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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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FYI, the full 40mph IIHS offset crash tests are usually conducted about a month after these bumper crash tests. We all already know that the C-class will do very well in the 40mph test, based on MB's own internal crash test footage.
Drew
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Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
He just about blew a gasket. He wanted to deliver the car to the office. NO WAY JOSE!
BTW. I ordered the car on 10/30. It would have been here a few days ago but the ship ran into some bad weather.
The dealer here is sticking to the .00445 lease factor. This seems strange since the rates have come down and the lease rate was to high to start with.
They are going to install the CD for $795.00 and add a pinstripe.
MF = 0.0039
I definitely expect the Interest rate to be lower
by the end of tomorrow.
Residual = 70 % after 36 months (15K miles/year)
Residual = 66 % after 42 months same mileage rate.
"Mercedes says its cars are specially designed to protect occupants and changing the bumper design to reduce repair costs would compromise safety, which it says is their biggest concern."
Feel free to pester MBUSA about this via their e-mail address at http://www.mbusa.com. ;-) I sort of have an idea as to why, but I'm not certain. Wonder what the salesguy/service advisor will think of this when I show the info to them tomorrow when I pick up my ML from its service.
Here is the IIHS news release: http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2001/pr013001.htm , as well as tonight's Dateline NBC transcript (which has video clips) of the IIHS bumper crash test segment: http://www.msnbc.com/news/522137.asp
FWIW, the 40mph IIHS offset crash tests are usually conducted about 1 month after the bumper crash tests, and cover the vehicles that were involved in the bumper crash tests. This means that the C-class very likely will be crash tested again. But as I said, we all already know that it will do well based on the MB internal crash test footage clips that I posted a while back (thanks to Tarik). In the offset crash test, the crumple zone was so effective in absorbing and containing the damage that the windshield was not even damaged/cracked in the test!
raj
You can actually test this feature by leaving the gear in neutral, revving up the engine to perhaps 2500 rpm, stepping on the brake pedal and shifting into "D" before the revs drop. You'll see that the transmission will not allow you to shift into D until the revs drop to a safe level. Just don't do this in front of a house to be on the safe side! Find a clear road or parking lot to experiment.
As for the 2nd issues, when the engine is cold (ex. after startup), it can hold the gears slightly longer to higher revs so that the engine will warm up quicker. This is because cold start emissions are the highest, and this is one of MB's ways of making the engine warm up quicker (the 3 valve per cylinder design helps in this too).
BTW, have any of you noticed how quickly the interior cabin heat comes in after a cold start? Most vehicles take 5 minutes to bring the coolant temperature up, but the C-class warms up extremely quickily (as does the M-class) and heat seems to come in after just a minute or so though. Very nice! The reason is in the paragraph above.
Hope this helps!
Drew
Host
Vans and SUVs message boards
raj
unacceptable in everyones book I think.
And wouldn't ya know it, the other bad loser was a Chrysler, albeit a Town & Country.
ay yi yi.
However, in Canada, there is STILL a 5 MPH (8 km/h) bumper standard in effect. This, like the original US standard, is not a "no damage" standard, but rather a safety systems integrity test: all lights must still work afterwards, and I imagine that a trunk popping open in the test would be grounds for failure.
Although I am not familiar with the specifics of the Canadian Market C bumper reinforcements (if any), I do know that many other cars are modified for the Canadian market in order to meet this standard. For example, the Peugeot 405 had different bumper reinforcements in Canada than in the USA (therefore it's not legal to import a US 405 to Canada without changing the bumper reinforcements). The 405 wagon was never sold in Canada because its rear bumper was incapable of meeting the 8 km/h standard. Even now, BMW wagons are not sold here, presumably for the same reason. There are many other examples.
In conclusion, I'd like to see the CDN version C in this test; perhaps it would have been better.
I couldn't find your past post. Also couldn't find crash info for C-Class. Was the test a 2000 C-class? If so, what were results or where could i find them? Thanks for info.
maybe they figure anyone that buys a car for 35,000 and up.. just can afford a $1000 repair... and doesnt care?? nahhhh.. to cynical... maybe..... maybe... ;=0 ????
Thanks
My opinion, but our car handles very poorly in snow and ice... at least I don't like the feel of it. Those performance tires just don't lend themselves to good traction.
Although we don't get much snow and ice in Oklahoma, the MB sits in the gararage when it does.
That aside, we really like the car. What options are on this car? 30K sounds like to me it might be a little high unless it is really loaded.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download
http://www.off-road.com/mbenz/videos/ta_offset.mov
http://www.off-road.com/mbenz/videos/ta_fullwidth.mov
http://www.off-road.com/mbenz/videos/ta_water.mov
This better be good. :-) By the way, I am using Eloan to do the financing. I'm paying 7.06% for 48 months which seems to be about as good a deal as possible.
