Car and Driver: C450 AMG 4MATIC First Drive
03-09-2015, 06:15 AM
#153
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
That's bit too bad. Airmatic will run money, and ABC is the most intense.
In this day and age, if you want dynamically comfortable and sporty suspension at the same time, especially on a heavier car designed for comfort as a basis, you gotta go Active. Thus "pay to play" if you wanna play good.
In this day and age, if you want dynamically comfortable and sporty suspension at the same time, especially on a heavier car designed for comfort as a basis, you gotta go Active. Thus "pay to play" if you wanna play good.
03-09-2015, 06:41 AM
#154
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MB W204, VW Polo, Audi R8 V10 - SOLD.
I think with the R8 it was a known issue and part of the 'cost of ownership' - most owners knew that shocks would have to be replaced and will cost a fair bit once they needed replacing. This was not because the shocks had reached the end of their life though, it was because they would leak. My front left went at 21k miles and apparently cars that are driven less frequently (like mine) had more cases of leaky shocks.
However, that was a £130k car when new so I would imagine all parts would be considerably more expensive than the C. Considering that the R8 has a lower production run than the C then the costs of replacement should be less than half? This is just a guess of course.
However, that was a £130k car when new so I would imagine all parts would be considerably more expensive than the C. Considering that the R8 has a lower production run than the C then the costs of replacement should be less than half? This is just a guess of course.
03-09-2015, 06:59 AM
#155
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
I think with the R8 it was a known issue and part of the 'cost of ownership' - most owners knew that shocks would have to be replaced and will cost a fair bit once they needed replacing. This was not because the shocks had reached the end of their life though, it was because they would leak. My front left went at 21k miles and apparently cars that are driven less frequently (like mine) had more cases of leaky shocks.
However, that was a £130k car when new so I would imagine all parts would be considerably more expensive than the C. Considering that the R8 has a lower production run than the C then the costs of replacement should be less than half? This is just a guess of course.
However, that was a £130k car when new so I would imagine all parts would be considerably more expensive than the C. Considering that the R8 has a lower production run than the C then the costs of replacement should be less than half? This is just a guess of course.
03-09-2015, 07:06 AM
#156
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MB W204, VW Polo, Audi R8 V10 - SOLD.
It'll be surely less on a C I'd think, but you'll get waaaay more than 21K miles out of them unless they just go defectedly wrong. The R8 is basically a Supercar of sorts so it'll have more issues like that. Any C is still a functional device first and foremost so you'll get much more durability from its Active shocks than that. Unless they're designed wrongly and are a mess up by design.
Some people only got 7k miles. Others got 60k miles. The people that kept the car as a garage queen had more issues with the shocks - something to do with driving it often enough to maintain the seals. In my case the year I barely drove it was the year I had a shock leak. I can't complain though - over 3 years of ownership that's the only money I had to spend on maintenance, otherwise it was hassle and problem free...
03-09-2015, 08:51 AM
#157
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
Amg and garage queen doesn't bode well either from what I read.... Use it or lose it with amg
03-09-2015, 08:59 AM
#158
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Life very dependent on road conditions in typical use. They were Sachs units. They lasted very well though. Obviously more expensive to replace than standard passive dampers/shocks but not a train smash. The sensors & controller never gave any trouble.
For those living in the US where Benz spare parts are almost laughably cheap it's certainly not an issue.
For those living in the US where Benz spare parts are almost laughably cheap it's certainly not an issue.
03-09-2015, 11:33 PM
#161
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CLA45 AMG
That is the same display in my 15' C300 loaner, it did not evoke AMG feel at all.
Having driven the C300 loaner for a few days, I must say I can understand why people look forward to the C450. The regular C Class is just too blah.
No bystanders bothered to glance at it, even I began to forget about it while I was driving it.
The gap between the base and the AMG model is just too wide not to fill it with something like the C450.
Having driven the C300 loaner for a few days, I must say I can understand why people look forward to the C450. The regular C Class is just too blah.
No bystanders bothered to glance at it, even I began to forget about it while I was driving it.
