Ms. Betty’s Baby Benz
By Cocoa Efficient
I once worked with a woman named Usila Betty, a durable lass whose sole mission in life was to one day own a Mercedes-Benz. She would skip the daily liquid lunch, opting instead for a brown bag meal and glass of tap water. “$7.50 saved is $7.50 closer to my dream car!” she’d chirp. Seven years and God knows how many missed vodka martinis later, Usila had her Mercedes and I landed the 45th position on the national liver transplant registry. The moral of the story: to people like Usila, the three-point Mercedes-Benz star represents the ultimate symbol of good taste and accomplishment. For the Usila Betty’s of the world, Mercedes-Benz builds the affordable C-Class Sedan.
Like my waist line, the completely new, fourth generation C-Class is larger all around than the 2007 model, but only slightly. The 2008 C-Class, available in Sport and Luxury trims, retains its easily maneuverable size and chic appearance. The more noticeable C-Class body has a gently curing character line running below the window line and a bold, aggressive grille that on Sport models houses the Mercedes-Benz emblem, a feature once reserved only for coupes. Brightly polished wheels no smaller than 17-inches help the C-Class standout from the pack. But have no fear because this car remains unmistakably Mercedes-Benz.
I spent my time in the C-Class in the backwoods of Portland, Oregon (not my usual cruising spot, but pleasant nonetheless). Winding my way around scenic Mt. Hood, the C-Class’ adept handling and spirited acceleration immediately impressed me. In fact, the C300 with its 228-horsepower engine and seven-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual is available, but only on the Sport), felt more than adequate for my driving taste. So called performance enthusiasts—or as I like to call them, the “un-endowed”—can opt for the more powerful 268-horsepower C350.
The C-Class’ ride dynamics lean toward the firm side providing a comfortable ride in the Luxury model but a somewhat stiff experience in the Sport. If I had to compare, I’d say both the Sport and Luxury models offer a more precise driving experience than an Audi A4, but not as spot-on as the Infiniti G35 or BMW 3. I also found the driver’s seat a bit on the flat side, which is fine for the luxury model but inappropriate for the Sport.
Of course, ride and handling are only part of the luxury sedan experience, pampering is the rest. Inside the C-Class you’ll find the prerequisite Bluetooth, navigation and power everything, as well as some really cool options. There’s a killer harman/kardon® audio system with a built-in 30 gigabyte hard drive for mass music storage and a twin-panel Panoramic glass sunroof. But look closer and some glaring omissions appear. The manual lumbar lever for driver and passenger is 1: difficult to reach and 2: MANUAL. The Audi A4 gives you not only a power unit, but also a four-way power unit. Slip behind the wheel of the Infiniti G35 and you’ll find leather seating standard, not optional. Features such as adaptive front lighting, power tilt-telescopic steering wheel, a rear backup camera, heated rear seats and adaptive cruise control don’t even make the MB option list, which might all be fine if the C had a significant price advantage over its rivals, but it does not.
The bottom line for me is simple: If the Mercedes-Benz name and the excellence in engineering, safety and performance accompanying it are paramount to your car buying decision, then the C300 and C350 will delight you every way. If, however, your choice of entry-level premium sedan is more about what you get for the money, then chances are good you’ll want to take a hard look at the Audi A4, Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS.
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