nlpamg

I'm currently in Germany right now driving my new C250 Coupe that I picked up yesterday at the Mercedes-Benz Kudencenter in Sindelfingen.

Here is the configuration of the coupe, virtually every option was picked:



Here are some quick shots from my iPhone. Better pictures will follow probably when I get back to the states.

Just about to take delivery:


Outside the factory/Welcome Center:


In the parking garage of the Mercedes-Benz Museum:


In front of the hotel in Hinterzarten:


Initial opinions on the car as I've already driven it 200 or so miles on the Autobahn through Germany and parts of France... I love it. The special order dynamic handling package is a must. The steering is great, probably the best steering feel of an MB I've driven in a while. Yes, it doesn't have that much power, but it's more than enough. The new turbo engine has more power than my supercharged 1.8 in my 2005 C230. I hit about 135mph on the Autobahn with no problems (and I was ginger with the throttle too, no flooring at all). The electronics are phenomenal, the lane tracking and blind spot are pretty cool, the navigation system is probably the best I've used so far. The new instrument cluster/gauge is fantastic and so is the steering wheel. My only complaint is that the brakes SUCK.

I've owned a 1997 C280, a 2005 C230 (still have it) and now this. The w202 and w203 were both bought new and 100,000 miles were put on both. This is the best C-Class to date.

Germany is beautiful and the people are very nice and helpful. The food is fantastic.

I'll post more pics and other opinions hopefully soon.

Brav0

Thanks for the pics! mine should be pretty much the same minus headlights and drive assist package. It must be nice to take your new mb on autobahn! So, you will now use a third party company to ship the car to US? would you have to pay duty?

nlpamg

Thanks!

Somewhat a third party, MB is handling all of the shipping back and it will still go through the PDC like all the other new MB's. I will not have to pay a duty.

Brav0

would there be any money savings on the car with europian delivery? or did you just want to drive it around in Germany? just curious...

nlpamg

7% off of MSRP for US buyers. Some of the dealers I've spoken to in So. Cal. said that they would try to sell the C-Coupe at MSRP when it first came out, so I didn't have to worry about any of that.

DCubed

Good looking car! If you find your way to Munich go try the Dunkel at Augustiner Brau, its my favorite German beer.

nlpamg

Thanks! I'll be in Munich on the 21st, so I will look for it.

luminus

Sweet photos! Now I'm even more anxious to see mine.

Too bad there's no autobahn to really go fast in US.

luminus

Does it come with a little rear spoiler?

taylorswift13

nice pictures nlpamg!

please take pictures of the gorgeous interior and also shots of the rear as well whenever you get a chance!

enjoy the rest of your stay in Germany!

samaritrey

Wow nice to see the beauty. I am surprised about the brakes why do you say they suck.

luminus

Yea I'm curious about how the brake sucks too. Mercedes usually have decent brakes. On the other hand, I'm glad the dynamic handling package was worth the money because I paid for it even though I can't find any OFFICIAL spec on exactly what it does on mbusa.com.

drexappeal

Man, I may not end up being able to get this thing by December. I love the look though. We'll see how things go.

Thanks for posting up the pics, bro. I'm jealous.

newyorktoLA

I remember when we waited for our cars together nlpamg! Sadly, I couldn't wait 2 more weeks! I bought my E350 and a week and a half later, my C class arrived earlier than expected...

Anyways, congratulations!!!! The LED C shapes in the headlights look awesome!

nlpamg

haha, you'll have yours in no time and you'll have more than enough room to open it up. Just don't do what that guy with the M6 did in Washington.

No, it doesn't. It's an accessory that is installed at the port that I'm still not sure about getting.

Speaking of accessories at the port, the iPod cable is installed at the port, so I've been listing to German radio and the 10 songs or so on my iPhone that I'm streaming over bluetooth. The sound system sounds pretty good.

Thanks! I'll try to post up some pics soon. I was impressed by the deviated stitching on the seats. Black seats with white stitching, I didn't know they were like that, but I really dig it.

Here's a pic of my steering wheel and cluster with the car trying to assist me parking in Strasbourg, France:



Thanks, Trey!

When I was reading the specs, I was a little apprehensive about how small the brakes were. When I saw them in person, I was shocked, they're PUNY. I thought "well, the MB engineers know what they're doing." But, driving it, not so much. I need additional stopping distance and more pedal pressure to get it to stop. Maybe I'm a little biased b/c of the M5 and GT-R, but my C230 with 19's stops quicker. Or, maybe I need to get used to this car some more. I've somewhat cooked the brakes on the autobahn (going from a zone with no speed limit down to construction zones with speed limits really puts a strain on them) and the brakes seem like they're holding up fine. Nevertheless, I'm still giving the car some additional distance and time to brake.

Thanks! It'll be in LA in about 6-8 weeks and you can check it out and drive it then.

Now, you're going to have to change your sig, lol.

lol, yup. Man, two weeks isn't too long! I really didn't need the car and planned this as part of a vacation, so the waiting all worked out.

Thanks! The C shapes are pretty cool, but not as bright as I thought they would be.

amdeutsch

Did you not bed in your brakes? New pads and rotors might take a little while.

Enjoy the food and beer.

splinter

Your other new Coupe also looks great, nlpamg! An excellent stable you've assembled.
Wishing for you many rewarding miles.

edit: USC is beating up on Syracuse. Enjoy a refreshing hefeweizen in the fatherland on me. :cheers:

nlpamg

Here's a video of me driving the car on the autobahn at about 130mph:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0eQW9S9L3o

I still have not floored the car at all. 130 and 140 was achieved at no more than half throttle. Car runs strong!

Thanks, Andy! I have been enjoying myself way too much!

Thank you, John! You read my mind! That is exactly what I wanted to know!

Ryan9095

Hey Phil!

Congrats on the coupe it looks gorgeous! I hope you are enjoying your car/trip so far. When you get a chance would you mind taking some interior pictures? I haven't had the chance to see a coupe in RL and having some candid photos would really be beneficial Thanks and congrats again!

Ryan

nlpamg

Here are a couple additional pictures:

A rear shot for taylorswift13:

(Pic was taken in Austria)

A shot inside the hotel I'm staying at in Austria's parking garage:


Thanks, Ryan! Will do. Anything in particular? And, you'll have to excuse the pics b/c the inside of the car is pretty dirty after having done so much driving in such a short amount of time.

Ryan9095

Phil, you're welcome :] and don't worry about it she still looks beautiful! I'm contemplating between ordering the Navi package which upgrades the screen from 5.8 to 7"... not sure if it's worth it? (what do you have). If you don't mind pictures of the dash, console, navi screen, interior door, and a seat would be AMAZING! (basically any interior shots haha)

Congrats again and keep enjoying the trip looks beautiful!

amdeutsch

Haha. You had been warned. Haha



Start saving. I know you'll want your garage at home to look like that one some day.

C300Kid

My garage does look like that..

Ryan9095

Mine Dad's kinda does? :P

nlpamg

damn, that's ballin!

I believe I have the 7" screen. Even then it seems kinda small.


haha, yup!

I'm in Austria now and it's snowing, lol. How the hell am I supposed to drive an RWD car with no chains down this mountain?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2DvP...ture=autoshare