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Mercedes-Benz CLK (2005 and earlier)

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, Coupe, Convertible

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#41 of 1627 by totalnet Apr 16, 2001 (11:51 am)
If Mercedes just kept the C230 the same length as the sedans, I think more people will like it. Having a longer back end will make it more like the liftback of sports coupes like the Integra/RSX, Eclipse, and Celica than the chop off hatchback of the 318ti.
#42 of 1627 by bill_1 Apr 16, 2001 (1:21 pm)
Ah but Mercedes didn't really design the C hatchback for the American Market. It is primarily designed for Europe where they really like Hatchbacks. Note that globally the 318ti was a big success. I suspect that regardless of what happens over here the C Coupe will be a big success in other countries. Certainly it will give people shopping Saab 9-3s another option.   Personally I like the look of the Coupe.. the very short overhangs at the rear help give it a very purposeful look (IMHO).
#43 of 1627 by totalnet Apr 16, 2001 (3:32 pm)
You are right that the hatchback is design for Europe. So that made me wonder why MB did not make a longer coupe with the either a liftback or a trunk? Or the CLK is suppose that be that car?   Why go after the Saab 9-3? It's not a hugh market. But you could mean the group of buyers who's interested in the Saab 9-3. Which I read is the young profession women. But didn't BMW try to go after that group with the 318ti?   Speaking of the 318ti. In the video section under Auto Shows, Edmunds had a preview of the 316ti and 325ti. It said the 325ti which has a inline 6 with 192hp. That pretty much matches the C230 in hp. It said BMW might be offering the 325ti in the US.   Maybe with both MB and BMW offering hatchbacks, owning a hatchback won't have such a bad image.
#44 of 1627 by tmundar Apr 16, 2001 (5:52 pm)
Wow! I never realized that I was a young professional woman! What is this American preoccupation with image? American seem to make an inappropriate number of purchasing decisions based on the image of a product rather than the actual properties of a product. I see all of these SUVs being driven around by soccer moms and insecure men because a minivan doesn't project that rugged image.   I have lived in the US for my entire life, and I think that Americans are completely silly. I enjoy European cars far more than American cars because traditionally American cars try to isolate the driver from the act of driving (automatic transmissions and sloppy suspensions), while the Europeans develop cars that involve their drivers in the act of driving. I considered buying a BMW because of their excellent driving characteristics, but I decided against it because everyone and their dog has a BMW in my neighborhood. I also didn't want to deal with the image baggage involved with a "Beemer". I already have to deal with meatheads who want to race me in my 23-year-old Porsche 911. I ended up buying a Saab because it is practical, handles well, and partially because it is different.   Tom
#45 of 1627 by bill_1 Apr 17, 2001 (5:58 am)
Regarding a larger C class coupe and Saabs...   Well the reason Mercedes didn't develop a car specifically for the US is that they wouldn't have sold enough to justify the development costs. The market in Europe for Hatchbacks is large enough for Mercedes to develop one for their market and then risk the cost of adjusting it to meet US safety and emissions specs, but even if the C230 was a smash hit in this country (Say 30% of C class sales) it wouldn't be enough to cover the costs of developing the car specifically for the American Market. Mercedes has to make the most effective use of the cars it has in every market it can; thats why we will see the A class eventually.   What I meant about the 9-3 is that there are people in this country who buy the Saab 9-3 because they want a reasonably sporty near-luxury car, but they recognize the utility that a hatchback provides. Also the C230 and the base 9-3 are similar in price, size and many performance aspects (though the 9-3 is a FWD as opposed to the C230's RWD).   As for the BMW 325ti; I hope they do bring it over. If we can get Juguar and Lexus to offer Hatchbacks as well perhaps we can get rid of the stigma : )
#46 of 1627 tmundar by totalnet Apr 17, 2001 (12:34 pm)
Well the Edmund's first drive article mentions that Mercedes wants to attract more young female buyers with the C230. Well the automakers created these images and lot of Amercians have taken to it.   To most in the US, Mercedes or BMW has always been brand you buy as status symbol. To show the world that you have made it. One of my cousins has a SLK230, which most of time is garaged and she commutes in an SUV!   One reason I am interested in the C230 for next car is the image of the brand. I also want to move up from my 200SX SE-R. I want same fun to drive, the same or more power, and some luxury. Had a chance to buy a friend's 318ti. The hatchback was so much more useful than the trunk on my car. The only thing that stopped me from buy it was my wife. She said it just doesn't looked right with the front same as the other 3 series, but it's short rear.   Once in while I drive my dad's Avalon. I can't believe how much this car isolate you from the road. It makes realize how much more fun my car is than if I have not driven the