Anyone try Progressive auto insurance? They don't have a C-320 when you fill out the quote application.
No dealers out here have the stick shift; does anybody out there drive one? What do you think?
Also, is there room for negotiations with MB on the C240?
Thanks
A gold C was displayed beside it and really from any distance the size difference didn't appear extreme, that the same color would look just as good on the C.
Black and ash with a gold pinstripe! AWESOME
C1, C2, Automatic, Bose and CD changer.
We heard the TICK, TICK, TICK while the salesman was giving us the walk around. He programmed the garage door opener and that did not work when we got home but I am sure I can get that fixed. I also am having a few problems getting the memory seat set up but I will play with that some more also.
So many gadgets and so little time! My wife and I are going to take a 200 mile day trip on Sunday to get used to everything.
First impression ---------- everything I expected and more.
Quick question, does your car have the LATCH babyseat brackets, between rear seatback and seat bottoms, that hinge out and lock or does yours have them perminently out and visible? Ours has the type that swing out and lock, but we talked to our saleman this weekend and he said the last few they've gotten in have them out and in the way of adults sitting in the rear! Just curious! Keep us posted on how it all goes with the new C!!
So at 3300 LBS (C-Class) I found it to be very good acceleration, but test drive it yourself, (there must be a dealer within a 100 miles with a 6 MT ?)
As for the rear child seat rings, if you don't want them, two minutes with a bolt cutter will fix that issue.
I realize that its personal taste, but for the life of me, why would you want to hang a pin stripe on the C? This car is a pictue of understanted elegence without the K-Mart hang ons. Reminds me of the "Gold Treatment" on certain Toyotas and Cadillacs.
I am taking delivery of a Black C320 w/th C2,C3,Full Leather and CD changer in mid March. With a build date of Feb.20th,2001.
So obviously,I was concerned about that previous post. As the present design is perfect. Just push the button and you can either pull out or fold in the latches as deemed necessary.
I called the client assist center based on a suggestion from a salesman at the manufacturer owned dealership here on Park Avenue in Mahattan. He explained to me, how they get daily notices via intranet of any factory changes to car models. Being the dealership is actually owned by Mercedes they get first notices of changes before other dealers do and he had not seen any notices of that issue. He took it one step further, by giving me the client assist number in NJ, saying, they actually get notices before his dealership does. The number is:(201)573-0600
Remember,this is the manufacturer owned dealership who provided me with with all this info and I'm not even leasing my car from them. I happened to be in their area and walked in off the street and brought up this concern. If I'm not mistaken, the Mercedes dealership on Park Avenue and on West 41st and Eleventh Ave. in Mahattan is the only Manufacturer owned dealership on the East coast.
Though I live in Manhattan,I am leasing my C320 from Prestige Motors in NJ. Because, they gave me the best deal in the tri-state area.
Feel free to call Mercedes and inquire as well, as this will only make sure they wont change the design if they are thinking about it.
I inquired about putting in the springs/shocks for my C320 and when the service department inquired, they said they said it is not possible.
To get the springs from MB, you need to supply the VIN # and only exact replacements are allowed. Not sure about the shocks. In addition, they said any mods to the suspension with out MB approval voids the warranty.
This did not apply to wheels/tires as long as the outer diameter of the tire was the same.
--Dale
at least while the car is new. I will get advice from my Dealer on break in.
I hardly ever use the parking brake now, while in traffic. Find it is just time in the seat and you get comfortable with the clutch brake gas...
I will definitely practise on some hills (with no other cars around...)
I walked past the side prep lot and I'm pretty sure I saw my car, it was the only green one, so I figure it must be mine. The color actually looked a bit lighter and brighter than I expected, and the interior seemed a bit more beige than gray, but I was viewing from a distance.
I'm figuring the Eloan thing should be fine. Even if they want to keep the car until the bank draft clears I think I could deal with that, but I don't think it will be necessary. After all, they will take a personal check from me for the part I'm plunking down on my own, so I assume the bank draft will work fine. I will let everyone know of course.
Hopefully my car will be one of the trouble free samples. :-)
We just went for a little 60 mi drive for dessert and coffee and the car was perfect. I got the memory seat figured out and the garage door opener programed. The acceleration is more than adequate. I ran it from 60 up to 85 so quick I was surprised. very quiet!
The dealer put the pinstripe on just to see how it looked. I have not even seen the car in the daylight yet so I don't have an opinion yet.
No Zaino yet so I guess I will have to wait till next week for that job!
It's not that I need my car, It's that I really, really want it. Every time I read a post about someone who gets to go pick up their car I get really jealous. Oh well, I guess mine will be all the more rewarding when I eventually do get it.
Keep up all of the wonderful posts. It is nice to see so many truly enjoying their new C.
Thanks a bunch,
Kim
Look on the bright side, maybe most of the minor bugs will be worked out by the time they build your car!