That writer is a dumb-ass by stating:
1. Dumb Ass says - "High waist isn't particularly European-looking"
& Dumb Ass also says - "For a start, there's no way that the 300C could be mistaken for a European-styled car,"
Kev reply - How can a car that is routinely referred to as a "Bentley" look not be european-looking? Boxey styled cars are more "euro" looking than any other designs. Euro cars have always been more boxy, especially Volvo, Bentley, Rolls and Mercedes before the W210 E-Class?
2. Dumb Ass says - "The 300C is therefore built on the same basic platform as the latest Mercedes E-Class"
Kev reply - The LX chassis is built on underpinnings designs of the precious E-Class (W210).
3. Dumb Ass says - "This transmission is not as state-of-the-art as the latest six- and seven-speed gearboxes Mercedes is fitting,"
Kev reply - Mercedes does not have a 6-Speed auto and the 2004 E55 AMG has a similar 5-Speed. The Mercedes 7-Speed auto is less "state-of-the-art" because it can not handle the high torgue in AMG cars and therefore not used in any AMG car (yet).
4. Dumb Ass says - "Quick as it is, the 300C is no cheap answer to the E55 AMG,"
Kev reply - The E55 AMG is a "tuned" factory hot-rod version of the E-Class. The 300C is not a factory hot-rod. The 300SRT-8 would be the factory hot-rod. The 300C would compete with a E500 with a mere 302HP.