i think i might chime in. I Think that the C300 is perfect yeah would not mind some extra boost but i didn't buy the car for that. This car is perfect for what its is. What i would of like to see is the C300=300hp and the C350=350hp that would of made a nice impression for the new C Class. Think about it like this were always going to have some thing to complain about no matter what.

 

True, true, and true to the points above. But the OP is looking for 4Matic. So C63 is a no-go. I was in Boston this past January for business, and good Lord, it was crazy. I imagine Northern NJ (OP's location) would be similar. Granted, I was in some crappy American rental (so crappy that I blocked its model name from my memory), but I was sliding all over the place at normal speeds (20~30 MPH). Everyone on the highway (speed limit 50~60 MPH) was driving max 25 MPH to avoid accidents. It was absurd. Driving a C63 with all that torque and RWD on such a road while possessing a lead foot would provide for some devastating results, I think.

I love California and its weather. Move here, and resolve all your concerns instantly.

As for the OP's concerns, as others have already sufficiently noted, if you want a "fast" car with AWD, this is not the car. The AWD system components will add more weight to the C300, further decreasing its acceleration/deceleration performance.

Having said all that though, I gotta admit I was pretty upset to find that C350 won't be offered with a manual transmission, as that is a must-have option for me. I wanted the extra HP. But the 300 has surprised me after the purchase with its performance. It is true, however, that the car "feels" faster than it really is... maybe it's the gearing, maybe it's the... eh... something. The objective 0-60 MPH or 30-90 MPH numbers aren't too impressive, admittedly, but for me, it is not too big of a concern -- I stopped caring about those numbers at around age 25. By then, I had accumulated 8 speeding tickets, 2 accidents (both my fault, technically, despite the other party's speeding), $7,000/year insurance, and a license suspension with the threat of revocation. I even had a spin-out on a two lane mountain road while traveling at 80+ MPH and nearly fell off a cliff. Since then, I've learned to reprogram my STUPID STUPID STUPID brain, and enjoy a $1200/year insurance and no tickets for the past 5 years.

Two days ago, I tried a WOT run for the first time on a deserted and nicely paved stretch of road near my house. I was not impressed. But others are impressed with me when they see me in the car, so that kinda makes up for the performance... I guess.

 

ECS tuning has a 1.8t GTI w/ 400hp. Daily driver too. My Passat was capable of that as well. I never took it there. I had the APR flash and a Neuspeed exhaust. It was roughly 230hp, 255tq with the stock K03 turbo. Not huge, but the car is totally different when in chipped mode (I can switch between programs). My brother had a 300 hp GTI. Gotta love VAG turbo cars. They surprise everyone!

I have the 6 spd manual C300 and it's no slouch. I have always been more a fan of good handling than 0-60 times since my old Chevelle project. I used to get into a lot trouble with it.

The best chance we will have, as I and others have indicated in the past, is forced induction. Someone will do it. Who knows, maybe it will be one of us. PES tuning made a great supercharger kit for V6 Passats and A4s. Something like that would be great.

 

So I've read the thread and noticed a few things. First..if you want your C300 to go faster you first go to your dealership..and trade it in for a ML63. The only go fast 4matic Benz in the lineup..(R63 is no more) I would class the S550 as a quick car not a fast car.

The top speed of a U.S. spec C300 is gov limited at 130, or at least the test car Car and Driver was given was limited to 130. I highly doubt they would give them a car gov less than what production cars are seeing how its a test to see which cars are the best/fastest.

I feel your pain with the slowness of the 4matic C300. I see the guys that think its fast already posted so take it for what its worth, for some its enough for others like myself its just adequate. It wouldn't hurt them to add 10 to 15 more hp or give it a nice torque boost. Its really a double edge sword though, as even if the C350 were offered here in the states with 4matic I wouldn't have chosen it due to the fact the base price would have been way too high for this car. I struggled with paying $38k for the car, better cars could be had when your pushing the $45k mark.

Food for thought: C300 Manual 0-60 = 6.5 seconds...very nice. C300 Auto 0-60 = 7.1...not bad for this class. C300 Auto 4matic 0-60 = 8.1...ok this is not very good at all. Benz has a great starting point, but they need to figure out a way to make that auto trans and 4matic system lighter. Before everyone jumps in and says "yeah but 0-60 times dont really mean anything" let me point out that for 90% of C class buyers 0-60 is the only real performance number that matters. For most of us all the action are cars see is from stop light to stop light.