The gap between the base and the AMG model is just too wide not to fill it with something like the C450.
Last edited by dtc100; 03-09-2015 at 11:56 PM.
03-10-2015, 12:12 AM
#163
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
That is the same display in my 15' C300 loaner, it did not evoke AMG feel at all.
Having driven the C300 loaner for a few days, I must say I can understand why people look forward to the C450. The regular C Class is just too blah.
No bystanders bothered to glance at it, even I began to forget about it while I was driving it.
The gap between the base and the AMG model is just too wide not to fill it with something like the C450.
Having driven the C300 loaner for a few days, I must say I can understand why people look forward to the C450. The regular C Class is just too blah.
No bystanders bothered to glance at it, even I began to forget about it while I was driving it.
The gap between the base and the AMG model is just too wide not to fill it with something like the C450.
03-10-2015, 07:03 AM
#165
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Now I love pretty much everything about this car, but I have to say I agree with many who have said this.... I really hate those wheels! So much so that I wouldn't buy one if that is all they have. I am sure there will be options, so I'm not really worried, but come on MB! A little market research please!!!
03-10-2015, 07:33 AM
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MB W204, VW Polo, Audi R8 V10 - SOLD.
Now I love pretty much everything about this car, but I have to say I agree with many who have said this.... I really hate those wheels! So much so that I wouldn't buy one if that is all they have. I am sure there will be options, so I'm not really worried, but come on MB! A little market research please!!!
Wheels
03-10-2015, 08:15 AM
#168
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03-10-2015, 10:36 AM
#170
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CLA45 AMG
The new C's strong suit is the interior, not exterior. Like the CLA or GLA, only the other extreme, too stately for a base premium model that competes in the "sporty sedan" category along side of 3 series, A4/A5 and Q whatever.
I know look is entirely subjective, but if a car is styled well, you would find people praising the style regardless they own one or not.
So the hint is when only the owners admire the look while non owners universally agree otherwise.
Having said that, a design that is out of the norm, can also make for a sales success, simply because it dares to be different.
Both the new C and the CLA/GLA should do well keeping the MB sales on the up and up.
I know look is entirely subjective, but if a car is styled well, you would find people praising the style regardless they own one or not.
So the hint is when only the owners admire the look while non owners universally agree otherwise.
Having said that, a design that is out of the norm, can also make for a sales success, simply because it dares to be different.
Both the new C and the CLA/GLA should do well keeping the MB sales on the up and up.
Last edited by dtc100; 03-10-2015 at 10:41 AM.
03-10-2015, 11:58 AM
#171
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The C & the GLA are doing great things sales wise in SA. The CLA's harsh & unrefined ride quality is costing it sales here. The standard ride height, standard spring & damper rates as set up in the GLA are favoured. The demographic that buys the A Class does not seem to mind the ride quality.
03-10-2015, 01:21 PM
#172
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
The wheels are terrible
I hope mb is reading this!!
I hope mb is reading this!!
03-10-2015, 06:10 PM
#174
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I'm sure Benz will have a nice range of alternate wheels available for the vehicle.
03-11-2015, 01:33 AM
#175
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From Mercedes C450 AMG press release:
5-spoke black AMG light-alloy wheels with a high-sheen finish round out the design perfectly. Size 225/45 R 18 tires on 7.5 x 18light-alloy wheels are fitted
at the front, while the rear axle comes with 245/40R 18 tires on 8.5 x 18 wheels. Attractive 19" light-alloy wheels in various designs are optional available for even more individualization.
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...ATIC-FINAL.pdf
5-spoke black AMG light-alloy wheels with a high-sheen finish round out the design perfectly. Size 225/45 R 18 tires on 7.5 x 18light-alloy wheels are fitted
at the front, while the rear axle comes with 245/40R 18 tires on 8.5 x 18 wheels. Attractive 19" light-alloy wheels in various designs are optional available for even more individualization.
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...ATIC-FINAL.pdf
Last edited by dreamerak; 03-11-2015 at 01:39 AM.
