2006/2008 C 220Cdi Estate or 2006/2008 E 220Cdi Estate?

[Long_black_coat]

Hello everybody,
first of all I have to say that this appears to be great community. I just signed in, after many a hours of reading through your discusions that I find wonderfuly friendly and informative!
Anyway, I finaly signed in to ask you guys a question: I dont know how, but I became almost obssesed with idea of buying a MB. As a freshly married man I am thinking of a family car, meaning Estate. As I am not so wealthy, I have to go shopping for the 2. hand car, which is ok for me. My only problem is: what car? There are actually only two models, from which I can not choose - C 220 and E 220. I have argued with myself for and against each of them, but still can not find a definitive answer. In my book, arguments for C classe are: 1. It is smaller, so better for driving in the city (we live near Brussels), better to park with, better economy. 2. It is big enough to carry the stuff 4 times a year to Czech republic, where we have family. 3. It is less "conservative", couple as us would look more appropriate in this car.
Arguments for E classe: 1. It is nicer 2. It has more space inside 3. It has bigger trunk for our trips to Czechoslovakia 3. With kid(s) on the horizon, the bigger the better. BUT...
It is so awfuly long The car has no end. (Here it is strange that I have no such objections in the case of Audi A6 Estate, which is even longer!)

So this is my problem. What would your thoughts be? What would you go for being me? Or maybe 220 Cdi is not enough for E classe? Or C 220 automatic is not good technicaly?? Please help!

Thank you very much and sorry for such a long rant,
LBC

 

[Chattonmill]

The E is certainly a step up from your Clio, but I find that when you are actually driving it it doesnt seem that big.
With regard to the engine size, that is all dependent on your driving style, I tried the 270Cdi and thought it lacked power, but then I am doing most of my driving on country roads and very little cruising. The 220 I am sure would be fine as a motorway cruiser, but there is only one way to find out and that is to drive it.
Try them both before you make you mind up.
Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

[yellowbentines]

Hi as a current E220cdi estate owner and owner of a previous model C-Class (saloon) maybe I can help.

Firstly, the 220cdi engines in the E220cdi and C220cdi are not the same, the E has a bigger output so don't let that put you off in term of it being powerful enough to pull the heavier car around, later models have 167bhp and 400nm torque, which isn't supercar fast but is sufficient to comfortably pull the car, even when fully loaded.

I opted for the E, as I thought the boot space in the C was noticeably smaller, however space for driver and passengers is about the same. The E is a slightly better drive in my opinion, but the deciding factor was that as the latest version C-Class had only just been launched, secondhand E Class prices are not that much more than secondhand C Class prices. I would definitely recommend you get parktronic if opting for the E Class, its a huge car and parking is a pain without sensors.

Either way I don't think you'll be disappointed, both are good cars.

 

[yellowbentines]

Sorry, I forgot to ad, when actually driving the E Class estate (parking aside) it doesn't feel any bigger than my old C Class saloon, my wife, who is only 5' 1", agrees!

 

[Mr E]

As another E220 estate owner, I'd also say that I found the C estate too small with a couple of kids in tow. Although the A6 may be longer (is it really?) the boot space and interior room in better in the MB.

Mrs E also drives the Benz - she doesn't find it too big (and she current drives a Grande Punto). I'm often plying it through London and, again, no issues. It's not wide enough to cause any problems on the road - the only thing is that it does overhang spaces in car park a bit.

 

[Long_black_coat]

Thanks so much all of you! It looks like E class has slightly more support...

 

[Long_black_coat]

For Mr. E: yes, I know it doesnt look like it, but E class - 4888 mm, Audi A6 Avant - 4933 mm
So I maybe shouldnt worry so much about lenght...