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I realize im biased in my opinion but I think it depends on what kind of E class you are in. You can be in a top of the line C class and not be able to get massaging seats or the nicer wood trims like the flowing lines. The E class is where you can start to have S class level options, which you can correct me, probably weren't in your rentals. Like I said earlier, Im surprised at the features my 7 year old E class has over my 2024 Audi. Back in the days of the W213 coming on, the C class was still the W205 pre-facelift and so you couldn't get a full screen gauge cluster on the C, nor anything larger than a 10 inch nav. The W213 was one of the first, if not the first, non-S class model to get the dual screen setup, the "string of pearls" vents in the front similar to those found on the W222 S class. I enjoy my active side bolsters, massaging seats, 64 color ambient lighting, Just so happens that the C class has leveled up as well.
Its not really about features as much as its just the overall feel of the car, interior materials are okay but the ride is really stiff, they're not especially quiet, and the 4 cyl engine is (IMO) coarse and unrefined. The 6 cyl E Classes feel much better, but even then if I compare it to the 4GS I had, I think the 4GS was a much nicer car. JMHO.
Wow.. A 2015ish Lexus GS is a markedly better car than a brand new E-Class?
E-Class used to be reallllllly legit.. We're going way back in time here but it did used to basically be a mini S-Class, it gave up nothing in build quality and solidity and proper Mercedes feel.
Hearing about these fuel problems and awful issues on top of having a 2.0t in a MB E-class, no thanks.
Wow.. A 2015ish Lexus GS is a markedly better car than a brand new E-Class?
E-Class used to be reallllllly legit.. We're going way back in time here but it did used to basically be a mini S-Class, it gave up nothing in build quality and solidity and proper Mercedes feel.
Hearing about these fuel problems and awful issues on top of having a 2.0t in a MB E-class, no thanks.
Better car is relative, but my GS was more comfortable, had a better quality interior as examples. Would much rather have that V6 vs the 2.0T 4. Obviously a modern E Class has much more tech. I have confidence this new E Class will restore a lot of the model's glory.
Its not really about features as much as its just the overall feel of the car, interior materials are okay but the ride is really stiff, they're not especially quiet, and the 4 cyl engine is (IMO) coarse and unrefined. The 6 cyl E Classes feel much better, but even then if I compare it to the 4GS I had, I think the 4GS was a much nicer car. JMHO.
what about the seats? the W211 has great seats that i'd put right up against even the LS 400 in terms of cushiness, yet with a fair bit of extra side bolstering
my dad's 2015 E63 though has much firmer seats and a firmer ride as well, so if the trend was already going that direction a decade ago i hope they eventually do a 180 and go back in the direction of comfort
I thought my GS's seats were way better, it was a luxury model with the really highly adjustable seats
no that's from the interwebs, but aside from a few papers in the passenger footwell mine's basically just a quick touch up away from being that lol... whoever the first person that had it from 2005 to 2016 was definitely kept it inside a garage, the condition of the leather and exterior paint pretty much confirm that, despite being owned in florida for 10+ years
those GS seats look really nice too, and i feel like that's a very bimmer-like leather color haha
E class seats are very adjustable but are on the firm side as with most German seats. I was surprised how aggressively bolstered the seats are on the E since it’s supposed to be more luxury.
and if optioned (and still functioning lol), dynamically bolstered too!
mine doesn't have the option but the used E55 my dad bought before he got the new E63 did, kind of a dimwitted system tbh since it typically didn't inflate the bolster until AFTER the turn was over lol... either way it was still fun to see an unsuspecting passenger get startled by their seat suddenly coming to life
But for me, that's where my love affair with the E Class ended. I don't think they are bad or offensive after that in any way, but I'm not drawn to them at all.
and if optioned (and still functioning lol), dynamically bolstered too!
mine doesn't have the option but the used E55 my dad bought before he got the new E63 did, kind of a dimwitted system tbh since it typically didn't inflate the bolster until AFTER the turn was over lol... either way it was still fun to see an unsuspecting passenger get startled by their seat suddenly coming to life
The ones on my E class activate pretty much immediately at the turn.
