My First test of my own server blog
Humm lets this this.. Future home of my blog from http://www.zsiddique.com/
I am tired of paying typepad.
Updates from August, 2007 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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The Tech on the new C-Class
So I thought my post on my test drive of the C-Class was lacking information on some of the cool tech we saw on this car, and seeing as I am a tech person I thought i should add some of my though.
First, the “new” command system which you can see in this picture
The screen that you see is the command systems screen, and its foldable so its hides itself very well, great so when its parked on the street its not screaming to be broken in too. To control the system, you use a dial in the center console much like the i-Drive… OK, dont start to sigh, this is not like the i-Drive at all. It only shares the dial with it, but this is much easier! First, right above the climate control are tradition buttons that are used to access main systems like Radio, Navigation and etc. You push these buttons to get to to the main screen for the function and from that point on you use the dial nob to make all the changes (sub menus, changing stations, entering in address) you need. Very simple, and light years ahead of the i-Drive system you will find on BMW’s. The simple buttons for main function helps out a lot from getting confused, and I think by the waiting to see how the i-Drive went and then applied lesson learned to there own system. Behind this its power by a Hard Drive (not much detail given) which is not to shocking as the new S-Class is already shipping with a Hard Drive to hold the map information. Also it will have Bluetooth support and iPod, something you expect with all car. I did not test with the iPhone because, It did not just come to mind but I should have.
Now the real cool thing i love about this, during the presentation they mention that they have teamed up with Yahoo Local Maps and Google Maps to allow you to UPLOAD your destination address straight to your car! Now the catch is you need to be subscribed to Tele Aid (MB’s version of On Star, works great as I have it on my S-Class) but this is a nice feature as many times I will look up places to go to on my computer before i leave (like Yelp! ) only to copy the address, go to the car and enter it all in (which is a PINTA on the old Command System). Another interesting thing, this is another case of Google and Yahoo teaming up with each other in recent months, The last major thing I could think off would be the iPhone which has Yahoo Push E-Mail and Yahoo Weather but then uses Google Maps. I just find this interesting and maybe showing the two teaming up, and may I start a rumor about a merge?
There is some other driving tech, which I would love to get in too more (like leveling suspension) but not much info was given at the party or in the information given but you can read my driving review for information.
Oh one thing I left out was about the tranny on the C-Class, but as it was something old for me (The S-Class shipped with 7-Speeds a while) and its just smooth and great. I just thought 1st gear was too tall but otherwise good under stress, but its no Sport transmission. With no flappy paddles and no true way to control the gear shifting. It will only allow you to set a max gear, so by pushing the side gear lever to say 3, it means you will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear available. Its best just to put it in Sport mode. If you want a manual, you can order one with it, but they stated only 2% will be brought to the US with manual transmission.Technorati Tags: Automotive, C Class, Mercedes Benz
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Hands On: New 2008 C-Class at “The C Drive” Event
Seeing a lot of people acting like they write for mags got me in the mood so when Merc sent me the invite for the C Drive Event i had to say yes, and got a friend to come along. Link here for info on the C Drive event: http://www.themercedescdrive.com/
So first the review of the car, they had both C300 and C350 on hand to drive, with both Sport and in Luxury trim. I drove both C300 and C350 in Sport Trim with 7-Speeds Auto. The layout was not closed course in SF but on city streets and they had a lead driver while you drove the car yourself and pretty much free to do anything you wanted as long as you followed the lead car. So it was more “real world” less racing.The first car i drove, the C300 Sport.
Actually I got in the car at first thinking it was the 350, assuming they all where 350′s (actually i got in to the ONLY 300 in Sport they had out) and the specs on the car say its 228hp @ 6,000 rpm and 221ft-lb @ 2,700 but you could not feel it. Even with traction control off, just getting the rear tires to make a little noise was not going to happen. Low End/Off the Line it just felt slow and lumbering, while mid range power felt good for that burst of power to over take. And high end was Ok but could not test that much. Just not won over with it. And with the Estimated 7.3 sec to 60, you can see why. My GTI is faster with VW figures and if you listen to R&T, its way faster.
Handling was hard to test as we had a lot of stop and turns, and was the first drive so did not want to push the limit but the car steering felt very Merc and not very sport. Light, with a little weight and not much talking back. Also because its a Merc, so even with traction off its not.. Trying to mash the pedal in a corner and you will see the engine cut out and it trys to stop you. And the lack of power is not helping. On the 2nd drive my friend was in the C300 and was behind me and he was able to get the back end to go a little on a turn but he also said it was not very easy and for him.
2nd Car i drove was then the C350 Sport and things looked up. Here you can feel the real power on the car, and getting the tire smoking is no real hard job with even the nanny ESP that is always on. This is when compared to my GTI which is a I4 Turbo 2.0l developing only 200hp you get the same feeling which is not good. I think it has to do with the Auto Tranny the Mercs use as they dont read line in 1st gear and is a traditional tranny (vs a DSG used in the VW). Also the extra weight, the C300 weighs and extra 120lb over the GTI and the GTI is already a porky car. But getting on the freeway and i think maybe i would enjoy it more, as I was able to push over 60mph in a city block before braking. So it had grunt, and felt nice but for such a large motor you expect more.
Something also big is fuel consumption is CRAP. The specs they had on the board listed the 300 as having 18/26 which is pretty bad. Compared to the 328i which gets 20/29mpg and a GTI which is 23/32mpg.
Handling on the 350 was much of the same as the 300, but maybe a little more weighted. As it was my 2nd go i was pushing the limits a bit more, and the brakes where very good. Much better then the C280 i would drive as a loaner. But in both cases I think it still handles like a Merc but its good. As for the suspension they claim to be using some sort of leveling system during the pre drive talk and they might. On the pot holes and etc, it was much nicer then my GTI which is really stiff and in the turns it was level, so you where confident as you where entering in the turns. The steering was just a bit too light for me even as the lower speeds as you feel you might over steer the car. This is where both my friend and I agreed on, that the suspension setup was nice, but too light steering.
Exterior, this car looks stunning and i think a lot better over the the out going C-Class. My friend did not like it alot, sayin it looked a bit 3-ish to him but i thought it look nice. I would give it a 10/10 on this as i really hated the old C-Class and was the reason i did not think about them when i was shopping for my GTI.
Interior, again a big improvement over the old C-Class but not a 10. The new Command for this car rocks, but the control is too close to the arm rest and just a little touch will activate it (so like a stop lights as i would rest my hand it would change stations.. Very annoying) but it also has buttons for everything so if you get lost or confuse you can fall back to buttons which is very good. Its also coming with a HD and you can send directions to it from the internet which is very cool. Build quality is vastly improved for the old C Class which just felt cheap but its not breaking new ground or something. Also the seats where just very unsporting. See the photos, they just suck. I guess its just coming up to par with the 3 Series and Audi A4 which it never did beforeThe event itself was great, very professionally done by Merc of USA. They had free cookies and milk “shots”, Fiji water, Free Espresso Machine setup, booths in the lounge from other companies like offering samples of various things, including a kit for whitening your teeth so i guess they are saying the new C-Class is for people like Hammond. But i think he would hate it, because its not really that sporty. I think a 3-Series would more more, or even a GTI. Its still sticks to Mercs idea of Luxury first, Sport second which is something they tried to dispel during the intro briefing but its just not true. Anyways, I think its Merc first real stab at the 3 Series and that is good.
Time for photos (more here at http://www.flickr.com/photos/zuhaib/sets/72157601229533300/)
My Badge
Intro talk about the new C Class
The car they had for the test driving
A C Class in Luxury Trim.A
Technorati Tags: Automotive, C Class, Mercedes Benz
Mr WordPress 10:12 pm on August 23, 2007 Permalink
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