#47 of 1627 Marketing to Women by tmundar Apr 17, 2001 (1:36 pm)
Maybe car companies target women because women are less likely to buy based on image, and more willing to take a look at a car's practical attributes. I don't mean to imply that women are unaffected by image, but men seem to be the driving force behind most image based purchases. For example, I am sure that more couples shop for a SUV because the man would feel emasculated by driving a minivan then women worried about being viewed as a "soccer mom." In fact, I have taken to calling SUVs "Macho Minivans."   Why would your cousin commute in an SUV when the Mercedes sounds like a much better commuting car? There are some things that SUVs are good at, but transporting one person to work and back is not one of them (unless it is something like a RAV4 or CR-V).   I have to agree with you about the styling of the 318ti. I prefer the styling of hatchbacks that look like they angled the bottom of the rear window out to the end of the trunk lid (like the Saab 9-3) instead of the ones that look like they just chopped off the trunk and made the rear open up (like the BMW 318ti and Honda Civic).   Um, wait, this message board is about the C230 so I should probably include something about them. I do like the styling of the C230. I think that it looks sleek and purposeful. It looks like it was designed as a hatchback instead of just cutting off the trunk as in the 318ti. Too bad Mercedes-Benz doesn't make a 5-door hatchback.   Tom
#48 of 1627 by drew_ Apr 17, 2001 (1:58 pm)
" It looks like it was designed as a hatchback instead of just cutting off the trunk as in the 318ti. Too bad Mercedes-Benz doesn't make a 5-door hatchback. "   Um, that's because it was designed as a coupe right from the start! MB didn't simply decide to shorten it. 5 door hatchback? Never...that would compete with the sedan and MB doesn't want that. Having a hatchback is already very untraditional for MB, but they understand that it is necessary to break into a new market segment. I do like the C230K coupe, even though I'm not in the market for it. Comfortable seating both front and rear in my experience. There was a lot of interest in it (and interestingly even from the older folks in their 40's and 50's) at the autoshow, and I have absolutely no doubt that it will sell.   According to the dealer info. which I have seen, since the structure of the car is essentially the same as the C-class sedan, the excellent IIHS 40mph offset crash test results will also apply to the coupe and the station wagon. Your dealership should already have the options and option pricing for the C230K coupe (I've already seen it), but the MSRP is still to be determine.   BTW, IMHO, the new 3-series hatchback is ugly. The boy-racer IS300-ish clear taillamps and seperate circular headlamps don't look good to me. The C230K coupe is far more elegant, and classier.   Drew Host Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards P,S. AMG is already working injecting their magic into the coupe. Don't forget that it has been on sale in Europe for a few months already.
#49 of 1627 MB chat tonight! by drew_ Apr 17, 2001 (3:18 pm)
Just a reminder that the MB chat is on tonight (6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern). Hope to see you there! http://www.edmunds.com/chat/mercedeschat.html
#50 of 1627 by totalnet Apr 17, 2001 (5:54 pm)
Well she drives her Montero SUV so she can drop off and pick up her kid at school and her husband drive some sedan. She treats her SLK like some classic car and takes it out once in while. Maybe it's a Chinese thing. You know Mercedes is called Benzie by some Chinese and owning one is totally a status symbol. BMW doesn't even come close in that term. Go to a place like Hong Kong, and the majority of the luxury cars are Mercedes.   I am actually hoping the C230 coupe won't become a hugh hit. So if I get one, I don't see too many of those around. Here is something I just notice. The headlights on C230 are little bit different than the C sedans. The small and large headlights are merging smoothly together on the sedans. While the coupe looks like two circles place on top of each other.   The first two things I notice about the new 325ti were the clear taillights from the IS300 and front round headlights looks from the Integra. Maybe they are going after the boy racers this time. To me, the only 3 serie coupes and convertables good looking. The sedans and now new the hatchbacks just don't look that great.

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