Curb Zone - View Single Post - Car and Driver - First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport

Merc1 · 03-15-2007, 01:05 AM

The 201-horsepower 2.5-liter V-6 won’t return to the U.S. market, and while Mercedes would like to offer a diesel option, that won’t occur until it can be made available in all 50 states, possibly by 2008.

The C300 has a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment; the seven-speed automatic is optional, and standard on the C350. Mercedes will offer its 4Matic all-wheel drive system once again, and that too will be automatic only.

In any case, the C350 doesn’t have the authority of a BMW 335i, with its 300-horsepower twin-turbo six. On the other hand, the Mercedes seven-speed automatic makes the most of the C350’s power (though we could wish for quicker upshifts in paddle-shift manumatic mode), throttle response is instantaneous, and performance in dicey mountain road passing maneuvers leaves little to be desired.

More important in this C-Class push for sports sedan parity, the C350’s agility index, rooted in a chassis rated 16 percent stiffer, finally rivals a 3-series sedan when the asphalt gets kinky and the g-loads escalate. Although the basic suspension layout is essentially the same as the previous C350, the system has firmer bushings, new subframes, and revised geometry, augmented by new dampers that adapt to varying loads.

Although Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing, when the new C-class cars begin rolling into North American showrooms in late June, window stickers are expected to start at about $32,000 for the C300 Sport, $35,000 for the C300 Luxury, and about $40,000 for the C350 Sport.

The C300 4Matic, due later in the year, will probably start at about $37,000.

One addendum: if you’ve been waiting for a Benz that will really blow Bimmers in the weeds, we suggest patience. A new AMG C-class will be coming this fall, with AMG’s ferocious 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood.

Combine approximately 500 horsepower with these improved underpinnings and you’ve got a combo that’ll set off every car alarm in Munich.

Full Article:

First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport - Previews - Car and Driver March 2007

M

03-15-2007, 01:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Merc1 Contributor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aurora IL USA Posts: 4,955 Thanks: 363 Thanked 672 Times in 346 Posts	Car and Driver - First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport The 201-horsepower 2.5-liter V-6 won’t return to the U.S. market, and while Mercedes would like to offer a diesel option, that won’t occur until it can be made available in all 50 states, possibly by 2008. The C300 has a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment; the seven-speed automatic is optional, and standard on the C350. Mercedes will offer its 4Matic all-wheel drive system once again, and that too will be automatic only. In any case, the C350 doesn’t have the authority of a BMW 335i, with its 300-horsepower twin-turbo six. On the other hand, the Mercedes seven-speed automatic makes the most of the C350’s power (though we could wish for quicker upshifts in paddle-shift manumatic mode), throttle response is instantaneous, and performance in dicey mountain road passing maneuvers leaves little to be desired. More important in this C-Class push for sports sedan parity, the C350’s agility index, rooted in a chassis rated 16 percent stiffer, finally rivals a 3-series sedan when the asphalt gets kinky and the g-loads escalate. Although the basic suspension layout is essentially the same as the previous C350, the system has firmer bushings, new subframes, and revised geometry, augmented by new dampers that adapt to varying loads. Although Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing, when the new C-class cars begin rolling into North American showrooms in late June, window stickers are expected to start at about $32,000 for the C300 Sport, $35,000 for the C300 Luxury, and about $40,000 for the C350 Sport. The C300 4Matic, due later in the year, will probably start at about $37,000. One addendum: if you’ve been waiting for a Benz that will really blow Bimmers in the weeds, we suggest patience. A new AMG C-class will be coming this fall, with AMG’s ferocious 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood. Combine approximately 500 horsepower with these improved underpinnings and you’ve got a combo that’ll set off every car alarm in Munich. Full Article: First Drive: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport - Previews - Car and Driver March 2007 M