New E Class - Specification

[st4]

Yes, why a dark headliner!!!!!

It's ace. Especially at night. It's one of the reasons to get a sport!!!!

When I drive my old mans S class and my mates golf I miss it. Makes the car feel special IMHO

 

[gIzzE]

Not having a light interior available is madness.

Back is so drab.

BMW offer beige on an M-Sport...

 

[st4]

Not having a light interior available is madness.

Back is so drab.

BMW offer beige on an M-Sport...

It's got the proper head lining though

Like the beige but needs the black headlining

 

[rothbury]

Also I see if you want a 350 diesel estate you have to have AMG Sport spec which I wouldn't want so this car is a non starter for me. What is the attraction of everything inside black, 265/35 tyres ideal for the potholes round here, different size wheels on the front etc

It looks like they are going down the BMW route of almost all cars being the silly M Sport spec called AMG in this case.

The best spec was Avantgarde which is no longer available.

Yes this was one of the reasons why I have bitten the bullet and get an E 250 cdi estate on 1st march. Good deals available in view of new model. Mine is apparently about to be built so will be one of the last current models - features of course 7 g+ and stop -start.. Spec is Avantgarde with Comand and the three pointed star features! Intelligent zenon lights are standard too.Very pleased that I will avoid the splashes of shiny aluminium on the dash and doors and will have black wood. Also will have 17 inch tyres another plus in my view.

 

[st13phil]

Also I see if you want a 350 diesel estate you have to have AMG Sport spec which I wouldn't want so this car is a non starter for me.

Same for the 350 Saloon - now only available in AMG Sport spec

The best spec was Avantgarde which is no longer available.

Agreed.

Oh well, that's it decided that my next car most definitely won't be a facelift W212.

 

[Maxi4]

Also I see if you want a 350 diesel estate you have to have AMG Sport spec which I wouldn't want so this car is a non starter for me. What is the attraction of everything inside black, 265/35 tyres ideal for the potholes round here, different size wheels on the front etc

It looks like they are going down the BMW route of almost all cars being the silly M Sport spec called AMG in this case.

The best spec was Avantgarde which is no longer available.

Agree here. I was actually looking forward to the facelift as I (for once) liked the changes!!! I dont like the sport as its too harsh a ride for me/kids. I like my avantgarde and was looking forward to getting the S212 for my next change! Oh well, just have to look for something else now! It just doesnt make sense what MB have done here.

Pete

 

[gIzzE]

This is the 5 series sport in oyster......

I just like a light interior.

 

[rothbury]

Same for the 350 Saloon - now only available in AMG Sport spec Agreed.

Oh well, that's it decided that my next car most definitely won't be a facelift W212.

There is an unmistakeable move at Mercedes to produce Sport and AMG models throughout the range. What they obviously don't realise is that there are loads of people like me (of an age!) who rememebr what Mercs stood for namely quality comfort style etc and not necessarily pin sharp boy racer handling . Take my old 2005 E 320 cdi avantgarde estate - a wonderful car but big and fairly imprecise on the B roads. We ( especially my other half) loved it for the sense of occasion and the comfort wafting around and it was fast on main roads .
We got the C250 cdi estate in 2009 and it is good in a 3 series sort of way but it isn't like the E class in our affections even if more chuckable.
I had 16 inch wheels on the E class!
What makes Merc think on today's roads that we all want to be haring around with our spoilers, aluminium ,and 18/19 inch wheels? i have a car to do that anyway but if it's a long journey it would be the nice cosseting E class. And to take away the badge as well........................

 

[st4]

There is an unmistakeable move at Mercedes to produce Sport and AMG models throughout the range. What they obviously don't realise is that there are loads of people like me (of an age!) who rememebr what Mercs stood for namely quality comfort style etc and not necessarily pin sharp boy racer handling . Take my old 2005 E 320 cdi avantgarde estate - a wonderful car but big and fairly imprecise on the B roads. We ( especially my other half) loved it for the sense of occasion and the comfort wafting around and it was fast on main roads .
We got the C250 cdi estate in 2009 and it is good in a 3 series sort of way but it isn't like the E class in our affections even if more chuckable.
I had 16 inch wheels on the E class!
What makes Merc think on today's roads that we all want to be haring around with our spoilers, aluminium ,and 18/19 inch wheels? i have a car to do that anyway but if it's a long journey it would be the nice cosseting E class. And to take away the badge as well........................

I'm the opposite to this:

I've had both and prefer the new more precise sport type of cars. I'm not a racer etc but like a poised car and mb are delivering.

