2 months with the CLC

It's been two months since we had our Merz CLC. Some people have been asking us about the quality of the car, what with urban legends of the reliability of continental cars. It has been a pleasurable drive in the car so far with no problems so far other than a squeaking sound from the rear suspension when we go over humps. Will be going to the service centre for a check in a week's time. The 5 speed auto car is really built for cruising rather than bruising. Definitely it can't outrun an evo,rx 8 or wrx but then, the clc is intended for one who drives for pleasure and comfort rather than for speed. However, a 0 - 100km/h of 9.8 sec plus the boost of the kompressor unit does help for quick overtaking and merging from a slip road into a main road, what with Singaporean drivers always speeding up the minute you indicate you want to merge in.

The car feels solid and heavy and that gives me the confidence to steer into a tight corner. This cornering ability and confidence is aided by the direct steering rack sourced from the SLK and the speed sensitive steering which allows you to steer with a flick of your wrist at higher speeds. This can also be attributed to the firm suspension of the car although it doesn't do too well over potholes which may lead to a bumpy ride but potholes are few and can be avoided with careful driving. Petrol consumption of course can't really match up with the fuel efficient japanese cars with consumption between 11l/100km to 10l/100km for urban start stop driving conditions. The CLC revels in cruising along the expressway where fuel consumption improves to about 8.3l/100km on average.

The usual luxury amenities are present in this car - auto headlights , auto wipers, return home courtesy lights, front and rear fog lights, Speedtronic cruise control and variable speed limiter, headlamp adjustment, seat belt warning indicator, electrical operated wing mirrors with LED indicators plsus high brilliance clear headlamps.

The seats are comfortable and huge although thigh support could be better. I intend to change the artico fabric central portion of the fabric and leather seat to full leather once the fabric gets older and worn out. The light grey leather interior does require more maintenance since stains can get seen more easily than a darker coloured interior.

As the CLC is a coupe with a low stance, driving the car needs some getting used to. I don't know if it's something to do with growing older but i had waist ache the first few weeks of getting in and out of the low slung CLC but i have since recovered. Could probably have stretched some muscles. It could also be due to the high seating of my previous 'i' . The low stance of the CLC also means that I must watch out for kerbs especially driving head into a carpark lot so now i reverse park instead. Just did a minor respray at ADSM(Advanced scratchmaster) for some scuffs at the bottom of my bumper which cost me $80. If you need a good paintjob at a reasonable price,do try them out. Fast reliable and quality service.http://www.adsm.com.sg/why.php .

Driving the CLC also needs some getting used to as the sloping roofline and the angle of the rear window makes rear view visibility a challenging proposition(below), especially when changing lanes or reversing. The 4 point reverse sensor with parking distance indicator helps a fair bit in reversing.

The CLC is quite spacious for the two front passengers. For rear passengers, anyone above 1.7m in height would find it a bit tight for their legs for long journeys. However the easy entry system

allowing the front seats to move forward is useful allowing for more entry space into the rear seats. However, passengers will have to get used to getting in and out of a low slung coupe like the CLC. The 6 CD changer is built into the main console and is easy to use with Windows type of scrolling interface. Of use too is the Bluetooth handsfree function that allows me to receive and make calls from the car instead of reaching for my phone. A unique feature is that the main console display lights up automatically when the car is in a brighter area and darkens when the car is in a darker area to reduce glare. The leather bound steering provides a good and secure grip when steering and its three spoke design lends an air of sportiness. The steering wheel of the CLC was sourced from it's bigger cousin - the CLS.

The dials of the dash have chrome trimmings to add a touch of class and what is useful is the digital display readout of the speedometer which allows me to have a quick grasp of the car's speed, which is something i find very useful as it helps me keep speed in mind since the car is so stable and quiet that I am not aware that I have busted the speed limit already often.

The boot is quite large and more than adequate for our use. No problems fitting in a baby stroller or golf clubs into the boot and if you push down the rear seat, the boot space extends to 1100 litres.

There has been alot of criticism from car journalists about the older look of the CLC interior which I don't quite understand. Actually, i quite like the traditional look of the clc interior with man made leather trim on the surrounds and glove compartment and door trimmings, grey bird eye maple wood inserts. It really has that Mercedes identity which in my personal opinion is abit lacking in the new c class range. I guess I am a purist at heart. Sure the new c class sedan have the angular architecture which is the modern in thing today in many modern cars as compared to the more dated rounded architecture of the clc interior but the vast amounts of black plastic and faux aluminium trimmings in the new c class sedan just doesnt make the new c class sedan any different from a VW golf which speaks volumes about the quality of the golf's interior. In fact, the new Audi A4 interior beats the competition hands down . I also like the two tone black and light grey colour combination of the interior also helps make the CLC looks more luxurious.

For safety, the car has a Brake assist system which helps activates the brake response faster if it senses the driver stepping hard on the brake. ABS and ESP are also standard as with 6 airbags as are crash active neck restraints. I guess to each his own would be the adage for car drivers but I'm really liking the car so much that I just have to stop myself from finding a reason to go out for a little drive because the drive is pleasurable and comfortable. On an interesting note, the three pointed star effect seems to have an effect with me finding more cars giving way or at least signalling in front of me and the security guards waving me in when i drive into more posh places, as compared to my previous car. We have also been enjoying previleges like a free premiere screening of Terminator Salvation complete with drinks and popcorn, courtesy of the folks at merz. So as the saying goes, membership does have its previleges : )