Anyone Got or Tested a C350e?
Discussion
I believe they are fairly new to the market, but my company car is up for renewal and am considering one of these.
Have been driving a 520d M Sport pool car for the past 18 months which has been killing me on the company car tax, so I'm looking for something cheaper, which has led me to the C350e.
We currently have 1 16 month old child, and will probably have another in the time I will have this car so am probably looking at the estate. I had some serious back surgery a year ago and am 6 ft 5 so need something relatively roomy and comfortable - I only do average miles.
I'm also considering the Outlander PHEV, but would be interested to hear from anyone who has prior experience.
Thanks in advance.
Have been driving a 520d M Sport pool car for the past 18 months which has been killing me on the company car tax, so I'm looking for something cheaper, which has led me to the C350e.
We currently have 1 16 month old child, and will probably have another in the time I will have this car so am probably looking at the estate. I had some serious back surgery a year ago and am 6 ft 5 so need something relatively roomy and comfortable - I only do average miles.
I'm also considering the Outlander PHEV, but would be interested to hear from anyone who has prior experience.
Thanks in advance.
It's quick but somehow you can't shake the fact that it feels like an old car underneath the veneer of the black glossy dash.
It's a bit fiddly to drive and can you honestly imagine plugging it in and sorting out charges no points etc?
Consider the c300h as its a diesel hybrid but doesn't need plugging in. The Diesel engine is a bit gruff
I can't help but think it's not worth the money.
The Lexus gs300h is smoother and better imho but slower.
It's a bit fiddly to drive and can you honestly imagine plugging it in and sorting out charges no points etc?
Consider the c300h as its a diesel hybrid but doesn't need plugging in. The Diesel engine is a bit gruff
I can't help but think it's not worth the money.
The Lexus gs300h is smoother and better imho but slower.
Can't comment on the 350e specifically but the C class doesn't strike me as particularly roomy. My son works for MB and has a new car every year; he's had 5 C classes, the last two estates, but isn't impressed by the space. He would have an E but can't get past the feeling that it's an old man's car! He also has a Qashqai which is roomier and preferred when taking the family away for the weekend.
I have a 530 and always feel I'm squeezing into the C class in comparison and I'm a lot shorter than you are.........
I have a 530 and always feel I'm squeezing into the C class in comparison and I'm a lot shorter than you are.........
REALIST123 said:
Can't comment on the 350e specifically but the C class doesn't strike me as particularly roomy.
Depend what you are used to. I used to have a Mini. The C-Class is enormous! LOLREALIST123 said:
I have a 530 and always feel I'm squeezing into the C class in comparison and I'm a lot shorter than you are.........
As you would expect. 530 is more of an E-Class rival. C-Class is more 3-Series sized.MX-5 Lazza said:
REALIST123 said:
Can't comment on the 350e specifically but the C class doesn't strike me as particularly roomy.
Depend what you are used to. I used to have a Mini. The C-Class is enormous! LOLREALIST123 said:
I have a 530 and always feel I'm squeezing into the C class in comparison and I'm a lot shorter than you are.........
As you would expect. 530 is more of an E-Class rival. C-Class is more 3-Series sized.jonah35 said:
It's quick but somehow you can't shake the fact that it feels like an old car underneath the veneer of the black glossy dash.
It's a bit fiddly to drive....
Hey? It's a bit fiddly to drive....
In what way?
The W205 is one of the best Merc chassis' out there, it is really nicely balanced and closes the gap on BMW big time.
I'm new to Mercs but had an XJR before, have had an M5 and this C350e I've had now for just over a week is exceptionally good. It gets grip from I don't know where and when you boot it the 7 speed 'box gets you down the road pretty quick considering it's not a sports car, especially in Sport+ mode.
Ride is fabulous and stability at high speeds very very good indeed.
I bought it as a company car (my own company) meaning when all things considered I've actually spent under 20k of "personal" cash (i.e. if I'd taken out the money from my company somehow and paid tax) and for this car with the options I have (prem plus package, leather seats, 360 camera) it's just stunning.
