Related Motoring Articles
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Motoring: Okay, she's a little "old" regardless of being launched this year...the way technology changes these days, it's hard to keep up with the fast paced world of automobile technology!...
2010/05/15
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2010/04/01
Motoring:
Man VS Woman - The Mercedes E 350 Coupe |
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Laurette:
As a woman, I honestly don’t really care about the intricate and in depth details about a car. I couldn’t care less about the torque or the kilowatts it produces when driving and how quickly it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (yes, I had to ask a male friend for those fancy-shmancy car words).
When I look at cars, 3 things matter to me: 1. Is it easy to drive? 2. Is there sufficient space in the car itself as well as in the boot? And, 3. Does it look good in general?
David:
What is there to say about this car that isn’t already stated by it’s ridiculously long list of extras and luxurious finishes…well, the answer is plenty…! The New Mercedes E 350 Coupe is understated at the best of times and for good reason too. Don’t get me wrong…as we all know, there are only two types of MEN in this world, BMW or Mercedes men…Lamborghini or Ferrari…chocolate or vanilla…it’s a clear as day and I’m proud to be called a Mercedes Man!
What I’m not so proud of though is this car. |
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The Mercedes E 350 Coupe
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Laurette:
Upon arrival at Investment Cars in Bryanston, we see the car waiting for us. There standing in its silver Mercedes awesomeness. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one for shiny fancy cars, but this one caught my eye. It just looks so, well, awesome! If cars could have “come-to-bed-eyes”, this car would be the role model.
David:
The E 350 Coupe is pretty from far. It possesses a somewhat pseudo aggressiveness that is immediately lost as soon as you enter the cockpit of the car. With buttons, lights and switches the size of “helpful-hands” instruments (Helpful Hands Instruments are over-sized mechanical and electronic mechanisms made for people with physical disabilities and hand-control impairments). This car seems as though it was made with the Crypt-Keeper in mind…someone who takes longer to find his or her glasses than it takes for this car to reach 100 km/h.
I’m underplaying the performance of the car here a little because this ol’fogey accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just under 6 and a half seconds which is no slouch by any means. The 6 cylinder, 3 and a half liter engine is capable of churning out a whopping 200KW and around 350NM of torque. Stock standard, this olds-mobile comes with most of your everyday necessities in terms of bells and whistles, but where this car starts to show some potential is on the “Optional Extra’s” list…if your pockets are that deep ofcourse…
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Ample space of shoes...or bodies, depending on your business...!
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Laurette:
Just like the way women look at men from the front AND the back, we also look like that at cars. Women always want to look good from all angles, hence why our car must too! And yes, this car looks great. With a rear end like this you would WANT to get stuck in traffic so that people can stare at your butt! Your car’s butt obviously… ahem. Not only does the “backside” look good, but it also has a whopping 450 litre boot space. Ladies, this means you can fit an average of 225 shoes in that space! Yes, if you buy this car, you buy your new shopping partner.
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Dashing and regal...maybe too regal...
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David:
Onto more manly matters...for instance…for an extra R28K, you can upgrade this walking stick on wheels to the “AMG Sports Package” which helps to deliver, better styling which is a definite must on this car and added power which no sane man will say no to! Unfortunately the standard version does not come with the “Keyless Go” Option, which would help the fellow senior citizen as they would probably misplace their keys on a day to day basis. Carrying around a key in one’s pocket, never having to remove it would do wonders for those memory receptors!
What is significant to note here is that in this particular class of Mercedes, there is the big, bad, older brother of this E 350 Coupe…the E 500 Coupe which has some of the more elegant extra’s as standard features…such as the “Panoramic Sunroof” which goes for a cool R15.5K…yah, my thoughts exactly…for all of the extra’s you could buy for the E 350, you could have easily gone for a stock standard E 500 Coupe. Bigger seems to be better and is no different in this case. Unfortunately, upgrading to the big brother will leave you with the same “dated” and “hyper-regal” taste in your mouth as though you had gone for the olds-mobile itself.
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The interior...possibly overstated...
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Laurette:
The inside details of the car was somewhat intimidating at first, but it’s just a matter of getting used to. Getting into the car the electronic seat and steering wheel adjustments blew my mind, but when looking at all the buttons in front, the only thing going through my mind was Deedee from Dexter’s Laboratory saying “OOOOH, What does THIS button doooo?” Then I put that statement into action, pressed a button and TA-DA…my seatbelt moved forward! Viva No more dislocating shoulders when reaching back trying to grab your seatbelt!
David:
The drive is superb. There, I said it…but what would you expect to get out of something that has been designed to carry around bags-o-bones…? The ride really is great, simple, uninterrupted and smooth, but then again…it is Mercedes and Mercedes always deliver on feel and drivability. In motion the interior of the car is a wonderful place to be…again, the over sized button make it easy to read…EVERYTHING…maybe Mercedes is trying to eliminate the need for night-driving glasses, or glasses all together…?
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You could drive it with boxing gloves on...
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Laurette:
On a more positive note, the space inside the car is, well, spacious. Compartments are found in the front and back, meaning space for CD’s, cellphones, ciggies, makeup, and any other “never-leave-the-house-without”-items. Enough leg space for passengers front and back to sit comfortably, means no more nagging from passengers asking “are we there yet?”. All in all, the inside space, is IDEAL for that road trip you’ve been planning with your girl friends. Factory fitted (yes another man friend assisted word) GPS system, which means you will never be lost again, and a multifunction (yep, another one) steering wheel, making answering calls and browsing through songs on your CD, MUCH easier and more importantly, safer.
Fancy “doo-hickies” include the ESP button; “Electronic Stability Program”; and the Distronic system. In Layman’s terms, this means that when you lose control of the vehicle at some point will establish control automatically and a fancy cruise control system that helps you maintain a safe following distance from the car in front of you, slowing down when the other car does, and speeding up when it speeds up. This, in essence, means that your driving experience is easier than indulging in your favourite chocolate cake.
David:
Then onto my personal pet peeve, the feature that I dislike most about this car…the clock…no wait, let me rephrase that, the miniature version of Big Ben placed slap bang behind your steering wheel…I swear to you that if you listen closely, you’d be able to hear that clock tick over the purr of the engine…oh, did I mention that, the engine…it purrs! That clock is ridiculous…it’s preposterous…it’s unnecessary and is more than likely the root of my distaste for this car…
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Laurette's Conclusion:
There are MANY, MANY more things I can rant and rave about the Mercedes Benz E350, but that would take all the fun out of YOU test driving it.
Go ahead, do yourself a favour, book a test drive, Feel for yourself.
This is not just a car you buy, you’ll invest in it.
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David's Conclusion:
In my opinion, this car fails…miserably and for one reason only, and no, it’s not the clock, well…okay it has something to do with the clock…but here it is:
If a small, seemingly “insignificant” design feature such as the (ghastly) oversized clock on the dashboard is enough for me to construct such a low opinion of this car, then the rest of the car was not good enough. Even the most magnificent cars have design flaws or irritating little niggles, but because of their overall appeal, one can look passed it all and still fall in love with it…in regards to the Mercedes E 350 Coupe, this is not the case…there was nothing about this car that would nullify the Big Ben look-alike…
This car, like it’s “intended” owners should be kept occupied with jelly and bingo.
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RATINGS:
Laurette:
1: Drive : 7/10
2: Space : 8/10
3: Overall Look : 9/10
Overall Rating: 8/10
David:
1: Drive : 7/10
2: Space : 6/10
3: Overall Look : 5/10
Overall Rating: 6/10
Written by David Alves and Laurette v/d Walt of ZAGlamour
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Author, Team ZAGlamour 
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