Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Mercedes-Benz C 400 4Matic

[Autos_Editor]

The new C 400 is a rewarding combination of performance, comfort, luxury and safety ' at a price.
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[Benhaze]

Very thorough article. Thank you for providing some many details.

One question Greg if I may: some reviewers have a completely different opinion about the air suspension, stating is it either a must for someone who wants the best handling or it is better to avoid because it brings more roll and is less precised than the sport suspension without the air bags. What is your opinion, hoping that you have driven both? Thanks.

[vols1]

There definitely seems to be some differing opinions about the air suspension option. If leasing, it's a consideration but I wouldn't want to pay for repairs on it if it's out of warranty. This has got to be a high ticket item. The interior is really nice with high quality materials. The Alabama plant that manufactures the C class seems to have some quality control issues so maybe best to wait for the 2016 models if this is on your list.

[JohnnyMac]

"The C 400’s standard audio system has 100 watts, five speakers, four mid-range speakers in the doors and one bass speaker in the footwell,"

You're kidding me with this audio system right?  For a base price of $50K you'd think you'd get more than 5 speakers and 100 watts.  I'm pretty sure most midsize cars nowadays come with better standard systems (maybe not Subaru).

[johngenx]

We built a stereo system in a 911 that consisted of two 10" drivers run at a wider range and two tweeters - and running not much more than 100W.  That system won awards.

How?  Well, I'd rather have 100 clean watts than 1000 muddy watts.  And number of speakers isn't necessarily gong to create a pleasurable sound-stage.

Personally, I don't judge systems on # of speakers or watts, etc, but on how they sound.  I'd want to hear it first.

[mmret]

"The C 400’s standard audio system has 100 watts, five speakers, four mid-range speakers in the doors and one bass speaker in the footwell,"

You're kidding me with this audio system right?  For a base price of $50K you'd think you'd get more than 5 speakers and 100 watts.  I'm pretty sure most midsize cars nowadays come with better standard systems (maybe not Subaru).

I'm surprised it doesn't have speakers in the rear as well.

But yeah, while I'm sure the fancy Burmester system is better, wattage and number of speakers are not great metrics.

[quadzilla]

We built a stereo system in a 911 that consisted of two 10" drivers run at a wider range and two tweeters - and running not much more than 100W.  That system won awards.

How?  Well, I'd rather have 100 clean watts than 1000 muddy watts.  And number of speakers isn't necessarily gong to create a pleasurable sound-stage.

Personally, I don't judge systems on # of speakers or watts, etc, but on how they sound.  I'd want to hear it first.

+ 1000

I'm sure they measure the watts in (factory) car stereo by a special formula that nobody else uses. Seriously, how many watts do you need in a car? They are smaller than a closet.

SO many people get hung up on numbers and forget to listen. I had a 50W amp driving my inefficient Dynaudio speakers at home and sounded great and was more than loud enough.

[pi314]

We built a stereo system in a 911 that consisted of two 10" drivers run at a wider range and two tweeters - and running not much more than 100W.  That system won awards.

How?  Well, I'd rather have 100 clean watts than 1000 muddy watts.  And number of speakers isn't necessarily gong to create a pleasurable sound-stage.

Personally, I don't judge systems on # of speakers or watts, etc, but on how they sound.  I'd want to hear it first.

+ 1000

I'm sure they measure the watts in (factory) car stereo by a special formula that nobody else uses. Seriously, how many watts do you need in a car? They are smaller than a closet.

SO many people get hung up on numbers and forget to listen. I had a 50W amp driving my inefficient Dynaudio speakers at home and sounded great and was more than loud enough.

I also agree... While I don't have any high end systems personally, I've had some exposure to mixing, and a lot of musical background.

I have a Logitech X540 5.1 computer speaker system. Now I'm not going to say it's the best sound in the world, but it only has 140 watts, and for that it provides an excellent sound, better than most home-theaters in a box with up to 10x the wattage that I've heard.

[Northernridge]

Are there sales numbers out yet? I wonder how the new C Class is selling.

I'm looking forward to trying this new engine in the E Class (E400).

[Sir Osis of Liver]

A4 includes Allroad, without which A4 sales were down 29% to 1563

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2015/02/usa-small-midsize-luxury-car-sales-figures-january-2015.html

[Fobroader]

Not a half bad looking car....but they made the center stack look horrible. It looks so cheesy and tacky. The IS or CTS would be my picks at this range.

[Northernridge]

Interesting sale numbers, looks like the new C had a decent January.

I see E-Class and A6 sales are way off while the GS is up and actually outsold the A6.

[dirtyjeffer]

Not a half bad looking car....but they made the center stack look horrible. It looks so cheesy and tacky. The IS or CTS would be my picks at this range.

what about the ATS-V?

[Fobroader]

Not a half bad looking car....but they made the center stack look horrible. It looks so cheesy and tacky. The IS or CTS would be my picks at this range.

what about the ATS-V?

Well yeah!!!

[Treeman]

Wow. Did any of you notice the $2,300 for freight and PDI!

Outrageous.

That works out to more than three 7.5 hour days of washing the car and removing some protection @$100/hour by some part time dweeb.

Just a bit (lot) of extra hidden dealer profit, endorsed by the manufacturer...

Pretty soon cars like this will be sold at $0, but with $60k Freight and PDI.

Read the fine print of how you are being screw*ed folks.

And ask yourselves how much those same dealers will charge you for out of warranty service. Ouch...

Tree

[johngenx]

Wow. Did any of you notice the $2,300 for freight and PDI!

Common complaint around here.  Some of us won't buy new cars anymore thanks to the thousands in fees that are stacked on the sticker price.  Our local Scoob dealers package up their freight/pdi/admin to the tune of about $3K.

When I bought our 1998 C230 the freight charge was $900 and there was no PDI.  In the last 10-15 years, auto makers and dealers have looks to fees as a way to raise prices without affecting the "sticker price."  Some jurisdictions now require advertised prices to be all inclusive - a good start.

[Treeman]

Excessive Freight and PDI's are Canada's answer to "Dealer price adjustments" in the US. Both are despicable, but in Canada, it's totally endorsed by the manufacturer.

Suggest you all negotiate down the PDI to zero when you buy your car, just tell the dealer that you'll wash it yourself.

Tree

[potvin]

This is the second review autos.ca has posted on the C class. Was there something wrong with the first review when the reviewer was having a bad hair day? 

[EV-Light]

Beautiful car, a little on the small side for my taste. I was interested but have read about several quality issues popping up on these newer units....


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