Germans on average are at or under 6' in height. This is a German car.

Put 2 and 2 together and you get 22 . If you're taller than an average German, not many people will fit in the backseat. If you're around German height, 6' and under, you should have no problems fitting an average German in the rear seat.

It's a 2+2 Coupe. If you really want 2 seats and no room behind you, there's the SL.

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

the SL's are way too small for me.

claustrophobic, in fact.

and no trunk room.

more to the point, dbag targets the usa as a major market for its vehicles.

if germany is #1 in dbag sales, the usa must be #2.

and dbag isn't paying attention to its major export market? come on. be smart[don't be a smart car, however. what a catastrophe].

even if i were 72" even, there would still be no acceptable room in the back seats of any of the coupes that i own.

Don't you think that if Benz designed the vehicles specifically for the US market they would at the very least have cup holders (back in the day)? Don't forget the whole Euro schpeel...you have the option to have NO options on your MB. The only reason the US is a major market for MB specifically is because MB can load up on the options of the car and make them "standard" to increase the price of the vehicle and people here in the states buy them because they're limited to those options and whatever packages MB offers. More money for MB because they can load up the cars with "options", that's the only reason US is major market.

Now, just because US is a major market for MB, doesn't mean they had to design the cars for it. When these cars were made, cost was no option. They didn't care if the car they designed was for any type of market, they built a car that everyone KNEW was the best of the best and in a way, it was and still is. MB built a car that was up to German standards, and back then, people were happy to buy them! Designed for US? I think not! Designed for the world? Maybe. Designed by Germans that fit Germans (AND MOST OF THE WORLD) comfortably? Most likely.

I doubt the Germans had an American sit in a prototype in a comfortable position while they measured the rear seat. You most likely had the average German measuring and designing everything. Germans are on average less than 6' tall. These cars were very roomy and luxurious for them in the back, because on average, they're less than 6' tall.

A comfortable position for the average German most likely leaves a lot more room in the rear for another German to climb into comfortably. The Germans know what they're doing...obviously, as you're still driving those cars today.

If you're not the average German there won't be room. Besides, without rear seats, I think the coupes (with their size) would look absolutely ridiculous. These cars are unique 2+2 coupes, I bought it because it was roomy, comfortable, and because I'm a dumb teenager who appreciates some of the finest German engineering to date.

If you haven't noticed, the seat positioning and the positioning of the invisible B pillar are offset. Hence the need for the extendo arm seatbelt. I'm sure you can guess why the Germans designed it this way.

You didn't have to buy a coupe, you know. If it irritates you so much, just remove the seats, cut out a template out of plywood, and upholster it with matching carpeting. Just sayin'.

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

Well,
I have sat in the back seat of my 560SEC behind the driver and had no issue with legroom or space, but also I am 5'11" and the driver was about the same. It was a bit difficult to get in and out of, but once in the back seat, it was comfortable - I had nothing to complain about.

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John Gillespie
1988 560sec - 192k miles
2006 CLK500 - 40K miles
1995 E300 - 202k miles

I have to argue the no space thing as well.

When my parent's van died a bit back, and there was an appointment scheduled before the parts chain would open the next day, my 76" tall father and 68" or so mother both sat on the passenger side. Mom had no complaints about leg room, even when my dad was carefully asking to make sure.

If I remember correctly, her only complaint was getting back up OUT of the back seat in the SEC.

No, they don't look like there's much room there, but it's surprisingly usable, at least with someone less than 6' in the rear seats.

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-Josh
Testing the cheap Mercedes axiom, one bolt at a time...

Sure its not as easy as opening the door on a 4 door but again its not exactly something that your going to have to deal with on a daily basis.


Isn't the best approach for rear access/exit to lower the rear windows? (Assuming its not raining of course)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

What can I (5'7") contribute to the non-problem?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

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1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

Albert, I bet you have longish legs for your height too. For me at 5 8 there was room in front and back for adults of average size in both my 123 coupe and my 126 coupe.

Tell me about that Europa. Is it a car that could be autocrossed and hold up? I saw one for sale on the web that looked very sweet!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.