Hmm..Hello! 1st post, Which C Class

[Kojak]

Hello everyone,

This is my 1st post, i've been prompted to join by searching for advise while I am closing in on my 1st MB.

I love the styling of the C Class which has pulled me away from 'the other lot'.
Anyway, I had the 220 manual in mind (one of the sports variants under 18 months old) but after visiting my local dealer at the weekend I test drove the 250 auto.

I know there are lots of written reviews out there but I was hoping for owner input instead.
So.....
The manual gearbox gets a bit of a slating.
Is it warranted on either or both engines? same gear box I assume?

What about real world fuel economy? MPG 220 manual/auto - 250/manual/auto?

Does the servicing price vary much?

I guess it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone that I liked the torque of the 250 but I'm just not engaged by auto boxes....

Thanks
Koj

 

[st4]

The Auto has paddles, makes things better.

Manuals will add 3 to 5mpg I expect and 220 maybe 1 to 2mpg real world approx. Get what you like.

Different box, manual is 6speed, auto is a 7 speed

 

[trapperjohn]

I have driven auto and manual Mercedes. I'm a gentle driver I have found the manual boxes to be as good as any other manual make. I prefer auto's as I am a lazy git.

Time to take a manual and an auto for a test drive in your own driving style. Its the only way. To be coupled to the wrong box for a year or three is a nightmare.

 

[Kojak]

Thanks Guys,
For your quick replies.

I will be test driving the 220 manual as per original plans just as soon as I can.
I'm obviously still leaning that way at this early stage.

Keep the (experienced) opinions coming
Koj

 

[Colin_b]

I'd try the auto as well, the 7g box is excellent, the 7g+ is even better. Manual boxes aren't popular, so harder to sell at the right price, which is handy if you really want manual.

 

[SmartMAC]

I have the 250cdi with a manual box and coming from a BMW I find the manual box as good as the one in the BMW. It suits the super torquey engine very well. I have driven the auto and it was very good too but too automated for me.

 

[Kojak]

I have the 250cdi with a manual box and coming from a BMW I find the manual box as good as the one in the BMW. It suits the super torquey engine very well. I have driven the auto and it was very good too but too automated for me.

Yes, owners opinions often different from the well intended car mag reviews.
Exactly why I raised the question, I know everyone is different but I just can't imagine MB getting things so badly wrong.
Especially to only get 2 stars in What Car review.

 

[aficionado]

if you stuck a lot in traffic jam, then auto is best

 

[ashadam]

if you stuck a lot in traffic jam, then auto is best

Thats exactly what held up my order because we changed from manual to auto after driving a manual (Not Mercs) for a few days. On a good point we used a cdi 220 amg sport over xmas for 4 days journey from London - Wakefield (Loads of local driving) just over 600 miles £85 in diesel and I did test the vehicle.

 

[Kojak]

Update,
Still undecided on which way to go and today has even put a dent in my enthusiasm.
We have had a couple of inches of snow here in South Hampshire.....Wow!! woopee dooo's

Currently I'm still in my Rear wheel drive BMW....very disappointing.
For the first time in 30 years of driving I found I couldn't get traction up a hill.
I'd been on the road for nearly an hour after leaving work, thank heavens I was only half a mile from home.
I've driven in a lot worse conditions over the years and I have taken it personally :fail
My 1st car was a MK1 Ford escort and there were drifts upto 3 ft high in places with no sign of tarmac when I negotiated my way back from basingstoke all those years ago.
Every car I've had since then has coped a lot better than this bmw.
I fear the C Class could upset me in the same way due to rear wheel drive and fat tyres.
What are your experiences?

 

[st4]

Its not going to be great but snow doesn't come often...

Get that C220 auto

 

[grober]

A combination of modern low profile tyres, wide wheels and poorer ground clearance means today's cars cope with snow and ice very badly. This despite all the fancy traction control, ABS systems etc which in the main rely on a "modicum of grip" to operate within their design parameters. The only effective solution to this is to fit a decent set of winter wheels and tyres which may also be narrower/higher profile as well as having an open directional tread pattern in a rubber mix that stays flexible/sticky at low temperature. Mercedes are no different from BMW in this respect. A 4wd Audi might be better but it's tyres that are really the key. Don't beat yourself up about not being able to drive in these conditions the odds are stacked against you on the standard tyre/wheel combination that fashion now appears to dictate all our cars are fitted with today .

 

[craig1912]

Have a 250 manual and its fine- not as good as wife's BM 325 but still OK.

 

[mxs]

its not going to be great but snow doesn't come often...

Get that c220 auto

+1

 

[Frugal]

Update,
I fear the C Class could upset me in the same way due to rear wheel drive and fat tyres.
What are your experiences?

Mine's a C250cdi Sport with 17" wheels, 8.5" wide at rear. It's wearing winter tyres and I've been very happy with the performance since new just over a year ago.

I roo have the manual box (my pewfwewnce) and I agree with SR4 that it should be possible to get a few more mpg with the stick shift compared to the auto, but the difference is marginal.

 

[st4]

Automatic cars are just so nice to drive with

 

[Bambla]

I have the C250 CDI sport with the auto gearbox and love it, drove the C220 which was also nice, just like the extra torque in the C250 with the twin turbo

 

[SmartMAC]

Update,
Still undecided on which way to go and today has even put a dent in my enthusiasm.
We have had a couple of inches of snow here in South Hampshire.....Wow!! woopee dooo's

Currently I'm still in my Rear wheel drive BMW....very disappointing.
For the first time in 30 years of driving I found I couldn't get traction up a hill.
I'd been on the road for nearly an hour after leaving work, thank heavens I was only half a mile from home.
I've driven in a lot worse conditions over the years and I have taken it personally :fail
My 1st car was a MK1 Ford escort and there were drifts upto 3 ft high in places with no sign of tarmac when I negotiated my way back from basingstoke all those years ago.
Every car I've had since then has coped a lot better than this bmw.
I fear the C Class could upset me in the same way due to rear wheel drive and fat tyres.
What are your experiences?

My old BMW 1 series on Avon winters was better than the Merc on Dunlop winters. I have got the feeling the Merc would be virtually impossible to drive with the 255 summer tyres in the snow.

 

[SmartMAC]

I have the C250 CDI sport with the auto gearbox and love it, drove the C220 which was also nice, just like the extra torque in the C250 with the twin turbo

The 250CDI is a great engine. Very flexible and virtually no turbo lag.

 

[GD78]

Welcome to the forums Go for the auto if you do mostly city driving otherwise a manual would be a lot more fun on the highways.