Comments on: Mercedes-Benz planning true C-Class Coupe?

By: athens

athens — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:23:49 +0000

I am suspect of this story. First of all personal compact luxury sporty coupes are selling horribly at this time. They sit right behind SUVs as the segments having taken the largest hits in sales volume.

Since the E class coupe is built on the C-class chassis (not merely a bit of C-class) I suppose a “true” C-class coupe would have to be named B-class. No, that can’t be right because the B class is already a 5 door compact MPV built on a FWD chassis, sold outside the US.

As to going head to head with its BMW counterparts, the E class coupe certainly doesn’t compete with the BMW 6 series. That role goes to the SL and the Jaguar XK-R. Instead the new E class coupe competes with the 3 series coupe. And the A5, and the G37. It received the E class name (and styling) to justify its $48K base price which is $11K more than that of the 328i coupe. It’s only that consumers had a tough time shelling out $50K for a sporty compact coupe with the C class moniker.

Mercedes is having a hard time selling anything costing more than $50K these days, which is about 70% of their US market lineup.

With the lower priced B class already being built in Mexico, Mercedes may be readying the mini “R” MPV for the US (it is currently sold in Canada). How about a coupe derivative off that B-class platform to compete with the likes of the Mini and Fiat 500.

By: Bankruptcy2009

Bankruptcy2009 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:50:25 +0000

Blakkarr you have to be smoking something to say that. Cadillac has been no where. Sure GM has pumped lots of money into them. However their is NO WAY that Mercedes follow a cheap cadillac. I think and by most other people. Its Cadillac trying its best to emulate Mercedes Benz

By: pavlindrom

pavlindrom — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:51:03 +0000

@scratchy: the scary thing is that I’m only 22 and I love Mercedes-Benz. Thing is, I’m the royalty type of person, aka on the geeky side of the people spectrum.
It’s also a family thing, since everyone in our family has driven many cars (due to a job we all got at some point in our lives at a large auto auction) and no one has ended up liking BMW or Audi or any other competition more than Mercedes.

By: status

status — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:54:18 +0000

ish a no brainer!

By: Bavarian_818

Bavarian_818 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:14:09 +0000

MBZ: Enough is Enough!!!
Sedans=C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, E-Class Wagons
Coupes=CLK, CLS, CL, CLK-Convertible
Roadsters=SLK, SL, SLR,
Crossover=R Class
SUV=GLK, M, GL, G

IMO WTF R U MBZ

By: scratchy

scratchy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:51:42 +0000

i noticed as i grow older i like Merc(edes Benz made by Daimler AG, to avoid confusion for some people)s more…

By: leftwingagenda

leftwingagenda — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:42:05 +0000

i think another way to explain it is that you like progressive steering as opposed to linear steering…linear meaning if you turn the wheel you get an immediate effect, but a progressive system would dampen the initial off-center turn of the wheel a bit and only provide more steering as you turned further…that would smooth out the jitters and keep you on center…good for straights, maybe not what some folks want in turns…to each his own…

i’ve never been much of a merc guy, although the old AMG Hammer was a cool concept back in the day…i have to admit some of the merc engines sound amazing, though…the deep rumbling eff you v-8s and such…personally, i was won over by the steering feel of a friend’s bmw…but i fall on the sporty side of that sport vs lux equation…maybe in decade or two that’ll change…

By: pavlindrom

pavlindrom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:43:12 +0000

Sorry, I believe the function I really want is f(x) = x^2, as in on [0;0] to [1;1]. Sorry, math is the best way to explain what I feel right now.

By: pavlindrom

pavlindrom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:40:05 +0000

Well, I talk about Mercedes-Benz. I’m just saying that there are people for whom Mercedes-Benz offers exactly what they need. I like large interiors and to feel comfortable more than feel rich. I forgot to make sure I don’t offend anyone by saying I don’t like Audi interiors. About the BMW steering thing: yes, it’s good, but I want the steering wheel to have a f(x) = x^(1/2) curve to it. BMW seems to have it 1:1 and every jerk of the hand gets noticed. I certainly don’t want the cop to know I am shaking a bit more than natural… if you know what I mean. Also, thanks for acknowledging that Mercedes-Benz is a luxury brand. Many people seem to have this dark image about the brand and not accept that Mercedes-Benz has positive traits somewhere under that entire technological shell, which reminds me to say that I love over-engineered vehicles. Makes me sleep better, and drive more relaxed.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:38:54 +0000

You notice how this MERCEDES is starting to look like a CADILLAC? Strange.

