I was just informed about this by MB and also they are dropping the manual versions of the 212 and the coupe, which will definitely turn me off MB and force me to another marque. Unless the C class coupe lives up to it's reputation?
The 7g box is a complete dog and not in the same league as the 5g, why MB persist with this box and no Manual is beyond me, drive the BMW 8 speed and you will see how far behind the 7g box is.
unbelieveable decision
The 5g box is ahead of the 7g.
It has better spacing between the speeds you are likely to span. When pressing on I dont want a change at 68mph, (3to4). I want the car to span between 50-80 in one gear, a 5g would do that. The 7g does this. I would be tempted back to manual as the sort of roads I like to drive on I feel the box holds me and the car back.
The changes are slower both up and down the box, compared to 5g cars I have owned and driven. (ranging from my last car, to a S500L) and 7g cars (my own car, a 204 320cdi, E500coupe and CLS350cdi) which were ALL afflicted with some sort of shifting trouble, be that jolts into a higher gear or jolts down a gear. Not withstanding the poor spacing of the gears which only comes apparent when you really want to push the car on a bit and 1 gear would cover the speeds for the short straights and tight bends in a 5g car, but you need 2 gears to span them in a 7g car.
At more normal less serious speeds and progress you have the ****ing thing changing between 6 and 7 (albiet almost imperceptibility) rather than just holding a gear, when a gradient comes. It also slurs its TC to much 7g, the 5g in lower gears engaged lock up more effectively. But MBs as a whole do not lock up enough.
I am a fan of the 7G gearbox, love it. It works great with no issues and mine comes with the steering wheel paddles. My old 320 CDI had the 5 speed so I have owned cars with both gearboxes. The 5 speed was good, but the 7 speed feels seemless when changing up or down.....each to their own I suppose but I would jump at the 7 speeder
Mine has the paddles, the one plus of 7g is the tall 7th gear meaning 1800rpm at 70mph (39mph/1000rpm) making 155mph super cruising a reality in a diesel and 180mph in a higher reving petrol engine.
However, new 212 sports, 204 sports all have wheel paddles and the nicer box.
Having my own car dropped off, then being leant a 212 220cdi the first observation was (5g)
a) how smooth the box is
b) how quick it changes
c) how it just works
over my 7g.
I was then given a 59 reg CLS. Bar the collosal power from the 350cdi my feeling was
Yep, 7g was back in my life as it jolted and thumped about
Its a shame as the V6 engines are so good, but the 4pot cars did have an ace card.
Now they do not
) - for me the 7g tronic may hopefully translate to a slight gain in fuel economy. If so great, otherwise waiting means my car will be 'model year 2012' which may be useful down the line if i decide to sell it. But man - an extra month is going to go veeery slowly.
