PC Valkyrie

Here is the full article:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=5721

Even though there have been many "reviews" of the W204 Sport Sedan, very few (if any) have conducted objective performance tests. R&T is certainly the first N. American magazine to do a full test on the W204 C350 with some numbers.

If you look at the performance numbers, they are a bit dissapointing, especially in the handling department. I was hoping for something more from the standard "Agility Control" package with the variable damping system. 0.81g on the skidpad and 63.8mph through their 700 ft slalom are horrible numbers for a modern "sport sedan" in this segment.

In fact, the acceleration, handling, and braking numbers are all WORSE than the facelifted W203 C350 Sport Sedan that R&T had tested earlier. Compared to the BMW 335i, the W204 C350 gets killed in every performance category.

The following quote from the article summarizes the performance story:

"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. All these are commendably quick numbers, though it's clear the Mercedes — while no slouch — has fallen somewhat off the pace set by its rival from Munich.
However, slalom, skidpad and braking performance suggested that our new C350 Sport is a bit softer than its predecessor (skidpad: 0.81g now, 0.85g then; slalom: 63.8 mph now, 66.4 mph then; braking, 60 mph to a standstill: 135 ft. now, 124 ft. then). Nothing embarrassing, but as one staff member said, "It feels like a larger, softer car; it doesn't feel like a C-Class."

ScottW911

Oooo, ouch. I guess this just reinforces my decision to wait for the C63 and just skip the plain-vanilla W204's all together.

ismeto

loved much my facelifted W203 (CL203)

Direct Control > Agility Control ???

Z O O R O P A

wow that was a rough review !

""Maybe this is implicit in an S-ence transformation of the C, even in its Sport variant. Mercedes sees principal competitors in the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. We'd agree, though we also note that the BMW 335i ($44,270 as-tested in March 2007) is considerably more sporty. And there are those among us feeling that just about any Audi A4 model is more stylish.

Yet the new C350 comes with a 3-pointed star. And — whether embedded in the grillework or standing proud on the hood — this symbol continues to carry a certain cachet.""


ouch! So he implies we are paying for the MB symbol? lol uh - oh I don't think I can handle the idea that "just about ANY Audi A4 is more stylish" ??? WTF!

TEAShea

The C350 is a very fine car, but in terms of track performance it is not as good as a BMW 335i. One must consider, however, how one is going to use the car. If you want a track car, the C350 is not it. However, also consider that even in spirited steet driving (short of street racing), the numbers for a C350 are pretty good. I have a 335i and have ordered a C350 also - different cars for different purposes. To me the C350 is superior to a 335 in several areas including interior and exterior styliing.

TEAShea
from Nebraska

Dema

Nothing surprising is here, besides of brakes. I felt brakes very strong at test driving. Anyway, MB was more concerned about luxury features than performance numbers which are adequate every day driving requirements. There is only surprise for me why no keyless go or memory seats for C.

oblu

If you read the article closely they mention that they felt all perf #'s were hampered by the 17" all season rubber. A set of sticky tires makes a big difference on a hot dry test track.

PC Valkyrie

There are 2 factors which may help improve the handling performance of the W204 Sport Sedan in the future.

1) Later on, (maybe for MY2009), there will be an "advanced agility control" package which is more of an active damping suspension system, rather than a passive variable damping system.

2) Getting the optional 18" rims with performance summer tires rather than the standard 17" rims with all season performance tires.

MB needed to come out storming with this new C-class. However, they may have dropped the ball again. They should have had everything ready to begin with......provide the magazines with the best possible performance version NOW.......meaning the best "advanced agility control" package, and make sure you equip your press cars with the best performance rim/tire package for magazines to evaluate. You know there will be comparison tests with the competition (like the A4, IS350, and 335i) THIS YEAR, and you will most definitely lose the fight if you don't even come well equipped with your best stuff.

I realize that performance isn't everything, and that MB has always made more comfortable cars than the competition. But when you are hoping to bite into the "sport sedan" segment, the impression of performance capability is relevant.

PC Valkyrie

LOL.....it certainly seems that way, at least in terms of handling numbers.

The facelifted W203 was a vast improvement over the pre-facelifted W203 in terms of handling and steering feel because of the "Direct Control" upgrades. There are test numbers from magazines to prove it.

Despite all the subjective praise the W204 Sport Sedan has received, I'm still waiting for objective handling numbers to prove it is superior to the facelifted W203.

Hopefully, this one test from R&T is an anomoly, and that others will get better handling numbers for the W204 sport sedan with the standard "agility control" package.

oblu

*Every* car I've seen on the lot has the 18" double spoke amg wheels with summer tires. It's like when they do a comparo of the bog standard cars and then throw in a sport package equipped 3 series to ring it.

