Sports Coupe pics

[Bill Wood]

Lee and I had an opportunity to drive the new C-Class Sports Coupe on an autocross course the other day. It was a BLAST! This is one very fun car to drive. Here are some of the pics we took...















If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive, well-built fun car, the new Sports Coupe is tough to beat. Once AMG gets ahold of this thing it will be the king of the autocross. The rear seat is a little too tight for my 6' 3" frame but, the front is just fine.

[Subman]

I am so jealous!
I wish I could have been there.
How did you get this opportunity to drive the new C?
Can you give us some performance #'s or at least some tentative ones?
Sounds like it was fun.

[yal]

I want one!!!!

What is the name of the color of the red one. If it's paprika, it looks nothing like the version on the MBUSA web site. Now I have another decision to make - which red to get, magma or paprika.

[MBenzNL]

I have seen a lot of sportcoupes already, but this is the first one that actually has buttons. Dutch cars are equipped so extremely poor...most cars only have cloth interiors and a couple of switches for powered parts that have been factory powered on US models since the early 60s or something.
I definitely like the sportcoupe (especially when the color is right).

greetingz,

webmaster,

Does the sports coupe come only with an auto tranny (as in your photos)? Any Speedtronic option or manual tranny?

Do you have the bhp, torque and 0-60 specs for the 2.3 kompressor engine / auto you test drove?

Thanks.

[jjrodger]

Here are the performance specs of the UK models (copied from the brochure):

C220CDI:

Engine capacity: 2,148cc
Power: 143bhp at 4,200rpm
Torque: 315Nm at 1,800-2,600rpm
0-100km/h (62.5mph) manual/sequential/auto: 10.3/10.3/10.5
Max speed (mph) manual/sequential/auto: 137/13/134


C180

1,998
129bhp at 5,300
190Nm at 4,000 (140lb/ft)
11.0/-/11.6
130/-/129


C200 Kompressor

1,998
163bhp at 5,300
230Nm at 2,500-4,800
9.3/9.3/9.7
143/143/141


C230 Kompressor

2,295
197bhp at 5,500
280Nm at 2,500-4,800
8.0/8.0/8.1
149/149/147


The colour of the orange metallic car in the pictures is known as Sunstone orange, although colours often have different names in the USA. It is not Magma red, that is a bright non-metallic red.

There are two option packs: Evolution and Evolution AMG. UK reviews suggest that Evolution is sufficiently sporty, while Evolution AMG is too hard a suspension and is out of character with the engines.

The full length glass roof is an expensive but essential option.

Both the manual and sequential manual transmissions are 6 speeders; the sequential manual looks like a real treat. As you can see, in Europe at least, the SportCoupe is available with all three transmissions except in C180 form which cannot be had with the sequential manual.

UK pricing ranges from GBP19,650 to 22,210 which roughly equates to $26,000 to $32,000. They are bound to be cheaper in the US.

[yal]

Just saw my first C-coupe driving across Mid town Manhattan. Beautiful red color like the one above, this could become the new silver, it looks great in person. I had some reservations about that rear glass, but it really looks great!!

Bill,HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE quote test drive?we ordered a c coupe with the sunroof,auto,power seats,comand,heated seats,and sport/wheel package for under 30k WOW and we will be selling the clk cab cause the trunk is so small not usable per the wife,the leather seats thats in your photos is delayed? cannot order per the dealer? we had a blast driving it on the streets. looking for wider wheels/tires and h/r springs and power pulley and chip/software i think the steering is a touch lite maybe the wider wheels/tires will help but for the money its the c coupe, until amg warms it over and then the cabriolet

[Bill Wood]

Originally posted by DOGSLIFE
Bill,HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE quote test drive?

We got an invite in the mail from our friendly local dealer...RBM of Atlanta. The event is called Mercedes-Benz Powertrip. It used to be called Mercedes-Benz On Track. We've been going every year either in Atlanta or Virginia.
Here's a link:
http://www.mbpowertrip.com/

[420SEL]

I test drove one in Winston-Salem, NC last weekend and boy is that one fun car to drive. It really has the feel of a Mercedes to it and it goes like the wind. It is really a cool little car, now if I can manage a little creative budgeting...

hi all,

a few months back, i had a chance to attend MB's POWER TRIP 2001. essentially, it was a promotional event to debute the new C-Class Coupe and a few other cars (E-Class wagon... im drawing a blank). anyhow, each attendee was given a choice of driving a C-Class coupe and/or sedan to compare them to a BMW 3 series, Lexus IS300, and an Audi A4.

i drove the C230K Coupe and the C320 sedan. the coupe is very responsive, however, it drove differently when compared to the sedan. the coupe is much more nimble and "lighter" when pushed. im not quite sure how to explain this one but, the Coupe felt less "Mercedes-like". at any rate, the coupe is nice car with a very different feel.

-Rick

[Mike400E]

I drove one of these when I was searching for my most recent car, (I ended up with a '93 400E.) and here are my impressions:

1) It was quite quick, but it did not have the kind of effortless acceleration I am used to in a 'Benz. (The woosh effect, I call it.) It was also relatively buzzy compared to any of the 6 cylinder cars I have driven.
2) The fit and finish were pretty good, but I missed wood trim, and it was more like a Passat in this regard than a 'Benz. (Which may say more about the increasing level of quality from VW, than a decrease in quality from MB!)
3) The level of sophistication in newer cars, especially regarding electronic gizmos is amazing.
4) Very good sound system, and remarkably useful interior room.
5) Excellent handling. The relative lack of weight and sticky tires made for an unusual Mercedes handler.
6) No arguing with the price point!!

I think Mercedes will do very well with their target audience on this one, but it's no substitute for an E or S class. ('Course - It doesn't cost nearly as much either!)

Was thinking on trying a little auto-x, here in central FL. Looking for experience with the C230 Coupe, have C7 wheels and was wondering a good place to start with tire pressure. I have not raced in twenty years, but would like to give it a try, have that itch.
Thanks
Tom