Next generation Mercedes Benz E-Class (Official thread)
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canada
In my experience, all the latest E class taxis don't even have manual transmissions anymore. I've also seen a lot of A6 and BMW 5er taxis and they're automatic too. Come to think of it even Japanese and other European cars that are used as taxis in Germany tend to be equipped with an automatic transmission. The preferred taxi saloon car in Stuttgart is still the E class though.
Last edited by Gojirra99; Jan 8, 2009 at 06:14 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: New England
I am the former owner of a W204 C class C200 CDI (company car) and I completely disagree with your statement about the interior. The cabin is far from cheap. The materials are upscale and the build quality and construction make a very good impression. I would recommend that you spend some quality time inside the car and you will eventually see what I mean. Sitting in a car or taking it for a short drive will not give you a lasting impression of the interior quality.
The only complaint I had about the C class interior was that it was overall a bit bland and lacking in creative design. On the other hand the ergonomics were excellent, there was a lot of space for my long feet (not the case in the IS) and the layout of buttons was logical and easy to comprehend.
The Lexus IS interior, the competitor to the C class, isn't all that great in my personal opinion. My sister has an IS250 and when I was on vacation back home I've driven it a few times and spent some quality time inside the cabin. Or on the RX next to the power Trunk release empty button, but you can close it so its ok their
On a side note, I am a Lexus fan, but I do find a lot of their interiors to be highly overrated. To me the best Lexus interiors are actually those of the GS and ES. I am not too impressed with the LS interior to be completely honest. The wood seems a little fake and all that silver plastic is just a thorn in ones eye when compared to the subtle and discreet interiors of the A8 and S class and now the new BMW 7 series.
No offense.
The only complaint I had about the C class interior was that it was overall a bit bland and lacking in creative design. On the other hand the ergonomics were excellent, there was a lot of space for my long feet (not the case in the IS) and the layout of buttons was logical and easy to comprehend.
The Lexus IS interior, the competitor to the C class, isn't all that great in my personal opinion. My sister has an IS250 and when I was on vacation back home I've driven it a few times and spent some quality time inside the cabin. Or on the RX next to the power Trunk release empty button, but you can close it so its ok their
On a side note, I am a Lexus fan, but I do find a lot of their interiors to be highly overrated. To me the best Lexus interiors are actually those of the GS and ES. I am not too impressed with the LS interior to be completely honest. The wood seems a little fake and all that silver plastic is just a thorn in ones eye when compared to the subtle and discreet interiors of the A8 and S class and now the new BMW 7 series.
No offense.
And with Lexus the IS and GS and even LS, I can't stand how Lexus leaves, fake buttons for options you don't have its like they must remind you that you could have bought an option and you didn't like Air Suspension on the GS350 that the V8 version has. Mercedes is similiar the buttons are their, but when you push it reminds you on the screen. Pushing the Phone in both the C and E in our cars say "NO PHONE" NO AUX, NO SAT and in our old ML320 when you pushed Nav it would say Insert Navigation CD or something in that context.
Does anyone think the new E class has styling cues from the GS with the Large light and smaller light on the inside and the Dash reminds me of a BMW with I drive.
Last edited by triplecore; Jan 7, 2009 at 03:21 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: California
Meh, not really. They've been doing that little light big light thing since 1995 with the W210. Just a natural progression back to non-round headlights.
Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: California
i've seen a prototype last month in huntington beach driving south on pch. it had a black hood but overall the car looked pretty good. where the c-class to me looks like an unfinished design from the rear 3/4, the new e looked handsome all the way down the side profile. but i only saw for a few seconds as it passed by. and i didn't get a good look at it's rear. i wanted to make a "U-E" but the wife wouldn't allow it. it's just a car she says and it's almost out anyways.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
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From: tech capital
i've seen a prototype last month in huntington beach driving south on pch. it had a black hood but overall the car looked pretty good. where the c-class to me looks like an unfinished design from the rear 3/4, the new e looked handsome all the way down the side profile. but i only saw for a few seconds as it passed by. and i didn't get a good look at it's rear. i wanted to make a "U-E" but the wife wouldn't allow it. it's just a car she says and it's almost out anyways.
I am really digging the pictures that DustinV posted. Overall it looks like they crafted a beautiful and rich interior. That wood is beautiful and the placement of it is very tastefully done- rich and elegant but not "too much". My biggest qualm with Lexus interiors is the lack of wood they are using now. ES, RX, GS, and LX all have significantly less wood on the interior than previous models, so it is nice to see Mercedes making sure that their interiors are traditionally luxurious but still upscale and futuristic.
My only qualms are the lack of a center mounted shifter on some models, and the tiny black buttons below the air vents. The buttons could have easily been replaced by something more attractive than what they are.
Overall, it looks like Mercedes really brought their A-Game with the new E. There are parts of the exterior that I am unsure of, but the interior looks 95% drop dead gorgeous (although that lack of a shifter would be a huge problem for me).
I am excited to see the car in person sometime...I want to get a better feel for the sheet metal.
My only qualms are the lack of a center mounted shifter on some models, and the tiny black buttons below the air vents. The buttons could have easily been replaced by something more attractive than what they are.
Overall, it looks like Mercedes really brought their A-Game with the new E. There are parts of the exterior that I am unsure of, but the interior looks 95% drop dead gorgeous (although that lack of a shifter would be a huge problem for me).
I am excited to see the car in person sometime...I want to get a better feel for the sheet metal.
Very clean.
It's subtlely handsome. Appealing to the eyes.
The interior is conservative, and I do like some of the exterior lines without being too flashy. It's gonna sell like hotcakes...
It's subtlely handsome. Appealing to the eyes.
The interior is conservative, and I do like some of the exterior lines without being too flashy. It's gonna sell like hotcakes...
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Stuttgart
I will, but I don't think the 200CDI is offered in the US maybe they have more features in the Euro market. I agree Mercedes has great Ergonomics, but i was talking more about material. The center counsel was all black plastic and half the buttons were redundant, I was mostly disappointed with Steering Wheels material. The door was all hard plastic scratch you nails on it. The older C my sisters was more think and it was leather and you could feel the stitching and grooves for your hand.
It's difficult to ascertain the exact quality of interior materials based on sight and touch. Many luxury cars use plastics on the inside, including Lexus. One could argue that the Lexus GS or ES interiors are cheap based on the large surface area of black plastic. But what really attracts me to the GS and ES interiors are the small panel gaps and high build quality they radiate. Call me crazy, but both those interiors make a much better impression on me than the dashboard of the LS. It might be me, but I thought I saw larger panel gaps in the LS interior than the GS and ES.
By the way, one of the things I liked about the new C class interior was the attention to detail and the small panel gaps. The predecessor cabin was one of the worst in class in my honest opinions, but the new C class has an interior that really can rank as one of the best in class in my opinion. Again, spend time in the car and you will see what I mean.
In a way I believe that car was the inspiration behind the 1997 E class.
