W204 C-Class test drive (Part 1)

[whizzkid11]

Hi all,

As mentioned in previous threads, this weekend I have a W204 C- Class for a test drive as an option for a company car.

The car was delivered this afternoon by a transporter, a fully enclosed transporter just like the Bentley's are delivered in. The neighbours and passers by were certainly anxious to see what pops out.

Well out came a Cubanite Silver , C220 CDi Sport Auto. Having been told over the phone that it was a Cubanite Silver, I was a little apprehensive about it, but kept an open mind. However, when I saw it in Cubanite Silver it looked WOW ! For once Merc have put some of their mistakes right.

Parked in the drive, it certainly drew attention of passer's by.

Now for first impressions and opinions of the car and drive - I'll keep it short and to the point.

The definately looks classy and the part - from outside and front. Rear is okay, well you hardly see it when your driving!!

The Sport model has 17" AMG alloys with all the AMG sports skirts etc.

Boot space is more than adequate for this size of vehicle.

Interior - well - that IS the biggest disappointment of the whole thing. apart from the wooden effect inserts - the rest of the dashboard, door trims etc - are straight of a VAUXHALL ASTRA VAN - there is no other way to describe the material used inside this car. I will post pictures tomorrow so you can see for yourself.

Major major disappointment - they have dropped the ball on this.

The AMG half Artico/half cloth seats - are designed for the average 5ft 7in 11stone person. 4 individuals who sat in the front seat ALL complained about how uncofrtable the seats were, it may have been due to the car only have 300 miles on it and the seats being too new - but doubt it would make me feel like a dinosaur (BrontaSoreArse).

Leg room is not too bad - I had 4 full size adults in and all were comfortably spaced.

Now for the drive - the 220 CDi engines is great in terms of refinement - for what it is designed for it delivers the power/torque for a comfortable and quick ride with good economy. A fully loaded car can be projected at an acceptable speed/acceleration. It is very smooth and comfortable in delivery.

The brakes are a little bit on the light/soft side, but work very well to stop the car efficiently and effortlessly.

The one disappoting thing with the drive, and something which takes alittle of getting used to os the VERY LIGHT steering - initially, i was vearing towards the centre of the roundabout - that how light the steering. Blow at the steering wheel hard enough and it will turn the car round. Speed compensated steering may be an option, but its certainly not on this model.

These are my first impressions this afternoon, and I will be driving it a bit more tomorrow and will be taking some photos as well for you guys.

All in all at the end of the first day:

Great looking car - excellent engine and mechanics.
Horrible cheap and nasty trim, with seats suitable for small people and short journeys.
Size wise, perfect car, plenty of room instead and in the boot.

More to follow over the weekend...

rgds
Was!

 

[Aswall]

Don't know about Bentleys but my last 3 cars have been delivered in fully enclosed transporters, even the Golf

 

[Diesel Benz]

Interior - well - that IS the biggest disappointment of the whole thing. apart from the wooden effect inserts - the rest of the dashboard, door trims etc - are straight of a VAUXHALL ASTRA VAN - there is no other way to describe the material used inside this car. I will post pictures tomorrow so you can see for yourself.

Major major disappointment - they have dropped the ball on this.

The AMG half Artico/half cloth seats - are designed for the average 5ft 7in 11stone person. 4 individuals who sat in the front seat ALL complained about how uncofrtable the seats were, it may have been due to the car only have 300 miles on it and the seats being too new - but doubt it would make me feel like a dinosaur (BrontaSoreArse).

I wonder what would impress you for an interior? A car at this category would not have leather standard. I did not feel the material too different from that in an S-class otherwise. And an MB interior is not supposed to look like a Christmas tree if that is what you are after.

I don't know if the figures you mention reflect an average person but shouldn't MB optimize the seats for an average person rather than a very small or a very large person? Of course it should remain comfortable for the (reasonable) extremes.

MB seats are often blamed to be too hard. But then when one drives a long day, the MB seats are judged one of the best. Of course if you put money, you can have adjustable comfort seats (I assume on a C-class too).

 

[pammy]

I had no problems with the comfort levels of the W204 I've had for the past 24 hours. Full leather and absolutely fine.

Steering was very light indeed - made it a dream to drive as were the brakes - just have to get used to it thats all.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=39139

 

[BenzedUP]

I wonder what would impress you for an interior? A car at this category would not have leather standard. I did not feel the material too different from that in an S-class otherwise. And an MB interior is not supposed to look like a Christmas tree if that is what you are after.

No mate it doesnt have to be like a christmas tree, just have a look at audis and bmw's interior quality compared to mercedes C class, you can feel they have good interior quality. as for the w204's interior I have to agree its simply rubish for a 30+ thousand car. and the rear end looks like a dawoo or what ever it's called hehe. i'm not a fan of the w204 maybe I will like it later....

