My W204 first impressions

[lexuscol]

Good first impressions, I think I will stick with my W203 for another couple of years till the bugs appear and are sorted, if ever they are.
Col

 

[imadoofus]

I had a quick play with a C220 Sport yesterday when I was in at a dealer for something else.

Nice enough car, and the interior is (IMO) a great improvement on the rather curvy W203.

The car I played with had optional leather, PDC and some lighting pack of some sort.

£33k !!

That is waaay too much

 

[fuzzer]

a 320 sport with a decent spec ends up about £40k.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

a 320 sport with a decent spec ends up about £40k.

Shocking isn't it?

It's probably true of all cars that have been recently replaced though, and not just the C-Class - the M3 is over £50k now for example.

When I first saw the W204 - my first thought was "Crikey I could get a 5-Series for that much!!"

I think we were lucky for a while that prices seemed to remain fairly static in real terms for while - no doubt helped by popularity of car supermarkets and continental imports - so we're over due a bump in prices!!

 

[imadoofus]

When I first saw the W204 - my first thought was "Crikey I caught get a 5-Series for that much!!"

Exactly! And the 5 Series is bigger and better equipped (by some margin)

PJ

Oddly enough, the 5 Series is only about 1.5k more than the equivalent engined 3 series, but it's much better equipped...

 

[timskemp]

Though a lot of the cars are expensive, I reckon the big sellers will be the 180K SE manuals with no options at £22937 and 220CDi autos at £26202 - Most will be bought on lease and company car drivers want the CO2 low and the list price low for minimal tax, and they're still great cars even in lower spec.

Personally I really like the new 220 engine and would probably go for a 220 sport with agility package, metallic,auto and PDC. But the ride would have to be much better with the agility package, it's too firm for my taste.

 

[imadoofus]

Personally I really like the new 220 engine and would probably go for a 220 sport with agility package, metallic,auto and PDC.

No disrespect intended Tim, because this isn't aimed at you in particular, and maybe this is for another thread entirely; but why does everybody consider PDC to be so indispensible? I can drive a car properly, and in 20-odd years of driving, I've never (to the best of my recollection) crashed while parking.

PJ

 

[mark.t]

the mirrors let it down big style ...... what are they off a ML or S Class....can't they find some of its own rather that picking bits off other cars ..... just looks like a small s class pity they did not bring out the c class first .......the interias like a volvo..focus...

 

[timskemp]

No disrespect intended Tim, because this isn't aimed at you in particular, and maybe this is for another thread entirely; but why does everybody consider PDC to be so indispensible? I can drive a car properly, and in 20-odd years of driving, I've never (to the best of my recollection) crashed while parking.

PJ

I don't, but a lot of people borrow my car...

I've not had it on any car, all the Hull dealers loan cars have it and it's very handy on a car that's unfamiliar to you.

 

[fuzzer]

No disrespect intended Tim, because this isn't aimed at you in particular, and maybe this is for another thread entirely; but why does everybody consider PDC to be so indispensible? I can drive a car properly, and in 20-odd years of driving, I've never (to the best of my recollection) crashed while parking.

PJ

if youve had it you wouldnt be asking that question...

 

[1998K]

if youve had it you wouldnt be asking that question...

like the autodimming mirror:bannana: same story

 

[fuzzer]

like the autodimming mirror:bannana: same story

and the passenger dipping mirror when you reverse

 

[imadoofus]

if youve had it you wouldnt be asking that question...

I don't agree. I have had it, and it was an annoyance. Dipping mirrors, fair enough, but I didn't query those.

 

[1998K]

and the passenger dipping mirror when you reverse

yes this is another MUST

 

[fuzzer]

I don't agree. I have had it, and it was an annoyance. Dipping mirrors, fair enough, but I didn't query those.

personal preference , i wouldnt buy a car without it. Its handy.

Its also nothing to do with driving a car properly , it just helps. Another Gadget lets say.

 

[Robbo]

a 320 sport with a decent spec ends up about £40k.

Just to throw this into the mix, I have just come back from the USA and while I was there, saw some ads for the W204. in the US, the W204 starts at $31975, which works out at under £16K. Ok that'll be for a bottom of the range car, but I don't think W204s with 4 cylinder engines are being sold in the US so that price would be for a C230. So thats £10K less expensive than a C230 is over here.

Are we being ripped off? You decide.

 

[C240Sport97]

US prices are quoted pre sales tax .. and their VAT equivalent is nowhere near our 17.5%.

But even taking that into account, still much cheaper.

Just to throw this into the mix, I have just come back from the USA and while I was there, saw some ads for the W204. in the US, the W204 starts at $31975, which works out at under £16K. Ok that'll be for a bottom of the range car, but I don't think W204s with 4 cylinder engines are being sold in the US so that price would be for a C230. So thats £10K less expensive than a C230 is over here.

Are we being ripped off? You decide.

 

[Rory]

Just to throw this into the mix, I have just come back from the USA and while I was there, saw some ads for the W204. in the US, the W204 starts at $31975, which works out at under £16K. Ok that'll be for a bottom of the range car, but I don't think W204s with 4 cylinder engines are being sold in the US so that price would be for a C230. So thats £10K less expensive than a C230 is over here.

errr..no - not a bottom of the range C230 - the US entry level is a C300 Sport (inc sunroof) for $31975 (and they can have 4MATIC, which I would love to have).

"2008 C300 Sport Sedan
The C300 Sport Sedan offers a 6-speed short-throw manual transmission (optional 7-speed automatic transmission), AGILITY CONTROL sport suspension, standard sunroof, standard Bluetooth® connectivity, 17-inch staggered-width 7-twin-spoke alloy wheels, and optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
$31,975
3.0L 24-valve V-6 engine - 228 hp @ 6,000 rpm"

OK, US prices always exlclude delivery, licence etc and local sales tax - those things would add maybe $4-$5K. UK VAT in the would add $5600 plus perhaps $1500 delivery etc.

Still stunningly cheap.

 

[timskemp]

"2008 C300 Sport Sedan
The C300 Sport Sedan offers a 6-speed short-throw manual transmission (optional 7-speed automatic transmission), AGILITY CONTROL sport suspension, standard sunroof, standard Bluetooth® connectivity, 17-inch staggered-width 7-twin-spoke alloy wheels, and optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
$31,975
3.0L 24-valve V-6 engine - 228 hp @ 6,000 rpm"

So - that's
C280 (3.0L 231bhp) £23285+vat
Sport pack £1446.81+vat
delete auto (which I don't think we can) -1319.15+vat
Add sunroof £774.47+vat

total uk price £24186 ish, or about 48000usd.

Yep.
Ripped off.

 

[crockers]

US prices are quoted pre sales tax .. and their VAT equivalent is nowhere near our 17.5%.

But even taking that into account, still much cheaper.

Unless you live in New Hampshire -- no sales tax (VAT)...

I am loggin in fro USA now and yes the prices of ALL cars over here makes me weep...plus petrol at $2.70 for a US gallon (3.78 litres).... Canada was C$1.04 a litre....