[vindicator]

I just came back from testing driving the all new Mercedes C300 - and I was not impressed.

The first thing I noticed when leaving the parking lot was the very loose stearing wheel. The BMW stearing is much tigher - which I like. The overall design inside the car looked very cheap. The side view mirriors are very cheap looking as well. It also lacks the DS mode which I enjoy.

One of the biggest things I noticed was the breaking - it sucked big time. The guy I was driving with told me to nail it - and I did - when it came time to break I got scared because I didn't think the car would stop!

BMW is by far the best car out there - and form this day on I will never look to another car. I really expected more from the CL300 - which took 7 years to design.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

At least the front end looks nice.

[vindicator]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

At least the front end looks nice.

Thats about all it has going for it.

[natedogg]

??? whats a cl300?? do you mean c300??

[canucklion]

please define, what's:
1) CL300
2) stearing is much tigher
3) breaking

Originally Posted by vindicator

I just came back from testing driving the all new Mercedes CL300 - and I was not impressed.

The first thing I noticed when leaving the parking lot was the very loose stearing wheel. The BMW stearing is much tigher - which I like. The overall design inside the car looked very cheap. The side view mirriors are very cheap looking as well. It also lacks the DS mode which I enjoy.

One of the biggest things I noticed was the breaking - it sucked big time. The guy I was driving with told me to nail it - and I did - when it came time to break I got scared because I didn't think the car would stop!

BMW is by far the best car out there - and form this day on I will never look to another car. I really expected more from the CL300 - which took 7 years to design.

[Kev]

Did you not see the C/S button on the shifter panel? C = comfort mode and starts at 2nd gear, S = sports mode and starts at 1st gear

[karan230]

it's C300...C300...C300

[natedogg]

my Friend has a c350 and wow it is great. I test drove it and it feels good to me... I think both mercedes and bmw are great cars. Their is no reason to say one is better then the other etc etc etc.... sure you can say bmw is better then honda.... but both bmw and mercedes are great cars....and how does the interior look cheap??????????? its pretty much the same quality as the 3 series

[m2kev]

The guy that I test drove it with at Mercedes of LB/signal hill or whatever, told me to nail it going up the hill.. That thing did not want to move, felt like I was running against the wind. Handling wise was a joke, a bad joke. He took off traction and told me to rip it through the corner, that didn't make matters any better. We end up back at the dealership and he asked me "Sooo would you like to talk about numbers now?!" I said "No thanks, I am going to check around BMW of Long Beach next door" he looked at me like I was crazy. Glad I made that choice.. you know where I stand today.

and I agree with mercedes crappy interior design, atleast use higher quality products. My brother's first CLK the dash cracked?! His second mercedes E63 his dash and center steering wheel feels like its cheap plastic?

[vindicator]

Originally Posted by natedogg

??? whats a cl300?? do you mean c300??

Yes the C300

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by vindicator

Thats about all it has going for it.

[vindicator]

Originally Posted by Kev

Did you not see the C/S button on the shifter panel? C = comfort mode and starts at 2nd gear, S = sports mode and starts at 1st gear

I saw that button - but I didn't know what it did. I asked the sales rep if it had a simliar mode to BMWs DS and he said no.

[vindicator]

Originally Posted by e92K335i

The guy that I test drove it with at Mercedes of LB/signal hill or whatever, told me to nail it going up the hill.. That thing did not want to move, felt like I was running against the wind. Handling wise was a joke, a bad joke. He took off traction and told me to rip it through the corner, that didn't make matters any better. We end up back at the dealership and he asked me "Sooo would you like to talk about numbers now?!" I said "No thanks, I am going to check around BMW of Long Beach next door" he looked at me like I was crazy. Glad I made that choice.. you know where I stand today.

and I agree with mercedes crappy interior design, atleast use higher quality products. My brother's first CLK the dash cracked?! His second mercedes E63 his dash and center steering wheel feels like its cheap plastic?

LOL! Yeah when he told me to nail it -- i was like...okay is this all its got?! I was not impressed.

Natedogg - maybe the 350 is better than the 300 -- becuase after driving the C300 I'd never wana drive another Benz.

[TiAg335i]

If your looking for performance the C class is not it. You should know that.

[natedogg]

Originally Posted by vindicator

LOL! Yeah when he told me to nail it -- i was like...okay is this all its got?! I was not impressed.

Natedogg - maybe the 350 is better than the 300 -- becuase after driving the C300 I'd never wana drive another Benz.

maybe... i dont know

[Kev]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

If your looking for performance the C class is not it. You should know that.

Anything less than a C63 won't do it for ya

[Kev]

Originally Posted by vindicator

I saw that button - but I didn't know what it did. I asked the sales rep if it had a simliar mode to BMWs DS and he said no.

Stupid sales monkey at work again. I wonder where they hire these people. None of them seems to know anything about the cars that they sell......

As far as the rest of encounter, it sounds about right for the C-Class, especially if it doesn't have the sports package (Avantgarde trim). The 300 engine is the same as the old 280 engine, not terribly powerful. Suspension wise it's very soft for a cushy ride. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't like it at all. Almost all the C's sold in the US won't have the leather upholstery (a very expensive option compared to the BMW Dakota leather), so everything in there is plastic. Heck, even my old E55, the entire front dash, center console, and most of the door panels are made of leatherette or plastic.

[e92leon]

the C300, eh?
the C350,

[just4kickz]

I don't know why you'd want to use DS when you can just use M1-M6 for BMWs. & I don't know about the C300, but I'm guessing it would have the similar features as the C350. When I drove my friend's C350, there was a mode similar to that of the M1-M6 of our automatics.

Originally Posted by cars4lyfe

lol bmw is FAR from being the best car out there-don't be so naive man. a mercedes is for those who want luxury and status. they aren't buy a regular mercedes to track the damn thing. imo the new c class is a beautiful looking car; I can say it looks better than anything in bmw's lineup-but that's subjective.

agreed. Had the C class came out sooner... I might have gotten that instead.

[jettie1767]

Never had the sensation that the C300 and C350 couldn't stop on a dime. I've driven both and I thought they were good. Only complaint I had was the heavy feel when stepping on the gas pedal.

[JunkStory]

I didn't think the C350 was all that bad
At least it's certainly a breath of fresh air from all the 3-series, IS350, G35, etc.

[vindicator]

This car is terrible. Anyone who buys it is wasting their money. Any Audi would be better than the C300. The only thing I liked about the C300 is the stylish looks - thats all its got.