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In honour of recent name changes in the Mercedes-Benz model codes, and to better describe the virtues of our latest test car, this text is brought to you by the letter B. Insert Sesame Street jingle here. The model tested was a snow white B220 CDI with black leather interior and optional AMG goodies.
I can vividly remember the first Mercedes C-Class, a gracious yet demure automobile whose understated elegance and multitude of models lured new customers to the brand. By adding more vitality to each subsequent model, the C-Class caught up to its dynamic rivals while attracting younger drivers.
Purpose. It’s a subject I can’t shake every time I test a new car and the most fascinating topic when discussing people’s choice of vehicle. There’s no rule or law which dictates the proper use of a vehicle which is why you’ll find 4×4’s on the school run and small Asian rentals knee-deep in Sossusvlei sand.
As a motoring journalist, it was obvious that I knew what my wedding car would be; even before I met my amazing wife. So when our big day was looming closer, a few suave phone calls to the Mercedes-Benz fleet ensured that we had the use of their flagship model, in this case a pearl blue metallic S500.
Mercedes-Benz is straddling two chairs at the moment. One it refuses to relinquish possession of which serves conservative and mostly existing clients. The other is of the most stylish and daring variety to attract new customers with younger wallets to their showroom.
Few cars can trace their direct ancestry over six generations and sixty years, encompassing some of the most beautiful and desirable motor cars along the way. One of these vehicles is the big topless Mercedes SL and we were fortunate enough to spend a week with the latest SL500.
Mercedes-Benz is one of the most innovative automotive brands on the planet, never mind the oldest, so it’s rather surprising that they have a monster lurking in their pricelist. A rugged, uncompromising, almost backwards machine called (insert sounds of thunder) Der Geländewagen.
For today’s review I’m delighted to tell you that our test subject was one of my least favourite automobiles ever and managed to swing that opinion almost 180 degrees within a week. I don’t like hate, it comes with so much guilt and anger, thus I’m eager to share my joyful experiences with you.
Mercedes-Benz introduced its first luxury SUV, the popular ML or M-Class, in 1997 with a short cameo appearance in Jurassic Park. Stuttgart just pipped its main German rivals to the start and maintained a strong following for the soft 4×4 built in Alabama, USA.
The most successful Mercedes-Benz model has long been the C-Class so it was obvious that the Stuttgart brigade would capitalise on its fame. After estate versions, they’ve produced two coupés over the years but, in my humble opinion, this third generation is the first winner.