Is the C-Coupe a success?
the idle sound of the MB V6 (in my C32 and my sister's CLK320) or V8 (in my dad's ML) are just horrible.
Cheers, BT
Actually, the vee-angle of an engine also determines the smoothness/vibration characteristics. For V6s the optimum angle is 60 degrees - although most of the V6s on the road have much wider vee-angles. In Mercedes case, they use a 90 degree angle - which was adopted since the block was based on the V8 (which has better vibration characteristics in a V8 motor - on the whole V8s aren't an optimal configuration regarding vibration, anyway). It's usually more cost effective for a manufacuter to go with a less optimal degree angle and make up for any vibration with balance shafts to be able to build the motor on the same production line as another motor (which is the case with MB).
Cheers, BT
but what i'm trying to say was that the "sound" made by each valve open-close thus creating a diesel like sound when all works together. the "vibration" of the V6 is not as bad as the i-6 when it's cold
Is it a success?
Definition of success depends on whether I am a driver, DC exec/employee, DC stockholder.
Tommy, perhaps there should be a seperate forum.
The question was this: Anyone hear if the coupe sales numbers have met DC's expectations so far?
Cheers, BT
Ya know dasMafia, you make some good points. Maybe I was a little too critical about BMW.
Ya know dasMafia, you make some good points. Maybe I was a little too critical about BMW.
American manufacturers get lampooned for installing solid rear axles with fixed drum rear brakes on light trucks/SUVs... The reason they do it is because Ford and Chevy refined the solid axle concept decades ago, and (more importantly) understand the cost of the solid rear axle down to the last $.0000000002. The bottom line is profitability, not technology.
Of course, for some reason we have to make (different, more noble) excuses for BMW executing exactly the same strategy with the I-6 motors in their loss leader models...
C-Class with New Four-Cylinder Engines
Stuttgart, 04/23/2002
Two years after its market premiere, the C-Class is seeing sales exceed all expectations. Around 288,000 drivers worldwide opted for the classy sedan in 2001 alone. This figure is over 36 percent higher than that achieved by the car's predecessor.
The C-Class station wagon and sports coupe are also doing very well, selling around 56,000 and 64,000 times respectively since March 2001.
A range of newly developed four-cylinder engines will make the C-Class even more attractive beginning in June 2002. The drive systems are equipped with the TWINPULSE system, which combines various technologies, including a compressor supercharger, an intercooler, variably adjustable camshafts, four-valve technology, a Lanchester balancer and an adaptive drive response system.
copyright DaimlerChrysler 2002
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I'd say that 56,000 C Coupés in less that one year could be called a success - by definition, a coupé is not going to sell nearly as well as a sedan.
In fact, for a coupé, these C sales are simply amazing! If you want a comparison, the more beautiful and highly praised Peugeot 406 Coupé (built/designed by Pininfarina) has sold just under 100,000 units....in six years of production.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Last edited by yvette; May 5, 2002 at 03:07 AM.
The hatchback topic has been debated before but I'll bring it up again anyway.
Hatchbacks had been selling successfully in America many years before the 318ti. I don't think the 318ti's failure had ANYTHING to do with the "Americans don't buy hatchbacks" B.S.
The Ford Escort sold as a hatchback for over a decade (though I read that Ford never made a profit). Aren't SAABs hatchbacks? What about Eclipse/Talons? Camaros, Corvettes? VW Golf/GTI? Civic DX? Acura Integra? What about (sorry for mentioning this) SUV's? Don't most of them have a "hatch" for a rear door?
The key is- the vehicles mentioned above all had something to offer other than just being a "hatchback". They were marketed with features such as performance, price, economy, or utility, etc. I don't know if that can be said for the 318ti (that was before my time).






