“This is the slipperiest car in the world”
The E Class Merc has been with us for quite a while and one of the best and most practical cars l ever owned was the huge E Class estate, that would swallow up half a house and all the kids and there was still an occasional echo from a corner unfilled. The kids absolutely loved it too as they could sit on the two rear jump seats that actually faced backwards and make silly faces at the motorists behind – at least l hope their gestures were just silly faces! So they have quite a job on their hands to bring on a new model but Mercedes tend to be one of those manufacturers that just keep their heads down and plough their furrow, unlike the likes of Audi and BMW who seems to fill any available niche with a new model – often successfully and occasionally not. Mercedes have been making big graceful coupes since the dawn of time and yet in 2013, they find that they effectively have this arena all to themselves. The Audi A5 and BMW 4 series don’t have the size and presence to really challenge and the BMW M6 is just too expensive to compete. The E coupe is a seriously good looking car and as you walk around it, parts sometimes look a little too angular and harshly hewn but the sum of those parts is very impressive. Inside, it is even better and at last we are turning the corner of modernity and harking back to those good old days – an actual real live clock, would you coco. And not just any clock, but a really stylish little number buried in the dash, while the gear stick has gone and finally we have the space in the centre console that we should. I recall many old cars had the gears on a stalk off the steering column and Mercedes have gone back to
60│ February/March 2014
that, therefore freeing up the centre for cup holders and the like. Now, it does take a bit of getting used to l must say, as we are brainwashed into using our left hand to change gear, so l was constantly reaching left to change and knocking over the coffee and then attempting to change gear when l needed the wipers but l can assure you that you will get used to it and then you’ll love it. Who on earth ever put the damn thing in the middle in the first place?
‘For Neanderthals like me, there is also a 5.5 litre V8 that will most likely rip your face off – politely, of course!’
It is a lovely drive and the first thing l notice is the lack of wind noise. I always expect it in a coupe as the windows are frameless but somehow they have got over this and it is calm, relaxed and luxurious. My model was the entry level CDI and it was one of those rare cars where the base model does not leave you wishing you had ticked all those expensive extras to get it to where you love it. It is really
- Motoring|review -
well equipped and there are three main trim options with SE, AMG Sport and AMG Sports Plus. SE gets sat nav and the active parking system that sent my girls into hysterical giggling. As you line up to park, hit the button and the magic of parking just happens whilst you sit on your hands - or tickle little girls! The AMG adds bodykit, larger alloys and the AMG Plus is everything mentioned with the word bigger in front of it.The attention assist is bloody annoying but the cruise control with distance warning is a marvel as it automatically slows you in line with the car ahead. It’s bad enough crashing a car but imagine what a total twit you would feel if you pranged this one! Engines are four and six cylinder petrol and diesel and my 2.1 litre diesel had all the pulling power l needed and l must say, it is difficult to believe it is only 2.1 litre, as it has surprising get up and go.