2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Long-Term Road Tests Archives

In the past couple of weeks we've had a lot of turnover in our long-term fleet. Some cars have gone bye-bye and we've gotten a couple of newbies. I thought you'd want an update.

Gone are the BMW X5, Audi R8 and Dodge Grand Caravan. There will be no more blogs on these cars, but look for an in depth wrap-up on each in the next few weeks, just like the one we published on our Mercedes C300 today. All three are already missed. The X5 and R8 were staff favorites, and the minivan proved to be great at moving people and things, even if we didn't always shower it with praise.

New to the fleet is a bitchin' black 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T we purchased about a week ago. Look for its full introduction to this blog next week and a flood of posts soon after. We also recently acquired a Hyundai Genesis sedan and a Nissan 370Z, both of which we introduced to you and this blog recently.

Soon to finish up their time in our fleet will be the Cadillac CTS, Pontiac G8, the 2002 BMW E46 M3, our Subaru WRX STI and our BMW 135i. Any suggestions on replacements?

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 BMW X5 4.8i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT,2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring

I just spend 2,400 miles driving out long-term 2008 Cadillac CTS from Detroit to Los Angeles. Then I just drove our long-term 2008 Mercedes C300 Sport for the weekend. Which do I prefer? Thought you'd never ask.

Exterior Style: Cadillac (Duh.)

Interior Comfort: Mercedes (Seats are better in the Benz.)

Interior Quality: Cadillac (The Benz is cheap and plasticy like Cadillacs used to be.)

List of Features: Cadillac (Cad has satellite radio and heated seats, Benz does not.)

Price: Mercedes (Cad costs nearly $7,000 more than our Benz.)

Engine Performance: Cadillac (Cad's larger engine has more power and gets as good or better fuel economy.)

Transmission: Cadillac (Usually I'm a fan of the Benz 7-speed, but it's tuning in the C300 makes it slow to respond and too top gear happy. Cad's 6-speed works better with its engine.)

Handling: Mercedes (I wears summer tires, while the Cad is on all seasons.)

Brakes: Mercedes (Tires help again.)

Steering: Cadillac (Benz steering has good feel, but it's oddly distant on center and often feels overboosted.

Ride: Mercedes (This is a tough call, but the suspension tuning in the Benz feels a bit more sophisticated.)

Durability: Cadillac (So far, more things have gone wrong with the Benz.)

Add up the score and I drive the Cadillac home. Which would you choose?

Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

Categories: 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I'm pretty sure the junkyard where I bought these wheels for my truck had never seen a Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot. And judging by the looks of the guys who helped me load the wheels into the C300's trunk, it was definitely the first time any parts from said junkyard were ever actually deposited into a Mercedes-Benz.

But as you can see, all four wheels fit just fine. And thanks to a lovingly thrown down towel, it suffered no permanent scrapes or bruises.

In fact, it seems as though our C300 has suffered very little wear over its 21,000 miles. The doors still close with a light touch and a solid thunk. There are no squeaks, no rattles, nothing. There are virtually no signs of wear anywhere in the car as far as I can tell and that's nothing to sneeze at given how this car has been passed around.

Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 21,007 miles

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I had three pleasant days in our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport and it brought me back to my car buying roots. The first car I bought was a 1960 Mercedes 190. The thing looked like a bowler hat. It had an overhead cam, 4-cylinder engine, but it still couldn't get out of its own way.

Cut to several decades later and I'm driving around Riverside County helping to introduce Edmunds' New Car Inventory feature to local dealers (here's an example of listings available for Nissan in the Los Angeles area).

I logged 180 miles and got 27.7 mpg (on premium gas). During my entire time in the car, I couldn't think of a single significant aspect of the car that I didn't like. The look, feel, responsiveness was all what wanted from a car.

How to sum all this up? I've always loved the feel of German cars. And that German car feel is alive and well in the C300.

Philip Reed, Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor @ 20892 miles

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I got behind the wheel of our C300 again for the first time in a long time and was reminded how much I like this car.

What I like most (and many will disagree with me) is it's looks. At first I thought the snub nosed German was a little much, but over time it has definitely grown on me. It has presence.

Granted the design is due to upcoming EU pedestrian safety regulations, but it's tough guy good looks are like putting a boxer with a mangled schnoz into a sharp looking tuxedo. He might not win a beauty contest, but his intimidating gaze won't let you doubt his style.

Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I know I haven't always had nice things to say about our long-term 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, but I came to an interesting conclusion after spending a few days recently with Audi's new 2009 2.0T Quattro sedan:

I think I'd rather have the Benz.

My chief complaint is the rather ragged sound and feel of the amped-up 2.0T, which Mr. Kavanagh has already discussed in an excellent post on our long-term A4 Avant. The 2.0T's econobox-style four-cylinder drone, replete with steering-wheel vibrations at higher rpm, just seems out of place in an entry-level luxury sedan. I share Jay's bewilderment: "Audi doesn't think its customers care...about such trivialities?" I certainly care -- I'll take the C300's smooth and authoritative V6 growl every day of the week.

Am I alone here? Would anyone else take the Benz over the Audi?

Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

Our C300 Sport came with these beautiful 18" AMG wheels, the merits and liabilities about them has already been discussed by many of you, but there's one facet to them that may have been overlooked. That big / ///AMG block cast into the wheel is directly opposite the valve stem. Wonder why?

Continue reading...

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

When driving alone, I love the C300. It has sport sedan handling combined with an excellent engine - each time I drive it I'm reminded how, for the money, I wouldn't need a C350 or a me too 3-series (double "me too!" in black).

Sadly, there is one problem with the C300. The rear seats are sculpted too narrow making it VERY difficult to use my kid's booster seat. It's almost impossible to get the seat belt clipped in - usually my 6 year old can do it himself, not on the C-Class. Maybe this Graco booster is too wide? Not sure but it is a huge hassle. A new $40 booster seat isn't the end of the world but I'd want to know this before I bought the car. 

Bottom line, take all your stuff to the dealership before buying any car - iPod, phone, baby seat, booster, stroller - whatever you use regularly, make sure it works and/or fits with the car you want.

 Brian Moody, Senior Automotive Editor @ 20,056 miles.

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

 No early morining video shoots or Office 2007 training sessions this week can only mean one thing, Well, two actually - sleeping in and breakfast burritos from Pepe's in Pico Rivera. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Pepe's has the best BB's this side of the Rockies. Zipping up the 605 fwy is effortless thanks to the C300 Sport. Power delivery is smooth and seamless. However, if it were my money, I'd skip the AMG wheels hoping for a slightly more compliant ride - emphasis on slight. If money were no object, would you rather have sporty handling or a softer ride? 

Finally, the C300 isn't a huge car but the trunk is spacious enough - gift shopping as well as a full cart of Christmas dinner groceries showed the C Class to be both a fun and functional sport sedan.

Brian Moody, Senior Automotive Editor @ 20,000 miles 

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

Turn the steering wheel in our C300 at speed and it's silent. Turn the wheel at low speeds and it lets out an obnoxious groan. This isn't the first quality issue we've encountered with the Benz, and we haven't even reached the 20k mark.

So the other day I was passenger in a '98 Chevy Tahoe. We backed out of a driveway, and sure enough, the steering wheel released the same groan. But this truck has over 100,000 miles on the odometer. Is this a compliment to GM build quality?

Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 19,700

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

Over the weekend, our long-term Mercedes C300 threw up a low tire pressure warning. It's one of those systems that tells you that you have a low tire, but not which one, so you have to check all four tires to see which one's low.

I finally got around to checking the pressures right before this morning's commute. Factory pressures listed on the doorjamb are 33 psi front and 38 psi rear.

The fronts, according to my handheld digi-gauge, were 31.5 and 32 psi, and the rears were 40.5 and 35 psi. None of those measured pressures come even close the accepted TPMS threshold of 25%. Curious, I re-checked a front tire several times with the same gauge: 26 psi. 17. 34. 36. 32. 

So, yeah, time to get a good tire pressure gauge.

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor @ 19,697 miles.

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

When I listen to my iPod in the Mercedes C300, I choose a play list, hook it up in the glove box, then I can control it on the steering wheel. To advance to the next track I push the down arrow on the left of the steering wheel. It's the opposite in the Cadillac CTS. In the Caddy, you push the up arrow to skip tracks. Either way is fine.

But today I forgot my iPod. To quell my separation anxiety I loaded a CD into the Benz's audio system. But now to advance tracks I need to press the up arrow. What the heck?

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

There's no good reason for this car to have 18-inch wheels. You can paint it up like a DTM racing car if you want, but it's still never going to be sports sedan.

Until you drive cross-country, you'll never understand just how good a Mercedes-Benz really is. It goes down the road with a purpose, but all the rough edges have been smoothed down from long experience with the whole vehicle engineering thing, so everything works with the sure, carefully damped action of the turn-signal stalk on a Mercedes S-class sedan.