Comparing it to a non-plug in hybrid is silly frankly, they occupy different places IMO -- PHEV are super cheap as company cars and have different usage profiles. If you're journeying into London a lot then plugging in for a few hours is enough to easily get you out through the congestion, and no congestion charge plus free parking plus free charging is a bonus. Wafting about on electric only is great and easily fast enough in town too. I get around 50-60mpg for my 30 miles each way London commute.
Out of London you'll gain over the diesel if you normally journey under 50 miles and can set off on full charge each time, under 20 miles and you're golden. I did a few short trips over the holidays and it's great going 10 minutes down the road and back and not even starting the engine.
I'm no eco nut, far, far from it, but for my money this 350e is spectacularly good. I'm only about 500 miles into it but I love it.
Hyacinth Red and Beige leather were my choices and I'm very pleased with the look.
Ride is fabulous and stability at high speeds very very good indeed.
I bought it as a company car (my own company) meaning when all things considered I've actually spent under 20k of "personal" cash (i.e. if I'd taken out the money from my company somehow and paid tax) and for this car with the options I have (prem plus package, leather seats, 360 camera) it's just stunning.
Comparing it to a non-plug in hybrid is silly frankly, they occupy different places IMO -- PHEV are super cheap as company cars and have different usage profiles. If you're journeying into London a lot then plugging in for a few hours is enough to easily get you out through the congestion, and no congestion charge plus free parking plus free charging is a bonus. Wafting about on electric only is great and easily fast enough in town too. I get around 50-60mpg for my 30 miles each way London commute.
Out of London you'll gain over the diesel if you normally journey under 50 miles and can set off on full charge each time, under 20 miles and you're golden. I did a few short trips over the holidays and it's great going 10 minutes down the road and back and not even starting the engine.
I'm no eco nut, far, far from it, but for my money this 350e is spectacularly good. I'm only about 500 miles into it but I love it.
Hyacinth Red and Beige leather were my choices and I'm very pleased with the look.
Regarding the fiddly to drive. I have no idea what that means. The steering is light in town, heavy on the road, perfectly weighted actually. Gearbox really great, paddles in sport+ holds onto gears and does what it's told.
Only slight issue is with brakes which to start with seemed to be a bit unsmooth what with regen/downchange/conventional action. I seem to have got used to it though because it's smoother now.
You need to get and drive one. You'll struggle to find a C350e, I had to order blind back in June but if you can get a diesel "sport" with air suspension it'll be similar. I think Norwich merc have one for sale which might be available to demo.
Only slight issue is with brakes which to start with seemed to be a bit unsmooth what with regen/downchange/conventional action. I seem to have got used to it though because it's smoother now.
You need to get and drive one. You'll struggle to find a C350e, I had to order blind back in June but if you can get a diesel "sport" with air suspension it'll be similar. I think Norwich merc have one for sale which might be available to demo.
Did a bit of a run last night in a hurry. 12% charge to start with (it was parked all day with no facility) and I decided to select the "charge" mode, and occasionally Sport+ on the twisty bits. About 40 mins into the drive and I'd got about 80% charge back! Quite amazing how quick it works, and this would be useful if you know you're hitting a town at some point. Whether there's a net saving in petrol given that's where the energy is coming from, that's open to debate.
I was driving it hard though, revving it out good through the gears and it was really quite quick, but MPG ended up high 20s for that bit of the trip, considering the heavy right foot/charging I'm ok with that. Then after making my appointment it was back to normal and cruising along, electric / coasting / smooth and no more than 80mph mostly for about another 80 miles. MPG for that leg was up in the 40s.
Starting to get a feel for the range of consumption available here, and I still think for the sub-30 mile trip between charges, 80mpg+ is possible easily. Over 60 and really you get into 40s mpg.
Anyway, will keep updating with what I find. One thing for sure I did right with that Bermester and the premplus package, it's a true luxury car. Stability and grip is astonishing and speed when you need it is perfectly respectable. Comfort and quietness are definitely comparable to my old XJR, better if you throw in a few bumps. All very surreal when the music is loud too.
