Vehicle: 2008 C350 SPORT,2003 BMW 540I and 89 honda civic
Location: NORTH CAROLINA
Posts: 19
Drive that bmw a few months , you and everyone else will be back at the stealer too replace bushings. Not trying too be a smartee just take a peek at their message boards.I've owned them still do and all have needed to be modified too get that feeling of driving in the road instead of on top after a few months. Oh yeah, I keep a spare radiator ,cps sensor, mass air sensor,fan clutch and water pump at all times.You're driving a nice car now its just not new anymore , as a bmw purist i've been disappointed too long.Test drive the new g35 a really good value.
The new C class would be decent automobile in it's class segment if it were an Acura or Mazda.
However MB customers of yore expect Benz to be the benchmark in ride quality, reliability, and fit and finish whether it's the entry level C class or the premium S class. This is where the new C class falls flat on it's face. If the entry level C class was manufactured by Cadillac, Acura, or Infiniti than perhaps I would not be so critical. However the C class is not an Acura, Cadillac, or Infiniti. The new C class has the 3 pointed star. And for that Mercedes should be ashamed for it's efforts especially for 35-45k! Shame on YOU!
If you analyze the quality and engineering in MB's of the 50's-early 1980's one does not have to look hard to find precision engineering and thoughtful craftmanship that carry over to both entry level and premium models.
How many MB owners are still driving their 300td or 420 series cars from the 70's or early 80's? ALOT!
How many MB owners still own their 1994-2003 vehicles? How many friends or colleagues traded their late model C or S class MB for a BMW, Infiniti or Lexus because reliability and fit'n finish was subpar on the Merc's?
It is my opinion that Mercedes will not be around in 20 years which is sad unless the boys at Daimler stop playing chicken and start building Mercedes again!
BOTTOM LINE: Do not waste your money on the new C Class.
Last edited by Nicole Koon and Sam Gross : 10-18-2007 at 10:34 PM.
The new C class would be decent automobile in it's class segment if it were an Acura or Mazda.
However MB customers of yore expect Benz to be the benchmark in ride quality, reliability, and fit and finish whether it's the entry level C class or the premium S class. This is where the new C class falls flat on it's face. If the entry level C class was manufactured by Cadillac, Acura, or Infiniti than perhaps I would not be so critical. However the C class is not an Acura, Cadillac, or Infiniti. The new C class has the 3 pointed star. And for that Mercedes should be ashamed for it's efforts especially for 35-45k! Shame on YOU!
If you analyze the quality and engineering in MB's of the 50's-early 1980's one does not have to look hard to find precision engineering and thoughtful craftmanship that carry over to both entry level and premium models.
How many MB owners are still driving their 300td or 420 series cars from the 70's or early 80's? ALOT!
How many MB owners still own their 1994-2003 vehicles? How many friends or colleagues traded their late model C or S class MB for a BMW, Infiniti or Lexus because reliability and fit'n finish was subpar on the Merc's?
It is my opinion that Mercedes will not be around in 20 years which is sad unless the boys at Daimler stop playing chicken and start building Mercedes again!
BOTTOM LINE: Do not waste your money on the new C Class.
I think that MB has realized this & is addressing the issue. At least they are marketing themselves this way. Their commercials for the new C-class are all about quality, features & safety... why? Because they promised us a Mercedes. I think they have realized that they will be extinct if they dont shape up. fingers crossed.
The new C class would be decent automobile in it's class segment if it were an Acura or Mazda.
BOTTOM LINE: Do not waste your money on the new C Class.
You need to check your facts..go price an Acura TL and RL and you will see they ARE in the same class as Mercedes..
MB's biggest problem was getting in bed with Chrysler, and its a shame it took them so long to come to grips with that fact. But, now that they are divorced, I am sure they are doing everything they can to once again be the company they were prior to the "marriage"..just like a bad divorce, it takes a little time to rid yourself of ALL the bad things your partner brought into the marriage, so lets see how this new" MB turns out..Plus, you must be kidding if you think they will be out of business in the next 20 years..If I were a betting man, I would take THAT bet in a heartbeat!
[quote=mkaresh;2572326]I agree, you feel more dialed in to the BMW. Other companies have trouble replicating that feeling, even if they can replicate the numbers at the track. Engineers are engineers in the end, though. The problem is probably one of focus and willingness to sweat every last nuance. And BMW may spend more for a few crucial bits in the steering and suspension.
