Mercedes-Benz E63
Every now and then I get the opportunity to drive a car, which for most of us we can only fantasise about driving. I have just had one of those opportunities – this time behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz E63. But as is the case with Mercedes-Benz, these models give us an insight into what technology could more than likely filter down to their more affordable models, if not any car on the road.
If I was looking for a word to sum up my emotions concerning the new E63, ecstasy, gorgeous and sexy are just a few that come to mind. Mercedes has done an outstanding job of refining the E Class series, from the sedan and estate to the E-Cabrio, the E Class is a work of art.
One of the things that I like so much is the transmission, the fact that you have different modes. For instance, in comfort mode, ‘C’ mode, the gear changes are comfort-oriented, with ‘soft’ accelerating for extremely smooth progress. In ‘S’ mode the engine and transmission respond more immediately, with more revs in each gear and faster downshifts. Gearshifts are also around 20 percent faster than in ‘C’.
Changing to driving mode ‘S+’ shortens this time by a further 20 percent, while ‘M’ provides the most sporty mode of all. In ‘M’ mode the 6.3-litre AMG V8-engine responds more sharply and the transmission shifts the gears 10 percent faster. And in case you wanted to know, the shifting is 100 milliseconds.
On to the engine and you get a massive 386kW and 630Nm of torque out of the 6.3-litre V8 engine. If you crave that beast hissing sound even at idles, you’ll get more than enough from the E63 AMG. When it comes to its green credentials, despite 8 kW/11 hp of additional output versus the preceding model, the fuel consumption of the new E 63 AMG has been significantly reduced: At 12.6 litres of super-premium grade petrol per 100 kilometres.
Inside the car you can expect to find the whole Mercedes fashion. The inside is the perfect blend of luxurious materials and that dark sport feel. The seats are comfortable with both heating and cooling. Climate control, ambient lighting- we’re just touching the surface. If I had to pick a word to sum up the interior it would be stunning.
When it all comes down to it and I pull myself back into reality, the question is posed, is the E63 AMG worth it? I can’t deny the fact that this is a fantastic vehicle and most naturally most of those who would even consider buying this machine would probably be buying it with cash. So no I wouldn’t justify you taking out a loan to buy the vehicle, no matter how awesome it is. However, if you have a couple 100 thousands or millions lying around and not sure what to do with it, you will be pleasantly surprised at the offering of the E63 AMG, given you are prepared to fork over $230,000 this premium vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz B180
Now for something which is more within reach – the Mercedes-Benz B180. When Mercedes earlier this year announced the demise in Australia of the popular A-Class they also promoted a new B-Class entry level car – the B180 petrol. The B180 is priced at $37,500 – before on roads and statutory government charges, which take the pricing through to roughly $41,000. By re-organising the B-Class and adding value – rather than reducing pricing as a result of changed tariffs – Mercedes believes it has provided what its customers want.
So the entry-level B180 becomes an interesting car as the cheapest Mercedes-Benz and secondly the fact it is offered with a manual transmission. That’s unless you opt to up-spec the car with a Metro pack that includes a CTV auto transmission and active parking assist. The Mercedes entry-level B180 manual is there for those who crave the German tristar for the first time. And it may well be those people will be content with driving with a manual gear change.
The interior is surprisingly roomy and is designed with the passenger in mind. The seats are therefore hugging and pleasant to sit in. The cargo area can be adapted to haul 5 people and luggage or adjusted to be able to haul a massive load of gear with the rear seats folded forward. The interior is spacious, to say the least, and as with other Mercedes Benz vehicles, no stone was left unturned as far as passenger comfort was concerned. Mercedes went another step further to set apart the B180 from other cars in its class by what they term ‘The Sandwich Concept’, which literally means placing the engine and transmission just in front and beneath the passenger area. This provides an enormous space saving feature which, in turn, means more head, leg and shoulder room for all occupants.
As commuter cars go, the B-Class is a pleasant surprise in many respects — a decent ride without wallowing through corners, adequate interior room and a fantastic list of safety features. One needs to recommend a good buy every now and then. Consider the Mercedes Benz B180 highly-recommended! So if you need a small vehicle that is superbly engineered and built, functional, frugal and a pleasure to drive, look no further. The Mercedes Benz B180 does the trick.
Andrew Koch
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