And for the price as a company car, bonkers value
I was driving it hard though, revving it out good through the gears and it was really quite quick, but MPG ended up high 20s for that bit of the trip, considering the heavy right foot/charging I'm ok with that. Then after making my appointment it was back to normal and cruising along, electric / coasting / smooth and no more than 80mph mostly for about another 80 miles. MPG for that leg was up in the 40s.
Starting to get a feel for the range of consumption available here, and I still think for the sub-30 mile trip between charges, 80mpg+ is possible easily. Over 60 and really you get into 40s mpg.
Anyway, will keep updating with what I find. One thing for sure I did right with that Bermester and the premplus package, it's a true luxury car. Stability and grip is astonishing and speed when you need it is perfectly respectable. Comfort and quietness are definitely comparable to my old XJR, better if you throw in a few bumps. All very surreal when the music is loud too.
And for the price as a company car, bonkers value
supermono said:
I'm new to Mercs but had an XJR before, have had an M5 and this C350e I've had now for just over a week is exceptionally good. It gets grip from I don't know where and when you boot it the 7 speed 'box gets you down the road pretty quick considering it's not a sports car, especially in Sport+ mode.
Ride is fabulous and stability at high speeds very very good indeed.
I bought it as a company car (my own company) meaning when all things considered I've actually spent under 20k of "personal" cash (i.e. if I'd taken out the money from my company somehow and paid tax) and for this car with the options I have (prem plus package, leather seats, 360 camera) it's just stunning.
Comparing it to a non-plug in hybrid is silly frankly, they occupy different places IMO -- PHEV are super cheap as company cars and have different usage profiles. If you're journeying into London a lot then plugging in for a few hours is enough to easily get you out through the congestion, and no congestion charge plus free parking plus free charging is a bonus. Wafting about on electric only is great and easily fast enough in town too. I get around 50-60mpg for my 30 miles each way London commute.
Out of London you'll gain over the diesel if you normally journey under 50 miles and can set off on full charge each time, under 20 miles and you're golden. I did a few short trips over the holidays and it's great going 10 minutes down the road and back and not even starting the engine.
I'm no eco nut, far, far from it, but for my money this 350e is spectacularly good. I'm only about 500 miles into it but I love it.
Hyacinth Red and Beige leather were my choices and I'm very pleased with the look.
Some good info there- my wife's c350e is arriving next week.Ride is fabulous and stability at high speeds very very good indeed.
I bought it as a company car (my own company) meaning when all things considered I've actually spent under 20k of "personal" cash (i.e. if I'd taken out the money from my company somehow and paid tax) and for this car with the options I have (prem plus package, leather seats, 360 camera) it's just stunning.
Comparing it to a non-plug in hybrid is silly frankly, they occupy different places IMO -- PHEV are super cheap as company cars and have different usage profiles. If you're journeying into London a lot then plugging in for a few hours is enough to easily get you out through the congestion, and no congestion charge plus free parking plus free charging is a bonus. Wafting about on electric only is great and easily fast enough in town too. I get around 50-60mpg for my 30 miles each way London commute.
Out of London you'll gain over the diesel if you normally journey under 50 miles and can set off on full charge each time, under 20 miles and you're golden. I did a few short trips over the holidays and it's great going 10 minutes down the road and back and not even starting the engine.
I'm no eco nut, far, far from it, but for my money this 350e is spectacularly good. I'm only about 500 miles into it but I love it.
Hyacinth Red and Beige leather were my choices and I'm very pleased with the look.
Wondering if you could advise on the whole free parking etc?
Is it free on all pay and display or just the charging pay and display bays?
Am I right in thinking I also have to register with two for the free congestion charge by getting a certificate of conformity?
Any advice much appreciated ...
Have googled the subject but reading different things in different places...
