Thinking of trading for '08 MB C350 Sport-

[hokiesean24]

What do you think? Would you guys do it. I am ONLY considering doing it if they can make the deal good enough to match my current payments, my car is like 1/2 paid off, so I have a good bit of positive equity in it. I drove the MB yesterday, and its a very nice car. What do you guys think? I think it would make good financial sense in that they are holding their value much much better than the G....

[Stealthcords]

I think the c350 is a nice looking car, but not that much (if any) better than the G.

I would keep your G - your car looks great - I love your setup.

[AlterZgo]

If you're doing it for financial prudence, it wouldn't make any sense because you're trading the G in after it's taken the highest amt of depreciation. Best thing to do if you're concerned about saving money is to just keep the G and drive it into the ground. I drove my 94 G20t until December 2005 when it was destroyed by a drunk driver while parked. Saved a TON of cash on new car payments, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't do it b/c the G35 out performs the C350 in virtually every performance category and it also has just about every tech feature you would want. If I was going to eat another couple years in car payments, it would have to be for a car that is actually better in some significant way, ie. faster/handles better or larger/more luxurious, etc. The C350 doesn't have any advantage over the G35 other than just having the MB badge - and if status is what you're after, you won't get much w/ a C350 b/c people will still think it's just a low end MB.

[hokiesean24]

Originally Posted by AlterZgo

If you're doing it for financial prudence, it wouldn't make any sense because you're trading the G in after it's taken the highest amt of depreciation. Best thing to do if you're concerned about saving money is to just keep the G and drive it into the ground. I drove my 94 G20t until December 2005 when it was destroyed by a drunk driver while parked. Saved a TON of cash on new car payments, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't do it b/c the G35 out performs the C350 in virtually every performance category and it also has just about every tech feature you would want. If I was going to eat another couple years in car payments, it would have to be for a car that is actually better in some significant way, ie. faster/handles better or larger/more luxurious, etc. The C350 doesn't have any advantage over the G35 other than just having the MB badge - and if status is what you're after, you won't get much w/ a C350 b/c people will still think it's just a low end MB.

Great points! Its obvioulsy not about saving money, because your right, it would just be adding on a couple years of payments. I would miss the performance of the G. I do like that the C350 is only expected to depreciate about $3500 in the first year. Thats incredible.

I really love my G, I love the look of it as it is. I am lowered and on aftermarket wheels. I love the look, but it is sometimes a hassle. The camber issues are running through tires like crazy and are STILL not able to be fixed. So, the solution could be to raise the car back to the stock height, which would cost me money. I would then most likely be inclined to put the stock wheels back on because my car looked like it was on stilts with the new wheels and stock springs. At this point, I like the stock look of the C350 much better than the G.

The 2 big things I would definately miss about my G: 40 HP, back up camera. I am sure there are some options I would learn to love about the MB too, obviously too soon to know...

[hokiesean24]

Originally Posted by Stealthcords

I think the c350 is a nice looking car, but not that much (if any) better than the G.

I would keep your G - your car looks great - I love your setup.

Thanks! I love the look of it too, just not sure if I want to keep it like it is. I think it would be a lot more practical in stock form.

[306HP]

The only input I have here is the interior, I am sure its no brainer who wins on perfomance. The C350s interior is the ugliest I have seen in any of the cars in this class. The room in the G is greater as well. I am big on interiors and this is why the German cars are rarely on my radar.

However the C350 is the only car in this class I believe has an exterior styling that is at par with the G.

[AlterZgo]

Originally Posted by hokiesean24

I really love my G, I love the look of it as it is. I am lowered and on aftermarket wheels. I love the look, but it is sometimes a hassle. The camber issues are running through tires like crazy and are STILL not able to be fixed.

Do you have a rear camber kit on? If not, get the rear camber kit and that will take care of the rears.

For the fronts, you have 2 options:

1. Get some tires that can be flipped left to right (non-asymmetric tires). So, when the inner tread wears down to about 25%, just flip the tires and you'll double the lifespan on the front.

2. Buy some Nitto Neo Gens which are specifically designed for lowered cars w/ excessive camber. People who have used these concur that the inner tread really is more durable. They also have a 280 tread wear rating which helps.

[Wannabe6MT]

No! That would be a downgrade.

[NationsMostWanted]

I own a 08 G35 and the 08 MB C300 Sport....the new C-Class looks beautiful though but I like the G better.

[hyukki]

DONT DO IT!

My sister has an '08 C350. The seats are very flat and uncomfortable, steering is too light, slower than our G's, the Navi sucks and it costs more than the G.

The ONLY two things I like about the car is that it has "real" foglights which I really want and 23-25mpg when I drive it. (My sister gets 20mpg avg some how. )

The details they put in to the C350 is pretty nice though, like the Mute button, how it stops playing the music when you pick up the phone and the music doesn't resume even when you transfer the call back to your phone.

[hyukki]

I forgot to mention the control we have with our cars.

They do not have a manual mode like us, they have "Touchshift" which is pretty much like any other older auto transmissions which only restrict the gears to change up higher than the set gear. (Like how D3 never goes upto D4)

[NationsMostWanted]

Originally Posted by hyukki

I forgot to mention the control we have with our cars.

They do not have a manual mode like us, they have "Touchshift" which is pretty much like any other older auto transmissions which only restrict the gears to change up higher than the set gear. (Like how D3 never goes upto D4)

the 7 speed tranny in my c300 is a pain to use too...im so used to the Gs manual mode how at a stop it goes back to 1st gear.

[hyukki]

Originally Posted by 559MostWanted

the 7 speed tranny in my c300 is a pain to use too...im so used to the Gs manual mode how at a stop it goes back to 1st gear.

The tranny in your w204 does go down to 1st, the display just says D3 because that's the max it'll go upto unless you redline it or something.

I believe only the AMG models come with the manual mode that actually works like our cars.

[NationsMostWanted]

Originally Posted by hyukki

The tranny in your w204 does go down to 1st, the display just says D3 because that's the max it'll go upto unless you redline it or something.

I believe only the AMG models come with the manual mode that actually works like our cars.

i usually dont drive it much my wife uses it most of time. i thought that if im in 4th gear and come to a complete stop it does not go back to 1st. you have to hold it to the left to put it back into 1st. i could be wrong though

[hyukki]

Originally Posted by 559MostWanted

i usually dont drive it much my wife uses it most of time. i thought that if im in 4th gear and come to a complete stop it does not go back to 1st. you have to hold it to the left to put it back into 1st. i could be wrong though

No, unfortunately, that is not how it works.

By holding it to the left, you are teling the car you want to stay in "D1" (or any other gears) for... lets say going down hill. It is the same as putting in on "1" on older transmissions. The only thing different about the older transsmission and the MB's TouchShift is that the TS will upshift if the car is redlining. So to me, TS if useless.

I was very confused when I was trying to use it the first time because I was expecting it to be like my G but it turned out to be like my old '00 Honda Accord.