 

[gary350]

The new Mondeo is miles better looking.

gary

 

[Robbo]

I wonder what would impress you for an interior? A car at this category would not have leather standard. I did not feel the material too different from that in an S-class otherwise. And an MB interior is not supposed to look like a Christmas tree if that is what you are after.

Its not the fact that there isn't leather as standard, its the horrible expanse of black plastic that cheapens the look of the interior. its the same stuff as in a Honda Civic. Its OK in a honda, but not in a car that is nearly twice as expensive.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Somebody had a W204 24h demo at work on Monday - and once word had got round it's been there ever since - somebody different calling the dealer to ask if they can have it next.

Concensus is the dashboard is equally good to the competition, which surprised me given comments on here over recent months.

We have very few MBs at work as they're not on the company scheme - so they're mainly BMW & Audi drivers at the moment. I think we may get a couple of private purchases in the car park soon though.

 

[Rory]

I don't know if the figures you mention reflect an average person but shouldn't MB optimize the seats for an average person rather than a very small or a very large person? Of course it should remain comfortable for the (reasonable) extremes.

MB seats are often blamed to be too hard. But then when one drives a long day, the MB seats are judged one of the best. Of course if you put money, you can have adjustable comfort seats (I assume on a C-class too).

I find W203 seats uncomfortable and I've seen a fair number of similar comments. Offering 'Comfort' seats seems a bit of an admission on MB's part!

 

[fuzzer]

we have never had a problem with any mercedes seats in all the cars ive had. Very comfortable on long journeys and we spend a lot of time in the car.

Seems strange for people to say otherwise , seats were the only thing i liked about the W204.

 

[PaulE230]

My new bentley was delivered in a open transporter

I wasnt happy at all















Then I woke up !

 

[JC180]

we have never had a problem with any mercedes seats in all the cars ive had. Very comfortable on long journeys and we spend a lot of time in the car.

Seems strange for people to say otherwise , seats were the only thing i liked about the W204.

That surprises me as one of the few weak spots in the 203 IMO were the seats which are sh1t.

 

[BlackC55]

The new Mondeo is miles better looking.

gary

Wash you mouth out with soap and water

www.passionford.com

 

[marcos]

Gotta agree with Jason about the seats in Mercs, I have never had a complaint about them, and I have driven thousands of miles in them in single stints.
Had a go in a new W204 last weekend and the chap who owns it said merc had gone the same way as BMW with all the plain plastic everywhere, looked ok but certainly wasnt outstanding. In saying that though it still makes a VX or Ford look cheap.
If BMW can get away with it then I'm damn sure that MB can.
My freind has a new Mondeo and although it looks nice inside the quality of the plastics is appaling.

 

[andy_k]

I've already said that the interior felt cheap and nasty in another post. I think the seating is poor if you are tall. I'm 6'3 and really struggled for legroom between the seat and the steering wheel - comfortable is certainly not a word I would use to describe it.

 

[timskemp]

C class is not a big car, seating space is comprimised compared to E class. If you want a medium saloon with comfy seats Volvo / Saab is where you need to look, or as mentioned get the comfort option.

I'm above average width (or short for my weight) and find the sports seats in C class and the A4 very tight and uncomfortable, my S60 had the best seats of any car I've had, after that the S40 and then my current E class. The E gives you lots of elbow and legroom though.

Did 500 miles in an MX5 a few weeks ago - now that's cramped..

 

[Silestanix]

Seats aren't bad in the 204...but man, the looks...The new Mondeo would have to take the spot above the 204 C-class.

 

[andy_k]

Not wishing to upset C class drivers but it's a car that always has been built down to a price rather than up to a standard to compete in the fleet/company car market.

Having driven both the W204 and a new Mondeo I know given the choice between a decent spec Ford and a low spec Merc that I would be driving a car with a Ford badge on the front

Andy

 

[gary350]

Wash you mouth out with soap and water

www.passionford.com

Only if you put your glasses on.

Fault with the C is they always try to make it look like a mini S, only this time the new S is not a pretty car.

We should have a poll on the C, it looks like a thumbs down to me but you never know.

gary

 

[Dryce]

Not wishing to upset C class drivers but it's a car that always has been built down to a price rather than up to a standard to compete in the fleet/company car market.

The assumption would normally be that the MB is a bit nicer than an ordinary fleet/company car.

The problem for MB these days is that a lot of those company/fleet cars are Audi, VW, and BMW rather than Vauxhall or Ford.

So visibly 'building down to a price' is dangerous. Particularly given the ubiquity of the 3 series and A4.

The W203 was looking a bit staid but had a bit of its own class and style whereas the W204 looks more rakish but seems to have copied a bit of everybody else's style and lost its class.

The new C class ad is a nauseating embarassment. If it had been running when we got our first MB it might actually have put us off.