Have you ever driven a Mercedes?

I don’t mean have you driven an old Mercedes, or have you sat in the back seat
of your uncle’s Mercedes. I mean have you ever gotten behind the wheel of a
brand new Mercedes, floored the accelerator, taken an on-ramp at twice the legal
limit, and weaved through traffic? If you have not, I highly recommend it. Though
I’ve never had an emotional attachment to the three-pointed star, I can now
see the appeal of the marque’s cars, after having driven Louella’s spanking-new
C240
4Matic last nightthrough a light drizzle to SFO and back to North Beach.
The car is smooth, composed, and a tactile delight. I may still crave a 3-series
or G35 coupe more than Stuttgart’s compact 4-door, but I feel like I now have
a deeper grasp of the nature of Mercedes’ appeal. And, oh, is it appealing.