AMGTestDriverNJ

So, I have what has to be an 09 C300 loaner judging from the fact that it has 3 way adjustable driver seat which I don't believe was offered in 08. In any event, I remember intially thinking after driving, this has to be a 350....well, its not. Peppy as anything tho! I wonder what changed? I have the 08, and I can't say it moves quite as quickly as this one. Almost feels like someone has gone ahead and installed a sprint booster or something! (Car only has 300 miles so I doubt it, but wouldn't that be funny?) Anyway, is there any changes that I'm just unaware of? While we are on the subject of 09, can that 3-way adjustable seat module and door panel be retrofitted to the 08? The piece in the door seemingly will fit but who knows about the actual seat control module or the harness on the 08 seats. Maybe someone already knows. In any event, post your knowledge! Anyone else feel the 09's are a bit quicker?

nyca

have you had the tranmission software in your 08 re-flashed? Maybe you are noticing snappier downshifts that make the car seem faster. There are a couple of threads about that here.

mac911

We noticed the same last week, but it was a 2008 still like mine.

I had not done the transmission reset in a while, so I did it, and now it feels as good as the loaner was.

e1000

was the loaner a 4-matic?

raceway

i think because yours is a 4matic and the loaner is RWD?

rb23lb

DUDE!!!! I thought the exact same thing!!! I had an 09' loaner c300 for three days, and I definitely felt like they fixed the "LAG" issue with the accelerator for 09'

Sprint booster is exactly what it felt like...

However, after getting my c350 back i hit the pedal to the metal and it was completely obvious that it was near a second faster from zero to 60 than the loaner c300... just it lagged during normal hits of the accelerator in city and highway driving...

I took to the dealer during service A, and they tested everything and said the lag was completely normal and they couldnt find anything wrong! WTF???
We need a fix for this crap like the c300 has built in!

rb23lb

oh and to add... the dealer said i have the "latest software" already installed and that flashing it to update it wouldnt do anything to fix the lag since i already had the latest version...

i find this hard to beleive though... how could i have the latest software version if my car was delivered in October 2007????????????

makes no sense to me, as I assume they have released another version somethime in the last 13 months????

AMGTestDriverNJ

Honestly its nuts, I've been speeding in that thing w/o even realizing. I can't pinpoint it but maybe the downshifts are a bit crisper? The thing just moves man I can't expalin it. If my 08 300 moved like that I'd consider putting go-fast parts on it! Its really unbelievable. I'm glad someone else noticed!

chilledbenz

I agree with some of the other posters that the loaner car was most likely a rwd car and not a 4matic. The difference in 0-60 time of a rwd C300 is a full second faster than a 4matic car. The loaner cars are usually "left over" cars that the factory has that arent sold and are then sold to dealerships at discounted prices to move them, so most are stripped down versions.

AMGTestDriverNJ

you really think there is that much weight difference? and no, its not a rwd its a 4matic. Maybe the ecu hasn't adapted yet? Who knows, I'd love to track it haha.

AkaSigFreak

I was told the same thing. I have developed a pretty good relationship with my service advisor and she knows I'm not an idiot. Last time I took it in (BSP-Before Sprint Booster) they said they test drove it and everything was normal. I then asked them why my mileage in and mileage out was the same. If they actually tested my car- that is impossible.

e1000

I bet it's the transmission adaptations on your existing car. You can have these cleared at your dealership.

mb_horseshoe

Everytime I get a loaner, it feels faster than my car. Whether it's a w203 loaner, 08 w204, or 09 w204 it always feels faster.

Probably because of the adaptive transmission, everything seems to respond faster (from everyone always flooring it).

Also, how sure are you that it's an 09 loaner? Those are too new for dealers to start using them as loaners... My dealer has a bunch of 08's as loaners now but didn't offer any until the 09's rolled onto the lots..

delirium

i currently hav a C300 loaner and it has the same type of lag as my C350. It is a much lower car in terms of pickup when getting on the freeway, but the miles per gallon are good!!

webada

out of curiosity, what are you getting on the c350?

rb23lb

no, i have never driven a 4 matic.. strictly comparing c350 to c300... the c300 2009 has no lag compared to my c350 2008

c350 is noticeable faster of course, but does not have the "sprint booster" feel

rb23lb

POSITIVE it is an 2009 loaner...

This good enough for you?

1) hooded 2009 gauges

2) opened up glove box, checked registration card, which clearly stated 2009

I too was suprised that they were already loaning 2009's

joshg1001

the computer consistently hovers around 21.x but by hand calculation, its in the 20.x range in mixed freeway and city. note ive only had the car for a month so obviously the gas mileage should increase.

imboom

That' sounds about right.

In the city, I get in the range of 18-22mpg.

On freeway, I get 21-25. I've hit 30mpg normally on a 25mile freeway route also, staying below 70mph.

flagman

Which test did you get that info. from? MB states the 4Matic system only adds 175 lbs. to the car - so 1 second 0-60 sounds like a lot.

AMGTestDriverNJ

I'm not 100% that my loaner is 09 I'm assuming based on the fact that the seat has 3 way control which I understood was not available in 08? Am I wrong about that?

delirium

i got 30 mpg on a freeway drive with the C300 and i usually get 25-27 on with my C350.

Doesnt sound like a huge difference, but actually i was driving 80+ at times with the C300 and to get 25 - 27 mpg with the c350, i have to take it slow.

chilledbenz

That's from a Car & Driver test they did awhile back. The 4matic was a full second slower to 60mph than the rwd version both using autos. Might add that I checked the MB website and they list the Sport rwd six speed auto at 3,527lbs and the Luxury 4matic at 3,560lbs...can't tell me that the auto trans and the 4matic only weigh 33lbs..maybe someone else can find some more realistic figures.

JCOnizuka

I donno about u guys in the states but mb canada website specification for c300 0 - 60 is 7.3sec same as the c300 4matic... for c350 its 6.4sec and c350 4matic running slight fast at 6.3sec... maybe this figure is for automatic transmition... I dont see how a 4 wheel drive can beat a rear wheel drive by 1second unless the rwd is manual and 4matic is auto.

micropower99

I think because of traction, it would not have any wheel spin. Not totally sure though.