MB300E87
01-31-2005, 06:14 PM
When last I left off, the 2005 Drive Summit had given me another way to look at our beloved three-pointed star. Two weeks later I was given another opportunity to sample the American offerings when pitted up against Mercedes-Benz. This time GM brought out their full line at the Autoshow in Motion to put up against a much larger group of contenders. Was Mercedes able to keep me loyal or has American muscle tempted me past the point of no return?
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_01.JPG
To recap, two weeks ago I participated in the 2005 Drive Summit sponsored by Cadillac. I came away from that event with a completely different view of Cadillac then I had previously held. In the past I have had complete bias against the vehicles my own county produces like most overzealous forum members all over the Net do. I couldn't deny however, that the CTS, CTS-V, and XLR weren't completely bad. While I did have a few reservations about each car for the most part I would have to say that they had exceeded my expectations.
This event, unfortunately, was not set up in the same way the Drive Summit had been. There were a lot more people and a lot more cars to sample in a relatively short amount of time. I decided to maximize my time by testing every car I wanted to before moving to the cars I didn't plan on driving. The large attendance made test-driving a real problem as most of my time was spent in line. While in line I listened to various conversations surrounding the cars out on the track. One person explained that she did not like the SAAB 9-5 because it is too round and that she doesn't like round cars. A few minutes later when asked about the CTS she explained it is far too boxy for her and she dislikes boxy cars. Another gem came from a man who insisted to his wife that Chrysler makes Mercedes-Benz's and has done so for a long time.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_02.JPG
While standing in line may have been torture, getting in to the cars was just as satisfying as the event two weeks prior. Sure the tracks were smaller but could I really complain that someone was allowing me to drive this E320 I suddenly found myself in? And what a great place to be thrust in to. Since the days of my W124 I have always held a special place in my automotive heart for the E-class. Upon seeing my first W211 in person I remember being absolutely stunned at how beautiful the car really is. Bias? Yes and I am proud of it. You can't love one car since the age of six and not be bias. As with the C320 I drove at the Drive Summit I promptly clicked Sport mode and turned off the ESP system. Around the track impressions were somewhat mixed in terms of performance. It could probably use more power and the suspension could probably be a little tighter. The car could probably weigh a little less as well. The C320 had gone around the track with much more pep and tenacity admittedly. But that?s not the point of the E-class. The point of this car is that it is stunning to look at, to touch, and to drive. It doesn't belong on a twisty track it belongs on the 101 North flying up to Santa Barbara at midnight or cruising the streets of Newport Beach on a Sunday morning. This car has class, style, and a real presence. The outside is great, and the inside is better. Like the commercials, I could live inside the car. I can't help but wonder what the E500 is like.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_03.JPG
Having driven a passenger car I was now cleared to drive the brand new Chevrolet Corvette. Like the CTS-V of two weeks ago there were no competitors there to be tested. It was more of a sideshow to get people excited about GM. While standing in line I couldn't help but notice that the only exhaust note I could hear was actually coming from the CTS-V's that were being tested. Try as I might I heard no trace of the Corvette even though I could see people flooring it down the straightaway. Once inside I was very impressed by the interior compared to other American cars and of course immediately thought of our very own Kuhl king of carbon fiber. Driving to the launch pad the clutch was easy to operate and the gear shifter conveniently placed as close to the steering wheel as needed. The throws were short and clicked in to place in a reassuring manner. I have never felt good when driving a car with a stick shift that feels like a fork placed into a raw steak. I was happy to find the Corvette had nothing resembling this. Upon launch off the line I was greeted with a mountain of power. The car roared down the straightaway and the turn came quicker than I would have liked. Braking was excellent and there was very little body roll around the corners. As in the CTS-V the instructor was encouraging me to push the car further but perhaps because of relative inexperience with high-powered cars, I chickened out. With the small sampling of the power and handling though I can already say GM scored big with this new corvette.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_04.JPG
Sadly, because of the time spent in lines to drive the more popular cars I wasn't able to sample much more of the really great cars. With an hour left my friend and I decided to have some fun. The Pontiac and Chevrolet tent provided great entertainment as they were practically begging people to get in these cars at the end of the day. We first traded off seats on a Pontiac Vibe and were nearly thrown out of the event after I successfully pulled off a high speed left hander that made the tires squeal and the chassis grown. With windshield wipers going full speed our trip in the Malibu Max was just as eventful and afterwards we decided to escape as soon as we could. While driving 400+ Horsepower cars will always be the ultimate in fun, there?s something about driving a Pontiac Vibe past its limit and coming away feeling like a great driver for surviving it.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_05.JPG
I can't hold complete bias against the cars from the country I call my own anymore. The CTS-V and the Corvette are wonderful cars full of simple American charm and raw power. They appeal to everything the child within wants from a car. Sure the two may not be the most practical of cars in some aspects but they really are just damn fun. European cars try to be all things to all people. The grocery getter that can handle like a Formula 1 car and go like the concord while taking a beating like a rally car. European cars are wonderful; in my opinion still some of the most innovative and emotive cars that can be bought but part of me still appreciates something like the Corvette.