Thought I might add for a laugh..if power is what you want from a C class..theres always the Brabus Bullit Black Arrow...shoe horned a twin turbo V12 into a C class and murdered it out. I don't dare say the price, but you could have a Lambo for the same scratch ha ha.

 

All you c300 guys,things could be worse.I'd kill to have 230HP under my hood.This is the LONE reason I am considering getting a 300HP 335i or 135i.

 

[QUOTE=chilledbenz;2807307]

Food for thought: C300 Manual 0-60 = 6.5 seconds...very nice. [QUOTE]

Exactly. That doesn't suck. I have said it before...fast is good, but for me, driving a car that handles well and performs on the highway is more satisfying. Maybe off point, but I've seen too many people, racers and innocent bystanders, get hurt by stoplight drag racers.

And, not that it applies here, but Viagra dragsters are just ridiculous.

 

[QUOTE=Derspeed;2807993][QUOTE=chilledbenz;2807307]

Food for thought: C300 Manual 0-60 = 6.5 seconds...very nice. Yes true there, if your going to race do it on a track and not on public roadways. I was just making a general statement as the only thing I need my hp for is merging onto interstate around here. I always feel like its a crap shoot in the C300 on if I will merge safely or have to cross my fingers and hope she goes ha ha.

 

[QUOTE=chilledbenz;2808426][QUOTE=Derspeed;2807993]Interesting. I like it. Maybe it's the automatic transmission. When I tested the 300 and 350 with the auto, I was not that impressed. The manual seems to liven things up a bit. I've noticed torqueband is broad in this car, almost like a turbo charged car (which is what I am used to). I think that is why I am impressed with the car in general.

 

[QUOTE=Derspeed;2808478][QUOTE=chilledbenz;2808426]Hmmm.....

The Mb interactive site gives 7.3 sec for the stick shift, 7.2 for the auto, and 7.3 for the 4matic! I think people sometimes confuse the noise and drama of stickshifting as being faster than a smooth quiet auto.

 

[QUOTE=keith100;2808703]MB is conservative with their numbers, they usually won't even post them in print. The manual has been tested in quite a few tests and all have come in around 6.5. As for the 4matic being .1 of a second slower than a non 4matic that is laughable. In an older w203 brochure it had the 4matic being a full second slower than a non 4matic and it seems to have carried over. Makes sense seeing how the 4matic weighs more with that system under it.

 

[QUOTE=chilledbenz;2809250][QUOTE=keith100;2808703]

"MB is conservative with their numbers, they usually won't even post them in print."

C,mon. MB post them all over the place. In my brochure, handbook and the Canadian and European websites.

 

Or, you could just eat off of your own plate.

 

[QUOTE=keith100;2809291][QUOTE=chilledbenz;2809250]Took a look the numbers are in the current brochure, but in the past it was hit or miss. They are a bit misleading though as they don't specify exactly which options they are using to get those numbers (i.e. auto, manual, 4matic)

On another note in reference with the original question, I did some research (Road and Track testing scores) and as it turns out the S550 and C350 put up near identical 0-60 times.

 

Hello, it's my first time, maybe you can help me with it. I have 2008 C300 6sp, engine is blown and willing to purchase 3.5 engine, will it work?

 

Probably, do some searching on the forums I think I've heard it done before.

 

I'm with Bokx ... I get allot of questions and complements on my car ... Even from peo p le drivin Camaro SS's and other faster cars .... Don't get me wrong would love to have alittle more power but for a 3 liter she can dig out of the whole pretty dam good in manual mode

 

I read through some of these and was thinking "Uh... all of this happened... etc" then realized it was from 2008 haha

 

gave for good read since this forum is sometimes a little slow.

 

Dammm .. Didn't realize lol

 

Okay I see where you are coming from yes the Benz is sluggish but no one tries to race a Benz. But if you want to go fast put a twin turbo on it and done it's what I'm about to do and my brother has it on his 2012 and smokes the audis and most cars for that fact. But I also used to drive a 07 Impala SS with duel super chargers pushing 600 horse after all the upgrades. Never once got beat at a stop light and it was fwd which isn't great but got the job done in Michigan although it sucked in Winter. But go twin turbo on a c300 and you will woop on all competitors and if you know a local mechanic or do it yourself it isn't to pricey.

 

Ummm, you do realize that the majority of this thread is 10 years old don't you?

 

How to make the car go faster you ask?

Add stripes. Instant 10hp per stripe