vinny1205

Hi I really want to purchase the c 350 sport but living in the northeast I've had it with rear wheel drive vehicles. I was jealous when I noticed that MB was selling a 350 with 4matic in canada (until I realized how much more they pay that really sucks) I may purchase the 300 sport but I will be sick if they offer the 350 sport with 4matic in the spring? does anyone know if MB USA will offer the 350 sport in 4matic. thanks

430752

I also want the c350 in 4matic, but have no idea if will be offered and seen no mention anywhere. So, I came about it a different way, like if a c300 could be modified to make it go faster, almost like a c350. I was thinking a chip, exhaust, etc., all tastefully done, but modded all the same. Drew a big blank here. Since the c300 is the same engine as last year's c280, I tried that over in the w203 forum. Drew almost as big a blank there. Apparently, Merc owners don't mod like Bimmer or Audi drivers. Go figure, but I guess it reflects Merc's loss of a sports role (do they even race competitively anymore? The owned Formula 1 for a while, and I think had a good LeMans campaign too, but those days are history). Hell, they had to buy AMG to get that sporty image, couldn't even homegrow it.

I'm still likely to buy a c300 as if I wait until the spring to find out if a c350 4 matic is coming, I've then lost use of 4matic for 1 of the 4 or 5 winters I plan to have the car. Guess you and me can blaze an aftermarket trail for the c300 4matic?! Maybe with Merc here in Montvale they can offer some off the record tips?

Curt

pfphipps

This has nothing to do with the 204 cars but I would not quite say that Mercedes has "lost its sports role". In F1, they are having their best year in quite a while. McLaren, of which Mercedes owns a significant interest (30%?), currently has their two drivers in the number one and two positions in the standings. The final race of the year is Sunday, Oct. 21, and the worst the two McLaren/Mercedes drivers can finish would be second and third. In the Friday practice, their two drivers had the two fastest times.

BMW, on the other hand, are in fifth and sixth place with about half the points of the McLaren/Mercedes team.

aowhaus

like any models, there will be a few equipment and option additions and improvements, and minor styling freshening a few years down the road to keep appealing to buyers.
MB will definately be very mum about future engines, drivetrains, body style variants and features to prevent people from waiting and buying later (which has a high potential of looking at another make).

You just have to wait and see if you really want the 350 with 4matic...

Emile

I'm in the Northeast. No 4Matic on the C350 is what has kept me from getting into a C. I will likely be pulling the trigger on a new E350 4Matic w/AMG Sport Package for about the same lease price as a C.

KrispyK

I find it surprising that US MB dealers fail to capitalize on Mercedes' F1 racing. I've worn my McLaren-Mercedes shirts to dealerships, only to draw a blank from the salespeople as to what it exactly is. There's a great rest-of-the-world advertisement with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton (the McLaren-Mercedes teammates who are in a vicious rivalry) trying to outdo each other, being outdone at the end by Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes last world driver's champion (in 1999). The salespeople I've spoken with during my C-class search have all drawn a blank when I've mentioned this excellent commercial:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KrgBMDlyePc

As far as mods go, I've found, and have been told, that the vast majority of aftermarket mods are not helpful to performance. I think Car and Driver did a test of a fully modified DC Sports Integra against a stock version, and the stock Integra was actually a bit faster than the one with headers, intake, exhaust, chip, etc. Any modification must be followed up with proof on a dynamometer, but rarely do you get apples to apples comparisons from the aftermarket manufacturers themselves. Also, you're just not going to get major gains on a normally aspirated engine from a chip -- it'll take some major work on the engine to get significant power. Perhaps Renntech will put out a motor transplant for the C-class?

If you want performance and AWD, might I suggest the BMW 335xi or the Audi S4? The former is unbelievably fast, and is easily "moddable" due to the turbo, while the latter, I believe, has the superior all-wheel-drive system. Given the lack of aftermarket parts for the C-class right now, it might be tough to get real gains out of that motor for some time.

Stiggs

Honey and I test drove the C300 4Matic yesterday. Dealer told us that the C350 4Matic is on its way soon. Maybe spring.

QQQ

Maybe after all C350 4Matic orders are filled in Canada...

vinny1205

thanks everyone for your input

vcruiser

im in canada and getting my 350 4 matic in feb!
im pissed i cant put staggered rims on it tho

chilledbenz

Don't be too pissed, the staggered wheels would tear your 4 matic differential to pieces.