I can only talk for Westminster but I think it's similar all around London. It's free for 4 hours in pay by phone spots and electrical charging spots too. I'm finding my daily routine is get onto a charger early I can then move when it's charged (so as not to be an arse and hog it) then find somewhere for 4 hours, not hard to do around Oxford St, after 4 hours move to somewhere else and by then I'm ready to go home anyway.
And yes you need to send off in the post some documents to the congestion charging folks so they can grudgingly grant you the exemption. The certificate plus V5 seem to be required and the form off the web. Quite why they need this when the DVLA database they must consult anyway to not automatically fine motorcycles (which aren't specially registered with them) could tell them what they need to know.
So far I got a parking ticket because I misread a suspended parking sign, but at a rate of about 12 quid a day saved from the train I'm still in profit, even if I don't get this turned over which I suspect I will.
Hopefully your wife will like her new car. I certainly do, although yearning for the turbo nutter b
d GT2 in the garage, so I suspect that'll need a little bit of a hoon Sunday. Or the bike. Or the other bike. Maybe all three -- I have my CO2 levels to maintain!
ETA: register with Source London and Ecotricity -- the former run the london points and the latter are in motorway services. The "Polar" folks (Asda etc) also advertise free (subsidised) parking but avoid because you can't get enough juice to cover the 1.20 "admin" fee to pay their automatic webserver to perform turning on the switch. They have their noses in the eco-trough which you can't blame them for -- but it's not "free"
And yes you need to send off in the post some documents to the congestion charging folks so they can grudgingly grant you the exemption. The certificate plus V5 seem to be required and the form off the web. Quite why they need this when the DVLA database they must consult anyway to not automatically fine motorcycles (which aren't specially registered with them) could tell them what they need to know.
So far I got a parking ticket because I misread a suspended parking sign, but at a rate of about 12 quid a day saved from the train I'm still in profit, even if I don't get this turned over which I suspect I will.
Hopefully your wife will like her new car. I certainly do, although yearning for the turbo nutter b
d GT2 in the garage, so I suspect that'll need a little bit of a hoon Sunday. Or the bike. Or the other bike. Maybe all three -- I have my CO2 levels to maintain!ETA: register with Source London and Ecotricity -- the former run the london points and the latter are in motorway services. The "Polar" folks (Asda etc) also advertise free (subsidised) parking but avoid because you can't get enough juice to cover the 1.20 "admin" fee to pay their automatic webserver to perform turning on the switch. They have their noses in the eco-trough which you can't blame them for -- but it's not "free"
Edited by supermono on Friday 15th January 13:09
Maybe I'll get some snow socks then! I'm disappointed to hear that.
Small update anyway, did a round trip over the weekend of 350 miles or so. Charged up once overnight then home yesterday.
Was really quite seriously hung over most of yesterday (but drove long after the alcohol left my system) so it was steady eddy cc around 65 most of the way. Average for the weekend an amazing 52mpg.
Looks like from my fill up Saturday morning I have apparently 34% of a tank remaining and around 200 miles of petrol range, this'll easily get me to work and back all week with charging both ends, 250 miles total. So by Saturday I'll probably have to fill up again at a cost of about 40 quid I estimate, having managed 600 miles from fill up. Maybe 4 quid of domestic electricity to add.
Really brilliantly low running costs when you can take advantage of free electric
Small update anyway, did a round trip over the weekend of 350 miles or so. Charged up once overnight then home yesterday.
Was really quite seriously hung over most of yesterday (but drove long after the alcohol left my system) so it was steady eddy cc around 65 most of the way. Average for the weekend an amazing 52mpg.
Looks like from my fill up Saturday morning I have apparently 34% of a tank remaining and around 200 miles of petrol range, this'll easily get me to work and back all week with charging both ends, 250 miles total. So by Saturday I'll probably have to fill up again at a cost of about 40 quid I estimate, having managed 600 miles from fill up. Maybe 4 quid of domestic electricity to add.
Really brilliantly low running costs when you can take advantage of free electric
supermono said:
Maybe I'll get some snow socks then! I'm disappointed to hear that.
