[DecemberStorm]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Lol beat me to it.

That car has gotten fairly poor reviews too if memory serves right. A shame because it's a nice lookin car.

this car in particular is too much flare too little substance. All the little details that make the mid size luxury segment are absent in the Ghibli. Chrysler parts bin didn't help neither.

[YellowMellow]

Originally Posted by Leo bimmer

Us 4 GC owners actually have more space inside the car than the w205 C-class. That shows how cramped the new C-class is...

Agreed. But the new C-class exterior and interior proportions somehow came together really well. The new 4 GC exterior-wise doesn't look right to me. The 4 GC exterior proportions look wrong, kinda like a stretched limo. There is a lot of resemblance to the previous generation 6 series

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by YellowMellow

* The new 4 GC exterior-wise doesn't look right to me. The 4 GC exterior proportions look wrong, kinda like a stretched limo. There is a lot of resemblance to the previous generation 6 series

Interesting. First person I've seen with that assessment.

[YellowMellow]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Interesting. First person I've seen with that assessment.

I sat in one at the dealership w/M-sport package, while waiting for our car to be serviced.
Interior is nice and spacious. I couldn't get over the exterior and how long it is. Additionally, the designers appear to have forgotten about the rear of the car. If you look at the 4 GC from the side (starting from the rear passenger door to the rear bumper), it looks eerie similar to the new X4. I'm sure that is not a good thing

[Leo bimmer]

Originally Posted by YellowMellow

I sat in one at the dealership w/M-sport package, while waiting for our car to be serviced.
Interior is nice and spacious. I couldn't get over the exterior and how long it is. Additionally, the designers appear to have forgotten about the rear of the car. If you look at the 4 GC from the side (starting from the rear passenger door to the rear bumper), it looks eerie similar to the new X4. I'm sure that is not a good thing

I can't agree that the 4 GC looks like a X4, the proportions might be slightly different/weird, but I personally think that it's a great looking car

[Zirenz2006]

I think the C class is ugly however I do think the interior is very lux looking.

I think it is too busy looking though.

BMW could definitely step it up a it in the interior department in terms of materials used.

[chylld]

Originally Posted by YellowMellow

If you look at the 4 GC from the side (starting from the rear passenger door to the rear bumper), it looks eerie similar to the new X4. I'm sure that is not a good thing

Hmmm, yes, it is eerily similar to an X4!

[Leo bimmer]

Originally Posted by chylld

Hmmm, yes, it is eerily similar to an X4!

Simply put, the 4GC is an excellent looking car!
We are probably quite biased :P

[300hp]

Yesterday I went to see the new C Class in person. I spent about 10 mins then I had to go since I had other things to do. These are just initial impressions.

I had already observed that the C Class height was 0.3 inches higher than the xdrive models. When approaching the car it feels as if its much taller than the xdrive models. The car looks like a mini S class for sure but this comes with a major disadvantage in this segment IMO. Whereas the one it replaces looked more youthful, a car that invites you to have fun, think IS250/350, this new C Class looks like an old man's car. Far too mature for the young people who will be driving it. The hood needs to be more muscular, its just a flat long surface that needs some lines to break it up.

Step inside and you are welcomed by this scent that exudes elegance and rich leather. Let that sink in for a while as you enjoy the truly rich surfaces that surround you. Once everything has sunk in you will still realize that you are in a 40-60k car. The comments about how the interior feels like a 100k car were overblown. Mercedes has 100k cars, trust me those cars feel like 100k car, not the C Class. My 2007 IS250 gave me the same feeling when I bought it, a feeling of an above average interior, that feeling was not enough to overcome the underwhelming driving experience that came with it and I sold it within 18 months. Never again will I fall into the same trap

The wood panel in the C300 that I sat in did not look good, it was too much wood for my taste. Then there is the iPad, nope, scratch that, it was the Nook screen, iPads a better executed than what I saw in the C Class. That thing is ugly and reminds you that some costs were cut in the process of bringing this car to market. My kids would probably break it apart on the first day I take it home.

Admittedly this is a negative take on the car, but i went in trying to see what I did not like about the car. The interior materials are still great.

[ajm]

I personally think the back end of the 2015 C class looks HORRIBLE. The light clusters are too small.

The outgoing rear end was much more visually appealing.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by 300hp

Yesterday I went to see the new C Class in person. I spent about 10 mins then I had to go since I had other things to do. These are just initial impressions.

I had already observed that the C Class height was 0.3 inches higher than the xdrive models. When approaching the car it feels as if its much taller than the xdrive models. The car looks like a mini S class for sure but this comes with a major disadvantage in this segment IMO. Whereas the one it replaces looked more youthful, a car that invites you to have fun, think IS250/350, this new C Class looks like an old man's car. Far too mature for the young people who will be driving it. The hood needs to be more muscular, its just a flat long surface that needs some lines to break it up.

