After reading through an online discussion on Generation Benz, an invite-only market research portal for Mercedes-Benz owners, I was rather unhappy to read over some of the comments from Mike Martin, C-class Product Manager. A participant asked whether or not there were plans in the works to bring the C class estate stateside. This was the response:
“There are currently no plans to import the C-Class wagon or AMG wagon due to low sales history and low US consumer interest in wagons. Also, a GLK really serves the functionality needs of a C-Class sized wagon or utility vehicle.”
So there you have it. It’s just that simple. You’ll have your cute ute and you’ll like it. To Mr. Martin, I have but three words: no thank you.
It’s sad to think that Mercedes-Benz is going to become just another purveyor of soft roaders chock full of the latest gizmos, but this is the road they seem to be steering towards. While they still offer the E63 AMG Estate here in the US, you know it’s just a matter of time before it becomes a victim of the no fun club. In the meantime, it’s still possible to find the errant low mileage AMG estate. Normally I steer clear of cars from New York City, but the black on black meanie we featured a a few weeks ago is back up for sale with just a few more miles on the clock.
Year: 2007
Model:Â E63 AMG Estate
Engine:Â 6.2 liter V8
Transmission: 7-speed manual
Mileage: 36,900 miles
Price: $41,800 Buy It Now
2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate on eBay
As rare as they come, only 67 E63 AMG Wagons were sold in the US in 2007 and this is the best color combo they made. Black on black, pure stealth bomber status. Amazingly fast wagon, 6.2 liter V8, 507 hp @ 6800 RPM, 465 lb-ft @ 5200 RPM. Entusiast-owned from brand new, this car was a special order direct from Germany. Fully serviced only at Factory MB Dealer, last service was just this week to prepare it for sale. It has Mercedes DVD players in the rear headrests complete with separate headphones, a must if you have kids. The Car is stunning and needs nothing except a new owner. Both keys, manuals, all weather mats etc. Rare opportunity. These cars are highly coveted among the AMG enthusiast crowd. They don’t hit the market often and when they do, they always bring a big following. No accidents, clean title/Carfax. Must be seen and driven in person to be appreciated. No scratches/dents/smells/stains or curb rash on the wheels. Has to one of the cleanest E63 Wagons in existence, inspections welcome! These things are very rare, even rarer to find one with this color combo, options and low mileage. They almost have a cult following in the car world, not a lot of car companies make a sporty wagon these days, definitely not many making a 507 Horsepower V8 Monster! This thing will embarrass most Italian Supercars, a real sleeper, keep them guessing!
We’ve featured plenty of these E63 AMG estates here on GCFSB and they can be polarizing cars. Some people will instantly wonder, why bother hot rodding a boring wagon? But for most of our readers, I’m sure the appeal is apparent. Versus an SUV, the lower center of gravity, rear-wheel drive and relatively modest weight gain over the AMG sedan makes for one hell of a screamer.
The last time this car came up for sale, the buyer didn’t follow through (at a selling price of $38,900), and the car was relisted at $42,900. A few weeks later and we’re down to $41,800. I’d say the original selling price is just about right. While the car has low mileage and is clean, over $40,000 is a bit much, even considering the fact that we’re dealing with New York and you encounter the typical surcharge on goods and services of all kinds.
-Paul
I understand the point, but the E class is available in wagon. Get one of those with a sport package, paddles, and the 300hp direct injection V6. Great car. What am I missing? Mercedes runs a business. They brought the W203 wagon here and they didn’t sell. Period, end of story. The GLK sells, and while it is not a substitute for a wagon, business decisions are always dictated by the bottom line. We’ve had a GLK as a loaner, and it is a very nice driving vehicle — very sporty and solid — although I would never buy one because it is a cute-ute, not a practical wagon, and much smaller than the w203 wagon.
Few buy the E350 wagon which goes for $60,000.00.
BMW dropped their 5 Series wagon.
A C wagon would be interesting but nobody buys wagons here.
This wagon is nice but it being RWD limits its usefulness in the Winter.
I get the price issue on the E350 wagon, but the C320 wagon retailed in the mid-40s 10+ years ago. Mercedes isn’t going to canibalize sales of a premium product with a cheaper version, especially when neither version sells in huge numbers. Even the E350 wagon is a limited audience item — most dealers don’t carry them in stock even.
Listen I don’t disagree with much of what underlies the original post and that is that there are times when enthusiasts get shorted. No question. But here, if you can pick up a W212 wagon, a year or two old to mitigate the price, and it has the sport package and the paddles, I don’t see the big deal about not having the C wagon. Would it be nice to have the choice? Sure, why not. But MBUSA still brings the E63 wagon so I think is a little harsh of enthusiasts to say that there are no offerings for us. They are pricey, but since when has MB been a cheap car in the U.S.? The wagons have always been expensive, and prior to the W203 they never brought a small wagon here at all.
This car will fly but will also make the dollars fly out of your wallet. Having owned a 320 wagon for years I cannot see any reason for one of these in my driveway. The E350 is the deal breaker. With 4Matic these cars will go just about anywhere. I’ve yet to be caught out in the snow.
AMG package is nice but better in a coupe. Make mine a “Black” series C.
Slim
While I understand that auto manufacturers make 99% of their decisions based on sales figures, there are a million other qualitative factors that they blatantly ignore.
A bunch of guys sitting in a board room who all have company S-classes can easily rattle off 1001 reasons why wagons are bad for the US market based on blah blah blah.
The fact is, they produce them for other markets, why not at least offer them as special order?
I’m not saying put a bunch on lots and let them sit there, but if you’re going to offer such silly cars as the CLK63 Black in the US market, then why not an equally silly estate.
The fact is, they are losing potential buyers, and future sales through brand loyalty, while a drop in the bucket in the big picture, I’m sure I’m not the only one steering clear of the Merceded dealer due to the lackluster options.
I’ve heard the wagon vs. SUV argument plenty of times but if the sales were there, the vehicles would be there. Last time I checked, Mercedes-Benz wasn’t a non-profit organization and it is likely they are not making any money on the E350S4 or the E63S, either, but yet they keep selling them here.
The GLK was, indeed, meant to be a stand-in for the C Wagon (of which few were sold in 2005, their last year) and sales of that model are very strong.
The last 3 Series BMW wagon I saw was so small that there was room for a dog in the back and that was it.
So not missing much, I think.
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