Past Perfect
By Joe LaMuraglia
For those of you of a “certain age”, the word “reunion” may evoke either excitement or dread. I experienced the latter when my 20-year high school reunion came around last year. I needed more time to shed the pounds and somehow regain my hairline. My fear turned to remorse after not being able to attend and hearing the stories of how wonderful it was. So when the 10-year get together for my graduate school was scheduled recently, I came to terms with the fact that I am 40 lbs heavier and lot more bald and made arrangements to be there.
As fortune would have it, Mercedes-Benz invited me to the C63 AMG event in Phoenix, AZ a few days before my reunion and they graciously provided a bright red C300 Sport for my return to my Alma Matter in Glendale.
In Hollywood’s version of a reunion, the protagonist arrives at the event in the most expensive vehicle possible, usually rented, in order to impress his former classmates. While not an S-Class, the shining red C300 Sport certainly allowed me to play the part of successful graduate for my trek back to the past.
Styling
As the entry-level Mercedes (at least in the U.S.), the C-Class must appeal to a larger audience than its more niche-targeted siblings. As a result, it continued on as a four-door sedan with a focus on passenger comfort, safety and utility. This iteration of the C-Class, however, eschewed the dowdy styling of the past and is considerably more aggressive than its fore bearers. From the in-your-face grill treatment of the Sport model to the crisp lines and wide stance shared by all trim levels, this Benz is no longer a baby. She’s grown up, gone to the gym and is ready to throw down. I got quite a bit of attention cruising up to campus and I’m almost certain it was the car and not the reflection of the sun off my big bald head.
The interior styling has received a lot of criticism from my journalist colleagues for being too plain and the materials being not up to par. After toting around friends for the weekend, I have to report that target market for this vehicle; high-income individuals with an appreciation for style and quality, were very impressed. Even my friend who we call the “Latvian Princess” lavished praise on the interior. To put it into perspective; she drives an Audi A4 and wears Prada. Trust me; compliments don’t come easy from her. Could the interior of the C-Class have a higher perceived quality? Sure, some of the plastics are a bit hard and the leather could have a softer hand but it seems as if the designers reached back into their past and allowed function to take precedence over design. I suppose it is up to the customer to decide which is more important. Through May 2008 the sales of the C-Class are up 39% over last year. The customer has spoken.
Performance
Mercedes-Benz came out of the box offering a myriad of trim levels for the new C-Class. There are three distinct models with two different engines. The base C300 comes in both “Luxury” and “Sport” trim and features a a 3.0 liter V6 that delivers 228 HP and the C350 Sport gets a 3.5 liter V6 that pumps out 268 HP. Our C300’s 228 HP was matched with MB’s excellent 7-speed automatic that delivered crisp shifts under full throttle and helped deliver an impressive 25 MPG on my jaunt from Scottsdale to Glendale via Tuscon. Both variants of the C300 are available with a 6-speed manual as well with should make the driving experience more engaging. If you opt for the more powerful C350, the automatic is your only choice.
Driving Impressions
Keeping in mind that I had just spent a full day with the incredible C63 AMG, I was expecting a bit of a let down when piloting its lesser sibling. The snob in me looked at the deck badge and assumed that the C300 would be boring ride compared to the C350 I had anticipated. While certainly no match for the C63 AMG, the C300 Sport didn’t disappoint. As a member of the Mercedes-Benz family, albeit via a very old relative, the C300 felt very familiar. The controls for the turn indicator and wipers were exactly where they are in my 1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D and all ancillary switches and controls were easily figured out. Even the much-maligned COMMAND system for the radio and navigation became second nature.
Under power on the side roads and on the highway, the C300 felt nimble and sporty but hardly as abrasive as other sport sedans. This is a luxury sedan with sport intentions, not a sport sedan with luxury intentions. I felt confident and in total control behind the wheel but never once did my 40-year-old derrière complain about the way the vehicle handled the road or duration of the ride. In my opinion, it is a perfect balance of sport and comfort. If you are a track racer or aspire to be one, you’ll find it to be lacking compared to other German sport sedans. For those who like to be in control but don’t want to feel punished after a long ride, the C300 Sport might be the answer.
Past Perfect
Mercedes-Benz has it its DNA the ability to build a car that is relevant today and far into the future. For example; my 25-year-old 240D is running strong with over 235,000 miles on the clock and its styling still gets compliments today. While some of their vehicles in the recent past may have strayed too far from the family lineage, Mercedes got the message and went back to their roots when they redesigned the C-Class. The car is fun to drive, it has presence, its styling is a blend of modern themes with classic influences and the focus is on engineering rather than purely aesthetics.
If you’ve strayed from the Mercedes-Brand for any reason or if you’ve only dreamed of owning the best from Stuttgart, you should check out the new C-Class. The C300 Sport starts at $32,475
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