CD Article: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350

[quadzilla]

Some numbers...

Our ’08 C350 Sport achieved 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and ran the quarter in 14.6 at 97 mph.

http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/13612/full-test-2008-mercedes-benz-c350-sport-engines-and-performance-page2.html

Track tester extraordinaire Jonathan Elfalan exploited the car's 258 lb.-ft. of torque in accelerating from standstill to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. To save you the lookup in Road Test Summary, a BMW 335i with a manual gearbox did 0–60 in 5.0 sec. flat; a couple of semi-comparable Audis took 6.5; and last year's 6-speed manual C350 did it in 5.7.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=5721&page_number=2

If you buy only on 0-60 times or rated HP I think you are missing out on a lot.

[mmret]

I bet the C300 MT has enough power for the real world. My 330 has a mere 230 bhp and has no trouble getting out of its own way but then I don't care about 0-60. 50-80 is far more useful on regular 2 lane roads... to get past the codgers in their Buicks and Camrys... and in doing so, help the  seal the reputation of BMW drivers as being pushy, rude, uncouth etcetera. 

Well, you've got to keep busy somehow.

[Julie]

Me, well, I wouldn't count out my next purchase to be a used geezermobile (GS / RL).

Hmm....... this is making me curious. Why?........ 

[mmret]

Me, well, I wouldn't count out my next purchase to be a used geezermobile (GS / RL).

Hmm....... this is making me curious. Why?........ 

Oh its nothing in the short term, but in the long term a used GS / RL has some advantages...

1. Used, obviously, is cheaper. These top end cruise ships also tend to depreciate a bit faster than say the lower end models. No way that I can afford a new or even 2 year old one, likely looking at one with 70000km+ on it, maybe low-mid $30k.

2. Space. Lots of it. Some day, some where, I'm going to end up with a wife and kids probably.

3. Reliability, at least compared to the Benzes, Audis, and BMWs of the world. Would be murderous to repair if something does go wrong, but at least being a HonToy mitigates the likelihood. This enables the purchase of a used one...I would never dream of buying a 4 year old A6.

4. While it is geezer, its not AS geezer as it could be (LS / 7-Series / A8). Need to keep some semblance of youth.

5. I like the styling of the current GS and the current RL. By the time I need and can afford, the latter model years of said generation will likely be in the right age range.

[ghost]

The 7G-tronic does attempt to make use of the 'limited' available hp since it has more ratios to play with. Inclusively there is this C/S button; C=Comfort, S=Sport that supposedly quickens the shiftpoints. Though I cannot detect any difference. In the end, the manual was more fun.
With the 4matic, driving in rain soaked roads up and down Burnaby Mountain was confidence inspiring. I was able to induce a drift down the onramp by stabbing the brake. It was controllable.
Rear space is good. But it lacked foot space under the seat. Personally at this price 41k C300 vs 41k 328i, it would be silly to consider the BMW especially the benz has the Sport Pkg for free. You might argue that the bimmer is more responsive etc etc. Put it this way, at the limit, both cars suck for sheer driving exhilaration. Where I am bimmers outnumbers  civic 3:1 so the new Benz is something fresh in this segment. During my night photography shoot, we were mobbed by passersby inquiring about this new car. I have a feeling MB has no problem selling these puppies.
Having said that, I do noticed that the c350 comes with more std stuff that is optional with the c300. So maybe for a bit more you can get the c350.