German Car Zone

I'm not sure either, but I don't ever remember them having to specifically concentrate on it either. If it was engineered in they never let on about it. I would guess it has something to do with thinner sheetmetal or something. We need to get together and saw some old Benzes in half to see!

M

Same here. I was hoping that AMS drove the new C-Class. I guess they were lucky enough to have even been invited along in the first place. No other car magazine in Germany has a "close review" on the car yet.

Anytime.


"Softer, more deformable materials underneath the bonnet improve pedestrian safety."

It does have psycological effects, positive in this case. It can only benefit the car because buyers and traditional Mercedes customers will like that sound. You know why.

In the old days, the best way to insure occupant safety was to use heavy steel and make the doors and surrounding areas as "tough as possible". This naturally adds weight and this was the reason for the "tank-like thud sound".

This sound is present on my '85 300SE and my dad's '89 500SL but our E320 has a more "toned down" version of this sound. The doors of the E320 also feel much lighter in comparison to the two 1980s Benzes we have.

My problem with Lexus comes mainly from some of the Lexus fanboys. Sometimes I read the Lexus forums just to see what their opinion is on things and those people really think that Lexus is on the same level with the Germans and Europeans in terms of prestige. Yeah right.

Look at the history of Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Aston Martin etc. Heck, I'm willing to claim that Fiat, Citroën, Renault etc. have more prestige than Lexus because they've invented and innovated and have made some awesome cars, had motorsport success etc. Lexus has none of that.

Awhile ago, Lexus won some race at NASCAR and immediately some of the Lexus fanboys were claiming that now Lexus should get some "respect" because of this. Here's what I think. Anyone can win a race, but it takes multiple race victories to win a championship, and that's what counts. Also, NASCAR to me is nothing special. Bunch of cars driving around in a cirlce, pretty boring. Formula One, Carrera Panamericana Mexicó etc., those are the races that make me respect a manufacturer.

I can respect their products, because there's no doubt that they're excellent cars, but some of their buyers and fans just annoy me with their BS.

Thanks for the scans!!!
This car is a great improvement of the old model but i'm not sure for some of the line of the new C Class

That would be Can-AM not the North American Spec Crash Advertising Resletainment.

Both Porsche and BMW won the 24H of Daytona in its hey days in the 70s.

Also you forgot to mention Le Mans, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, old Monte Carlo Rally, old RAC Rally, Spa, Nurburgring.

Thank you for reminding me of the other races that Lexus does not participate in and yet thinks of itself as being on the same prestige level as the Europeans - or even the Americans.

That's good news since both front doors in my '01 C320 rattle when closed which is the glass slapping back and forth. They are all that way and the odd thing is the rear doors sound normal and solid.

Another cost cutter was eliminating the polyfilm sheet in the door. As a result, a small breeze flows out around the seat adjustment controls right onto my left hand on the wheel plus out through the horizontal parting line of the door panel onto my left hip. In cold weather, this is annoying.