Merc1

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.


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Just_me

every single review mention the 3-series. Its obvious which car is the benchmark in this segment

Centurion

Just like the s-class is mentioned in every single 7er review. It is all about chasing eachothers tail. Then again we pretty much now that MB have no intentions at all about creating a straight identical copy of the 3er. They have given the c-class it's own identity and hope that it's unique offers will attract some of the 3er fanatics.
A sport suspension would be a healthy option for the c-class. Especially if MB want it to appeal to the hard piped 20 years olds with their slightly riced 3ers.

Just_me

thats not true. A8 is the only threat to S-class, not 7er.

Mirage77

Wait a sec, is the 7-speeder for the C300 a no-cost option? If it's a cost option I think it's really weird, shouldn't the manual be reserved for a niche market? I'll wager a bet that most C300 (or C-Classes sold, for that matter) would be automatic.

PC Valkyrie

I've said this before and I'll say this again.....it's ALWAYS BMW vs Mercedes Benz..... . And yes, the BMW 335i is the ultimate benchmark in this segment at the present time.

The W204 C350 can't possibly topple the 335i in terms of performance because it just doesn't have enough power. What I'm more interested to know eventually is whether this new active damping system will create a car which will challenge the 3 series in handling even more so than the facelifted W203.

The C-class historically has always been superior to the 3 series in comfort and refinement, so that won't really be an achievement.

Just_me

Audi is already challenging BMW so I dont find it surprising if MB does it as well. Only advantage BMW seem to have over the competition is driving involvement.
All three brands are closing in on each others, all three offer good comfort, good handling, good traction and luxury. The difference between them are not like the old days.

cawimmer430

Exactly. They have to make the C-Class a bit sportier if they want to offer some sort of competition to the BMW 3er as the 3-Series is universally considered the benchmark when it comes to dynamics in this class.

cawimmer430

Manuals don't sell well in higher end Mercedes', hence they've been dissapearing from sight in them. A Mercedes with a manual is hard to sell - because the majority of buyers out there want the automatic. The same is true to a large extent in the used car market, except once in a while someone will come along and look for a manual C350 etc.

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