Whenever I am in California,
it’s always
nice to have a convertible
at my disposal. There’s a reason why
the Ford Mustang Convertible is one of the
most commonly chosen vehicles in the golden
state’s rental lots. People want to enjoy the
wind in their hair.
But, to be honest, I am a bit more discriminating
when it comes to my vehicle selection.
That’s why for my latest trip to the San
Francisco Bay Area I chose the Mercedes-Benz
E400 Convertible. There’s several reasons for
this: First, I was looking for a more comfortoriented
ride; second, I was looking for something
very fresh and new; thirdly, I wanted
something that’s top of mind for you, the readers.
In 2018, the E-Class has been a hot car. So,
is it really all its cranked up to be?
Taking delivery of the E400 at SFO’s Park
’N Fly, I approached the silver drop top realizing
a couple things. Largely, the E-Class Convertible
is actually bigger than you suspect. Its
sleek and elegant lines tend to hide its actual
size. You can actually fit four adults in this
coupe. Also, this vehicle has a very high beltline,
which is paired with a rather small greenhouse.
Not only does this provide a
By Richard Posluszny
cocoon-like environment for passengers, it also
gives the vehicle’s overall exterior design a
more modern and sleek look. To me, the EClass
Convertible has an awful lot in common
with the Bentley Continental GTC – this is a
good thing.
Kudos to Mercedes for optioning my test
vehicle with a red soft top. It’s so choice.
Getting more comfortable in the leather driver’s
seat, this is where I think the E-Class
makes its strongest case. That’s because it’s
tough to top the E’s interior when it comes to
execution. The high-quality trim, metal accents
and two large, 12-inch displays make it a force
to be reckoned with. Equipping a convertible
with a soft top is always a bit hit or miss; however,
the three-pointed star has taken some impressive
measures to ensure that the cabin
remains quiet when the roof is in use. Unlike
other soft tops, this one does an excellent job
of sealing the cockpit so you do not experience
excessive wind noise at speed. Thanks to a
multi-layered construction, you can have a normal
level conversation with your passengers
and there’s no need to strain your vocal cords.
This can’t be said for all soft-top convertibles.
Of course, the real fun begins when you
lower the roof. That’s because you get to expe-
BC The Mag FALL 2018 101