I just drove my Dad's new CLS350 off the factory line March 5th! Stunning car in the flesh. Wow wow!! First of all the car is really really quiet inside. Not a peep from anything! No rubbing of some plastic (if there is any) or leather on leather. I was astounded at the silence inside while driving. Next was the ride comfort, wow! Very smooth especially considering that it has the 5 spokes with 245/40 R18 front and 275/35 R18 rears! Next was the handling, very very nice. It was direct and moved smoothly during changes of direction with determination. It all felt tight. They are really screwing these cars together much much better. My basis of comparison is the C, SLK200K, CL500, SL500, S500, and pretty much any other Mercedes. The engine does not run out of steam! That's all I'll say I only reached 180Km/h and it was still pulling!! Anyway's I've got to go! More later...

Pictures to follow. It's Obsidian Black with Sunset red leather.

 

Enjoy!

 

ARe you in South Africa?

 

more pics!!!

 

Actually I'm in Uganda!

 

wow Uganda! That's crazy! I'd never think a country that borders with Rwanda would have a benz dealership, no offense. It's just not the picture we have in mind of Uganda. That's cool though!

 

the avatars are too funny...lol

 

very nice congrats! i like that color combo

 

Yup Doctor, none taken. Mercedes-Benz or should I say DaimlerChrysler has one of the most extensive dealer networks in the world. Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, etc. (basically in almost all African countries). Though markets vary. Culturally Uganda and Rwanda are as far removed as the US and Mexico. Different worlds! This would apply to other neighboring countries as well.

Its the durability, even in the most adverse conditions, that has made Mercedes popular in this part of the world. They outlast almost all other makes of vehicles and are the safest when it comes to accidents. This is because they basically sell vehicles to the same demanding standards worldwide with only a few adjustments (the one here is the same as the one in Europe except for the emmission systems as we have both lead and unleaded fuel and the Right hand drive) and not stripped down versions with no airbags, less specs, old gen engines,like a lot of other manufacturers. (cough.... Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, etc.)

 

How much does a CLS350 cost there? I imagine it's priced much higher than here in the US (though we don't have a 350, I would guess it's priced like a 500 or even 55)

 

Prices start at approx US$ 100,000. Loaded you need approx US$140,000. Taxes are at about 60% over here!

 

Wow and I hear people complaining about CLS prices here in the U.S. & gas over $2.50 a gallon.

 

prices similar to these in my country - CLS 350 $100 000, CLS 500 $123 000, CLS 55 AMG $175 000.

by the way, congratuations i still haven't tested CLS

 

Congrats ! nice color combo !
The base price of CLS350 is $130,600 here in Taiwan, with luxury load ..... I can't image it.

 

how does the red interior look? I saw in your pics the red interior and was wondering if you could take some pics of the inside of the car? Are the floors beige?

 

I have been looking everywhere to see the red interior? How does it look? Any chance you could send more pictures of the red interior? The floor looks beige?

 

beautiful beautiful car! I absolutely love that color combo! Congrats on the new car, is that nappa leather or standard interior. BTW that isn't beige carpeting it is the cardboard carpet protectors that the factory puts in the cars before they leave. A lot of dealers in other countries deliver the cars with the plastic still on the seats and floors.

 

Thanks all! It's standard leather not Nappa. Jsapiente, as you requested some more pics. Yup it's just some cardboards, They only remove them and the plastics when the car is being delivered, which it was last Saturday. If I get to 'borrow' it then I'll take even more pics of the interior.

 

My wife is from Tanzania, and I visited with her family last month for the first time, and her father picked us up from the airport in Dar Es Salaam in a black CLS350....the car ride was great...I wanted to drive it so badly....

 

niceee!!! I placed an order with same color combo.
Can you please take more pictures when you have chance, with different lighting? THANK YOU!

 

i looked at the same combo and i think it's not red enuff like the imola red of the bmw. i think if i ever were to get a cls it would have to be white with black interior.

Raja

 

Yea, I would of liked MB to release some 350 models here. Not just of the CLS either.