“Me-too-itis” is really contagious. MERCEDES was patient zero, HYUNDAI has a serious case of it, The Tiburon looked like a baby bastard Ferrari and the GENESIS Sedan looks like a Cross between a LEXUS and a BMW or a BMW done by LEXUS. Toyota and the one Chinese firm copied the HUMVEE. LEXUS turns around a copies the 1990s 300ZX…

Just saying is all.

By: corvette

corvette — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:05:47 +0000

Bankruptcy-or you can be talking about Mercer

By: Bankruptcy2009

Bankruptcy2009 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:04:47 +0000

The Point is if you say Merc- you really mean Mercury. IF you say Mercedes- then say it with the Benz. Suffix stop trying to steal Mercury’s name.

By: Bankruptcy2009

Bankruptcy2009 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:02:29 +0000

Zfenderguy your right. but I rode in one that my cousin owns very posh but most have the look of arrogance about them. People who drive them are usually snobs. Oh your so Right pavlindrom Mercury’s Milan Hybrid is probably the best thing Mercury has to offer. If they brough back a revised 67 Cougar Ford Motor would do well and its Mercury Division More Prestigious along with snapping up Mercury Marine Motors to divest the company and Make Mercury more attractive.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:56:11 +0000

So- in reality this is just the replacement to the C-Class Hatchback we had like 5 years ago? It would be a very interesting model if they made it so the price was more like that model – making an affordable C-Class under $30k. Mercedes isn’t only luxury car maker in many countries, it’s more of a VW in some ways, with the Sprinter and A/B Class cars, we only see their premium offerings under the Mercedes logo though – although I have seen people switch their Dodge Sprinters into a Mercedes.

By: TornadoGTI

TornadoGTI — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:53:21 +0000

@ pavlindrom – I do understand what you are saying but have to point a few things out. Granted, your tastes are yours, but are quite different from the masses, media, press, editors, etc. Audi is celebrated for having the best interiors around while MB is always getting flack for having very plasticy and otherwise cheap and bland looking interiors.
The feeling you are referring to in the BMW is a GOOD thing. It is called steering feel and steering response. That is why they are so praised for having some of the best driving cars out there.
I have always seen BMW as the sporty choice, MB as the luxury choice, and Audi as the blend of the two. My pick will almost ALWAYS be Audi.

I’m just saying.

By: pavlindrom

pavlindrom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:33:30 +0000

I don’t want to speak for any one, so I will say it for me. The comfort I found in a Merc is on another level from all the competition. I don’t like the Lexus suspension. Now it’s a last-gen-BMW-wannabe. BMW has too sporty feels all around. Just a little move of the steering wheel will be felt on the road. Audi is nice, but I don’t like their interior except the A8 which is too expensive. Thus, Merc suits me very well indeed. I drove every single model for all makes mentioned (and many more) and Merc is the only car whose ride impressed me. That’s why I don’t look at the whole range of their models. I made up in my mind that I will buy a C-Class in a while after I save some money, a CLS if I get a good raise, and an S-Class if I become an overnight success.
The moral of the story, who cares what MB does? I know what I want, and I know my own driving character.

By: zfenderguy

zfenderguy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:57:21 +0000

Agreed, I’m lost. Good thing I’ll never have the desire to drop that kind of coin on one of those snobby looking things.

By: spg900

spg900 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:36:35 +0000

They lost me a long time ago with their 73 different models.

By: TL

TL — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:26:51 +0000

Finally, some distinction from this company! Isn’t that the new E-Class Coupe on the main picture of this article? It looks really good! ^.^

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:05 +0000

From the company called Mercedes Blows it will no doubt be a “true 4-door C class Coupe”