Two things that puzzle me about BMW
1. They use the cheapest front suspension Mcpherson struts. Verse's the more expensive upper, lower, A arm style.
2. If it is the Driving Machine why do they modify it with different parts and lower them???
we finally got the c300 and we are very happy with it. our old vehicle was a 1998 camry and our other vehicle is a 2007 Expy, so we have no real comparison for driving dynamics. i can't say enough about the looks. it was just a homerun for MBZ. the 18" AMGs really complete the look.
I am very happy. if the vehicle delivers the promised re-engineered reliability, then we will be happy for a very long time.
I agree, you feel more dialed in to the BMW. Other companies have trouble replicating that feeling, even if they can replicate the numbers at the track. Engineers are engineers in the end, though. The problem is probably one of focus and willingness to sweat every last nuance. And BMW may spend more for a few crucial bits in the steering and suspension.
Two things that puzzle me about BMW
1. They use the cheapest front suspension Mcpherson struts. Verse's the more expensive upper, lower, A arm style.
2. If it is the Driving Machine why do they modify it with different parts and lower them???
Amazing what they've been able to do with struts.
But they're abandoning them, and also conventional shocks. The new X5 has SLA front suspension, and optional adaptive shocks. Apparently they'd finally hit a limit with struts.
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You need to check your facts..go price an Acura TL and RL and you will see they ARE in the same class as Mercedes..
MB's biggest problem was getting in bed with Chrysler, and its a shame it took them so long to come to grips with that fact. But, now that they are divorced, I am sure they are doing everything they can to once again be the company they were prior to the "marriage"..just like a bad divorce, it takes a little time to rid yourself of ALL the bad things your partner brought into the marriage, so lets see how this new" MB turns out..Plus, you must be kidding if you think they will be out of business in the next 20 years..If I were a betting man, I would take THAT bet in a heartbeat!
Sorry, but blaming Chrysler for anything that happened at Mercedes is a lame excuse with little if any basis in reality. No one from Chrysler ended up with influence over Mercedes. The changes everyone critidizes occurred at Mercedes before the merger. IIRC, the 1996 E-Class was the first market-driven, cost-engineered Mercedes, and it was developed at least three years before the merger.
Now, the merger might have been a result of the same thinking that changed the cars for the worse, and it might have been driven by many of the same people, but blaming the merger is even then blaming a symptom rather than a cause.
well, every one I have talked to that either works for Mercedes, or supplies them with products has told me how things have changed for the better since the "divorce" from Chrysler..
when you merge 2 companies, no matter how you try to keep each one autonomous of the other, that obviously doesn't work in the "real world"..
I guess the next 2 years or so will really tell, if MB has refocused itself to where is was for many years, or if the Chrysler "influence" has ingrained itself in the company.
The new C class would be decent automobile in it's class segment if it were an Acura or Mazda.
However MB customers of yore expect Benz to be the benchmark in ride quality, reliability, and fit and finish whether it's the entry level C class or the premium S class. This is where the new C class falls flat on it's face. If the entry level C class was manufactured by Cadillac, Acura, or Infiniti than perhaps I would not be so critical. However the C class is not an Acura, Cadillac, or Infiniti. The new C class has the 3 pointed star. And for that Mercedes should be ashamed for it's efforts especially for 35-45k! Shame on YOU!
I agree. I had a 2007 C280 as a loaner for a few weeks and thought it was not worth anywhere near its price tag. It felt more cramped inside than my Impreza and the quality, features, and driving experience did not seem any better than a Camry or Accord. Something like a Legacy GT completely blows it away.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicole Koon and Sam Gross
The Merc's handling and general feel for the road was unexceptional by any means. The vehicle's steering, although more engaging than my '06 Passat (the Passat has electro-mechanical steering which sucks) is more GM-like than Mercedes. It is not that it completely lacks road feel, it just feels numb and without feeling, almost like the Merc engineers injected novocane(sp?) into the steering box. The C300's suspension is soft, soft soft. Great if you like a cush ride however there is too much body lean especially around tricky turns. I also found the driver's seat did not keep me secure in my seat when tackling the twisties. Merc should send their spies over to BMW for a refresher course in seat design.
Benzes have always been biased towards comfort and smooth ride, BMWs towards sportiness. Sound like you are more BMW-type drivers. Before you buy one, though, check out the Legacy GT or even the Impreza WRX. Several car mags have compared Subaru favorably with BMW. eg:
Quote:
This ’08 WRX is so capable and willing, such a leap in livability and refinement over its predecessor, that the words “budget BMW” actually crossed our lips without causing gags.
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