Step inside and you are welcomed by this scent that exudes elegance and rich leather. Let that sink in for a while as you enjoy the truly rich surfaces that surround you. Once everything has sunk in you will still realize that you are in a 40-60k car. The comments about how the interior feels like a 100k car were overblown. Mercedes has 100k cars, trust me those cars feel like 100k car, not the C Class. My 2007 IS250 gave me the same feeling when I bought it, a feeling of an above average interior, that feeling was not enough to overcome the underwhelming driving experience that came with it and I sold it within 18 months. Never again will I fall into the same trap

The wood panel in the C300 that I sat in did not look good, it was too much wood for my taste. Then there is the iPad, nope, scratch that, it was the Nook screen, iPads a better executed than what I saw in the C Class. That thing is ugly and reminds you that some costs were cut in the process of bringing this car to market. My kids would probably break it apart on the first day I take it home.

Admittedly this is a negative take on the car, but i went in trying to see what I did not like about the car. The interior materials are still great.

I think you are misstating the market for this car. The median age of Mercedes drivers is over 50 and C class owners certainly over 40. I think the new C class looks very sleek and luxurious but it obviously not made to appeal to the true enthusiast that wants a truly sporty luxury sedan. The fact that Mercedes abandoned the clutch in all but AMG US cars tells you everything about their strategy.

[moviebumm]

I drove the C400 yesterday and thought it was ok. Interior felt extremely cheap. Lots of hard plastic. Then there was the price. This 4 door car with most options is around 63,000. Dealers will not discount this car more than $1000 and that is if you are lucky. Lease payments with 36 months and 15,000 miles per year are $600 per month with $18,000 down. Another letdown of the new C class is that it is made in Alabama instead of Germany.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

I think you are misstating the market for this car. The median age of Mercedes drivers is over 50 and C class owners certainly over 40. I think the new C class looks very sleek and luxurious but it obviously not made to appeal to the true enthusiast that wants a truly sporty luxury sedan. The fact that Mercedes abandoned the clutch in all but AMG US cars tells you everything about their strategy.

I had seen that stat and you are right, it may fall within the 50+ age group. Is that the same for the 3 series?

[tuned2ride]

Don't consider the F30 outgunned - it isn't.

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by moviebumm

Lease payments with 36 months and 15,000 miles per year are $600 per month with $18,000 down.

Please tell me that's a typo.

[moviebumm]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

Please tell me that's a typo.

Unfortunately that is not a typo. With zero down, the lease payments were over $1,100 per month. This car is better bought outright than leased. I'm so happy that I ordered a 435 instead of the C400.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by moviebumm

Unfortunately that is not a typo. With zero down, the lease payments were over $1,100 per month. This car is better bought outright than leased. I'm so happy that I ordered a 435 instead of the C400.

The one you discuss is $63,000.00 which must be a fully loaded C400 so like a 335 xDrive with everything. I'd guess as a brand new introduction their are few deals on these. Without data like MF and residual it's hard to judge.

Edit: I priced a C400 on their site and for $63K it must have nearly every single option available.

[DocB]

Originally Posted by Leo bimmer

I can't agree that the 4 GC looks like a X4, the proportions might be slightly different/weird, but I personally think that it's a great looking car

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Love the 4-series GC!

[ibarry92]

The w205 C class wagon doesn't look to bad. Im sure the AMG version will look very promising.

[johnsonz1122]

owned w203, e90 ,w204 before. in the driving experience aspect, bmw is way better than merc. never like how the merc drives, especially their tranny. w203 to w204 was a big improvement, merc tried to make the w204 a sport orientated sedan. but it's nothing compare to both e90 and f30. not sure how the w205 will be like, but if they still use the same tranny that's gonna be a problem.

[Gastoys]

Told is so fricken ugly, designed as fwd and performance in par with honda accord.

The new c class is sparking my interest, but that rear end screams baby Bentley and I just can't see myself ever going back to a v6 engine design!

[RoundelM3]

Word on the street is that Mercedes is doing away with its 90-degree V6 design, which was a cost-cutting measure (based on 90-degree V8 block) from its Chrysler days in favor of developing a new inline-6 engine; even a 60-degree V6 isn't as smooth as the inline design. Other than their AMG V8-powered cars (which are prohibitively expensive for me), there isn't anything in the Mercedes line I'd go for over a similar BMW model. It remains to be seen how their new inline-6 engines stack up against BMW's 3-liter inline-6. Unless they can seriously undercut BMW in terms of pricing or content included in their price, I'll stick with BMW. Unlike so many of today's "lemming" population that tramples itself trying to own the latest "smartphone", I stick with what I've had good experience with rather than jumping ship every time a competitor comes out with something supposedly better that has yet to prove itself.