or expect more when buying a car. It's not all about the Roundel and the Three Pointed Star.

6SpdTerror

That car does nothing for me. I couldnt see myself spending TL money for a C class. Just to tell everyone i drive a benz?? Ill pass on the C.

scv76

MB does some things better than Acura, while Acura does other things better than MB.
My cheap 2005 C230 Kompressor has desirable features my 3g TL does not have. (and of course the TL has things that weren't available back in 2005)
The fact remains it is many times quieter than my TL driving on the same roads at the same speeds. The noise in a TL is just plain not acceptable for the price range.
MB brakes are better also (they may be Brembo's, I don't know).
The C230 doesn't handle anywhere near as well, but I'm never in road-racing mode anyway. Believe it or not, the 4 cyc Kompressor engine can not achieve the same hwy milage as the TL (I think this is due to RWD efficiency loss)
I love my TL, but I get annoyed when people who know what cars I usually drive notice the MB, and make comments about how nice it is and want to know when I up-graded to the comfort of an MB!!
I just laugh and tell them that since this is so old it's my POS beater car.

My daughter drives a C300 (like a wild-women I might add), and has yet to have any problems with the car.
I have yet to drive one of the new face-lifted C's so I can not comment on them, but that cheap looking rising GPS screen on the 2010 model is a big negative to me.
I would consider a Benz, but I certainly would not be going to the dealer for things like oil changes and the like!

As with almost any car you compare the TL with, the other brands seemingly charge out-landish fees for the option packages. But to be honest I only paid 31500 for my new 07 TL and if you were to look at the cost of today's TL, there's a rather large markup (which are really options) as well. Plus, I don't need a car with AWD, 300 h.p, noisy rough ride etc. at the cost of an additional 7-10 thousand dollars.

As many have stated, reliability is a crap shoot with just about anything you buy now days; whether we are talking about cars or anything else.

IMO, I think it's a mistake for Acura to keep making bigger engines, adding a few new features, at the same time charging in the mid to high 40K range. Makes too many other brands a possible option.

winstrolvtec

This is a quote from a recent article from AOL Autos. It's just another opinion like any of our's but interesting coming from the particular source and it relates well to the topic. They didn't mention the TL but the TSX is there. Here is the full link.

http://autos.aol.com/gallery/america...nk1%257C210130

Monte TLS,MAX

How true, a friend of mine had a 07 E550 Sport. She had problem after problem and 3 times did the front suspension drop leaving her stranded amongst other things, she had enough went to Infiniti Dealership and got a G37 Sport. She couldnt be happier and said if I known these cars drove and had all of these features I would not have waisted my money on that Benz, now she is alot more car savy!