W205 Ordered Today

[Rayza]

I bit the bullet and ordered a new C Class (w205) today, spec below;

C250 diesel auto AMG Line
Diamond silver
Red leather
Premium Plus package
Intelligent light system
Black Ash trim
19" wheels

Est delivery September

I currently drive a w204 c250 cdi

 

[Roger Bill]

Congratulations, I'm envious because I won't be able to place an order until later this year/early next.

Have you had a test drive in a W205? If so, I'd be very interested to hear your views of the pros and cons.

 

[edstrom76]

I bit the bullet and ordered a new C Class (w205) today, spec below;

C250 diesel auto AMG Line
Diamond silver
Red leather
Premium Plus package
Intelligent light system
Black Ash trim
19" wheels

Est delivery September

I currently drive a w204 c250 cdi

Congratulations! Did you consider Airmatic at all?

 

[Rayza]

Yes I did/ am considering airmatic am looking to test both versions then make a decision

 

[Rayza]

Congratulations, I'm envious because I won't be able to place an order until later this year/early next. Have you had a test drive in a W205? If so, I'd be very interested to hear your views of the pros and cons.

Compared to the w204 it feels like a class above. I think it looks a lot better inside out (a bit too much chrome on the outside though). It feels very refined, solid and less house in the cabin. Steering does not have as much feel as the old one but pretty normal for electro stearing (not sure what type of stearing the w204 has). There are a lot more gadgets this time around and the command screen looks huge although not a fan of the tablet like screen, but it was not as bad in real life compared to pictures (still would have preferred a better design). The interior as mentioned is fantastic, I'm not too sure on the gloss black centre console as I could already see small scratches and fingerprints. This is why I went for black ash trim which has a nice Matt finish.

In my mind the 19" wheels look awesome, I did not drive an 18" version to compare but would assume they are more forgiving. I had no issues with the bigger wheels though, other than when I hit a small pothole and the thunder made me whence but at least that was not my car.

I really liked the column mounted gear stick and an elec parking brake, I hated the foot brake of old car.

The engines are still the same as the old ones (diesel) still feel noisy and a little old school compared to BMW and Audi but at least the cabin is better insulated. I also like that it's slightly bigger than my old car.

90% of cars have always been black, the last non black I had was approx 14 yrs ago, my plan was to get black again but I saw the diamond silver and loved it preferring it to the black version.

 

[gIzzE]

When are some decent petrol engines coming?
Hopefully by the time the estate is here?

 

[Roger Bill]

Hi Rayza, Many thanks for posting your comments which were very interesting especially as I've only just seen a car in the showroom and, being currently laid up after an operation in hospital, it'll be a little time before I'll have an opportunity to take a test drive. I'm definitely considering the Airmatic air suspension option which at £895 seems a bargain and I've read many good reports about it. Again I'd be very interested to hear what you think if you are to get back-to-back test drives in Airmatic and non-Airmatic cars.

 

[Moose]

I'd be interested to hear your Airmatic experience too as my dealer informed me that it would not be an option on UK cars until 2015???

 

[Roger Bill]

Hi Moose, I was told that there was a supply issue with a component required for the 360 degree camera option such that the option would be temporarily removed for 2014 build cars. But the Airmatic air suspension option was said to be definitely available for 2014 & 2015 build cars.

 

[Moose]

Thanks Roger Bill,

Think it's time I paid another visit to the dealer. Let's see what happens...

 

[markjay]

I saw the W205 in the flesh last week (a silver C200 saloon), it is a very impressive car and it looks like it is set to sell well. It has proper road presence and definitely looks a cut above the W204 it is replacing.

I *might* replace my trusty old W203 with a late facelift W204 at some point.... given how much better the W205 looks, I expect the W204 values will soon plummet...

 

[Rayza]

I have been told that UK production for my car has been moved to South Africa and expected delivery date is 1st/ 2nd week of October

 

[Rayza]

duplicate post

 

[Roger Bill]

Hi Rayza, The change to South Africa might be good for your delivery and quality because according to www.reliableplant.com/Read/18791/mercedes-benz-plants-recognized-by-jd-power-for-quality the Mercedes plant in South Africa achieved a higher quality rating by JD Power (not sure in which year this was) than the Bremen plant in Germany which is the lead plant for W205 C Class production.

PS Have you had an opportunity to test drive Airmatic and non-Airmatic cars yet?

 

[grober]

I would be somewhat skeptical of any JD power survey report which refers to US customer satisfaction after a 90 day period!!! hardly a test of long term build quality or reliability?? They evidently only registered 27 faults per 100 made ---so more than a quarter faulty then ?
Mercedes-Benz plant wins international quality award | HeraldLIVE

US dealers like the South African plant so much they will be making the W205 in the Tuscaloosa Alabama USA with engines built for the US MARKET in a joint venture with Nissan! --- which is nice!

Made in Tennessee: Future Mercedes/Infiniti Four-Cylinder to be Produced in North America
Vorsprung durch technik y'all

 

[markjay]

I only have anecdotal evidence to offer in support of the ZA factory producing high quality cars theory: my South African built 2006 W203 is extremely well put together, absolutely no rust, no squeaks and squeals, and very very reliable - only a couple of minor faults over a period of 8 years, which were not expensive to put right.

In fact the only car I ever had which faired slightly better in the reliability department is out 1997 Toyota Previa which we had from new and is still going strong.

So based on my own experience with my W203 so far, I would say that having the car built in MB's South Africa East London plant is actually a good thing.

I am not sure if the facelift W204 were ever made in ZA for the European / RHD market? I would be happy if they were because I am contemplating on getting one soon...

 

[Peter DLM]

The W205 is built on 4 continents. I would say the quality would be sufficient at all of them, even the Chinese one.

 

[Rayza]

Hi Rayza, The change to South Africa might be good for your delivery and quality because according to www.reliableplant.com/Read/18791/mercedes-benz-plants-recognized-by-jd-power-for-quality the Mercedes plant in South Africa achieved a higher quality rating by JD Power (not sure in which year this was) than the Bremen plant in Germany which is the lead plant for W205 C Class production. PS Have you had an opportunity to test drive Airmatic and non-Airmatic cars yet?

Hi Roger, no have not been able to drive an airmatic one as my dealers do not have one with this option. It may well indeed better than the steel sprung one (Reading various reports that seems to be the case), but I'm happy with the steel one tbh and will just stick to this.

 

[Soot1e55]

Hi Roger, no have not been able to drive an airmatic one as my dealers do not have one with this option. It may well indeed better than the steel sprung one (Reading various reports that seems to be the case), but I'm happy with the steel one tbh and will just stick to this.

Having read just about everything I could on the W205 I went ahead and ordered Airmatic before the first models were available to drive, I hope I made the right choice. The dealer offered me a test drive of one with standard suspension when they first got one in but I declined as it was not to my spec. Not long to go now, should be here next month.

 

[kots]

Does anyone have any info on the airmatic and 360 camera for 2014 production?

I was told by my dealer that these 2 options will be available on cars going for production on October.

Can anyone confirm this?