Getting a C-Class for a week today

[zarjaz1991]

Today I should be getting a Mercedes C-Class for a week on hire through work, due to complicated reasons regarding site visits to a particular client that are happening this week.

I don’t know what exact model as yet. I’m sure it’ll be as basic a spec as possible.

Not being too familiar with modern Mercs, I’d welcome any PH tips around any quirks or other stuff I should be aware of.

Scott

[AndyAudi]

Switch off as much assistance as you can

Saves the pings & flashes if pop across a speed limit & the lane assistance can be unnerving. If you venture near a white line

[GolfDragon]

Hope it goes well. Please keep us posted with what you make of the car after a week of driving.

[MikeM6]

I found the gear selector stalk to be a little quirky at first, but otherwise it makes sense. Just remember that lights and wipers are all on the left.

It might have haptic buttons on the wheel, they are a ln absolute pain and easily accidentally pressed, so be mindful.

The heated seats are good, but they tend to automatically reduce heat over time. Probably sensible.

The car will feel cheaper than you are expecting (probably), but nice in some ways. It's been a while since I rented one a C class, but the event GLB had the above so I think it will be consistent.

Not bad cars, but as said turn off the safety systems before setting off, some can't be don't unless stationary. It will need doing every time to get in the car.

[Triumph Man]

MikeM6 said:

I found the gear selector stalk to be a little quirky at first, but otherwise it makes sense. Just remember that lights and wipers are all on the left.

I wonder what happens if you go to turn the wipers on (where you might think they are) and put it into reverse? Presumably because it's an electronic connection to the gearbox rather than mechanical the car will just bong at you or something?

[zarjaz1991]

AndyAudi said:

Switch off as much assistance as you can

Saves the pings & flashes if pop across a speed limit & the lane assistance can be unnerving. If you venture near a white line

Thanks, yeah I figured that was likely to be a thing, I don’t want all that crap on. I’m guessing much of it has to be done each journey? Or does it remember the setting?

Scott

[zarjaz1991]

GolfDragon said:

Hope it goes well. Please keep us posted with what you make of the car after a week of driving.

Thanks, I will. I’m lucky that in the space of the coming week I’ll need to cover considerable mileage in it so I should get a good feel for things long distance.

I’ll also post a pic or two when I have it later on.

Scott

[zarjaz1991]

MikeM6 said:

I found the gear selector stalk to be a little quirky at first, but otherwise it makes sense. Just remember that lights and wipers are all on the left.

It might have haptic buttons on the wheel, they are a ln absolute pain and easily accidentally pressed, so be mindful.

The heated seats are good, but they tend to automatically reduce heat over time. Probably sensible.

The car will feel cheaper than you are expecting (probably), but nice in some ways. It's been a while since I rented one a C class, but the event GLB had the above so I think it will be consistent.

Not bad cars, but as said turn off the safety systems before setting off, some can't be don't unless stationary. It will need doing every time to get in the car.

Thanks for the tips, very useful.

I’ll let you know how it all goes.

I still do get excited for driving cars I’ve not driven before even though I’ve driven loads and even if they’re really nothing special, (though I’m not saying this isn't!)

Scott

[zarjaz1991]

Triumph Man said:

I wonder what happens if you go to turn the wipers on (where you might think they are) and put it into reverse? Presumably because it's an electronic connection to the gearbox rather than mechanical the car will just bong at you or something?

I think I’ll perhaps NOT try that!

Scott

[MikeM6]

zarjaz1991 said:

Triumph Man said:

I wonder what happens if you go to turn the wipers on (where you might think they are) and put it into reverse? Presumably because it's an electronic connection to the gearbox rather than mechanical the car will just bong at you or something?

I think I’ll perhaps NOT try that!

Scott

Agreed that you should not try it..... But it will just go to neutral and tell you off on the screen.

[zarjaz1991]

MikeM6 said:

Agreed that you should not try it..... But it will just go to neutral and tell you off on the screen.

Ah, I love being told off by vehicles! It’s getting more and more common.

I expect it won’t be long before they start criticising your dress sense or your new girlfriend.

Scott

[rlw]

I had one for a few days earlier in the year and thought it was pretty good. Managed to turn off the lane assist after it's first attempt to stop me overtaking and got used to the gear selector in minutes. Surprisingly pokey for a 1.5 and nearly 40mpg over 900 miles.

[zarjaz1991]

Well I have it. And I love it!

it is actually a CLA180. I was originally told it was a an actual C-Class but that doesn't matter at all.

No concerns over quirky gear stalks or anything else, I got used to the car in literally 20 seconds. Really easy and simple to drive.

As I had the rest of the day (and also tomorrow) free due to the intense schedule ahead, I took the opportunity for a bit of a spin this afternoon, and shall do so again tomorrow. Yes it's meant to be a rest with all the driving ahead but you can't give me this car and then say "don't drive it", and I'm allowed to do so as long as I pay for the fuel, so....of course I will be driving it.

Took a couple of pics, not that great due to the low sun but I will get better ones. Sorry, no custard, I never thought of that, but I'm going to pick some up tomorrow and take another pic!





Oh and for those familiar with me....here's a "You'll never take me alive, copper" bonus shot, one came the other way with blue lights going. They're after me already!



I'll report on this throughout the week, if there's enough interest, but I might have to start a "what car?" thread because I sort of feel I'd like one of these...not brand new like this but recent...my two Mondeos are getting very old now and costing a lot to maintain. Hmmmm.....

Scott

[MikeM6]

Glad you are enjoying it! Great to see some enthusiasm for cars for a change.

