C350 CDI saloon or E220 CDI coupe ?
Discussion
These are the two most appealing Mercedes choices on Mrs Big Ben's company car list. The E coupe seems to be a much nicer car but is rather slow / noisy due to having the smaller engine (she has one on loan at the moment).
The C class would be in Sport trim, not as good looking as the E but much faster and presumably the six cylinder engine sounds a lot better. Also the C could be had with command online within budget.
Thoughts ?
Ben
p.s. don't ask me to explain the list, I imagine Mercedes are doing much better discounts on the C than the E. Other option is a Jag XF, but this is unlikely since the list was enhanced to only include the new 163 bhp version which is rather slow.
The C class would be in Sport trim, not as good looking as the E but much faster and presumably the six cylinder engine sounds a lot better. Also the C could be had with command online within budget.
Thoughts ?
Ben
p.s. don't ask me to explain the list, I imagine Mercedes are doing much better discounts on the C than the E. Other option is a Jag XF, but this is unlikely since the list was enhanced to only include the new 163 bhp version which is rather slow.
Can you get a C coupe? I tried an E Coupe and thought that it felt very claustrophobic inside (the interior was all black) and I really like the look of the E BUT for one thing - the window frame at the rear spoiling the look of a pillar less coupe. It really grates on me. I would rather have a C coupe if i was in your position and could get one
craigjm said:
Can you get a C coupe? I tried an E Coupe and thought that it felt very claustrophobic inside (the interior was all black) and I really like the look of the E BUT for one thing - the window frame at the rear spoiling the look of a pillar less coupe. It really grates on me. I would rather have a C coupe if i was in your position and could get one
C250 sport is the available option, the C coupe is a fair bit smaller and I am a giant (not that it will be my car but I will use it often)I assume you mean the small window at the back, that is a bit odd but it does not overly bother me.
Yeah the rear quarter light divider, really ruins the look for me as it would be much better as one piece of glass. The roof felt far too low inside though which is what made it to me feel claustrophobic (and I drive a Porsche Cayman S). Have you sat in one? recently had a C class as a hire car and wasn't that impressed with interior quality but then I guess it was a fairly basic model. What other choices do you have?
craigjm said:
Yeah the rear quarter light divider, really ruins the look for me as it would be much better as one piece of glass. The roof felt far too low inside though which is what made it to me feel claustrophobic (and I drive a Porsche Cayman S). Have you sat in one? recently had a C class as a hire car and wasn't that impressed with interior quality but then I guess it was a fairly basic model. What other choices do you have?
The C class feels a step down from the previous C-class (w203) that she had a few years back that is for sure. The E-coupe that she has on loan has a panoramic roof which may give a bit more headroom, certainly more room than in the c-coupe.Other choices include various Mercs, very basic XF, 520d, 320d, X3, basic Evoque, various Audis, I also assume Fords, Vauxhalls, Volvos etc. I am a bit of a Merc fan so that is my preference.
Ben
BigBen said:
The C class would be in Sport trim,
Can she live with the ride of that - what's the wheel and tyre combination?I had an E350CDi saloon courtesy car the other day and, sure it, was fast, but the paperwork said it was a 250CDi and it was only when I got home and looked at the back that I saw it was a 350 (I then opened the bonnet to make sure!). So I was thinking it was OK for a 250, bit coarse, but not bad. Finding it was a V6 left me feeling a bit unsure about it.
Oh, and it had 18" 35 profile tyres. Actually wasn't too bad but that's probably because they were so immensely wide they just straddled potholes etc.
I would say the E220 over the C350 unless you really need the performance. Out of the list however I would chose the 520. Had a 530 for some years, right from the start I felt everything was in the right place, all worked as it should and continued to do so for nearly 150k miles. Would have preferred another 5 series but they are now too big for the parking space. The current 2 litre BM diesel is a masterpiece in both the 5 and the 3 series.
I was drawn for some reason to the C350 and bought a 2010 sport. The engine is very agreeable but generally the car is a disappointment, only when you get it home and start to live with it do you realise quite how plastic and cheap it is. The sun visors seem to me made from recycled chocolate boxes and the ride is so very firm. I would say think long and hard before ticking the C350 box.
I was drawn for some reason to the C350 and bought a 2010 sport. The engine is very agreeable but generally the car is a disappointment, only when you get it home and start to live with it do you realise quite how plastic and cheap it is. The sun visors seem to me made from recycled chocolate boxes and the ride is so very firm. I would say think long and hard before ticking the C350 box.
steve-V8s said:
I would say the E220 over the C350 unless you really need the performance. Out of the list however I would chose the 520. Had a 530 for some years, right from the start I felt everything was in the right place, all worked as it should and continued to do so for nearly 150k miles. Would have preferred another 5 series but they are now too big for the parking space. The current 2 litre BM diesel is a masterpiece in both the 5 and the 3 series.
I was drawn for some reason to the C350 and bought a 2010 sport. The engine is very agreeable but generally the car is a disappointment, only when you get it home and start to live with it do you realise quite how plastic and cheap it is. The sun visors seem to me made from recycled chocolate boxes and the ride is so very firm. I would say think long and hard before ticking the C350 box.
I agree the car feels a lot plastic than our earlier C-class, in fact this was the reason for not going for one as a direct replacement 3 years ago. I was drawn for some reason to the C350 and bought a 2010 sport. The engine is very agreeable but generally the car is a disappointment, only when you get it home and start to live with it do you realise quite how plastic and cheap it is. The sun visors seem to me made from recycled chocolate boxes and the ride is so very firm. I would say think long and hard before ticking the C350 box.
I simply don't like BMWs very much so they are out, purely down to my prejudices and I know I may be missing out on the best cars ever but it is a chance I am willing to take.
Ben
steve-V8s said:
I was drawn for some reason to the C350 and bought a 2010 sport. The engine is very agreeable but generally the car is a disappointment, only when you get it home and start to live with it do you realise quite how plastic and cheap it is. The sun visors seem to me made from recycled chocolate boxes and the ride is so very firm. I would say think long and hard before ticking the C350 box.
Likewise but bought a 2011 C220 cdi Sport, my 3rd & possibly last Mercedes, creaks & rattles like no other car I've owned. I've been a long time disliker of BMW but will be considering a 3 or 5-er as my next wheels.
I did consider the 250 and I did try an elegance spec car. For me the Elegance was too far the other way, it seemed too soft and wallowed around far too much. About half way between the two would be about right. The 250 as far as I can make out is basically the same engine as the 220 but mapped differently. Although on paper the 2010 350 and the new 250 look quite close in performance terms they are quite different when you drive them. The torque band on the smaller engine is actually quite narrow where the V6 has a nice wide power band and is smooth and quiet. I agree the interior is nicer on the 2011 cars but nasty cheap looking plastic bits are still apparent.
steve-V8s said:
I did consider the 250 and I did try an elegance spec car. For me the Elegance was too far the other way, it seemed too soft and wallowed around far too much. About half way between the two would be about right. The 250 as far as I can make out is basically the same engine as the 220 but mapped differently. Although on paper the 2010 350 and the new 250 look quite close in performance terms they are quite different when you drive them. The torque band on the smaller engine is actually quite narrow where the V6 has a nice wide power band and is smooth and quiet. I agree the interior is nicer on the 2011 cars but nasty cheap looking plastic bits are still apparent.
The newer C-classes do seem to have a slightly nicer interior than the launch model we tested 3 years ago before deciding on an Audi. Our W203 C class was a sport model and the ride did not cause any problems. Having said all that I am fairly sure the mrs will choose the E-class as it is better looking.....Ben
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