Every one of our long-term test cars undergoes track testing just like all the short-term cars that pass through our garage doors. For LT cars, we test them at the beginning and end of their stay with us. For the Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, we decided to test the car in Scotland...or at least that's what the weather was like at our testing facility (I could almost hear the bagpipes). It's the type of conditions the Scots refer to as "atmospheric" (versus the two other types, "miraculous" and "crap"). With a thick fog, constant mist and a chill in the air, we realized why none of the British car publications publish substantial track numbers -- they can't. With a wet track, the morning was literally a wash, and without one of those GMC Sierra track drier thingies, we had to wait for the sun.
When the track finally dried, the C300 managed very well. Continue reading for official numbers and video of the testing.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 3,780 miles
ACCELERATION & BRAKING
0-30 - 2.6 seconds
0-45 - 4.4 seconds
0-60 - 6.9 seconds
0-75 - 10.0 seconds
1/4 Mile (ET/MPH) - 15.3 seconds @ 91.5 mph
60-0 - 114 feet
30-0 - 29 feet
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton: For 0-60, "a little tire scratch was all it could muster at launch. However, it's quicker than I predicted and every upshift is nearly seamless at wide-open throttle." The brakes are "Trustworthy, firm, consistant, German."
SKIDPAD
0.89 G
Chris Walton: "Amazingly easy to maintain all the way around with zero steering input, only throttle. Gobs of grip and talkative steering."
SLALOM
67.6 mph
Chris Walton: "ESP is not off despite the button...ESP only intrudes when the driver is too hasty or sloppy. Great turn-in and grip-o-plenty. I only wish for less ESP and more power for an exit with a flourish."
In-car with Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton.
This video gives a better (and more stable) view of what Chris is doing behind the wheel. Makes it look easy, eh?
roar02ram says:
11:45 AM, 12/21/07
Mercedes-Benz should pay you guys for the principal shot in this post. FANTASTIC!
vic_pe says:
11:55 AM, 12/21/07
That's an awesome set of videos for the simple reason it's what we should see more of!
I love the fact you showed interior drive videos. We really need that in all your LT vehicles. Also, up the video and sound quality a bit, I liked hearing the interior engine sound!
roar02ram says:
03:34 PM, 12/21/07
Hey, is that the big gold Sequoia that Karl was blogging on in the background?
carfreak8394 says:
03:43 PM, 12/21/07
Two things;
First of all, those pictures you took are AWESOME .
And second of all, Chris Walton must love his job.
;D
benson2175 says:
04:02 PM, 12/21/07
Radio Shack or the Source by Circuit City whatever it's called now sells a suction cup tripod for $4.99. It's perfect for in car video shot with a small digital camera. Where's the video like this of the Ferrari?
jr1m90 says:
07:15 PM, 12/21/07
Very nice! I agree, more videos and posts like this would be ideal.
This really raises my respect for this car, as those are some great numbers for a 'base' C Class.
The moral of the story: always buy the big wheels!
autoboy16 says:
08:22 PM, 12/21/07
I really love the videos!! I would really like to see these more often on the L.T. cars! The only longterm video other than the ones as of late is on a 99VW Passat!
Too bad the 330i, miata, and SI are gone... Luckily the G35, Altima, Accord, and Cclass are still available.
Heres for a long term BMW 135i/x5/535i or VW GLI/GTI...
-Cj
hondacura4 says:
09:00 PM, 12/21/07
I love the styling as its timeless yet modern at the same time. Only the Germans can pull that off.
louiswei says:
12:11 PM, 12/22/07
As long as there is a tri-point star and blue-and-white-propeller emblem on the hood then it's timeless yet modern, Hooray...
I do agree that this C-class looks good though. The 3-series, Audis and previous C-class, not so much.
mlowery85 says:
01:01 AM, 12/23/07
I've said it before and I'll say it again - that car is absolutely stunning. I have got to get one of those!
bimmerjay says:
12:58 PM, 12/23/07
Great grip and very good slalom speed, but the acceleration is 'meh'.
hondacura4 says:
02:21 PM, 12/23/07
Bimmer, its pretty quick for an entry level C Class given its a 3.0 with "only" 230hp. Im willing to bet the C350 will get the tweaked 3.5 V6 next year as the MMC SLK350 just recieved a revamped 305hp 3.5 V6.
louiswei says:
08:51 PM, 12/23/07
"Im willing to bet the C350 will get the tweaked 3.5 V6 next year as the MMC SLK350 just recieved a revamped 305hp 3.5 V6."
Yup, so whoever bought the first year C350 is a sucker just like those who bought the E90 330i...
hondacura4 says:
10:26 AM, 12/24/07
Louiswei, Im glad to finally see we agree on something. =)
louiswei says:
12:48 PM, 12/24/07
"Louiswei, Im glad to finally see we agree on something."
I am pretty sure that we agree more than one thing given that your user name has both Honda and Acura in there.
cruiserhead1 says:
11:41 PM, 12/26/07
I have been disappointed with Mercedes for awhile now (since the death of the 500E). Quality seems to be sub-par and all the Mercedes exude a quality of "cheapness".
This new C-class got my interest though. The styling is crisp and not the mushy, wannabe Lexus styling of the past.
I'm curious about the real world updates and overall quality compared to it's rivals (A4, BMW 3)
trackwrex says:
02:51 PM, 12/27/07
I LOVE THIS SET OF VIDEOS!!! Great job James and Chris! Love the in-car cam! Personally, I'm pretty pleased with the job they did with the new C-Class. It's definitely a different course from the last one. Styling and luxury aside, the performance is pretty decent. It's no 3-series- so don't expect that kind of handling but it's not a disappointment. At least that's the impression I got when I did the C-drive.
sdevol says:
12:21 PM, 01/18/08
Head over to mbworld.org to find out how to completely disable ESP ... unfortunately it also disables ABS, which seems odd.