C-Coupe cabriolet
Anyway, if anyone comes across this car in the meantime, post some pics, it's really nice lookin. Lets all hope Mercedes comes out with an AMG c-coupe convertible, that would be nice.
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Although they can't begin to do as good a job as Karmann, the designer of the C-Coupe, Newport Convertible Engineering in Placentia, CA, can make a convertible out of your c-coupe.
the C cabriolet will not be produced. It would be too expensive for the market MB is aiming at with the C-coupe.
It would cannibalize a piece of the SLK and CLK market. If I was the Product Director at MB, I would nix this idea -- while it might increase the top line for MB, I don't it would the bottom-line for the company. Not to mention, what the CLK brand manager would think?
(Of course, I know more about the California Lemon Law than I do about the mirco-economics of the auto industry)
That pic looks much better than the little one in the mag. I'm not impressed with the top up picture-looks like a clk cabriolet mated with an eclipse spyder. Top down- beutiful. I'd rather have the panorama roof over any convertible
Audi should be releasing their 2003 A4 convertible soon and it looks good. But then I wouldn't have a car to keep taking to the dealer to be fixed, where' the fun in that?
Thanx, buell
That pic looks much better than the little one in the mag. I'm not impressed with the top up picture-looks like a clk cabriolet mated with an eclipse spyder. Top down- beutiful. I'd rather have the panorama roof over any convertible
If you are looking for any MB spy photos, just visit www.mbspy.com. They have lots of cool info.
Different markets. I think a C convertible would eat into BMW 325 convertible sales and not CLK sales. I would pay 35K for an MB convertible. Saying that nobody will buy a CLK convertible if a C convertible was available is like saying nobody will buy a CLK coupe when a C coupe is available or nobody will buy a CL coupe if they can get a CLK coupe for cheaper. I know that if it wasn't for the C-Coupe I would not have bought an MB this time around.
Audi should be releasing their 2003 A4 convertible soon and it looks good. But then I wouldn't have a car to keep taking to the dealer to be fixed, where' the fun in that?
Hope they make one just for you though!
Cheers,
Beth
but..its kind of wierd...because c coupe is the first car to have a panaroma roof!!!
I said, "piece" and I think a C ragtop would eat a piece of the CLK market, not the whole market. But, I think the issue is the bottom line, MB must make a ton more profit off the CLKs than the Cs. The question would be which is greater the aggregate profit from C ragtop sales vs. the loss in aggregate profits from the CLK. Of course, this would all weighed against the brand issues. Too much thinking for 11:00 at night -- makes my brain hurt.
Hope they make one just for you though!
Cheers,
Beth
Any redneck with a chainsaw can convert your C Coupe to a convertible.....all it will cost you is the Panarama roof you paid for so dearly....and a six pack pf Schmidts(Tell 'em it's BAVARIAN style...they'll think it's IMPORTED)
I still don't believe that a C-Convertible would hurt overall sales even though a few people may choose it over the SLK because of the 4 passenger seating and a few people would compare it to the CLK and not buy it but overall they would have a great economy convertible. I have those 2 choices now and I didn't buy either. Why, because the CLK is too expensive and the SLK is too small.
I think they use a sawzall these days. Actually Newport Convertible Engineering has been written up in many magazines for their quality work. They have converted many four door sedans like the BMW 750 and the PT Cruiser. The C-Coupe should be a piece of cake for them, specially since they have the Karmann example to go by.
I still don't believe that a C-Convertible would hurt overall sales even though a few people may choose it over the SLK because of the 4 passenger seating and a few people would compare it to the CLK and not buy it but overall they would have a great economy convertible. I have those 2 choices now and I didn't buy either. Why, because the CLK is too expensive and the SLK is too small.
I don't think it would kill sales on the CLK and the SLK, but I think it would bite into them. Also, depending on the price point, it could bite into the regular C class sales. How many people with coupes, or sedans for that matter, would have bought the convertible instead? The convertible would probably sell well, but the question would be if the sales are incremental, or just trade-off? In order for MB to offer it without discontinuing something else, they would have to think that a large percentage of sales would be incremental, IMO.
Not to mention the topline (revenue)/ bottonline (profits) thing that I have beat to death.
Revstiker, after these conversations, I think we should start a car company. You can do the number crunching and I'll take care of the marketing. Think we might have all the people we need for focus groups right here. (well, at least the male demographics)

Beth
Last edited by galaxygrrl; Apr 9, 2002 at 03:52 PM.
We could take leftover Ilmor/Mercedes engines, add some Renntech tweaks, Bilstien suspension mods and Brembo brakes...apply these to a base CLK chassis (current model...excess stock)with a slick monocoque penned by one of the many engineers here.... I'll design a carbon fiber body shell with a lower CD than a C5 'vette...and we'll make it a ragtop so Buellwikie wont post dream car pics!
Maybe we can call it a C-111?
Wait...MB already built this car!
hmmmm....
Maybe we can call it a C-111?
Wait...MB already built this car!
Last edited by galaxygrrl; Apr 9, 2002 at 04:25 PM.


