On Wheels by Brooks Peterson

Saturday, September 29, 2001

A Mercedes for the not-so-rich

David Adame/Caller-Times

The stylists of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz C240 sedan managed to blend traditional Mercedes styling cues with a slippery aero shape.

For decades, the Mercedes-Benz line has included vehicles ranging from such megabuck entries as the current SL coupes and the enormous S-Series panzers down to offerings that mere mortals like (most of) us might one day own if the old stock portfolio performs up to expectations or if one of those MacArthur genius grants comes through.
   It has always seemed to me, however, that the lesser Mercedes-Benzes are regarded by some circles in 3-pointed-star-land as a slightly distasteful necessity. Stuttgart turns out fine transportation, from the top to the bottom of the line, don't get me wrong; but you suspect that it's a kind of noblesse oblige rather than real enthusiasm that drives the Mercedistas to churn out cars for the masses. Every model year, the proles line up for the unterBenzes at the service entry of the castle, while the high-rollers cruise into the castle through the grand entryway.
   Plain-folks Mercs

David Adame/Caller-Times

The redesigned Mercedes C240 appears larger that its predecessors both outside and inside, and the passenger compartment boasts much more spacious accommodations. The version pictured has an automatic transmission.

   Of late, however, the leadership of what is now DaimlerChrysler - perhaps infected by swinish philistinism from the Land of the Big PX? - has begun showing interest in the Plain Folks market.
   Thus, we saw a p.r. campaign not so very long ago touting the fact that there actually quite a few Mercedes-Benzes on the U.S. market that can be had for less than 40 grand. I don't recall exactly how many - maybe half a dozen or so.
   Case in point: the C240 sedan that just went away with the repo man a couple of days ago. The C-series M-Bs are the cheapest - er, most affordable - sedan offerings in Stuttgart's glittering inventory. C'mon over here and check out the sticker with me: base price of a paltry $29,950!
   However . . . down at the ol' bottom line, what do we see? $39,325, bud: That's what we see. Nine thousand-plus in add-ons. Happily, most of them are expendable, like the integrated TIMEPORT phone, the power front seats, the rain sensor, glass sunroof, electric rear-window sunshade . . . oh, and the Sport Package, with stiffer suspension, 16-inch five-spoke wheels and sundry other goodies. It's tempting at $2,950 - but it is at least technically possible to keep the ticket on this little bouncing baby Benz in the low 30s.
   C-Series remake

David Adame/Caller-Times

Pictured are details of the Mercedes C240 sedan’s left taillight assembly and the trunk lid. Restraint with the options list can keep the total price close to $30,000.

   That's sort-of good news. The even better news is that the remake of the C-Series for the 2001 model year has boosted its appeal dramatically.
   To begin with, it appears to be noticeably larger in virtually every respect than its predecessor: Certainly the passenger room in the once-cramped interior is much more generous, and from the outside the car looks significantly larger (though it is in fact only an inch longer). A careless observer might be forgiven for mistaking it for the mid-size E-Series.
   The news gets better still: No more four-cylinder mouse-motors for C-Series sedans sold in this market. Instead, you get your pick of a 2.6-liter V-6 (in the C240) or a 3.2-liter V-6 (in the C320).
   We got the C240 with the smaller engine, but be not deceived: This is by no means a hardship tour. The little V-6 is good for a better-than-adequate 168 horses, and they respond quite nicely to the chauffeur's throttle foot. Particularly with the Sport Package, this makes for driving that may fall just a bit short of electrifying, but is definitely satisfying.
   Six-speed gearbox

David Adame/Caller-Times

Under the dignified hood of the Mercedes-Benz C240 is a 2.6-liter V-6 engine which produces 168 sprightly horses that respond well to demands for more throttle.

   Helping get the power where it needs to go is one of the more intriguing elements in the mix: the 6-speed manual transmission that's standard in this vehicle. (A 5-speed automatic is optional.)
   The advent of this particular box in the C240 is of more than casual interest: For years, M-B has flintily refused to make manual transmissions available on any but its sportiest vehicles in the U.S. market, and even then with some reluctance. Why? Possibly because Stuttgart figured its upscale clientele wouldn't be interested in manual boxes; and possibly because the corporate leadership assumed such transmissions would be wasted on slack, sloppy, shiftless American drivers.
   At any rate, now you've got a choice (but in the 240 only - the automatic is standard in the 320).
   Swell, right? Actually . . . it causes me some pain to admit it, but I wasn't really smitten by the 6-speed. The gear throws seemed a shade long to me; and, as always with 6-speeds, there is the possibility of winding up in, say, fourth when you're aiming for sixth.

David Adame/Caller-Times

The interior of the Mercedes C240, the automatic version of which is pictured, is much roomier than the passenger compartment of its predecessor. The car appears larger from the outside, too.

   The latter would go away with familiarity, but another quibble won't: Seemed to me that the gearing for sixth was a bit low (high numerically): Cruising at 70, the V-6 is churning along at about 2,800 rpms. At least for us flatlanders, that seems a shade high.
   No gripes at all on the vehicle's road-going comportment: Like virtually every other Merc, from the top of the line to the bottom, the car demonstrates a degree of poise and predictability that borders on the preternatural. Brakes that call a halt to the festivities rat now. Handling that, while not overtly sporting (the Sport Package notwithstanding), is at once smooth and sharp. And so on.
   Controllable climate control

2001 Mercedes-Benz C240 Five-passenger rear-wheel-drive sedan Base price: $29,950 Price as tested: $39,325 Drivetrain: Fuel-injected, single-overhead-cam per cylinder bank, 18 valve, twin-spark 2.6-liter V-6, 168 hp; six-speed manual transmission Brakes: Front and rear discs, power-assisted, with standard antilock (ABS) EPA mileage: 18 city/27 highway Web site: www.daimlerchrysler.com

   For a change, the climate control system is fairly intelligible and user-friendly. This time it's the radio/cassette deck that left your faithful servant borderline-apoplectic: It absolutely refused to seek the next track, whether forward or backward. Now, I'm sure this is my fault, since I didn't consult the (really thick) owner's manual - but, durn burn it, shouldn't you be able to figure out the tape advance and rewind on your almost-$40,000 conveyance without having to consult a higher authority? I ask you.
   Back on the other side of the ledger: All four (power) windows roll all the way down. (OK: the ones in the rear peek up just a fraction of an inch, but given what other manufacturers settle for, this is all but magical.)
   No, this is not The Breakthrough, not the Mercedes for the Masses. But it is a dramatic step upward for entry-level M-B sedans and for those who can scrape together the wherewithal to purchase one.
   Just one question, pardner: Where's the rifle rack?
  
  

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