New E Class Estate – Disappointing.

[renault12ts]

11 that take, in total, less than a minute. How many times a day do you convert the loadbay?

This is another example of marketing crap versus reality. I save 50 seconds and get, in return, a non-flat loadspace that risks the leather on the back of the front seats and leaves a gap for stuff to fall through either side of the headrests if I actually use it.

As an estate user, 50 seconds is an excellent price to pay for a practical, flat floor that I can USE.

Definite backwards step in my opinion and enough (with the rear-end ugliness and the uncomfortable, flat drivers squab) to take the car off my list.

The floor will be flat with a bit of weight on it. It's not as bad as has been presented. I was expecting something sticking up at 45 degs. but that's not the case. The load net will prevent items going forward if required.

Try it...it's good.

 

[prprandall51]

No, they were present on the one I tried without full electric seats.

Sorry - what I meant was that for the seats to truly lie flat in one pull of a handle I think you need the electric seats.

Plus: on the 211 I omitted four steps: Move the front passenger and driver seat forward to allow the seat backs down and then move them both back to their original positions.

Yes, one could argue that you only do it once in a blue moon, but every time I drop the rear seats, I curse the poor planning of the 211.... On the other hand, it is a lovely flat bay area once converted.

 

[The Pan Man]

Quite a few mentions of "Run out 211's" Sadly not very many about and a lot og ARTICO PLASTIC trim and a distinct lack of toys. I've been looking since the end of October.

 

[Chattonmill]

Plus: on the 211 I omitted four steps: Move the front passenger and driver seat forward to allow the seat backs down and then move them both back to their original positions.

Not true, the seats on my S211 do that

 

[prprandall51]

Not true, the seats on my S211 do that

Yes, I have driver memory but not passenger. Irritatingly, I learned after I had bought my car that, if you have memory on both front seats, they do indeed move out of the way automatically.

A classic case of a company missing an opportunity to increase order value because of a lack of knowledge by their own salespeople of how all this stuff works.

 

[renault12ts]

Sorry - what I meant was that for the seats to truly lie flat in one pull of a handle I think you need the electric seats.

Plus: on the 211 I omitted four steps: Move the front passenger and driver seat forward to allow the seat backs down and then move them both back to their original positions.

Yes, one could argue that you only do it once in a blue moon, but every time I drop the rear seats, I curse the poor planning of the 211.... On the other hand, it is a lovely flat bay area once converted.

No they won't lie truly flat when lowered because they fall on to the squabs. But with pressure applied (as by a heavy load) they will go flat.

It may not take long to lower my seats at present, but it isn't convenient. With the new system you can pop them up and down all day if you wish...whereas presently you would leave them down until you were sure you didn't need them again.

It does seem to annoy some people that I am advocating the new system, but I use my full load area a lot and its a PITA to lower them.

 

[w124coupe]

The floor will be flat with a bit of weight on it. It's not as bad as has been presented. I was expecting something sticking up at 45 degs. but that's not the case. The load net will prevent items going forward if required.

Try it...it's good.

I have, and its not.

Speed (without the net in place) is its only advantage BUT you then get all the disadvantages (stuff drops down the gap and the seatbacks are exposed to damage).

If you want/need to use the net, then you add more, much more awkward steps on the new car as its no longer attached to the rear seatbacks.

After dropping the backrests, open the left rear door, lean into the back and unclip the net holder from its clips, remove via the door (its heavy and awkward by the way), line up with the slots on the seat backs (take care not to scratch anything), slide into place until it locks, raise net.

Reverse all the above before you can put the seats back up (if you raise the backrests with the net box clipped on, you get a big "crunch" as it hits stuff it isn't supposed to!).

Manhandling the net box/load cover needs some strength to avoid back injury and damage to the interior - not something to do all the time or in bad weather.

Quick folding = no net as its left hanging in mid air where the seatbacks were.

I really wanted to like it as its my obvious way forward for me from my E280CDI Estate.

Edit - by the way, the need to move the front seats forward first is the same for 212 as for 211 - if the driver is tall and therefore has the seat back on its rails then it fouls the folded rear headrests just the same on both cars.

 

[hawk20]

11 that take, in total, less than a minute. How many times a day do you convert the loadbay?

This is another example of marketing crap versus reality. I save 50 seconds and get, in return, a non-flat loadspace that risks the leather on the back of the front seats and leaves a gap for stuff to fall through either side of the headrests if I actually use it.

As an estate user, 50 seconds is an excellent price to pay for a practical, flat floor that I can USE.

