Hey everyone, I picked up my C450 in late February and never got around to taking some pictures. Took some with my phone, decided to share! I love the car!!

 

Very nice!!

 

congrats! sweet ride aint it

 

Nice! (I definitely like it better than the two Porsches and the Audi )

 

What about the Rolls?

 

Damn, nice catch on the Rolls... I completely missed it!

Allow me to rephrase... I definitely like it better than the two Porsches, Audi, and Rolls-Royce

(Yeah, that doesn't work any more... does it? )

 

hahahaha thank you! I love your build too btw. What made you go with the silver fiberglass over the carbon fiber? I might get a C63S next and don't know wether to go with the c/f again or go your path. But the white designo interior is a must!

Also, one question: I see you're from Pittsburgh, I have some friends over in Cranberry Twp and I might go drive up there sometime. Me, being a Florida driver, have no idea about winter tires etc. Any insight for the C450s? I got Pirelli P-Zero's on mine, which made my car drift in the rain so I think I need more than that to drive up there. How are RWD cars like the M3 and C63S like up there? These are two cars in my consideration list for next year.

 

Thanks! I love it, couldn't be happier. Provides me a great compromise of performance and luxury

 

Thank you!

 

very nice ride

 

Thanks man!

Yeah, I ended up spending a lot of time at my dealer before I placed my order (fortunately I have a close personal contact that works there and is willing to help, and also willing to let me check out pretty much everything). They do a good AMG business, so I was able to look at C63S' and a few GT S'. I mention the GT S because that was the first vehicle to offer the silver fiber glass, it was initially only available on the GT S and C450...lol. After comparing the carbon fiber from the C63S (including the Edition 1 that they had with the red carbon fiber) and the silver fiber glass from the GT S, I concluded that the matte finish of the silver fiber glass looked better than the gloss finish of the carbon fiber (including the red carbon fiber which I did like a little better than the standard carbon fiber). It definitely ties the silver door trim in with the rest of the trim better than any other console trim does.

The designo was a must for me, and I wasn't really feeling it with the brown designo (I have never really been a brown interior kind of person). The platinum white scared me a little before I got it, because of the white. After I got it, I had the dealer apply the upholstery protection (which they applied for their cost), and a year later it still looks like new.

I wouldn't change anything even if I had a chance to, and I am seriously considering ordering an E63S but I don't feel the same way about either of the designo interiors

Cranberry...nice, my office is in Cranberry (although I work from home, so I am seldom there). I live about 45 minutes south. I would hate for you to get snow tires just for a trip up to the 'Burgh. Are we talking about an extended stay...like months? If you are planning something from January to March, than having snow tires would be the safest thing to do. Fortunately, I have an ML and older Durango RT that I can use in the snow besides the 450, so I got all season tires and called it a day. But there is a good snow tire discussion going on here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6926406 that should help.

It's been a while since I had a rear-wheel drive vehicle (my last was my '88 IROC Camaro w/ a 350... it was interesting driving that car in the rain, specially if you found yourself trying to go up a cobblestone hill ). But, I think with the right set of snow tires, it wouldn't be that bad in an M3 or C63S. (But if you are like me, you are going to fall in love with the 4MATIC on the C450... find a nice windy 60 mph secluded road and have at it. I can't get enough of driving this car on back roads like that. )

 

I see where you're coming from with the interior. If I do end up with a C63 I'll probably pick an interior configuration similar to yours! The glossy carbon fiber can get a little annoying I guess, don't know how to explain. It looks good though with the Cranberry Red seats. Does the upholstery protection work well against jeans etc?

Wow, you have an office in Cranberry! Small world. I love it up in PA, but I can't stand the cold sometimes. I was there in Spring break, and had a great time with friends. If I drive there, it would be to spend up to a week there, really not a long time. I also have an ML, but not the 4MATIC and the lease is almost up.

Regardless, I don't want to spend money on snow tires for a week, and thinking about my next car, I don't think 4MATIC is necessary for me due to where I live and don't want to base my car decision on a week trip that I might just fly to. But of course, I'd love to go on a long road trip with my car, especially since the engine is already broken into (3k miles now). I think though that if I go for an M3 or C63S I'll need the snow tires, or would all-seasons work fine for both Florida and PA? Are the people who put in heavy bags of sand in the trunk just exaggerating or is it more helpful?

What do you think about the M6 GC, CLS63, and RS7? They're in my mind and since all but the M6 have AWD it would handle well in the rain and snow, which is nice if I do drive up there, or in the hurricane season down here. It's tough lemme tell ya. I was driving in heavy rain in S+ and got too excited and did a crazy drift, even though traction control was on. Next time I'll control myself, and note to self to take it easy if I do go with a high-power RWD C63S

 

thank you!

 

Yeah, I would bag the snow tire idea... no need to burn that kind of money for one week (although the drive up the coast would be some serious fun). I have been driving with Conti ExtremeContact DWS 06 all-seasons since I got the car, and I love them, but that's also a tough call for a single week. Let me think about that one a bit...

As far as the M6, CLS63, and RS7... personally I love the BMW exteriors and hate the BMW interiors... The CLS63 is a pretty sweet looking car, and the next iteration with the updated interior is going to rock. Unfortunately, my alter ego (who works at Mercedes) keeps telling me how it is impossible to justify the markup on what is essentially an E-Class. (I do love the lines on that car though). The RS7 is a sweet ride, I like the new E-Class interior better, but Audi interiors definitely beat BMW interiors. I would probably end up optioning the RS7 into the GT S range and then have to rethink the whole thing. I really have some high hopes for the E63S. 600hp pre-tuned is nuts, and the new interior with the screen integration looks awesome. The Paris Motor Show starts this weekend, so we should see some pretty sweet rides in the next few days.

 

I'm sorry I took long to reply, week has been crazy!!

Yeah, I think winter tires are too much of an investment for a road trip that'll happen once in a whole year or something. I think I can order the car here with all-seasons, so if all-seasons work up there then I'd have nothing to worry about. I love my P-Zeros, but there is zero traction if you're going fast in the rain (and I bet it's even worse in the snow, though I cannot speak for myself on that one).

I like the BMW exteriors and don't like the interiors except for the 6-series and the X5/6. I do think though that the full leather interior option for the M3/4 makes the inside look way nicer than the normal extended. Can't beat the C-Class interior, though, especially in your build! I really like the new E-Class and I want to see/drive that one as well as the RS7 and the Ms. 600hp stock is insane yeah, but 500 is still a blast. I really can't say what I'm going to buy next without driving it. When does it start snowing up there btw?

 

Usually, the snow is nothing to worry about until around the 2nd week of January (but I have seen everything from no significant snow all season all the way to bad snow starting before Xmas). Hopefully it will be pretty light this year.