Yes. No postings for a while. But I have been busy you see. Here you see yours truly in the company of some distinguished gentlemen in many ways, not including of how they are attired. We were in the Cameron Highlands Resort the night after the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Rally held for the members of the automotive media in conjunction with the Malaysian launch of the newly facelifted W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class here.
I am seen seated here with Mr Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (left) and Zachary Ho, of Autoworld.com.my (right). Both are great people to carry on a conversation with and Mark is also a snappy dresser too. Being a non-formal motoring event, he is actually one of the better dressed ones as most automotive journalists usually dress like how Zachary dresses. Even in Cameron Highlands.
I am seen wearing something which I usually never wear in Kuala Lumpur. This is a faux tweed herringbone patterned cotton linen sport jacket by Polo Ralph Lauren. It is unlined at the back with the sleeves lined in some viscose and the front is lined in cotton. It is single vented at the rear and it still feels warm when I use it here in the highlands. The button-down shirt is by Brooks Brothers and I had a plain white linen pocket square to round things off by the way....
The temperature was between 16 to 18 degrees supposedly at the Cameron Highlands Resort where we stayed, but it felt like 22-25deg or something like that. So whilst I wouldn't recommend cotton-linen for winter, this should be suitable for spring, autumn and maybe as one of the layers during colder months. Faux tweed it may be, but it still feels warm to me.
Of course...if you compare with most of the people on the trip...I am a little (over) dressed you can see here. Loved the decor of the hotel though....
I do hope that people would stop major land clearing in Cameron. Three decades ago, you would have condensation coming out from your mouth when you breathe through it. Not anymore. Maybe in really colder months but usually this does not happen anymore.
As for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class? The facelift has made this premium compact sedan the best in its class according to Yours Truly. Why? It is more refined in the base C200 Avantgarde variant, handles a tad bit better too and is more fuel friendly. The cabin in truly quiet and it rides well. Better than the earlier C200 AMG line sold here.
The Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line (the one seen above here beside from C43 AMG variants) on the other had was massively quick, yet supremely supply over crests and bumps. So much faster through everywhere compared to the C200. It rides sportily but it isn't sportscar firm. It has air suspension which gives you the best of both worlds. The handling down a highland road is superb. You actually get comfort, refinement and you also get ride & handling to boot! No other car is as complete as this in its low RM300K price range. Even its other German competitors lack its luxurious interior feel. It is about perceived luxury and once you step inside it no other car comes close in terms of what you are paying.
Handling? Almost as close (ridiculously close) to the best in this class for the C300 (The C200 is just most refined, but does not drive like a driver's car) but that exterior, interior (the best use of higher end materials so that the cabin is tactile to touch, the opulent looking design and the high equipment levels) and the badge makes it the overall premium compact sedan to have. It's so good that I actually yearn for it. My bank account still won't let me have one for now of course!
So there you have it folks. What I wore in Cameron Highlands recently.
Some Mercedes-Benz C200 Avantgarde
Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
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