[zarjaz1991]

MikeM6 said:

Glad you are enjoying it! Great to see some enthusiasm for cars for a change.

Thanks. Yes I love cars and I love driving. I ll drive anything! I often just go out and drive for the sheer joy of it. Doesn t need to be anything too flashy - indeed it s more fun when it isn t.

I was like this when I was 17 and people said the novelty would wear off, or I‘d grow out of it . Well it didn’t, and I didn’t.

Picking this C180 up gave me great joy and excitement way beyond what it would be for most. Another car to tick off. The very first thing I did with it was blasted it up the A46 dual carriageway to Newark then took a drive up to the now closed Rufford Ford, then came back again. Just because I could. Monday and Tuesday this week are days off given to me because I’ll be driving long distances Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And I’m spending that free time driving!!

Scott

Edited by zarjaz1991 on Tuesday 9th September 00:16

[AC43]

zarjaz1991 said:

Thanks. Yes I love cars and I love driving. I ll drive anything!

I'll usually rent something once or twice a year and it can be interesting and fun given the right combo of car and roads.

Over the last few years I've enjoyed driving around in a Golf 7.5, a Cupra Leon and a Focus Ecoboost. The latter was so good on the windy roads in Mallorca.

Forgettable cars include three recent-ish Astras. They get the job done OK but that's about it.

I've recently had the misfortune to find myself behind the wheel of a Pug 2008 (twice....) and am currently in a horrible Renault Captur . Nasty top heavy things with hateful epas. I laboured through the mountain road in Mallorca in the Captur the other day. It was awful. Lumbering leaden POS.

[zarjaz1991]

AC43 said:

I'll usually rent something once or twice a year and it can be interesting and fun given the right combo of car and roads.

Over the last few years I've enjoyed driving around in a Golf 7.5, a Cupra Leon and a Focus Ecoboost. The latter was so good on the windy roads in Mallorca.

Forgettable cars include three recent-ish Astras. They get the job done OK but that's about it.

I've recently had the misfortune to find myself behind the wheel of a Pug 2008 (twice....) and am currently in a horrible Renault Captur . Nasty top heavy things with hateful epas. I laboured through the mountain road in Mallorca in the Captur the other day. It was awful. Lumbering leaden POS.

My sincere sympathies on the Captur! I don’t know what the current models are like but back in 2016 work gave me a Captur pool car for jobs three times, which I wrote about here. I still have nightmares.

Scott

[zarjaz1991]

I have today off as a rest day due to the fact that Wednesday through to Sunday I will not only be working but taking on long drives the length and breadth of the country in this car.

Given I’m allowed personal use of it as long as I pay for petrol, I have decided to spend my rest day…driving! I’m going to take a day trip to...Blackpool (well probably Blackpool, unless somewhere else provides inspiration as I pass it on the way there!).

From Leicestershire Blackpool is around three hours drive, longer if the traffic is bad which is not unusual.

However, I want to make the most of having this car and the driving won t tire me if I m sensible.

I’ll be setting off as soon as the morning traffic has died down, it’s usually cleared here by 10am. It would take me an hour to get to the M1 otherwise I’d have gone earlier.

Scott

[AC43]

zarjaz1991 said:

My sincere sympathies on the Captur! I don t know what the current models are like but back in 2016 work gave me a Captur pool car for jobs three times, which I wrote about here. I still have nightmares.

Scott

LOL - yeah the steering! It's awful. Imprecise on an A road or motorway (so I'm forever correcting the sodding thing) and like kneading dough in the twisties. That combined with what feels like huge amounts of weight transfer every time you turn in makes it horrible to drive at anything above walking pace. And the brakes are st.

I've yet to drive any MPV or SUV that isn't way worse than whatever it was based on. The most horrific of all was a Toyota Corolla Verso I was given in the south of France once. It handled like a galleon in a gale and had an engine straight out of a 90s Transit.

Meanwhile, Car Magazine just reviewed the lates CLA and loved the way it drove - the next gen one I think.

Height just fks everything up, especially when you've got cheapo springs and dampers and boggo epas.

[zarjaz1991]

AC43 said:

LOL - yeah the steering! It's awful. Imprecise on an A road or motorway (so I'm forever correcting the sodding thing) and like kneading dough in the twisties. That combined with what feels like huge amounts of weight transfer every time you turn in makes it horrible to drive at anything above walking pace. And the brakes are st.

Horrible. The steering actually left me with sore arms and hands after long trips. I almost thought someone was being deliberately cruel allocating me that for a long trip! Obvoiously not, but I did get better vehicles for long runs after I complained, and I never got given that again.

AC43 said:

I've yet to drive any MPV or SUV that isn't way worse than whatever it was based on. The most horrific of all was a Toyota Corolla Verso I was given in the south of France once. It handled like a galleon in a gale and had an engine straight out of a 90s Transit.

Haven't driven one of those yet, but I *have* driven a 90s Transit, admittedly it was over 15 years old by the time I got a to drive it. On the motorway I felt like I might blow over at any time when it was a bit windy.

AC43 said:

Meanwhile, Car Magazine just reviewed the lates CLA and loved the way it drove - the next gen one I think.

If that's the what I've got, I can see why. It's absolutely lovely to drive and I find everything really intuitive.

AC43 said:

Height just fks everything up, especially when you've got cheapo springs and dampers and boggo epas.

With the Captur there isn't even any need for the height. I have no idea what they were thinking, unless it was part of some anti-car conspiracy, "let's make cars everyone hates and they'll all start taking the bus". Obviously not, but why did they design the things like that?

Scott