 Kyle's Kars
Unlike other luxury carmakers, Mercedes Benz has shown time and time again that consumers will not have to wait patiently for advanced technology to trickle slowly down through the German luxury brand’s model range. In fact, the forward-thinking Teuton wants to remind the world that innovations can flow upstream as well. Back in the early ‘80s, the compact 190E, known as the “Baby Benz,” was the guinea pig MB used to test its patented 5-link rear suspension. So successful was its engineering, that subsequent models in the Benz stables such as the mid-sized E-Class and full-sized S-Class adopted the multi-link setup soon after. Today, Mercedes Benz hopes to continue its success albeit unorthodox marketing maneuvers with its revised for 2008 C-Class. Competition in the compact luxury car segment has become fiercer than it was during the decade of decadence, however, with viable contenders now hailing from The Land of the Rising Sun and from our own backyard as well. What appeared to be a huge leap 20 years ago, seems to be more of a baby step in the 21st century as major players from all corners of the globe continue to one-up each other in terms of bringing new technology to the kids table. It is difficult to find an option list that is not shared throughout an entire model range these days. With that said, has Mercedes packed enough new gizmos into its new “C” to keep it at the head of its class?
For 2008, Mercedes introduces its new Multimedia Package through the C-Class. The specific feature it offers that is not yet available on any other model in the Benz lineup is an audio system with CD-ripping capability and a multimedia card reader. The system’s voice recognition software has been upgraded to accept entire words in Navigation mode. Desired radio stations can also be accessed through spoken word while the volume of the system’s voice can be adjusted independently of the stereo volume. The display’s graphics are a step up from those used in BMW’s iDrive. When accessing the system settings, for example, you are treated to an artistic wallpaper of a screwdriver and other various tools. Combined with the more traditional Mercedes cockpit design elements, this control interface creates a very familiar, yet advanced environment.
On the flip side of the coin, Mercedes ergonomics can be a bit disconcerting to the unfamiliar driver. The pesky cruise control stalk still likes to impersonate a turn signal lever and will leave an unwary driver discombobulated in the event of a last second decision to turn. The analog climate controls are also not as precise as ones featuring digital temperature readouts (offered by most competitors) and the knobs themselves don’t have the same solid feel as those found in the new Audi A5 and upcoming A4.
Of course a review of a German sports sedan would be remiss if it didn’t evaluate driving dynamics and fun-factor. In that regard, Mercedes has definitely pinned the tail on the beemer. The new “C” uses a steering rack that is “six percent quicker” than its predecessor’s steering rack, according to Mercedes marketing personnel and most importantly quicker than a 328i’s (14.5:1 vs. the beemer’s standard 16.0:1). While it is nice to have statistics on your side, the only way to really determine if the new Baby Benz can best a BMW is to take it to the streets. Since most 328is in Los Angeles will be equipped with an automatic transmission, it was only fitting to request a C300 Luxury with the optional seven-speed automatic. The top of the line C350 might lose precious points to the BMW335i in the horsepower battle but the C300 is much more closely matched to its rival the 328i (228 hp to the BMW's 230 hp). In fact, with the extra gear in the Mercedes slushbox, you might say the Benz has the advantage over a similarly equipped Bavarian Motor Works product. The seven-speed unit is certainly intelligent. When you plant the accelerator, the shift computer chooses the best gear for the job without futilely engaging all the other gears in between. Furthermore, when sport mode is activated, gears engage even more quickly and with less slippage from the torque converter. With a front/rear weight distribution equal to a 328i’s, give or take a percentage point, the lithe Mercedes takes a recipe straight from the BMW corner-carving cookbook and serves up a dish of stable handling with minimal body roll in tight turns. The Merc also refuses to bottom out when hustling through the many dip-filled intersections of Santa Monica at speeds that would cause vehicles with inferior chassis to react like bucking broncos. Now, back to the question concerning the “C” gizmo count. The new C300 may not be the over-engineered marvel the original Baby Benz was. Push-button start? Who needs it? In fact, at this point, many of the novel features found on the 190E have been replaced with more conventional equipment. Driver and passenger headrests are manually operated and two windshield wipers now do the job once done so well by a single high-tech blade. With the C300, Mercedes is saying it has nothing more to prove. Its focus is on doing what Mercedes has always done: Build the most solid cars on the road. To that end, the 2008 C300 Luxury is a mission accomplished.
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