The transmission holds the car in 2nd gear up until the car either reaches 50 degrees C or if the revs are higher than 3100 RPM. The point is that unless you start your car and the temperature of your car (or coolant) is already above 50 C, you will have the 2nd gear delay. It just may take less time to get to the 50 C in warmer weather such as Florida.

I do not think that 94 or newer cars had the bowden cable, but I might as well just be wrong.

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)