E Class - too big?

[survey]

I'm thinking of replacing my old W203 C220 and trying to decide between a new C or E class. The E class seems very nice but I wonder if it's a bit big. Do owners find the size makes them difficult to park? Are they too wide or long for parking where the C class would be easy? Am I worrying about nothing?

I also have your predicament! I note that the E coupe has the interior of the E but the size of the C. Plus the coupe is a stunner!

 

[Mercy1]

The problem is not parking a big car - anyone can place 'em between the white lines of the parking space. The problem comes once you've parked - can you open the door wide enough to get out?? Can you reasonably expect to return to your car without finding the doors dinged??
So no, you are not worrying unnecessarily. No question - many parking spaces are just too narrow - so if you go for the E you will find you will need to be much more choosy about where you park. Having said that, thousands of people seem to get by with large cars, 4x4s, people carriers, light vans, etc, etc, so it's just a question of dealing with it!

 

[gIzzE]

I just park in the disabled bay, usually only needed by someone who got a blue badge for being a fat c**t anyway.







Just kidding, actually a pet hate of mine seeing people park in the disabled bay, over two spaces or worse off all someone who parks in the child spaces and then gets out with a teenager!!



I don't think the difference in actual size between the two is all that big, but they E feels a fair bit bigger and more relaxing because of it. Both great cars and I would happily have either, buying new the E Class makes far more sense, no difference in price when you add the essentials and if financing the E is actually cheaper. So really just buy what you like best on the test drive.



One last thing on parking spaces, why do not have all the spaces at 45%?? It would make parking so, so much easier.

Edit: I have nothing against fat c**ts either, but when they start to use it as a disability it annoys somewhat. Just yesterday I was buying (I'm a clothing buyer) and had to sit and listen to how some woman, who must have been 20 stone, had been declined a blue badge, oh the injustice!! She can't help it it is her hormones.
But this is not made up, while I was there, from around 8.30am through to 11ish, she had 2 bacon sandwiches, a plate full of biscuits, and there must have been 25 odd biscuits on that plate, around 10 frothy coffees and I was leaving she had just ordered a french stick with cheese and ham and a piece of carrot cake.
Carrot Cake!!!?? Seriously, what the feck is the pint of that!!!?
Hormones my ****!

 

[AlastairM]

Thanks for all the comments - sounds like it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Parking sensors will be a novelty for me,as well.

I can think of a particularly difficult car park which will form part of the test drive .

 

[st4]

.

Edit: I have nothing against fat c**ts either, but when they start to use it as a disability it annoys somewhat. Just yesterday I was buying (I'm a clothing buyer) and had to sit and listen to how some woman, who must have been 20 stone, had been declined a blue badge, oh the injustice!! She can't help it it is her hormones.
But this is not made up, while I was there, from around 8.30am through to 11ish, she had 2 bacon sandwiches, a plate full of biscuits, and there must have been 25 odd biscuits on that plate, around 10 frothy coffees and I was leaving she had just ordered a french stick with cheese and ham and a piece of carrot cake.
Carrot Cake!!!?? Seriously, what the feck is the pint of that!!!?
Hormones my ****!

I agree. I eat like a pig, but at least I do not have to turn sideways to get through a door. At that stage I'd take up some form of healthier activities.

 

[gIzzE]

I'm no lightweight anymore, but when I have to listen to someone telling me how hard done by she is not to get a blue badge because 'it is not her fault, it is all hormonal' while eating more in a morning than I eat all day, seriously winds me up.

 

[st4]

I want a blue badge....

It would make parking outside the offy so much easier for when I buy beer.

 

[snoop51]

Just kidding, actually a pet hate of mine seeing people park in the disabled bay, over two spaces or worse off all someone who parks in the child spaces and then gets out with a teenager!!

I still don't see why child spaces should be near the doors of whatever establishment has provided them. Children are NOT a disability and should be encouraged to walk as much as possible. Walking them around car parks may just may teach them that vehicles are not to p*ssed about with and stop future generations sauntering across the road 20ft in front of you whilst snearing in a manner that says "hit me if you dare"!

It would also stop them turning into fat little "mini me's" of their overweight parents and give the overweight parents some exercise too. Controversial I know but:bannana:

Back on subject though the E class coupe whilst being smaller only has two long doors which when I had a coupe proved more difficult to get out of in Tescos et al car parks due to not being able to swing them open.

I have had no problems with parking my W212 aprt from worrying about a w*nker hitting it getting out of there car. Then I think if I worry about it too much why have I got it, it may be a MB but it is still a tin box with four circles of rubber holding it to the road. Sacriligeous I know but very true, I like my car, do I love it? No not really, love is for my family a car is .......... just a car. Slate me if you like but I can't say I've ever loved an machine, it is there to serve a purpose nothing more, nothing less.

I would feel differently if I had a classic in pristine condition like Jaymanek's or even though from the dark side like Charles Morgan's BMW, but mine is new if it gets damaged it can be repaired, if it gets completely f*cked (unlikely in a car park) it can be replaced.

Drive them both see which you like best, that's what I did. I also always put the driving seat where I would have it, then get in the back seat to see how much room there is, which is why I didn't get a CLS. I'm 6ft 2in & nearly 16st, if I could fit behind me in comfort then it's big enough.