Definite backwards step in my opinion and enough (with the rear-end ugliness and the uncomfortable, flat drivers squab) to take the car off my list.

Well put. I completely agree. It is very sadly off my list too.

 

[oldcro]

Can I suggest a pickup, flat loading area and unlimited headroom.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Can I suggest a pickup, flat loading area and unlimited headroom.

How is it actually with the headroom, we have a maximum of 4.20 metre limit for the cargo, I'm not sure if heads would be allowed higher.

 

[scumbag]

my car (rubbish council version C estate for the Keep up with the Jones)

Pre preparation required: - wash car, fill with petrol.

open O/S rear.

Pull lever and allow small seat fold down

Close door

Open N/S door,

pull lever and stand back as large seat and load cover/net falls down.

raise net to roof if needed, and clip into place,

close door

(go back to other side and raise net if needed so thats 3 steps)

Press button and show off while tailgate raises.

Pick up item to go in boot, damage back, drop item, swear, pick smashed up item, throw into boot, swear again. take item back out, swear again,

press button and marvel at tailgate closing.

reverse original 7 or 10 steps.

grumble, then kick item,

Go online and order new item from argos and have it delivered for you. watch TV while back recovers.

Never drop seats again.

Fill up with petrol, wash car.

Check mortgage payments to see if you can afford to drive round island again before next fill up.

note to self: buy a life in the morning.

 

[renault12ts]

Lol

 

[hawk20]

Can I suggest a pickup, flat loading area and unlimited headroom.

You can't beat the 211 series E class estate IMO. Does it all. Much more carefully designed IMO.

 

[Druk]

Can I suggest a pickup, flat loading area and unlimited headroom.

And you don't have to remove cast-off wool from the headcloth..



bbbaaaaaaaa!

 

[Mactech]

And you don't have to remove cast-off wool from the headcloth..



bbbaaaaaaaa!

No more sheeplish nights then

The ML has much the same system of seats/space in the back as my previous 211 estates, (you just don't bend down!) but I will reserve judgement on the 212 until I have actually used one....

 

[alloam]

At the risk of stirring Hawk20's ire and mentioning R-class... (Which both my wife at 5'1" and I at 6' can get perfectly comfortable in - though our settings are amazingly different - God bless memory seats!)

Back to the point: I am very impressed by the folding mechanism of the rear-most seats, and wonder why something similar couldn't be used on other estate cars (though I wonder if the Accord or Mazda 6 estates have something similar?). You release the back rest and push a few inches forward, this releases the squab which, when you pull the back rest back again, springs to a vertical position allowing you to then fold the back rest completely flat with the squab as bulkhead. It takes seconds.

Granted, this is only for the third row, and when you go for the full flat load space you have a similar issue to 212 with no bulkhead, however, it works really well for quickly expanding the load space from the tailgate.

 

[renault12ts]

At the risk of stirring Hawk20's ire and mentioning R-class... (Which both my wife at 5'1" and I at 6' can get perfectly comfortable in - though our settings are amazingly different - God bless memory seats!)

Back to the point: I am very impressed by the folding mechanism of the rear-most seats, and wonder why something similar couldn't be used on other estate cars (though I wonder if the Accord or Mazda 6 estates have something similar?). You release the back rest and push a few inches forward, this releases the squab which, when you pull the back rest back again, springs to a vertical position allowing you to then fold the back rest completely flat with the squab as bulkhead. It takes seconds.

Granted, this is only for the third row, and when you go for the full flat load space you have a similar issue to 212 with no bulkhead, however, it works really well for quickly expanding the load space from the tailgate.

You noticed that?

 

[scumbag]

Found a few images of some cars with fold flat seats.

VWvortex Forums: Show me those flat folding rear seats.

You will notice that a number don't require the seat squab to move.

you will also notice one or two with some useful devices to prevent stuff killing those in front due to over enthusiastic braking.

 

[NewMB]

Went to local dealer yesterday to see the E250 Cdi Estate.

Like others been saying, a total dissapointment that the seats can not be folded flat. Even sales guy agreed (according to him, other customers have also mentioned this!).

IMO also overpriced, to close to ML prices now which is a much bigger car.

 

[renault12ts]

Interesting comment from the Scumbag post:


Sorry to say it by Touareg rear seats are poorly designed in this respect. Yes, they can be folded flat. But the seat bottoms have to be folded up (meaning you lose some space and can't put the front seats back all the way). The headrests must be removed. And the rear seat backs fold down against some sharp metal pieces if you aren't careful.