Whoa! What model Mercedes does somebody want to out accellerate in traffic? I also drive a Mercedes. They specialize in nice, durable, attractive sedans, and that's what I've got and what I bought the Mercedes for. There are a few Mercedes that will take an S2k in traffic. And they START in price at about $66,000. From there, the prices go up to $500,000! So yes, for between $66K and $500K you CAN get a Mercedes that will waste your $30K+ s2k in traffic. But what the hell is this? Is this a check-writing contest? If so, somebody will always beat you, man. After you spend $500K for the Mercedes that is SURE to beat ANY s2k, you will get wasted by the guy who spent $1million for a Buggatti! Well, then somebody with $2million will have a specially built car to waste the Bugatti. And it never stops.

If all you had to spend on a new sports car (like me) is $30K or so, there is nobody who spent that kind of money who is going to take you on the track or a road course, period. If this is not a check-writing contest, but is a "bang for the buck" contest, relax man -- you've won.

 

Here's the quote from the first post:

Current C-Class Mercs have either 228hp ($31,987 base, cheaper than an s2k) or 268hp ($37,275).

 

Something is very wrong here. I have an '04 Mercedes C 320 sedan. 215 hp and 0 to 60 in 6.5. The C Class is new for '08, but I doubt that any S driver encountered one, as they just hit the market yesterday. The C 300 at 228 hp gets 0 to 60 in 7.1. The C 350 (and I doubt that he encountered one, as they are very scarce right now) gets 268 hp and 0 to 60 in 6.1. These Mercedes C Class acceleration figures DO NOT outrun an s2k. Also, unlike the s2k, Mercedes C Class cars require a lot of optioning to make them decent, so the new 300 will be more like $35K and the 350 will be more like $40K. Damn it, I know as I own a C 320 as well as an s2k. I did not buy my Mercedes C Class as a sports/race car, so I do it no disrespect when I say that anybody driving an s2k who can't out run the C class does not know how to drive an s2k! I can absolutely waste my Mercedes C Class with my s2k blindfolded. Anybody who can't needs driving lessons -- not a new car.

Again, I bought my Mercedes C because I wanted a small, luxurious five passenger sedan that had reasonable gas mileage, reasonable performance, rear wheel drive, and great durability and reliability. And I have not been disappointed. But it was never designed as a sports/race car -- and it is not. My s2k will blow it off the line, and take certain curves at 30 mph higher speed than the Mercedes with no discomfort. My Mercedes and my s2k are totally different kinds of cars, as they were intended to be when I bought them.

The only possible way any competent s2k driver could have had any problems with a Mercedes C Class is if he accidently encountered one of the very rare C 32 AMG or C 55 AMG models. But if he did, we are back to a check writing contest, as these cars (not built anymore) cost $60K. Otherwise, he needs to learn how to drive.

BTW, I am an officer in the Mercedes Club of America, and love those cars FOR WHAT THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE. Mercedes (so far) has not chosen to build a car to compete with the s2k in its price/performance ratio. I doubt they ever will.

So my final advice is that if you are driving an s2k and are getting wasted by a Mercedes C Class, either learn to drive, take you s2k to the shop for a check-up, or both.

 

Let me explain this further. Almost all Mercedes C Class cars have either the older 5 speed auto or the newer 7 speed auto. One can set either transmission to shift at redline (which is only 6Krpm) . But it will deliver some performance. So if an opponet in a C sets his transmission that way and "floors it", the car will deliver acceptable performance automatically.

When going agaiinst a C with this transmission setting in an s2k, it is necessary for the s2k driver to release the clutch in 1st at over 4Krpm and do the rest of the shifting above VTEC. The s2k driver must "work at it" and not depend on his non-existant torque to pull up the speed of the car. Drive your s2k this way, and you can tell the C "bye bye."

You all should understand that the older generation C 320s and 350s, and the brand new generation 300s and 350s are no "dogs." Among mid sized four door sedans, they just might rule! But against an s2k driven correctly, they are no match.