Test drive Mercedes Benz CLC W203 since 2008 coupe

GRAN TOURISMO

Mercedes reserved CLC in 2006. Oh, how much bastards and speculations were about this. The head was broken. Thought all what kind of model is such a mysterious will walk under the new abbreviation? Then they could not even imagine that the newborn CLC would be well restored and already nurtured by the C-Class Sport Coupe, which was born in 2002 based on the W203 body.
Yes, CLC is damn look like a new C-Class: models have a lot of common features, similar anterior plumes and optics (xenon is set by default in the CLC 200K and CLC 230 version), similar interiors. There are plenty of differences from the predecessor. At the drestyling version at the stern, the bust was with glazing (remember the additional embrasure on the trunk lid?), Now with illumination. Are there many feet-signals? Not at all, the designers say. Safety is above all.
Now look at the profile! What do you see? That's right, it has not changed at all. What are these cunning marketers. The car has already managed to run around the light, and they present it as a completely new generation. Yes, I don’t argue, the work has been done a large one, but still, even those 1100 changes indicated by the creators do not give the right to call them a model completely new: the skeleton from the previous C-class, the engines are also not the first freshness. Interior? Just looks like the one in the current C-shka.
A set of power units, as before, is the widest. But of all six engines, only one was updated: a compressor four, which is part of CLC 200. It, as at today's C-class, began to issue 184 (+20 hp) forces. The remaining motors (gasoline on modifications CLC 180, 230, 350; diesel on 200 CDI and 230 CDI) remained unchanged and, as before, boast of the previous power in the range from 122 to 272 hp.
With transmissions, everything is much easier. In the database for all modifications, six-speed mechanics are provided, and as options there are five-speed machines for four-cylinder engines and seven-speed 7G-Tronic for versions with V6 engines.
We have a CLC 230 modification with a V-shaped six-cylinder engine with a volume of 2.5 liters and a new automatic 7G-Tronic gearbox. What turned out? Want to fry Broadway? Press the slipper on the floor and roam the engine to failure. He does not like to work at low speeds. And this is even despite the maximum of the maximum of 245 Newton meters, developed in the range from 2900 to 5500 rpm, the engine develops the greatest acceleration at the very top of 6100 rpm. It pulls perfectly, but the impression of 204 forces spoils a very sluggish machine. He reacts to the pressing of the gas pedal, like his ancestors from the distant 80s. In many cases, a manual mode helps out.
The Mercedesovites put the Direct-Steer steering on the machine, which includes a steering mechanism with a variable gear ratio and an electric power with a variable performance. It is configured in such a way that in the near -pot zone the steering wheel does not differ in particular sensitivity. But when you turn the steering wheel five degrees or more, the gear ratio in the gearbox changes, and the reactions become somewhat sharper. And what, it is very convenient on a high -speed highway by an excessive nervousness does not tire, and the steering wheel in addition is slightly clamped by an amplifier for eating information content. But if you need to break the maneuver, we ask for mercy.
True, it is better not to abuse sharp restructures. Firstly, the chassis has an easy insufficient rotation (the front glides the first to slip out the turn), and secondly, with a quick change in the trajectory, the suspension is rolled up with Mercedes. It is not very suitable for the aggressive style of the chassis.
The main enemies of the pleasure of the rolls, protracted transition processes, and an amplifier, which, with intensive work, the steering wheel often lacks performance. But this partly you can close your eyes. Why? Yes, because here is the rear -wheel drive, which allows you to do in a controlled drift (the benefit of the stabilization system in manual mode disconnected), if not everything, then a lot. The suspension as a whole comfortable here Mercedes remained a Mercedes.
The interior on CLC from the predecessor did not completely migrate. A three-spoke steering wheel, seats with more developed lateral support and some other little thing here from the new C-shk. Planting behind the wheel has become more convenient. But the sloping vault of the roof presses the back, and if you are also a long -legged gray -haired cake in front of you, there are very few places. I am glad that the front seats easily move forward and free a wide opening for passage back.
By default, the salon is already decorated with aluminum inserts, and a new multimedia with a Russified menu is now flaunted on the front panel (it's a pity the screen is not a touch), a radio receiver, a 6-disk mp3-changer, a Hands-Free and a Linguatronic company, which allows the riders to control the system and peripheral devices With the help of voice commands. The sound with enveloping elastic bass will go for the majority, but audiophiles loss of large number of details and the lack of a scene will prompt the installation of more expensive audio equipment
What is the price? Not more expensive than money. For the simplest package with mechanics, 1,143,300 rubles are asked. A sophisticated machine with a machine gun and a 2.5-liter V6, as the one on our test, will cost at least 1,476,300 rubles. If you want a panoramic roof and a Comand APS multimedia with DVD, a hard disk and navigation, you will have to pay another 251,600 rubles. Nes -blessed, huh? Mercedes and what's the matter? Audi A5 (from 1,435,000 rubles) in running qualities is much better, and to a merchant three-liter three BMW (from 1,242,600 rubles) CLC-shka, too, like to the moon.
In general, CLC is a thing in itself: popular (due to value) and mass (relative to analogues), by definition, but the original three -door hatchback of the type of coupe, such as five did not work. Designing inspiration in it is not enough. But if you figure it out, in general, it is useless. Why? Yes, because inspiration to Stuttgarts would fly into a penny. And so since 2002 there has been a debugged production in the Brazilian city of Zhuis-Di-Fore, which used to make A-Class, and all the way.
To develop a new car and a technological line for the sake of small circulations are consistent. The Mercedesovites for the entire time of the first generation of the Hatch compartment sold 320 thousand cars. Not so much for how much CLC is image? Exactly as much as image stars on his hood. Erzatz-Cope is more like an introductory fee to the Mercedes Gran Tourismo admirers club. Why not? Not so expensive. Still, Mercedes.
 
 
 

Vitaly Kabyshev

 

 

A source: Auto.mail.ru