With the advent of the minivan and the sport utility vehicle, you might have thought that the station wagon, once an icon of the American middle class, has gone the way of the LP record album and Betamax video tape. Not so. A few manufacturers still offer station wagons, but these wagons are a far cry from the wood-paneled, reverse rear seat models in which you used to go to the drive-in theater (remember drive-in theaters?).
Mercedes-Benz, for example, is offering a wagon that not only gives you the room of a wagon, but is stylish and fun to drive, too. The 2003 C240 Sport Wagon is not your dad's wagon, and it doesn't come with your dad's price tag, either.
The C240 has the clean lines of a Mercedes; the traditional Mercedes hood ornament is in place. The headlamps are a one-piece dual lamp with a large circle joined with a smaller one.
It reminds me of a sideways number “8” with the top half slightly bigger than the bottom. It's a very stylish look. The roof is long and curved and blends into angled roof pillars in the rear. At the top of the tailgate is an integrated spoiler. (Your dad's wagon didn't have a spoiler, did it?) Heated dual power mirrors and standard 7x16 seven-spoke light alloy wheels complete the look.
The C240 wagon moves a lot quicker than Dad's wagon, too. It comes with a 2.6-liter V6 that puts out 168 horsepower at 5700 rpm and delivers 177 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine features a twin-spark/three-valve per cylinder design with two intake valves. It's rated at 19/25 mpg, but does require premium fuel.
The engine is mated with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with a five-speed, electronically-controlled automatic is a $1325 option. You can elect to shift manually with the automatic, if you must, but the shift points in the transmission render that superfluous.
The result is plenty of power and smooth shifting. Keep your eye on the speedometer ‚ it's easy to be over the speed limit before you realize it.
There is a ‚ winter‚ mode switch next to the transmission lever; the winter mode engages second gear from a standstill and instructs the transmission to upshift at lower engine speeds, which enhances traction.
The C240's suspension consists of two separate lower links up front, combined with a strut, coil springs, twin-tube gas shocks and a stabilizer bar.
The rear is a multi link suspension with coil springs, gas-charged shocks and a stabilizer bar.
Rack-and-pinion steering and Mercedes' ESP stability control make the C240 easy to handle and fun to drive. Four-wheel anti lock brakes are standard.
Inside, the seats are comfortable and provide good support, although finding a good driving position might take a little while with the combination power/manual seat adjusters.
With the optional sunroof, headroom is a little tight, which means tall drivers might want to put the seatback back a little farther than they might otherwise. Legroom is not a problem for either passenger.
You'd expect a Mercedes to come with a host of standard features, and the C240 wagon does. Dual-zone climate control with dust filter, cruise control, power windows and locks, keyless entry, automatic headlamps, and integrated garage door opener are all standard. The C240 also gives you a trip computer with outside temperature gauge.
The standard audio system is an AM/FM/weatherband/cassette system. A CD changer ($400), mounted in the glove box, is optional. I always preferred the option of a single disc player you could change while you drive, but if you opt for the changer, remember to load it up before you set off; trying to load and unload discs while you drive is dangerous. The sound is excellent.
Mercedes also includes its SmartKey system. Each driver gets a key, which is programmed to remember that driver's settings for seat adjustments, climate control, steering wheel and mirror settings. An integrated cell phone is also available.
The C240 Sport Wagon starts at about $31,500. Add the sunroof, automatic transmission, phone, CD changer and rain sensor and you're at almost $39,000. Your dad wouldn't have paid that, but he wouldn't have gotten a Mercedes-Benz wagon, either.
