Are new or old mercs better?
Discussion
I think the late noughties were a high point.
Still relatively recent so safety, tech and performance is good and they moved on from the Daimler Chrysler period.
I prefer conservative styling on a Benz so that rules out the more recent stuff. The late noughties cars didn’t have the China orientated chintz that came later.
The 90s and earlier were the zenith of quality and engineering relative to their competitors at the time but obviously they are “old” now so probably inferior to the newer cars in almost every way.
Still relatively recent so safety, tech and performance is good and they moved on from the Daimler Chrysler period.
I prefer conservative styling on a Benz so that rules out the more recent stuff. The late noughties cars didn’t have the China orientated chintz that came later.
The 90s and earlier were the zenith of quality and engineering relative to their competitors at the time but obviously they are “old” now so probably inferior to the newer cars in almost every way.
Out of two that I’ve spent a lot of time in (2003 E-Class Estate and 2013 CLS Shooting Brake) I would say the older E-Class interior and build quality was better.
The CLS is higher in terms of Mercedes product ranking but the leather used on the seats, headlining material and plastics in the E-Class felt more luxurious. I appreciate now the E-Class has aged so the CLS wins in terms of updated technology, handling etc. but those are natural developments that would occur with any newer car.
The CLS is higher in terms of Mercedes product ranking but the leather used on the seats, headlining material and plastics in the E-Class felt more luxurious. I appreciate now the E-Class has aged so the CLS wins in terms of updated technology, handling etc. but those are natural developments that would occur with any newer car.
SlowcoachIII said:
Out of two that I’ve spent a lot of time in (2003 E-Class Estate and 2013 CLS Shooting Brake) I would say the older E-Class interior and build quality was better.
The CLS is higher in terms of Mercedes product ranking but the leather used on the seats, headlining material and plastics in the E-Class felt more luxurious. I appreciate now the E-Class has aged so the CLS wins in terms of updated technology, handling etc. but those are natural developments that would occur with any newer car.
Hmm well put. The e class has always been the benchmark. Problem is now when I see a new on like all news mercs. They look like they have come straight out a jelly mould. Every model looks the same. C, e, s class all look the same just bigger or smaller. The CLS is higher in terms of Mercedes product ranking but the leather used on the seats, headlining material and plastics in the E-Class felt more luxurious. I appreciate now the E-Class has aged so the CLS wins in terms of updated technology, handling etc. but those are natural developments that would occur with any newer car.
Let's not forget the amg line. Swap a couple of bumpers and charge a few grand for the pleasure
My prejudiced impressions:
Up to mid-'90s: bank-vault build quality, understated handsome looks, conservative mechanical specification - reliable but not exciting
Mid '90s-mid 2000s: mediocre to appalling build quality, interesting looks, better to drive with rack and pinion steering & supercharged AMGs - attractive but not durable. W203 C-class, W211 E-class, W220 S-class, R230 SL.
Mid 2000s-mid-2010s: improved build quality but crass, heavy-handed styling
Since 2015: good looking, decent to drive albeit afflicted by the ailments of all modern cars, too early to tell about quality.
Up to mid-'90s: bank-vault build quality, understated handsome looks, conservative mechanical specification - reliable but not exciting
Mid '90s-mid 2000s: mediocre to appalling build quality, interesting looks, better to drive with rack and pinion steering & supercharged AMGs - attractive but not durable. W203 C-class, W211 E-class, W220 S-class, R230 SL.
Mid 2000s-mid-2010s: improved build quality but crass, heavy-handed styling
Since 2015: good looking, decent to drive albeit afflicted by the ailments of all modern cars, too early to tell about quality.
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