Do saloons have folding rear seats?

[Top Cat]

As per the title, does a 210 saloon have proper folding rear seats (not just a ski hole) and if so were they split? Was this a factory option if it wasn't universally available?

 

[Blobcat]

No as that is where the fuel tank is. However it is an option on the W211's

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

My 210 or 211 didnt even have ski holes, non folding rear seats is a big let down for e-classes.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

My 210 or 211 didnt even have ski holes, non folding rear seats is a big let down for e-classes.

I had folding rear seats in my W211 as an extra for around £330 IIRC. They were standard fitment on SAAB 96 and ( in the 1970s!) and both the Volvo 850 and S80.

They are a great boon and give almost the capacity of an estate on the few occasions that most saloon car drivers need extra carrying capacity.

I didn't realise until a couple of weeks ago that they are also available on C Class saloons.

 

[BarnDoor]

It's a good excuse for using the wife's car to do tip runs rather than my merc, so am quite happy not to have them!

 

[Micman]

Not as standard, but it is an option on most models I believe. I know it is an option on my C-class (but I haven't got them).

All depends whether the first owner could afford them after adding all the other options!!

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Not having rear folding seats in a near 40k car is a nonsense but to charge as an option is just taking the p#ss.

 

[jberks]

Agreed - but to add to the chorus - I had them on my 202 in 1995, not on my 210 or my current 211 but my Dad does have them on his 211. So yes, the do exist.

 

[Rory]

I had folding rear seats in my W211 as an extra for around £330 IIRC. .

At £330 you might as well go the whole hog and get the estate!

There are pros and cons to folding rear seats - had them on all my company 406's but you're still limited on what you can get in due to the shape boot opening and the hole when the seats are folded isn't that wide.

There are also security aspects - don't know the Merc procedure but on the 406 the seats could be locked within the boot, but few people did this and a colleague had a whole load of stuff nicked after thieves gained access through the car.

I also wonder if you lose a bit of rigidity by getting rid of the bulkhead too?

 

[Alex M Grieve]

At £330 you might as well go the whole hog and get the estate!

There are pros and cons to folding rear seats - had them on all my company 406's but you're still limited on what you can get in due to the shape boot opening and the hole when the seats are folded isn't that wide.

There are also security aspects - don't know the Merc procedure but on the 406 the seats could be locked within the boot, but few people did this and a colleague had a whole load of stuff nicked after thieves gained access through the car.

I also wonder if you lose a bit of rigidity by getting rid of the bulkhead too?

Having had folding seats on Volvo's, I preferred that option to buying an estate. On the 211 it does not seem to compromise body rigidity and the apperture between boot and saloon is wide. The seats can be secured from inside the boot and can not be folded down from inside the saloon.

I read in the blurb that you could not have folding seats and an 80L tank - but I ordered both and they arrived without quibble.

 

[Yaff]

I was told that having the Panoramic roof and folding seats on my E Class (current model) required a different chassis. I imagine it was more for the roof than the folding seats.

For me, the folding seats are a major benefit. As a mountain biker, I can fit my bike + 3 Adults or 2 bikes and 2 adults in comfortably. Not many cars can perform as both a prestigious exec car and meet the needs of family and sporting life.

Fast (in a straight line), economical (MPG, deprecation is a bitch), safe and practical.