MB300AMG

I was driving around today thinking back to that Top Gear episode where Jeremy was fearing that high performance cars are going to go away now that we're all very concerned about emissions and fuel economy, and electric vehicles. Then I looked on Insideline and read their parting thoughts on the 2002 BMW M3, one of the last really awesome pure drivers' cars.

Now I know they're not going to go away, but frankly i'm not a big fan of downsizing everything and then adding turbochargers (like BMW has been doing). I do however like the Audi S4 though for the fact that you can still buy it with a manual, a kick-*** all-wheel drive system that is sporty (unlike 4matic) and that its got a nice supercharged engine, which is a nice change.

It got me wondering...is Mercedes-Benz ever going to make an Audi S4 competitor, or really actually compete with Audi and BMW when it comes to cars like the S4 and 335i? The C350 just doesn't cut it (no offense to C350 drivers, but to prove my point a lot of you are chipping and modding your cars anyway).

I mean, I love my car to death and all but its not as sporty as it should be. With an A4 2.0T beating it to 60mph and the C-Class' suspension being somewhat less sporty than the others (not to mention a manual transmission only being offered in the C300), it kind of makes me sad that Benz is not fully catering to its enthusiasts.

Sure, there is AMG but they're really expensive and only RWD and automatic. I duno...I know i'm rambling but I just want something inbetween....

What do you guys think?


(Apologies if this was addressed but I couldn't find anything in search)

Carsy

If my C220 CDI was less fuel efficient (larger engine) & had firmer suspension I would not have bought it. I am not looking for a performance car, just a vehicle with the best engineering ,safety & efficiency & which is a pleasure to drive.

eminnet

I own also C220 CDI and I'm not impressed at all about the fuel consumption.
It never goes under 6.4 liters for 100 km.
On the other hand I get 5.4 - 5.6 with Audi A4 1.9 TDI 131 hp (and fuel tnk is 70 +12 liters).
Just yesterday I read about the performances of new Bluefficency CDI's and was surprised to see that they offer higher torque for lesser range of revs.
So one with manual transmission has to stir a lot to get best performance.
I drove Audi's for last 20 years and I regret I didn't buy Audi A5 2.0 - 3.0 TDI instead of C220 CDI.
What to say about the extremely thin paint that it gets scratched even by a cat sitting on your car.
Audi engines are more elastic and provide better torque at low revs.
Audi's are not so famous about "THE LAG" as ......

len56

Might as well get a C63. You don't really need 4wd in a sports car, unless you are really into winter driving.

I'd go with auto anyway, they are as fast or faster than most (non-pro) manual drivers by now. The old stereotype needs to go. Especially with .1 second dual clutches

C300Sport

Compare pricing between S4 and C63...not that far apart.

Cycosis

youtube the M3 vs, S4 vs C63 AMG TopGear vid. You will have your answer

C300Sport

Of course a direct injected (300-325HP) C350, with a manual, could be pretty interesting.

jeffie7

C63 > S4

of course personal taste.

Derspeed

Isn't that the RS4?

MB300AMG

Yeah its definitely the B7 RS4 and not the B8 S4 (which is the one i'm talking about). I find it quite odd that Audi increased the size of the B8 platform so substantially and that it isn't sized closer to the C-Class - the B8 cars are huge!

I would absolutely love a B7 RS4 but it's a bit small, and the B8 RS4 is gonna be too big! Damn...I sound like Goldilocks haha!

soldier2304

I think this is where most people get it wrong when comparing Benz to BMW and Audi. If Mercedes wanted to make a coupe or "sports" car to "compete" with the 335 and the S4 they would of allready done so. I dont think they were trying to compete with neither BMW or Audi when they came up with the C300 or C350. I think this cars offer more luxury than BMW and more refinement than Audi and that is the whole purpose. However, i do see the point your making and it makes sense. Mercedes-Benz should make a car or perhaps a new class in the 40-50k range to compete against those companies. Yet, we are talking about a company (mercedes), that is twice as big as BMW or Audi. There really seems to be no bother for them what the competition is coming up with IMO

Carsy

I think fuel consumption depends a lot on driving style & whether you have stop-start driving . Highway driving at 110 km /Hr my 220CDI achieves 5.3 L /100 km. My best for a short slow rural trip was 4.9l/100 km. Overall my consumption is around 6 L/100 km/ which equals 47 miles to the Imp. gallon.
Not too bad for a 1600 kg car. Is the Audi lighter in the body?

jeffie7

If you're talking about only Audi's line up then yes, but the company behind Audi puts Mercedes to shame size wise.

eminnet

Yes Audi is about 85 kg lighter.
How many km on your C220, cos I think maybe I still did not finish the break in at 14.000 km.

Carsy

I have 18,000 KM on my 220 CDI . It has been giving the same consumption figures since about 5000 km. I did notice that after very heavy acceleration on to a freeway "on ramp" that it gave .5 litres /100 km less for a couple of tankfuls but happily now has reverted back to the original consumption. I drive with a light foot but often do some 115 km/hr freeway work & a little heavy towing.

soldier2304

Yea, i was referring to the line up ( actual line of cars).

BenTrovato

It has to do a lot with who MB is selling to. Is it really worth it for MB to come up with a vehicle to compete in that category which is a small market share and then they will have to compete further in that small market and somehow turn a profit.

MB has long catered to an older demographic. It was just in the past 10 years or so where they started going after younger people but you can't turn that switch on overnight, it takes time to bring it in so that you do not lose your current customer base. If you look at how many models MB had in the 80's to what they have today, it's a huge difference. When they came out with the c coupe, there was finally a benz for the younger crowd. When the W204 came out, there was finally a c class that had style and actually looked better than the bmw/audi competitors. Prior to the w204, you bought a c class for the name, prestige, and solidness of the car. It was never a styling favorite - yes you may have loved it but the majority did not.

The auto market is a tricky business. You never want to lose what you have, and if you switch directions too quickly, you lose some people. MB is too big and too prestigious to lose what they have. I think you will see the S4/335 competitor emerge but they need to establish the current c class as a vehicle which can carry its own weight. IMO that just started in 2008.

AMGTTV8

your car is so sexy - absolutely beautiful...

every time i see your sig pic i stare at it..

C300Sport

Very Well Said