Small update anyway, did a round trip over the weekend of 350 miles or so. Charged up once overnight then home yesterday.
Was really quite seriously hung over most of yesterday (but drove long after the alcohol left my system) so it was steady eddy cc around 65 most of the way. Average for the weekend an amazing 52mpg.
Looks like from my fill up Saturday morning I have apparently 34% of a tank remaining and around 200 miles of petrol range, this'll easily get me to work and back all week with charging both ends, 250 miles total. So by Saturday I'll probably have to fill up again at a cost of about 40 quid I estimate, having managed 600 miles from fill up. Maybe 4 quid of domestic electricity to add.
Really brilliantly low running costs when you can take advantage of free electric
Thats great! really looking forward to ours.Small update anyway, did a round trip over the weekend of 350 miles or so. Charged up once overnight then home yesterday.
Was really quite seriously hung over most of yesterday (but drove long after the alcohol left my system) so it was steady eddy cc around 65 most of the way. Average for the weekend an amazing 52mpg.
Looks like from my fill up Saturday morning I have apparently 34% of a tank remaining and around 200 miles of petrol range, this'll easily get me to work and back all week with charging both ends, 250 miles total. So by Saturday I'll probably have to fill up again at a cost of about 40 quid I estimate, having managed 600 miles from fill up. Maybe 4 quid of domestic electricity to add.
Really brilliantly low running costs when you can take advantage of free electric
Do you have to register with westminster council as well for the parking?
When you park in westminster in regular pay by phone parking bays do you just enter the car etc in the regular pay by phone App and it calculates your parking as £0.00?
Could someone please give me a very detailed answer on how you charge these up?
Eg at home, is it a case of having to pay an electrician to set up a socket outside on the drive? If so, how is this protected from anyone using it?
Where can you charge for free when out and about?
How long does it take?
What is to stop people stealing the charging lead?
What does the car come with in terms of charging accessories?
In essence please tell me everything on charging
Eg at home, is it a case of having to pay an electrician to set up a socket outside on the drive? If so, how is this protected from anyone using it?
Where can you charge for free when out and about?
How long does it take?
What is to stop people stealing the charging lead?
What does the car come with in terms of charging accessories?
In essence please tell me everything on charging
jonah35 said:
Could someone please give me a very detailed answer on how you charge these up?
Eg at home, is it a case of having to pay an electrician to set up a socket outside on the drive? If so, how is this protected from anyone using it?
Where can you charge for free when out and about?
How long does it take?
What is to stop people stealing the charging lead?
What does the car come with in terms of charging accessories?
In essence please tell me everything on charging
At home you can charge up from a regular three pin socket using two rates -- high and low -- selected using a button on some sort of transformer/regulator in line. Not sure of the current draw but about 2 hours fast and 4 hours slow. Out and about in London all the posts are Source London and are free once you have your £5pa membership card. Around 1.5 hours from 15% to full.Eg at home, is it a case of having to pay an electrician to set up a socket outside on the drive? If so, how is this protected from anyone using it?
Where can you charge for free when out and about?
How long does it take?
What is to stop people stealing the charging lead?
What does the car come with in terms of charging accessories?
In essence please tell me everything on charging
The car comes with both the commercial type heavy duty plug lead and the 3 pin 13A domestic one, 4m as standard each, 8m no cost option (I went 8m for both and very glad I did)
The lead locks on the car and the commercial post both ends to stop people nicking it, you need the RFID card at Source points to unlock it.
Ecotricity points also need membership and you get another card for those which are found at motorway services. I've had trouble with them every time though, I'm not sure if the car is negotiating nicely with the charger, I'll report back next time I use them.
Asda have some "free" charging points but to get about 50p worth of electric costs you £1.20 admin fee off your account so avoid.
