Mike5215

In another thread I referenced my plan to make a comparison cabin noise recording by taking my loaner C and my S550 on the same roads at the same speed. Not surprisingly, the C is louder at 80mph, mostly a lot of wind noise. I expected as much and I don't hold the C to the standard of a $100,000 luxury car.

Then, while I was doing the recording in the S, I was much more aware of how vague and annoying the S's steering was compared to the scalpel like precision of the C than I was the lack of noise. There's a numb spot dead center so I'm constantly making little corrections. The C just required the pads of my fingertips on the wheel to stay straight.

As some sort of sign, the S threw a check engine light fault this morning. I took it back to the dealership for a scan, and there, fresh off the truck and unprepped was a C450, which is the one C I've never had the chance to drive.

Holy crap that's a fun car. After I gave the sales guy a brief tutorial on how to access the Agility settings in COMAND (I'm totally serious) because he was taking too long and I wanted to drive it, I had a chance to open it up. Car heaven. Ride was fine even in Sport +. The engine....great f'ing engine. Definitely need the V1 installed on Day One. Now my hopes of being satisfied with a loaded up 300 are in the toilet and I've got to do a completely different build.

DapperStyle

I knew it, I knew the engine would seal the deal for you. It's really tough to go from a V8 down to a 4 Cylinder turbo, but the TT V6 is the sweet spot for you. My W204 is a 3.5 V6 and I had a C300 loaner for 2 weeks and while I loved every part of the car inside and out the engine just left a lot to be desired.

In my car if I hard launch it from a dead stop I get pushed into my backseat immediately as the torque builds but in the w205 C300 I feel like I didn't get moving until after 20-25 mph. It'll be tough for me to swing a 450 come April when my lease is up unless they start putting out better incentives.

Mike5215

Yeah, I can't go back to my 300 build now knowing the 450 exists. If payment is an issue 300 vs 450 for you I'd strip it down in order to keep the right payment and that engine (and chassis). MB Tex/Suede seats, no cost color (Black/White), no Multimedia. I definitely scaled back on the toys vs my 300 build. Engine>Toys.


The stock audio kind of sucks and that Burmester requires a Premium Package that adds in leather and a bunch of other stuff. I'd replace the 4" door speakers and install a Prima 8.9 processor if I really couldn't live with it stock. I have that system in the S and it sounds beautiful.

MASSC450

OP,

Have you driven a 2016 BMW 340i yet?

Mike5215

I have not. Aside from the 6 Series coupe nothing in the current BMW line is appealing to me. The interiors on the 3 and the 5 don't cut it. The 7 is nice but for the money if rather have the S.

cyberorth

Oh Mike I beg of you! Stay away from the AMG department. Don't even go near the 63s. No Mike, no! Ohhhh no. It's too late now... (Stay tuned!)

Mike5215

I've driven a 221 S63. Meh. The 221 is a nice luxury car that makes for a poor Sports car.

MBNUT1

Mike,

Is this to say the the S Class doesn't track down the highway very well? I would find having to make constant steering corrections very tiresome. Mercedes are known for just the opposite ie excellent straight line tracking. Like the proverbial locomotive.

Mike5215

I never noticed it before, but yeah. Dead center has a little play in it so I'm always doing tiny corrections. It could be that she's got 85,000 miles on her and just loosening up. Not an alignment issue, it doesn't pull.