C class estate questions ........
Discussion
Hi Guys, looking for a new family car, I fancy the last shape C class, about 2001, would love the 04 facelift but think to much money, again would love the AMG C32 estate but realisticly more than likely the C220 cdi, is this the one to have or is the C180, C270, or one of the others a better proposition ? looking at about £10k ish, not fussed about speed more economy and cheap road tax.
Any ideas ?
Any ideas ?
Unless you really must have a diesel, go for the C200 Kompressor. Much, much nicer IMO. The C220 is jerky pulling away (not just mine, colleagues is the same) and sluggish until you get it spinning.
The C200 has similar performance on paper but feels much smoother. Ove the 9 months we have had each (SWMBO works for MB and they replace their company cars every 9 months) the C220 is only averaging about 4mpg more than the C200 so not convinced that there's a saving on fuel given petrol/diesel prices now.
Again, just my opinion but I don't think MB manuals mix well with the foot-operated parking brake. MB autos are superb, MB manuals are OK.
Avoid the C180 like the plague. Drive one and you'll find out why.
The C200 has similar performance on paper but feels much smoother. Ove the 9 months we have had each (SWMBO works for MB and they replace their company cars every 9 months) the C220 is only averaging about 4mpg more than the C200 so not convinced that there's a saving on fuel given petrol/diesel prices now.
Again, just my opinion but I don't think MB manuals mix well with the foot-operated parking brake. MB autos are superb, MB manuals are OK.
Avoid the C180 like the plague. Drive one and you'll find out why.
Not having driven a petrol I thought the sluggish take off was due to the gearbox setting. The C (comfort) seems to act like W (winter) on the older cars, trying to pull away in 2nd, before changing to 1st if your insistent.
I'd agree about the relative petrol/diesel consumption. The extra diesel emissions equipment has punished real life consumption. I did consider a petrol, but thought that with the miles I do at 100k a diesel will be worth more and easier to sell. Plus I prefer the instant torque diesel power characteristics and don't mind (within reason) diesel rattle.
I'd agree about the relative petrol/diesel consumption. The extra diesel emissions equipment has punished real life consumption. I did consider a petrol, but thought that with the miles I do at 100k a diesel will be worth more and easier to sell. Plus I prefer the instant torque diesel power characteristics and don't mind (within reason) diesel rattle.
As far as I'm aware, the gearbox is the same in both the C200 Kompressor and the C220 CDI and we've had one of each in the last 12 months.
Can't say I've noticed a difference in take off between C and S modes, it just seems that in S it's forever changing gear. I've resorted to C as it's a more pleasant ride.
They've also both had the flappy-paddle crap on the wheel too but all that's been any use for is to preselect a lower gear for overtaking rather than wait for the kick-down. It's hopeless as a manual as it keeps overriding and selecting the gear it wants anyway. If you're buying with your own cash don't be tempted to spend more on one with the paddles.
I also have to mention the build quality. They aren't a patch on my old '98 C230K and both of the new ones would have been annoying if I'd spent my own cash on them. On the current one : cargo cover doesn't retract properly, passenger door handle stays out when you open the door and the indicator in the driver's door mirror fills with water. Not really good enough on a £30k car.
Don't get me wrong, they're a good car and I like them but just glad it's not my cash.
Can't say I've noticed a difference in take off between C and S modes, it just seems that in S it's forever changing gear. I've resorted to C as it's a more pleasant ride.
They've also both had the flappy-paddle crap on the wheel too but all that's been any use for is to preselect a lower gear for overtaking rather than wait for the kick-down. It's hopeless as a manual as it keeps overriding and selecting the gear it wants anyway. If you're buying with your own cash don't be tempted to spend more on one with the paddles.
I also have to mention the build quality. They aren't a patch on my old '98 C230K and both of the new ones would have been annoying if I'd spent my own cash on them. On the current one : cargo cover doesn't retract properly, passenger door handle stays out when you open the door and the indicator in the driver's door mirror fills with water. Not really good enough on a £30k car.
Don't get me wrong, they're a good car and I like them but just glad it's not my cash.
I definitely agree about the quality feel compared to the old C250 I had.
I do notice a significant difference between the C and S modes (is that another build issue?). I find in C it is sluggish pulling away unless you use more throttle, then it pulls away, before changing down. The other advantage I found changing to S was it is more responsive changing both down and also up, not hanging to to gears unnecessarily.
Tried the paddles on a loan car, nice to play with but the standard manual shift is quite accessible, once you've got used to the left/right = up/down logic. I also wasn't impressed with the larger wheels/tyres that also came with the sport pack. They increased the steering kickback and noise.
I do notice a significant difference between the C and S modes (is that another build issue?). I find in C it is sluggish pulling away unless you use more throttle, then it pulls away, before changing down. The other advantage I found changing to S was it is more responsive changing both down and also up, not hanging to to gears unnecessarily.
Tried the paddles on a loan car, nice to play with but the standard manual shift is quite accessible, once you've got used to the left/right = up/down logic. I also wasn't impressed with the larger wheels/tyres that also came with the sport pack. They increased the steering kickback and noise.
Edited by niva441 on Thursday 24th January 07:39
In response to the post about avoiding the C180k like the plague, I have one and don't think there's much difference between my car and a friends C200K, book figures suuggest less than 1 second difference to 60 which feels about right, IIRC you can chip/remap a C180k to a similar power/torque as a C200k anyway, they're both 1.8 supercharged engines.
With regards to auto gearbox modes, I normally keep mine in 'S' as its more responsive (I belive from a standstill 'C' starts in second gear) and changes up and down quicker when you need it, however recently I've tried 'C' and it gives MUCH better fuel economy, and you can always use tiptronic if you really want to be in control of your changes, irrespective of 'C' or 'S' mode.
With regards to auto gearbox modes, I normally keep mine in 'S' as its more responsive (I belive from a standstill 'C' starts in second gear) and changes up and down quicker when you need it, however recently I've tried 'C' and it gives MUCH better fuel economy, and you can always use tiptronic if you really want to be in control of your changes, irrespective of 'C' or 'S' mode.
Edited by yellowbentines on Saturday 26th January 01:03
Edited by yellowbentines on Saturday 26th January 01:04
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff