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2001 Mercedes Benz C320

Date: 7 April 2001	Miles: 2,000
As we noted in our recent roadtest, this all new "small" Mercedes sedan is infused with many of the attributes of its "big" S-Class brethren. And, the C320 drives like a big Mercedes. Our staff finds the steering a bit heavy for slow urban crawl, but near perfect at cruising speeds. After only 2,000 miles, it only arrived a month ago, we're still in the honeymoon period. Yet, we rate 24 miles per gallon for a 215-horsepower V-6 sedan as very good. The Mercedes-Benz C320 is off to a good start with us, and our relationship still has a long way to go.
Date: 30 June 2001	Miles: 4,300
When Mercedes redesigned the C-Class this year, no one expected them to fill out the lineup so quickly. Besides the expected C240 and C320 sedans, Mercedes has announced a lofty C32 AMG version, plus a C-Class wagon and C-Class coupe. Still, the core of the range remains 4-doors like our C320 long termer. And why not? This C320 blends an urban sensible size with both styling and equipment cues taken directly from larger E and S-Class sedans. Our car has been with us for 4 months, and has accumulated some 4,300 miles. Our experience has been good, and given pricey gas, the 23.7 miles-per-gallon average fuel economy is appreciated. But, our car is having one problem. In some circumstances, when the ignition is engaged, the gauges, stereo, and other electronics fail. The engine, however, never stops running. Turn the switch off and on, and the gremlin usually goes away. So, while we haven't panicked, we are having this unexpected fault checked. Still, with prices starting at only $24,950 for the new coupe, and $29,950 for the sedan, the C-Class shows just how far entry level luxury cars have come, and how difficult it is to justify a luxury car that costs two or three times more.
Date: 4 August 2001	Miles: 9,800
Our car has been with us for 5 months, and has already accumulated over 9,800 miles. Those miles have been nearly evenly split between town and country and that makes the 24.0 miles-per-gallon average fuel economy even more appreciated. Last time we reported an electrical gremlin. Occasionally, when the ignition was engaged, the gauges, stereo, and other interior electronics, failed to operate. What seemed like a serious problem turned out to be a fault in the infrared ignition key and it was quickly solved by the dealer.
Date: 19 October 2001	Miles: 15,312
We're pretty tight with our Mercedes-Benz C320 sedan. It would be easy to just laud praise on the overall attributes of this fine entry level luxury car. But, what if we look closer. Take for instance the 12-way adjustable seats. After 15,312 miles, we know our C-Class seats well. Yes, they are firm. But, after a 10 hour stint behind the wheel, they also leave you amazingly relaxed and refresh. This notion that a car's seats need to be living room soft to be comfortable on long trips is rubbish. Another item, how the transmission shifts. Yes, it's smooth, but most luxury car transmissions shift smooth. On the C320, even without using the manual-mode Touchshift, gear changes are smooth, but also firm, precise, and perfectly matched to engine speed. That is what we mean by a seamless gear change. So, even under a microscope the C320 looks great. As goes its 25.5 mile per gallon fuel economy. That's better than we expected, and we don't get to say that very often.
Date: 30 November 2001	Miles: 17,606
So far it averages 25.1 miles per gallon after 8 months and 17,606 miles. Problems? Nothing has broken, although we have noticed a general loosening up of the C320. But any slight loss in solidity is more than made up by the more responsive than ever 215- horsepower V-6. Add in all the luxury and safety this brand is known for and we have to say, if the C320 isn't the perfect rear-wheel drive sedan, it's getting mighty close.
Date: 11 January 2002	Miles: 19,600
A short ten months have passed since we took delivery of our 2001 Mercedes- Benz C320. The C320 has just as quickly become a benchmark for entry level luxury sedans and for good reason. The C-Class four-door looks, drives, protects, and coddles like a true chip off the S-Class block, but at roughly half the price. Mileage is another bright spot. So far it averages 24.8 miles per gallon after 19,600 miles with us. We're glad to report as solved a very intermittent electrical problem which would cause the gauges to fail. The ailment finally showed itself to the dealer and a new ignition switch was quickly installed. The fault never left us stranded, just slightly annoyed. Otherwise the C320 is a great companion, and one of those few cars that feels rock solid and secure no matter what the roads or conditions.
Date: 15 March 2002	Miles: 22,801
It's time to wrap up our year- long adventure with this 2001 Mercedes-Benz C320. For the record, it's been a most enjoyable 22,801 miles. And, given the C-class sedan is not exactly a lightweight, and is powered by a 215-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6, impressively easy on gas. We averaged 24.9 miles per gallon over the test. The new C is the finest compact Mercedes-Benz ever, with a great deal of the styling and over-the-road presence of the S-Class, but with a road-taming prowess that makes the C320 a genuine luxury-sport sedan. The only flaw in our C-Class adventure occurred at the beginning of our test when there was a malfunction in the ignition switch that caused the gauges to fail. Quickly fixed, our car has since been as bullet proof as one expects from Mercedes. So, to say we'll miss our C-Class is an understatement.