Test drive Mercedes Benz C-class w203 2004-2007 sedan
Sturm und Drang
Such cars live in the wild only in the regions adjacent to the autobahns. Where the absence of restrictions allows you to drive a drag for five kilometers in five hours. Where a compartment can be considered not only a symbol of a successful life, but also an effective vehicle. Classic four -seater compartment looks as beautiful as ordinary double, and comfortable are almost like sedans. However, only two brands allow themselves to make such cars in continental Europe. How what? BMW and Mercedes-Benz. 
Literally, Coupe can be translated as a stump: at the dawn of automobileism, a shorter and light body helped to achieve a noticeably better dynamics with the same engine volume. If you compare the figures of the characteristics, then there are no significant differences between the sedan 545i and the 645CI compartment. The difference in mass (several tens of kilograms), as expected, does not lead to any noticeable differences in the dynamic characteristics. And fuel consumption, if someone in this case is interested in, the compartment even a little more. 
Little victims to beauty However, it is pointless to talk about why 645ci is being done: at the moment, this car looks better than any other BMW, made under the leadership of Chris Banlo. Maybe because the gentlemen, by the time of the creation of the six, were already trained on the seven and five, or maybe because it is easier to make the coupe beautiful. Here you can pay more attention to style and less - excesses like comfort. If the falling line of the roof interferes with the back, they will have to tolerate. And the driver must humbly forget about the magnificent entrance-departure and learn to bow to the car. Stunning shape costs some
inconvenience. Moreover, they are actually not so serious - at least compared to other compartment. The driver’s place in terms of convenience is quite comparable to the sedan, but in equipment - much more serious. The compartment is supplied to us in the only configuration in which there is almost everything, including TV and video-DVD. There are only a few words about driving: like any very good car, the BMW 645ci deprives us of the pleasure of delving into details, since everything just happens exactly as it should. Even the disadvantages that usually become a continuation of the advantages are practically absent. A magnificent suspension makes you regret your dynamic settings only when overcoming the traditional tumors of our roads in the form of hatches and rails, as well as their conscious imitation in the form of speedbracks.
The faithful heir
The oldest autofirm of the world is decent to keep traditions. Four-seater coupe, very similar to two-door sedans, Mercedes-Benz has exactly the same as the very concept of S-Klasse. In the current generation they were divided: now large coupes are called CL, and outwardly they are also not so similar to the fraternal five hundredth and six hundred sedans. On the contrary: with their quad -eyed, somewhat more modest families resemble.
It is possible that this was the main reason for such a low level of demand for the CL that we now have. Moreover, the picture with the characteristics of sedans and the coupe exactly repeats the situation of the Bavarian competitor: five centimeters of reduction of length and height did not lead to any noticeable changes in terms of dynamics and economy. Against the backdrop of sports, to the limit of the fissured versions of sedans from Lorinser, Carlsson and, of course, the Brabus compartment can only be attractive as a means of demonstrating individual taste. That is, the type of body becomes approximately the same element of individualization as the color of the body, the material of the decoration or the shape of the disks. Which is not bad at all, but even good. CL-KLASSE style cannot be called bright and youth. The simple lower part of the body, which is drawn to name the old -fashioned definition of Ponton, is decorated with an elegant roof with incorrect, tapering racks. Under the dome
The pleasant roundness of the dome allowed to leave a little more space for the rear passengers than the BMW 645CI. Here, even solid people can feel like much more desired guests. For the sake of them, there is even a drive pushing the front seats when pressed on the lever. According to a long tradition, all side glasses are completely lowered, and there is no stand between them. In America, it was called Hardtop, but now this is done only in Germany. When all the glasses are lowered, an extremely pleasant sensation is created, almost like in a convertible. With an important difference: here we are slightly protected from precipitation and properly from the sun.
The details are extremely carefully worked out - which is wooden, which is chrome. These masterpieces of manual assembly surround the products of modern technologies. A luminous instrument shield and a multifunctional display remind you that CL was born on the most eve of the 21st century and was created for a long life in it. Pleasure vs pleasure
It remains only once again to be surprised that cars of the same class and approximately the same purpose can still be made different. And here leadership should be given to BMW. Perhaps the most impressive system at the moment is its active steering. The variable gear ratio of the steering mechanism can be compared with automatic flintering for sharpness in the camera, where the point of guidance is selected in the direction of the viewing gaze. That is, there is no need to switch anything, the car itself knows when we need increased sensitivity, and when we have to turn the wheels to a large angle. The usefulness of this device proves how quickly and easily you get used to it. But I had to wean for quite some time. A week after traveling on the 645th, we were unpleasantly surprised by the need to turn the steering wheel more than half a turn.
The mighty smoothness of the Mercedes-Benz (thanks ABC) and its rich equipment are delivered only by positive emotions from driving, driving, entering, output and even loading of luggage-you will adapt as quickly as the BMW’s active steering wheel. However, the Bavarian coupe compensates for the absence of many pleasant little things with a slightly more sensitive gas, a little more inspiring the roar of the motor, a slightly clearer steering control. And all these are slightly enjoying the trip to any Mercedes in real pleasure from BMW driving. And for this we locked them in a cage of domestic roads and garages. Ungrateful.
Text Valery Chusov photo Andrey Danilov
Each car is consonant with certain music, this is what we listened from new products in BMW ...
BMW 645CI Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 4398
Power (L.S. at about/min) 333 at 6100
Moment (nm at rpm) 450 at 3600
The rear drive
Gearbox 6-speed automatic
Length/width/height (mm) 4820/1855/1373
Wheel base (mm) 2780
Equipped mass (kg) 1186
Maximum speed (km/h) 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 5.6
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 17.2/8.6
Price in Moscow 101 900 ($ 124 300)
Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 4966
Power (L.S. at rpm) 306 at 5600
Moment (Nm at rpm) 460 at 2750-4250
The rear drive
Gearbox 7-speed automatic
Length/width/height (mm) 4993/1857/1398
Wheel base (mm) 2885
Equipped mass (kg) 1885/2340
Maximum speed (km/h) 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 6.3
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 17.3/8.0
Price in Moscow 122 040 ($ 165 970)
A source: "Autopilot"