Oh, and in answer to the parking question, you don't have to do anything the wardens should recognise the car. Obviously on the first day I got a ticket but after talking with the warden and showed him the charging point he now knows the car in his area so I've been ok ever since. He whipped the ticket off my car and cancelled it himself. I just park 4 hours then move, hopefully with a 1.5 hour or so session at a charging point included.
supermono said:
At home you can charge up from a regular three pin socket using two rates -- high and low -- selected using a button on some sort of transformer/regulator in line. Not sure of the current draw but about 2 hours fast and 4 hours slow. Out and about in London all the posts are Source London and are free once you have your £5pa membership card. Around 1.5 hours from 15% to full.
The car comes with both the commercial type heavy duty plug lead and the 3 pin 13A domestic one, 4m as standard each, 8m no cost option (I went 8m for both and very glad I did)
The lead locks on the car and the commercial post both ends to stop people nicking it, you need the RFID card at Source points to unlock it.
Ecotricity points also need membership and you get another card for those which are found at motorway services. I've had trouble with them every time though, I'm not sure if the car is negotiating nicely with the charger, I'll report back next time I use them.
Asda have some "free" charging points but to get about 50p worth of electric costs you £1.20 admin fee off your account so avoid.
Oh, and in answer to the parking question, you don't have to do anything the wardens should recognise the car. Obviously on the first day I got a ticket but after talking with the warden and showed him the charging point he now knows the car in his area so I've been ok ever since. He whipped the ticket off my car and cancelled it himself. I just park 4 hours then move, hopefully with a 1.5 hour or so session at a charging point included.
thanks The car comes with both the commercial type heavy duty plug lead and the 3 pin 13A domestic one, 4m as standard each, 8m no cost option (I went 8m for both and very glad I did)
The lead locks on the car and the commercial post both ends to stop people nicking it, you need the RFID card at Source points to unlock it.
Ecotricity points also need membership and you get another card for those which are found at motorway services. I've had trouble with them every time though, I'm not sure if the car is negotiating nicely with the charger, I'll report back next time I use them.
Asda have some "free" charging points but to get about 50p worth of electric costs you £1.20 admin fee off your account so avoid.
Oh, and in answer to the parking question, you don't have to do anything the wardens should recognise the car. Obviously on the first day I got a ticket but after talking with the warden and showed him the charging point he now knows the car in his area so I've been ok ever since. He whipped the ticket off my car and cancelled it himself. I just park 4 hours then move, hopefully with a 1.5 hour or so session at a charging point included.
It can and does charge enroute but obviously uses more petrol doing so. I once selected charge mode for fun and it charged up quicker than a fast charger, I was also in a hurry and ended up with about 20-odd mpg. I guess if I was doing that for a city leg it might save petrol but I'm not sure.
Unless you're really spending time in a city 20 miles from home and can charge there or if you're running it as a company car it would probably be better to get a diseasel for economy. My advice is to charge it whenever you can. Electric in town is amazingly smooth and easy, highly recommended
Unless you're really spending time in a city 20 miles from home and can charge there or if you're running it as a company car it would probably be better to get a diseasel for economy. My advice is to charge it whenever you can. Electric in town is amazingly smooth and easy, highly recommended
I'm (probably) not going to get a 16A socket near my drive, although I might simply fit an external 13A 3-pin socket on the house just to save running the lead out through my window as it currently is, style. Total cost there will be 30 quid DIY.
It looks like the commercial charger companies are working a massive swindle by claiming the maximum subsidy on your behalf and then also charging you 2-300 quid on top to fit a fast charger. Unless I'm very much mistaken it's running a 6mm wire from the fusebox to an outside wall and screwing on a bit of equipment costing 100 quid or so, probably less if buying in bulk.
You can't blame them for having their noses deep in the trough but I'm not going to encourage them.
style. Total cost there will be 30 quid DIY.It looks like the commercial charger companies are working a massive swindle by claiming the maximum subsidy on your behalf and then also charging you 2-300 quid on top to fit a fast charger. Unless I'm very much mistaken it's running a 6mm wire from the fusebox to an outside wall and screwing on a bit of equipment costing 100 quid or so, probably less if buying in bulk.
You can't blame them for having their noses deep in the trough but I'm not going to encourage them.
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