First Drive: 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Chassis upgrades for the 2005 C-Class include new radius rod bearings for the three-link front axle, which have 22-percentsofter settings and a modified spring link bearing for the multilink independent rear suspension. While the standard suspension changes are subtle, the sport suspension option gets you stiffer springs and shocks versus the old C-Class Sport for a more distinct choice from the base suspension.
One new feature available on the C-Class (and shared with the 2005 SLK) is nano technology paint. The paint-bonding agent's molecular structure is infused with ceramic particles, less than one-millionth of one millimeter in size. The particles form a regular, dense pattern that Mercedes says triples the paint's scratch resistance, although they didn't invite us to do our own scratch test. But things like this feature, new interior designs that use better, higher-quality materials, and the expanded engine offerings demonstrate an effort by Mercedes to get back on the road to building cars that match the marque's premium reputation and pricing.
The 2005 C-Class is a solid start--and the return of a V-8 engine to the top-rung AMG model is icing on the cake.
Higher-quality trim and materials attempt to set 2005 C-Class above competition.
C55 AMG gets its own front-end sheetmetal to make room for return of V-8 power, but visual difference is minor.