By David Adams
Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe remained sure-footed, comfortable and reassuring while traveling on Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by David Adams
On a quiet, picturesque and scenic day in Estes Park, riding partner Lee and I, unable to play golf and not being overly excited about spending the day shopping with the wives, had an option outside tugging at our souls. A gorgeous Arctic White 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe was beckoning. With little more than a fleeting thought, we conjured up a drive up and over the Rocky Mountain National Park to Grand Lake by way of Trail Ridge Road, “the highest through highway in the United States.”
Leaving the weekend retreat for the day trip over the Continental Divide, the coupe seemed a little on the firm side. Changing the ride control selector on the center console from “Sport” to “Comfort” calmed the suspension. The ride was then set for a leisurely jaunt, as traffic through the park is usually slow and sedate, especially this time of year. Entering the park at the Fall River Station, the ranger advised it was a free day, and the park was busy. After traveling a short distance, Lee commented he had never had the opportunity to take the Old Fall River Road to the summit. Enough said, our destination was updated and you can see what happened next.
Grip and grit, as in hang on with clinched teeth, but holy cow, what a view. As you may have noticed, this review did not follow the usual format, although it did take the high road. Some of you may possibly recognize the road and even others may as well, but don’t want to be reminded. Few roads, or trails as some may call it, are available to take a $59,225 car to such towering heights, but the Rocky Mountain National Park does provide for such an awesome experience.
Visual multitasking skills can be helpful when attempting to keep an eye on the intimidating narrow mountain road and the breathtaking view far below. Either is a distraction to the other.
Although a non-traditional route, the road is an alternate summer time mountain climb to the summit of the park. The one-way graveled road is seldom dust free; however, on this day it was, thanks to evening showers. Traveling in and out of sunshine, rain, fog, sleet, and hail, during our assent, the E Class Mercedes remained sure-footed, comfortable, and reassuring. While, on this day, the Mercedes was not flying through a TV commercial’s window, it was climbing mountaintops in style. The road literally climbs up the side of the mountain, no guard rails, and many switch backs, some of which requiring a few vehicles to back up a couple of times to make it around, and a road that urges drivers to take it easy, and watch where you’re going. The 40GB hard-drive GPS navigation system gave good visualization as to what to expect up above and ahead.
We experienced some wash-boarded sections along the occasionally rock strewn and rutted dirt road and the suspension soaked them up as if they weren’t there. Some vehicles had spun their tires on a few of the switch backs, but not the E Class, it never spun a wheel, thanks perhaps to the “agility control suspension with stroke-dependent damping system”, remaining surefooted and secure. Mercedes claims the E350 will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, and while we had no occasion to verify the number we were pleased to see how effortlessly the 268 hp V6 power train hoisted us up the high-altitude, intimidating, mountain terrain.
The customary, time honored, route to the park summit, Trail Ridge Road, is a heavily traveled, beautifully maintained, and asphalt-covered, but no less exquisite and daunting, on the opposite side of the valley, the one we used upon our decent. Never once were the perforated front disc brakes used on the trip down, thanks to the paddle shift controlled 7-speed transmission. Although the E Coupe had conquered a mighty mountain without breaking a sweat, it sure felt nice to settle back into the 14-way power leather seats and enjoy the drive back down. Throughout the drive, Lee took a few notes; ride is compliant not harsh, wash-board roads not an issue, smooth and very pleasant ride, power never an issue, ingress and egress is one of the best, handles tar strips well, corners flat, comfortable, great looking car.
By the end of the day both Lee and I were favorably impressed with the capability, grace, and comfort the E Class Mercedes had provided. Once back at the retreat, a quick wash and the Mercedes returned to its original beauty and we own a memory for life. www.mercedes-benz.com
