2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 4MATIC Luxury Sedan

Pros

Classy design, good front seat comfort, excellent brakes, priced less than BMW 328xi

Cons

Poor fuel economy, not as sporty as BMW 328xi, cheap plastic interior, questionable reliability

This is my first Mercedes in 10 years. I have always been a fan of MB but the last one was a major disappointment in quality and reliability.

The first thing that got me back was the design. I love the look especially in all white. So five stars for design. The build quality is average to fair. There is some orange peel paint if you look close and the trunk lid does not line up on both sides evenly. I just was informed some are made in Germany and some are made in South Africa. Mine is of the German build but still lacks quality. I don't want to see the South African built MB! Interior design is nice but again, quality is an issue. Cheap plastic can be found everywhere you touch. It also shows cost cutting is a main goal for MB these days.

Comfort is important to me and thus far its good. Not excellent but very good.

Performance is so-so. The C300 is better on gas than the C350 but there is not enough power for passing. Around town, its acceptable but after a few months you notice many other cars passing you up at stop lights. I'm not a racer but keeping up with traffic is important.

Gas consumption is very poor. For this size engine and performance, I expected to average 20+ MPG. Instead I drive with a light foot and average 16.3 mostly highway driving. The best I have seen is 22-23 MPG on the highway. That is real world driving. Do not go by the EPA ratings as you will never see them.

Value wise, its actually a bit cheaper than the BMW 328xi. You give up some performance for the MB but the ride is much better in the C300 than the 328i. Depreciation is average.

In the end I would consider trading this in next year. I'm not sure what I would get but it probably won't be a MB.