So finally I got to drive the W204 C350 Sport today at the C Drive event in Santa Monica @ the Santa Monica airport, and while the C is still a superb car, the C350 doesn't really move things on from the level of the C300. Sure it's a more powerful, "torquier" engine, but there's no real tangible advantage over the smaller, slightly less expensive 3.0 V6 model. It kind of reminds me of the initial offerings for the E90 when it first became available with the 330i and 325i; Hard to justify the extra money for a marginal improvement in performance. In my view, the only advantages in purchasing a C350 over the C300 is getting a few more standard features(P2 package is std., which I'd never do w/ out in addt. to the '18 twin 5-s wheels) that you would have had to pay for otherwise in the C300, but you are paying more money, and if you're anything like me, you watch where every red cent goes. At the end of the day, for me, the C350 just doesn't make cents.

What's my opinion on the C Drive event itself!? Great! I got $50 worth in I tunes gift cards just by filling out a survey for MB(Mom came along and filled one out too, gave me her I tunes gift card). There were all kinds of treats and plenty of lavish little extras they threw our way as "party favors" at and after the event. You can really see MB making an effort to "market" not only the new C but the brand as well by communicating brand values through associations with other luxury goods manufacutres and the distribution of their products to event attendees as "party favours". Slightly cheesy, but hey, it's all for the sake of making a "good impression".

Outside there was a tent where attendees lined up to drive the new C. There were 3 different groups that went out in caravans, one after the other. We spent about a total of 20 minutes driving the car right outside of the airport and on the closed course where we were able to "push" the C to the extent of our individual talent. Here I really was enamored by the W204's chassis dynamics, which until previously I had a good but ultimately vague impression of. The first part of the closed course was accelerating on partially loose surface(sand was placed on one side of the asphalt, this was to test the cars grip on loose surface under acceleration) that was followed by a brake test. Afterwards we went through an ultra mini slalom and onto simulated cornering. As I said I was very impressed w/ the W204's cornering attitude when pressed, while the particular car I drove had "17 wheels & rubber, it handled the course flawlessly. I must have been going about 50 or so through the simulated cornering apparatus, you could hear the tires gripping but by no means are you lead to believe that the car is struggling in any way. Handling is completely composed and resolute regardless of your enthusiasm to press on, and the steering is light but full of detailed feel, it's hard to get it wrong. The W204 actually rewards this kind of driving. A car for the enthusiast? Yes, the enthusiast in me.


Pics from the event:








Photobucket is being really really slow for what reason, I dont know? I'll try and get the rest up tomorrow, I have like another 10 pics.