Next car: C Class coupe with young family?

[Bobby Dazzler]

When Mrs D and I got married we had a Toyota MR2 (me) and a Mazda MX5 (Mrs D), both two seaters and neither well suited to children.

In readiness for our first Baby D we switched to a Vauxhall Astra Coupe and a Vauxhall Omega saloon. Predictably th Astra was a pain to get her in and out, and the Omega was better but more difficult than it needed to be.

So we then switched to a Mercedes C-class saloon (me) and a Mercedes ML (Mrs D), which were both better suited to the job, being a more practical sporty feeling car, and a more practical practical car. The extra doors and extra height made access to the back easy.

Other cars have been and gone since then, but these days we both have a Mercedes ML because they're fast and equally well suited to big kids as they were for small kids. I completly understand why SUVs have become so popular for families.

So after all that, I would say based upon my own experince I would say avoid the Coupe, and try an SUV to see if it suits you too. Modern ones drive remarkably well, and you can get fast ones too if that's your thing. Even Mom & Dad like a traffic light Grand Prix when it's safe to do so

 

[GeeJayW]

Is there any more space in the rear seats in a c estate to a c saloon or us it literally the boot where the difference is?

There is a bit more room in the back of the estate version as mentioned above by @Lennox.

If you go for premium plus, you do lose what would otherwise be a useful space on the right hand side rear section. I wasn't fully aware of this until we got ours. The panoramic roof comes as part of premium and premium plus packs and for us (pp+ includes black head lining) was a must have.

FWIW I actually prefer the styling of the estate to the saloon version, but of the three options the coupe wins on looks. From the driver's seat, I doubt there's much if anything in it. The current c-class cabin is a nice place to be and I really don't think one loses out with the estate.

 

[pembssurf]

Estate the whole way. Always went saloon before from W201-w203 and swore I would never get an estate (labelled with my life is over and is all about practicality) however we switched to an estate with the first W204 after the birth of our first poodle and I have to admit they are a game changer. Add to this far better resale value so might get a better benefit in kind deal too. Been in the back of the old coupe and as a 6ft passenger it was no fun at all playing a contortionist for 2 hours!

 

[Petrol Pete]

Funniest thing I’ve ever heard.

Getting a saloon or Estate is wasting your life away?

Reality check required i think.

Does that mean I have to get rid of my C55 AMG estate and buy a 220 diesel coupe ?

 

[Petrol Pete]

When Mrs D and I got married we had a Toyota MR2 (me) and a Mazda MX5 (Mrs D), both two seaters and neither well suited to children.

In readiness for our first Baby D we switched to a Vauxhall Astra Coupe and a Vauxhall Omega saloon. Predictably th Astra was a pain to get her in and out, and the Omega was better but more difficult than it needed to be.

So we then switched to a Mercedes C-class saloon (me) and a Mercedes ML (Mrs D), which were both better suited to the job, being a more practical sporty feeling car, and a more practical practical car. The extra doors and extra height made access to the back easy.

Other cars have been and gone since then, but these days we both have a Mercedes ML because they're fast and equally well suited to big kids as they were for small kids. I completly understand why SUVs have become so popular for families.

So after all that, I would say based upon my own experince I would say avoid the Coupe, and try an SUV to see if it suits you too. Modern ones drive remarkably well, and you can get fast ones too if that's your thing. Even Mom & Dad like a traffic light Grand Prix when it's safe to do so

Wow..you waited to get married BEFORE you had children ??...you must be really, reaaaly old.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Coupes are best for singles or couples where the rear two seats are very occasionally used, there’s nothing more undignified than being in a nice flash motor and having to get out first to let your rear passengers out, like being seventeen and let your mates out of the Nova SRi!

As a father of three I think estates are just perfect; saloons can be a bit “rep-mobile”, coupe a bit “yoof” but estates are the ideal family motor (especially when you’ve got dogs!).

Stick a V8 up front and you’ve got the ultimate all-rounder!

 

[clk320x]

What E Class do you have, because the 209 is a CLK?

Russ

I assume 207

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Coupes are best for singles or couples where the rear two seats are very occasionally used, there’s nothing more undignified than being in a nice flash motor and having to get out first to let your rear passengers out, like being seventeen and let your mates out of the Nova SRi!

Not a 1.4 SRi but this 1.3 SR was the first Dazzler-mobile

 

[DoberMan]

 

[flowrider]

What sbout a 4 door coupe like a CLS, best of both worlds with looks and practicality?

 

[Lennox]

What sbout a 4 door coupe like a CLS, best of both worlds with looks and practicality?

A per my post, 4GC is my target car to replace the Golf.

Sent from my Huawei note 8 using my fingers

 

[sosen13]

What sbout a 4 door coupe like a CLS, best of both worlds with looks and practicality?

Absolutely agree, I still love the look of my cls shooting brake

 

[SW18]

Absolutely agree, I still love the look of my cls shooting brake

I’d love one too if only this version were available with the steering wheel on the proper side...

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[sosen13]

I’d love one too if only this version were available with the steering wheel on the proper side...

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You can always go for cls 63

 

[SW18]

You can always go for cls 63

Yes true, once prices of the 5.5s come down a bit more I could be tempted...