My first ever Mercedes a C350 Sport Estate

[WelshBoyo]

My first ever Mercedes arrives tomorrow. It is a 2008 C350 Sport Estate with every possible optional extra e.g. Harman Kardon, DAB Digital Radio, Panoramic Roof, Navigation System, Electrically Adjustable Front Seats with Memory, Cruise Control, Bi-Xenon Headlights etc etc

Can't wait!

Edited by WelshBoyo on Thursday 2nd August 10:10

[ghibbett]

Looks great! Enjoy the collection and let us know how you get on.

[AC43]

Very nice - petrol or diesel?

[WelshBoyo]

Petrol v6 3.5ltr. It arrived this morning and I've just taken it for my first quick spin, absolutely lovely drive, goes like stink!

[AC43]

WelshBoyo said:

Petrol v6 3.5ltr. It arrived this morning and I've just taken it for my first quick spin, absolutely lovely drive, goes like stink!

Great purchase, well done! Good though modern diesels may be it's always going to the be the petrol multis that do it for me. And that 350 V6 seems to have pulled off the trick of being as grunty as the old 5.0 V8 with fabulous fuel economy.

I actually looked for an E350 when I bought my E500 but there were none - I'd have happily bought one as it looks like a great trade off to me.

It's a real shame that cars like this will always be rare as hens' teeth. The draconain tax regime pushes fleet buyers to diesels and dealers push private buyers the same way as all they want is easy-to-sell stock come resale time. And the diesel-buying thing becomes a self-fulfilling circle.

For someone like me on low-ish miles the extra £500 a year or whatever for petrol is paid back 10 times over by the soulful snarls and wails of a classic petrol V6 or V8.

Enjoy it!

Edited by AC43 on Saturday 4th August 08:26

[Carmo99]

Congrats. Engine is excellent, and a better PH choice than the diesel

I just posted under Readers Cars - but this is what I did just after getting my 350 Petrol and the noise in tunnels is great.

[turboman786]

Carmo99 said:

Congrats. Engine is excellent, and a better PH choice than the diesel

I just posted under Readers Cars - but this is what I did just after getting my 350 Petrol and the noise in tunnels is great.

You drove to somewhere remote and topped yourself? ;-)

[WelshBoyo]

AC43 said:

I actually looked for an E350 when I bought my E500 but there were none - I'd have happily bought one as it looks like a great trade off to me.

AC43, you are right they are so hard to find. I think there was only 2 listed on the websites for the whole of the UK. This one had quite high mileage but was fully loaded and the right colour I had to get it.

First few drives and it is so smooth and quick. Ok it doesn't have the same drama as my old R32, but it grips as well (sport button active) and certainly isn't lacking in BHP. Not really sure I need the paddles to change gear as the auto is so good (much better than the R32 DSG which was always just in 6th gear!).

Couple of bugs, why does it have a PCMCIA card instead of the usual USB port for playing MP3's - this is a bit old skool. Secondly not happy with the Automatic Child Seat Recognition airbag turn off device. I have maxi cosi cabriofix and this works perfectly with iso-fix bases and our buggy, but now it seems I have to buy another Merc only car seat to turn off the front airbag - grrrr!

Carmo99 - I lived in Switzerland for over 5 years (just returned to UK) so I know what you mean about the mountain roads and tunnels - enjoy it!

[Carmo99]

turboman786 said:

You drove to somewhere remote and topped yourself? ;-)

Not quite, but at times I feel like it

I posted the Swiss pass photo because Welshboyo was in Switzerland

[Ari]

The Harmon Kardon is great isn't it?