Last time I tried to think about what the latest efforts of the American competition would mean for Mercedes-Benz. I concluded last time that Cadillac would probably never match Mercedes-Benz or even the other European marks in terms of perfection. The same could be said for the whole GM lineup as well. I've come to see however that I don't think Cadillac or GM need to chase Mercedes or the other Europeans. The imports do things their way and the domestics do things another way. As someone who loves a European car as much as I do, I will probably never find myself signing the papers making a Cadillac or any other American car my own...However I'm starting to respect them whole lot more.
Mercedes had gone through some recent growing pains through the last decade or so. Quality issues were a hot topic for a mark with a history of over-engineering. The "merger" with Chrysler scared some in to wondering what would happen to the shining star of the German automotive industry as well. After the past couple of years of seeing what Mercedes is developing through auto shows and these latest two events I feel Mercedes is as strong as ever. Quality issues for the mark may still linger but when an E-class can stun one to silence when first stepping in, or a C-class can surprise one around the track, or the SL can stir the soul of damn near everyone then it can be assured Mercedes is still on track and still deserving of its wonderful reputation.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_01.JPG
To recap, two weeks ago I participated in the 2005 Drive Summit sponsored by Cadillac. I came away from that event with a completely different view of Cadillac then I had previously held. In the past I have had complete bias against the vehicles my own county produces like most overzealous forum members all over the Net do. I couldn't deny however, that the CTS, CTS-V, and XLR weren't completely bad. While I did have a few reservations about each car for the most part I would have to say that they had exceeded my expectations.
This event, unfortunately, was not set up in the same way the Drive Summit had been. There were a lot more people and a lot more cars to sample in a relatively short amount of time. I decided to maximize my time by testing every car I wanted to before moving to the cars I didn't plan on driving. The large attendance made test-driving a real problem as most of my time was spent in line. While in line I listened to various conversations surrounding the cars out on the track. One person explained that she did not like the SAAB 9-5 because it is too round and that she doesn't like round cars. A few minutes later when asked about the CTS she explained it is far too boxy for her and she dislikes boxy cars. Another gem came from a man who insisted to his wife that Chrysler makes Mercedes-Benz's and has done so for a long time.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_02.JPG
While standing in line may have been torture, getting in to the cars was just as satisfying as the event two weeks prior. Sure the tracks were smaller but could I really complain that someone was allowing me to drive this E320 I suddenly found myself in? And what a great place to be thrust in to. Since the days of my W124 I have always held a special place in my automotive heart for the E-class. Upon seeing my first W211 in person I remember being absolutely stunned at how beautiful the car really is. Bias? Yes and I am proud of it. You can't love one car since the age of six and not be bias. As with the C320 I drove at the Drive Summit I promptly clicked Sport mode and turned off the ESP system. Around the track impressions were somewhat mixed in terms of performance. It could probably use more power and the suspension could probably be a little tighter. The car could probably weigh a little less as well. The C320 had gone around the track with much more pep and tenacity admittedly. But that?s not the point of the E-class. The point of this car is that it is stunning to look at, to touch, and to drive. It doesn't belong on a twisty track it belongs on the 101 North flying up to Santa Barbara at midnight or cruising the streets of Newport Beach on a Sunday morning. This car has class, style, and a real presence. The outside is great, and the inside is better. Like the commercials, I could live inside the car. I can't help but wonder what the E500 is like.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_03.JPG
Having driven a passenger car I was now cleared to drive the brand new Chevrolet Corvette. Like the CTS-V of two weeks ago there were no competitors there to be tested. It was more of a sideshow to get people excited about GM. While standing in line I couldn't help but notice that the only exhaust note I could hear was actually coming from the CTS-V's that were being tested. Try as I might I heard no trace of the Corvette even though I could see people flooring it down the straightaway. Once inside I was very impressed by the interior compared to other American cars and of course immediately thought of our very own Kuhl king of carbon fiber. Driving to the launch pad the clutch was easy to operate and the gear shifter conveniently placed as close to the steering wheel as needed. The throws were short and clicked in to place in a reassuring manner. I have never felt good when driving a car with a stick shift that feels like a fork placed into a raw steak. I was happy to find the Corvette had nothing resembling this. Upon launch off the line I was greeted with a mountain of power. The car roared down the straightaway and the turn came quicker than I would have liked. Braking was excellent and there was very little body roll around the corners. As in the CTS-V the instructor was encouraging me to push the car further but perhaps because of relative inexperience with high-powered cars, I chickened out. With the small sampling of the power and handling though I can already say GM scored big with this new corvette.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_04.JPG
Sadly, because of the time spent in lines to drive the more popular cars I wasn't able to sample much more of the really great cars. With an hour left my friend and I decided to have some fun. The Pontiac and Chevrolet tent provided great entertainment as they were practically begging people to get in these cars at the end of the day. We first traded off seats on a Pontiac Vibe and were nearly thrown out of the event after I successfully pulled off a high speed left hander that made the tires squeal and the chassis grown. With windshield wipers going full speed our trip in the Malibu Max was just as eventful and afterwards we decided to escape as soon as we could. While driving 400+ Horsepower cars will always be the ultimate in fun, there?s something about driving a Pontiac Vibe past its limit and coming away feeling like a great driver for surviving it.
http://www.cleanplatecrew.net/autoshowinmotion_05.JPG
I can't hold complete bias against the cars from the country I call my own anymore. The CTS-V and the Corvette are wonderful cars full of simple American charm and raw power. They appeal to everything the child within wants from a car. Sure the two may not be the most practical of cars in some aspects but they really are just damn fun. European cars try to be all things to all people. The grocery getter that can handle like a Formula 1 car and go like the concord while taking a beating like a rally car. European cars are wonderful; in my opinion still some of the most innovative and emotive cars that can be bought but part of me still appreciates something like the Corvette.
Last time I tried to think about what the latest efforts of the American competition would mean for Mercedes-Benz. I concluded last time that Cadillac would probably never match Mercedes-Benz or even the other European marks in terms of perfection. The same could be said for the whole GM lineup as well. I've come to see however that I don't think Cadillac or GM need to chase Mercedes or the other Europeans. The imports do things their way and the domestics do things another way. As someone who loves a European car as much as I do, I will probably never find myself signing the papers making a Cadillac or any other American car my own...However I'm starting to respect them whole lot more.
Mercedes had gone through some recent growing pains through the last decade or so. Quality issues were a hot topic for a mark with a history of over-engineering. The "merger" with Chrysler scared some in to wondering what would happen to the shining star of the German automotive industry as well. After the past couple of years of seeing what Mercedes is developing through auto shows and these latest two events I feel Mercedes is as strong as ever. Quality issues for the mark may still linger but when an E-class can stun one to silence when first stepping in, or a C-class can surprise one around the track, or the SL can stir the soul of damn near everyone then it can be assured Mercedes is still on track and still deserving of its wonderful reputation.