And then Americans take our Mercs and put the biggest wheels we can find on them and spoil the whole thing.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

We dropped the C300 off at Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach the other day for a handful of minor issues: (1) broken fog lamp, (2) creaking from the sunroof, (3) front-end alignment and (4) re-attach the rubber pad on the emergency brake that mysteriously fell off.

This dealership is very convenient. And the work performed is always done to our satisfaction. But it has never been our favorite due to its anti-customer service. Not to mention the general air of disorganization.

So it wasn't a big surprise when the cashier sent us to the valet for our keys (wait 10 mins), the valet sent us back to the cashier for the keys (wait another 5 mins), the cashier handed us the keys that were in her drawer all along and sends us back to the valet. Rather than pull our car around the valet points behind him and says, "Your car is right back there, sir."

Buried in the sea of cars was our C300. Inside it we found plastic still on the seat and paper mats on the floor. Courteous at the time, but now just trash. Also on the seat was the above invitation to experience a little cheese, a little wine and the little GL.

Cost: $386.12

Days out of service: 1

Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 19,030 miles

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

According to our TMV pricing tool, our long-term 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport would cost $41,370 as an '09 model. That's pretty much dead-even with the comparably-equipped '09 Infiniti G37S we tested recently.

You'd never guess as much if you drove these cars back to back.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.

The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Ford GT,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2007 Honda Fit Sport,2007 Kia Rondo,2007 Saturn Aura XR,2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab,2008 BMW 135i,2008 BMW X5 4.8i,2008 Buick Enclave CX,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6,2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD,2008 Mazda CX-9,2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Scion xB,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Nissan GT-R

I took a few days off last week and my car of choice was the Mercedes C300. It's attractive, comfortable, drives smoothly and likes my iPod. It's my go-to car whenever I have some free time. It's perfect for my height (5'4") and also accommodates my taller passengers.

Only problem: Ever since our C300's camping trip in the dust bowl, it's been oozing dust from every seam.

So, once again, it made a trip to the car wash. Lucky for us, our local car wash has a great little gift shop attached to it. We never mind waiting around for a car to get a bath.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 15,600 miles

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

I must have looked past this a dozen or more times, but it didn't register. But this week I'm having trouble with the PCMCIA card slot in my laptop, so the little light bulb above my head finally went on. Our 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport has exactly the same sort of PC Card slot in plain sight, fiddly eject button and all.

Because I have a laptop, it just so happens that I have Compact Flash cards and a PCMCIA card. We use them to transfer data from our VBOX data logger on track days. And I have CDs. So I ripped a few tunes onto a CF card and gave it a try.

Continue reading...

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

This past weekend was my first time back into our C300. I was worried the dust storm that ravaged our Benz would come back to haunt me. It has.

I turned the wheel of the car as I backed out of the parking space down in our garage and a low "squeeeeeak" followed by an "eeeeeeeeek" as I turned the wheel back to center came out of the steering column. It didn't do that before.

This sucks.

Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport

For the holiday weekend, I decided to get out and do a little camping and stay at my family's cabin in Tahoe. In the far reaches of Nevada I set up my tent only to be assaulted by nature.

A gentle breeze soon escalated into a dust storm that raged for seven hours. My tent wasn't built for such forces. It was so bad at times I couldn't see the sun or the hood of our Mercedes I had taken cover in.

The holiday fun had ceased to be. Nature won by ripping up my high-summer seasonal tent and filling it with ten pounds of fine silt. A few items inside the now violently flopping tent took off into the sky like rockets. I ran out into the gusting dust clouds to recover as much of my equipment as possible. When I jumped back into the car I sneezed mud and dust came pouring out of my ears like upturned bags of flour.

I drove the four hours back to Tahoe in the middle of the night to recover at my family's cabin. In the morning I got a good look at the disaster that was our C300. It was white, not the original dark gray and the interior was tan, not the original black. I vacuumed out the engine bay and interior as best I could. I found a coin-op car wash on my way back to LA and hosed off the outside. I was further depressed when flows of mud ran out of the cracks and crevices from the massive quantities of hidden silt I drove off. The long drive back to LA was a snifflely one as dust still saturated the interior.

The first thing I did when I arrived was to dropped it off at the local car wash for a well deserved detail. Hopefully that $150 will do some good.

Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 15,130 miles

Categories: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport