The car industry has come a long way in creating self-driving and environmentally friendly vehicles. But don't you risk losing the joy of driving? Like throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Some people argue that life is too short to drive boring cars. That's why I searched the sharing service Nabobil.no to find a Mercedes-Benz CLA or C-Class with a good petrol engine - one that isn't boring. It is, of course, excessively optimistic to be able to hire a car from private individuals late on Friday evening in order to go on a trip the very next day. First a couple of rejections, then I was accepted to rent a well-equipped C180 Coupé based on the W204. Few make more beautiful coupés than Mercedes-Benz (and BMW). But how exciting is the C180 Coupé?
I set out on a trip to Drammen in connection with the River Festival, lured by the boat race on the river and the amcar exhibition at Nøsted brygge three kilometers south of the city centre. Perfect destinations with a special car – one that is not like any other.
Cool car
Palladium silver metallic, AMG spoiler, side skirts and spoiler lip on the rear lid. Widened wheel arches, 7-spoke AMG rims, LED daytime running lights, panoramic sunroof, AMG steering wheel with paddleshifts. Black headliner, sports seats, interior stitched with red stitching and red seat belts. It ticks a lot of boxes. Coupé gives an immediate sense of luxury. A middle-class car where interior space is sacrificed for design and shape - and the driver's well-being. In many circles considered politically incorrect.
Sensible technique
On paper, "my" C180 BlueEFFICIENCY is based on a 1,6 liter turbo engine that produces 156 HP and a constant torque of 250 Nm between 1250 and 4000 rpm. The 7G-TRONIC Plus automatic transmission delivers the power to the rear wheels. The same drivetrain is used again in several models, including the A200, CLA200, C180 and E180. A good alternative in view of the announced diesel bans in the big cities.
The automatic transmission has an intelligent lock-up function that locks the engine directly to the drive train through a physical clutch solution in all steps. In locked mode, the engine therefore runs as economically as in a manually-geared car. I am impressed by having good torque at all revs I drive in. From start-up, the drive mode is set to ECO mode. If I try to hit the gas to downshift on the freeway, it's like the software holds back, as if to say: "- Eh, did you really intend to downshift, or were you just a little unsteady on the gas?". There is no problem driving in ECO when the car is thinking. You can choose three driving programs – E(co), M(annual) and S(port). "Sport" only affects the gear changes, not the dampers and steering. According to the car's owner, the fuel consumption on mixed driving is approximately 0,8. I have not measured myself, but I am sure that I have been below that consumption.
On the road
Among the car's equipment codes, I find codes for, among other things, sports suspension and sports steering. The chassis of this car feels fantastic both on the motorway and winding country roads. In my opinion, a good balance between comfort and sport. In fact, a considerable emphasis on comfort, at least at Norwegian speeds. At autostrada speed, I imagine that the car is pressed against the road so that the undercarriage feels a bit tighter - a characteristic that is typical of quality German cars.
The turbo engine does not contribute to giving any sports car feeling. It behaves more like a torquey diesel. Perhaps the most sporty thing is the steering. It seems that there are fewer revolutions between the extremes than what I am used to. The steering works directly without compromising on comfort, and provides fantastic feedback from the wheels.
I took a trip to Dikemark Hospital for a photo shoot along the listed buildings. When you meet the bus in one of the bends above Slottsberget and lean fully into the bend, you can feel exactly how the front wheel takes the rounded asphalt edge. This is driving pleasure.
Spirits in the forest
Dikemark Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Asker. The hospital has always been owned and run by Oslo municipality, but since 2009 has been part of Oslo University Hospital. It is said that there are ghosts around the buildings. I am fascinated by the area – the buildings, the forest and the waters. Fantastically beautiful, especially in autumn. I know the area well after long walks here with the dogs, while my horse-crazy daughter was in a stable nearby. It is said to haunt. Not just inside the buildings but between them – and in the forest. Not so strange when you think about the history of the place. With an open mind, I have never felt the presence of spirits. Not even when I stopped by this weekend.
Conclusion
The Mercedes-Benz C180 Coupé is perhaps more of a cruiser than "fast and furious". The engine contributes to this. The car is capable of handling more power, more speed. But the drivetrain is far from bad. If you choose petrol in a Mercedes-Benz today, you will probably end up with the same – or similar – drivetrain. Like the rest of the car industry, Daimler AG continues to downsize its engines. New, downsized engines are now being rolled out together with the new A-class. The bright spot in this development is lower weight, lower emissions and lower one-off tax.
The C180 Coupé is not a boring car, at least not when it is loaded with equipment like in "my" car. Behind the wheel, I sense a high degree of feelgood. Kind of a heavy Benz feel. I also sense a phenomenon that is also present behind the wheel of large Volvos - a feeling of recognition and respect from other motorists. A Mercedes Coupé looks very good on the road. It is special, looks expensive and oozes class.
Facts
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé based on the W204 platform appeared when the C-Class received a facelift in 2011. The model was produced until 2015. The successor, based on the W205, has much in common with its predecessor, including the same drivetrain as in the car in question.
Engine: 1595 ccm, turbocharged, code M274.
Performance: 115 KW, 156 HP, Torque 250 Nm between 1250-4000 revolutions.
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, 7G-TRONIC Plus, code 722.9
Competitors: Audi A5, BMW 3 Series Coupé
The car in this post belongs to a private person and is rented through the sharing service Nabobil.no.
Linkers:
Mercedes-Benz C180 Coupé at Finn.no
Nabobil.no
PHOTOS
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