Either way, it's just not going to out-handle a 3 series. It's a different compromise of a car ... and the reason I'm moving out of a sport package equipped 3 series. I need something a little more comfortable, but still not totally luxo soft.

ayilar

Tires were Continental Conti Pro Contact M+S. What were R&T/MB thinking? OF COURSE, the C will come off (much) worse than a 335i with sport package. I am leaning toward the E92 myself, but this was not a fair comparison.

QQQ

Strange... UK's Autocar compared C350 with 330i (natural aspiration engine with 258hp, 330i not available in US or Canada), and although there is no figures on skidpad or slalom the tester feels C350 beats BMW in most categories even cornering. C350 has less understeer and feels more confident going into corners.

oblu

Was the 330i a sport pack equipped car, or a standard suspension car with all seasons? Again, it comes back to comparing like for like instead of just matching model #'s against model #'s.

I own an e90 330i (was available in US in Canada for the 06 model year) sport pack and just got done testing a C350. 330 feels more nimble, more tossable and more recoverable, C350 felt more composed, less nervous. Don't know about actual understeer, I wasn't pushing that hard.

7sp auto in comfort mode did not want to down shift much under anything but near full throttle application. Sport was wonderful. (my e90 is a manual so can't compare ... but I bought a manual because I hated the lag of the auto in the BMW).

I still have to give interior quality props to the BMW. Some of the bits on the C350 were sub standard. The interior door handles are, and feel it, light plastic. Not a big fan of floor mounted parking brakes anyway and thent the release pull was very flimsy. Lower door panels look and feel very cheap.

That's not to say I won't buy it. I still think it's a better everyday live-able car than the BMW. I keep going back to the 3 series because they're fun to drive, and then remember that 99.8578993% of the time I'm stuck in traffic. Or that fun off ramp I think I'm going to be able to take a dive at, some schmuck pulls in front of me and goes 10mph under the speed limit. I just never get a chance to balance out the figidty ride with the fun. I need something skewed a little more toward real world driving.

Plus I think the exterior of the new C is tons better than the current 3 series.

Glasgow Gold

Thanks for the link. Quite a negative review. Then again, automotive journalists never seem to favor MB over the main competitors.

I'm convinced part of it is just plain bitterness that MB is making obsolete the manual transmission - the favorite tool of the self-proclaimed "automotive enthusiast."

dbriches

"Its P2 Option Package added a rear sunshade, split folding rear seats and bi-xenon headlights with corner-illuminating foglights and heated washers — not to say $2750..." I think the fact that R&T mispriced the PII package of the C350 skews the cost as well. The PII package is $1350 on the C350.
The tires are another example of the sloppy work of R&T.

oldman55

I think R&T review is full of sh----. I just drove a new W204 sport;and, I own a W203 sport. I can tell you straight out -- in 90 degree@50MPH- no body roll, - same corner & same speed in my W203-- more body roll, plus push. MB has done their suspension homework on the W204. The W204 entrance and exit speeds were spot on with the 3 series I tested earlier. I even took the same corner with my SLK55 and experienced more push than the W204. Gentlemen the W204 sport w/ the 63AMG option is going to be one wicked sedan!!

QQQ

It is C350 Sport vs. 330i M Sport package. Apples to Apples.

PC Valkyrie

You can't blame R&T. MB could have/should have provided a car with the best chances of getting a good result in a car magazine test. Everyone knows that in the sport sedan segment, sporty performance is almost a must to get a positive review. Even if the car doesn't FEEL sporty, at least post up some decent numbers to show what the car is capable of.

Regardless, I pulled up some previous handling numbers from older R&T tests of the C-class for comparison. I don't expect the W204 to outhandle the E90 3 series, but I was expecting it to outhandle the previous W203 C-class, especially with all the hype about the "agility control" package with variable damping system, better chassis, etc, etc.

2002 C320 Sport Sedan (pre-facelifted W203)
skidpad: 0.84g
slalom: 64.0mph

2006 C350 Sport Sedan (facelifted W203 with Direct Control upgrades)
skidpad: 0.85g
slalom: 66.4mph

2008 C350 Sport Sedan (W204 with Agility Control)
skidpad: 0.81g
slalom: 63.8mph

By the way, R&T is the only car mag which also publishes what a "significant difference" is in all of their objective performance tests. A 0.02 g difference in skidpad grip and a 1 mph difference in slalom speed is considered a "significant difference" for their testing procedure. That's why I like R&T most for comparing objective performance numbers between cars.

stephensong

When I want to play "Boy Racer" I drive my Z4. For everyday driving the C300 will be just fine. 0 to 60 and skidpad numbers don't really matter when the trunk is full of packages.

TEAShea

Take a look at the new Automobile Magazine's review of the Cadillac CTS. They compared it to a C350 and a 335i. The C350 came out very well.

TEAShea
from Nebraska