AMG sport and sport plus. Yes please.

 

[V12]

Can't they do both?

 

[st13phil]

I'm the opposite to this:

I've had both and prefer the new more precise sport type of cars. I'm not a racer etc but like a poised car and mb are delivering.

AMG sport and sport plus. Yes please.

Without wanting to appear rude, but how many new Mercedes-Benz cars have you bought either with your own funds or with finance? I think I know the answer.

MB-UK seem to be chasing a segment of the fleet market, and those who can't actually afford to buy the product so rent it because they want one on their driveway anyway. In their rush to do this they are damaging one of the core features of MB ownership, strong residuals, and also seem to be going out of their way to deliberately alienate a good proportion of their existing customer base by eliminating choice. Not the smartest move in my view. But then I'm not a marketing specialist

 

[st4]

Can't they do both?

They must feel they cannot justify the softer models or just wish to import more expensive specs only

 

[Mercator]

They must feel they cannot justify the softer models or just wish to import more expensive specs only

I'm not convinced there is anything very expensive about the Sport spec.

Indeed it is probably cheaper if everything on all cars made is black and aluminium, especially if its artico (plastic) or microfibre (felt).

On the wheels side I did read somewhere that the tyre companies give them the wide ultra low profile tyres for free so the purchaser is locked into buying expensive wide tyres for the life of the car.

Also I doubt an 18 or 19 inch wheel costs any more to produce than a 16 or 17.

 

[gIzzE]

Can't they do both?

Of course they can, just not in the UK!

This really annoys me, the fact the launch videos of the 212 showed a sumptuous looking interior and then I was told that "You couldn't order that in the UK sir, as no one wanted it."
Yet, so many people want nothing else.

Mercedes UK need to sort their range out a bit.
300 cars to choose from, as long as they are sport.

 

[gIzzE]

They must feel they cannot justify the softer models or just wish to import more expensive specs only

It isn't that, I think it is just some people who are a bit old skool running MB UK.
They see that BMW and others are doing well with sport models and copy.

BMW and other added loads of interiors with black carpet and lighter seats etc. and they sold very well, so Mercedes copied, problem is that was 8 years ago, BMW have moved on, they are offering more elegant interiors once more, but MB UK are still thinking everything needs to be sporty.

They seem to only notice the new customers, forgetting those that want what MB was all about originally, you can have both you know!?

 

[gIzzE]

I should just add, when I say they are old skool, they don't really know what people want at the moment, they are not on the ball enough to see what is up and coming, they can only be reactive and not proactive, and that is too late in this game, cars are fashion accessories and you need to make sure you are there leading, showing people what they want.

 

[gIzzE]

This is the BMW 'Modern' 3 series...

Mercedes UK need to take note of the name...modern.

 

[rothbury]

I'm the opposite to this:

I've had both and prefer the new more precise sport type of cars. I'm not a racer etc but like a poised car and mb are delivering.

AMG sport and sport plus. Yes please.

I have had 7 BMW s and 4 mercs. There is no question that purely as a driver's car the BMW always wins and I have NEVER read a road test where there has been a different conclusion. The merc on the other hand always wins the comfort stakes . If merc want to compete in the sport market they need to reverse the continual dominance of BM but they haven't done it yet though they are closer than ever before.They should not however forget their strengths hence my comment and some others on here.The dropping of the badge on the bonnet which is so iconic and the avantgarde spec on the whole facelift range is an example of muddled thinking unless they can take on and beat BM for once with a sports model. Then the oldies like me will just have to lump it!

 

[Dryce]

They seem to only notice the new customers, forgetting those that want what MB was all about originally, you can have both you know!?

Too true.

I've just scored the facelift W212 off my list.

Looking around over the last few months it's pretty obvious that the monthlies on MB contract deals are consistently low compared with BMW and Audi - even models like the VW Passat CC.

Now MB might smile knowingly and say that this is down to strong residuals. An old cynic like me suspects it's old fashioned discounting but in a new fashioned way.

 

[Dryce]

I have had 7 BMW s and 4 mercs. There is no question that purely as a driver's car the BMW always wins and I have NEVER read a road test where there has been a different conclusion.

Such is common lore that becomes repeated so often that it's just an accepted truth. That's the way consumer product journalism works and why so much is parroted from one review to another. Bit like the sentence in almost every summary on a MB saloon that mentions traditionally strong residuals.

I write having just driven back home in SWMBO's BMW and parked behind my much loved old W211.

I think BMWs are overrated. Nothing wrong with them. Just the blind acceptance of that accepted truth. It's a bit like the placebo effect.