More C Class for your money

[Eric Tilley]

Looking at the spec`s for the new C class on an American Site the car should in fact be called the C+2% Class.
against the old C class the new ones vital statistics are
Wheelbase + 43mm
Length + 54mm
Width + 40mm
Height + 21mm
EOE in converting from Imperial

 

[television]

There must be good reasons for it, the improvements are vast all round

 

[Phil D]

Is it any more significant than the general fashion for making cars bigger?
eg current Polos bigger than originalk Golfs etc ?

 

[jberks]

Is it any more significant than the general fashion for making cars bigger?
eg current Polos bigger than originalk Golfs etc ?

Car models always seem to grow. I remember my mum's nissan cherry and comparing it to the original cherry. The original was less than fiesta sized and hers was more of an escort size. I guess they grow them to give more interior room than the previous model (have to improve somehow) but they eventually grow too far.- hence we now have a ford that's smaller than a fiesta.

 

[Eric Tilley]

It happened to the A class, at the last upgrade it metamorphosed into a bullfrog.

 

[Jensen]

It's probably becuase of obesity - people getting bigger

 

[Schtum]

I like the new C class. Two or three years and I might just be seriously interested.

 

[Daeths]

I was reading about this very topic over the weekend and the reson they provided was thatthe safety measures (curved bonnets to protect pedestrians etc have meant the cars need to be bigger to cram it all in)

The same article mentioned that there is a minimum parking space allowed the be "drawn" on the raods by councils and if these were rigourously adhered to virtually all cars would be issued with penalty notices for not parking withing the bays as they are physically too big. The example given was the original Ford Escort and it's latest version of the replacemebnt Ford Focus which is some 25 larger in dimensions !

Adam

 

[mike65]

There is no doubt about the problem with parking spaces and exits from car parks.

I like the look of the c class from the front with that echo of the SEC but the arse is typically well-rounded, to be polite.

Mike.

 

[SJMaxson]

There is no doubt about the problem with parking spaces and exits from car parks.

I like the look of the c class from the front with that echo of the SEC but the arse is typically well-rounded, to be polite.

Mike.

I went to the launch event at the local stealership (goodie bag for me and for my son) and very much liked the look of it. When its time to replace my C270, maybe a nice C220 (lower tax, too!)

 

[recycledjuvenile]

The rear still looks japanese to me.

 

[Jensen]

From the adverts I've seen on the telly, it looks too much like a BMW!

 

[Paulopt2248]

I have the now "older model C-Class" 2004 Reg, and I prefer its looks to the new model...much more elegant I think. The new car lacks rubbing strips along its flanks which I think are necessary to protect the sides of the car from the dings one often collects in cars parks. And as others have voiced the new car does look similar to a BMW 3 series.

I am really happy with my current car and cannot justify the additional expense to change.....the trade in value I have been quoted for my current car by various dealers is frankly laughable....I thought Mercs retained their value!.

Paul (C200k Avantgarde with "sports pack")

 

[jberks]

the trade in value I have been quoted for my current car by various dealers is frankly laughable....I thought Mercs retained their value!.

Paul (C200k Avantgarde with "sports pack")

They do to buy, just not to sell. (dealer markup is huge). At 3 years you're effectively paying 75% of their markup every year, plus there'll be no discounts on the new c for the next 18 months. After that they'll start looking more sensible.

I sat in a new C in the dealership a couple of weeks ago. Can't say I'd want a sport, which will be the most popular but I think the elegance is quite nice to look at. More square than the previous C but given Mercs heritage, no bad thing IMO. Interior not as nice as say my 202 but I didn't see the wood one which may be better (A merc without wood - Just not right IMO!) . Had a play with the command (nice)- not sure about the screen popping out of the top of the dash but it is certainly better placed for driving now.

 

[Phil D]

saw a 220cdi in silver at the dealers today when mine was in for the latest in the aircon saga - (see separate post.) I have to say it looked very striking in the flesh - even sporting large stainless steel exhaust cap - rather than the two sad little downturned pipes we diesel drivers normally get - the small matter of a near 30 grand price tag brought me sadly back to earth !