 

[bpsorrel]

stop future generations sauntering across the road 20ft in front of you whilst snearing in a manner that says "hit me if you dare"!

Don't you just hate that!!!

In my close, some of the neighbours bunch of brats have taken to gathering in the road, blocking the entrance to the part of the close my house is in. They have no fear of anything and take as long as possible to slide their slothful bodies out of the way when any cars turn the corner and try to get through. One day, someone will come round the corner too fast (like their moron parents?) and turn the lovies into mince meat. Who will blame who then I wonder?

 

[snoop51]

Don't you just hate that!!!

In my close, some of the neighbours bunch of brats have taken to gathering in the road, blocking the entrance to the part of the close my house is in. They have no fear of anything and take as long as possible to slide their slothful bodies out of the way when any cars turn the corner and try to get through. One day, someone will come round the corner too fast (like their moron parents?) and turn the lovies into mince meat. Who will blame who then I wonder?

With a passion, it really gets on my t*ts to put it bluntly. My 19 yr old son hates it too now he's driving although I'm under no illusion that at some time in the past he was probably guilty of it too. However if he'd done so in my line of sight he wouldn't have done it again. But perhaps I judge him too harshly.

 

[MPG]

To answer the original question of whether or not the car is too big, I'd say it depends on where you want to park it. I've got a W126, which at over 17ft in length is a fairly substantial beast. That said, pretty much everywhere I park is in a parking space or on my drive or garage. As such I've got no problems with it - width isn't a major issue so no problem with parking spaces. If anything it makes it easier to find as the nose is always stuck out a foot further than shorter machines.

If however, you live in town and need to frequently parallel park by the kerb then you might find something shorter is the order of the day.

 

[Sorry Pete]

I don't ever have trouble parking my w124 eclass in London, it might take a bit more scouting to find a space to accomodate it, but it's still easily done.

I found the w126 sclass harder to park; it's only a foot longer, but that makes quite a difference with the size of the average parking space.

In their favour, the turning circle is very good on both, considering their size. I can't comment on newer models, but weren't all e-classes designed with the German taxi fleet in mind, and who demand a tight turning circle?

 

[Dr-Nab]

Don't you just hate that!!!

In my close, some of the neighbours bunch of brats have taken to gathering in the road, blocking the entrance to the part of the close my house is in. They have no fear of anything and take as long as possible to slide their slothful bodies out of the way when any cars turn the corner and try to get through. One day, someone will come round the corner too fast (like their moron parents?) and turn the lovies into mince meat. Who will blame who then I wonder?

There's a kid/teenager type thing that resembles cousin it that saunters along the road on the estate I live on all the time, bearing in mind there are pavements on either side of the road but still he walks in the road, straying out towards the centre when he hears a car coming... makes my blood boil! One day he will be hit by someone!!

With regards to parking, I don't have any issues parking my E-Class but try to park as far away from other cars as I can in the hope nothing parks next to me, this failed miserably at Tesco last week when some daft bint in an old Micra parked next to me so closely that I wouldn't have been able to open my driver's side door, but since she was locking her car I had "words" with her... may not be nice to have a go at a woman for that but really, is it that difficult to park a car properly??

The GL on the other hand... yeah that sticks out from any parking space!

 

[AlastairM]

Test drove the E350CDI and the new C250CDI today.

To answer my original question myself, no the E Class isn't too big.

Impressions after the test drive: The C250 is clearly a vast improvement on my old one as expected. Virtually no turbo lag, the car seemed eager to go fast - it seemed to be encouraging me to be a bit of a hooligan. (I'm a relatively sedate driver, always sticking to the speed limit). Performance when pushed was impressive, with much of the sound generated seeming to come from the exhaust rather than the engine bay. Felt fun to drive.

The auto start/stop on the engine works really well; the engine restart is almost immediate if the accelerator is touched - or the brake if the 'hold function' was on.

Comand system with Linguatronic seemed to understand my voice without any training and worked really well.

The E350 seemed to be more my style - happy at wafting around with virtually no engine sound audible. Turbo lag more noticeable but when pushed - wow! Fantastic performance for overtaking. What a great car!

 

[st4]

Yep these E classes waft. Even the 211 320cdi is soo smooth and quiet I dont even bother speeding much, although it goes like a absolute greased weasel when it needs to

 

[englishdas]

I would say as long as you aren't the driver of a Smart I was following yesterday, you'll be fine with the E-Class. The reason the Smart driver really shouldn't be let loose near an E?

Their Smart car had parking sensors on it. There must be something in the laws of the land to take their driver's license away... Absolutely pathetic.

 

[JohnDeere8530]

any idea if you can get three baby seats in the back seat ?

 

[AlastairM]

any idea if you can get three baby seats in the back seat ?

Sorry, don't know - not a personal requirement!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

any idea if you can get three baby seats in the back seat ?

Definitely not in the 211. Trust me. that's why I had to sell my last one.

 

[timskemp]

Definitely not in the 211. Trust me. that's why I had to sell my last one.

Two babies and a toddler will go though.