is manual really that bad

[ROBB]

I drove a C180 manual for 3 years and 1 month. It wasn't bad, and you do get used to the foot operated parking brake. But I missed cruise on long journeys and could not wait to get back to auto.

mine has cruise control

 

[DJC013]

Thinking about when i was looking for my SLK, there were not that many Manuals available, guess it could be my age that made me choose an Auto, for the ease of driving ! But i do have a Motorbike as well !!

Regards Damian.

 

[st4]

is manual really that bad

erm ....... yes - unless you're 'Jake the peg , with an extra leg'

I don't like driving cars with more pedals than I have feet for

But you brake with your right foot and accelerate with the same one. The left leg uses the clutch so all 3 pedals can be controlled just fine.

With an auto I (anyway) very seldom left foot brake. The pedals simply are not set up for it with the brake pedal being too high and set over to the right to make it a feasible option. Later MBs IIRC don't allow the simultaneous application of brake and acclerator as the fuel is cut to the engine when the brake is applied so you're either using one pedal or the other so no need to have as many legs as pedals.

I prefer an auto as I am lazy and drive a lot around town, but manual cars are definately more rewarding and exciting to drive on twisty roads. However your "average driver" will cover ground more quickly in an auto but most will have more fun in the manual. They did a test (IIRC in autocar) with some drivers, 3 "civilian drivers" 3 policemen and 3 race car drivers. They were all sent out in an automatic BMW and a manual one over a set route. All the civvy drivers beat the times they set in the manual car with the auto's, but the advanced policemen and race car drivers went faster in the manual than the auto.

My point is, that for the vast majority of drivers, including myself, exploiting the extra finesse a manual car offers isn't realistic and for road driving an auto provides all the control that our skill set can exploit. Especially now with manual overides etc.

 

[Will]

Manual gearboxes belong in small town cars, performance cars and vans/taxis. Even then there's exceptions where an auto is a better bet.

A Mercedes-Benz in itself is a luxury, it's unusual not to want the luxury of an auto box to go with it. Especially in the higher end of the range.

Can anyone imagine something like the new W221 with a manual gearbox...(shudders!)...

I'm not even sure the economics stack up for a manual gearbox with most owners - unless you're a taxi driver after the absolute in fuel economy, the lower resale value by not speccing an auto box will hurt you more than any savings in fuel.

There's nothing new about any of this, I think it's been this way for the past 20+ years IMHO.

Will

 

[renault12ts]

The problem in Merc manuals is the lack of a handbrake. My wife never got used to it and would not drive it.

 

[ROBB]

A Mercedes-Benz in itself is a luxury, it's unusual not to want the luxury of an auto box to go with it.
Will

not quite sure what is luxurious about an auto box

the lower resale value by not speccing an auto box will hurt you more than any savings in fuel.
Will

agreed - if buying a new one; i would think that most do not ??

an interesting point though; if i were to be in the position to purchase a new MB (i wish ) i would want it to be a manual - but then the depreciation would be a factor. But then again, i have had a brand new car and dont think i would have another one due to the level of depreciation anyway.

rob

 

[ROBB]

The problem in Merc manuals is the lack of a handbrake. My wife never got used to it and would not drive it.

i dont consider it an issue at all. you just have to have a good hill start technique.
parking brake comes off when i start the car and goes on only when it gets parked.

not sure how that would stack up in an auto though . .

 

[renault12ts]

Not sure you would pass a driving test with that technique!!

 

[corned]

Quite a few years ago, my wife's uncle bought a C180 - I'm guessing it must have been a W202. Manual box. It spent more time in at the dealers (clunky gearbox and engine judder problems that were never sorted) than with him, and he eventually sold it on in despair. Vowed never to buy MB again. And he hasn't.

 

[ROBB]

Not sure you would pass a driving test with that technique!!

AFAIK you cannot take a test in a merc with that parking brake configuration?

 

[recycled]

is manual really that bad

erm ....... yes - unless you're 'Jake the peg , with an extra leg'

I don't like driving cars with more pedals than I have feet for

Tired of hearing this excuse

hand operated brake.

1. You depress the clutch with your left foot. step on the gas, get the biting point and use your left hand to release your hand brake.

2. In a merc. you depress the clutch with your left foot, step on the gas, get the biting point and release your brake with the right hand. How is that different?

On stopping on a gradient, you are supposed to put your car in neutral according to the highway code, and the pull up your handbrake, while keeping your foot on the brake.

Same with a merc, you put your car in neutral, your left foot is now free to depress to footbrake.

any one who cannot stop or start on a gradient with a merc, cannot stop or start on a gradient with any manual car. fullstop. they should take more lessons and not blame the car.

except you all drive off after first releasing the handbrake which is bad driving if the car is not on the biting point and ready to go. _

If you need an extra leg for a manual merc, then you need an extra arm for any other manaul car.

 

[Will]

not quite sure what is luxurious about an auto box

Err - the fact that it changes gear for you, rather than having to faff about with the clutch and gear stick manually

Makes for a smoother and more relaxing drive A quality that is valued by the vast majority of MB owners and drivers.

Similar to electric windows. Yes, you can wind them up by hand, but why would you want to?

For the vast majority Mercedes-Benz cars are more poplular with automatic gearboxes - end of. This is a fact and is the case for new, and also secondhand/used cars.

Will

 

[ROBB]

Err - the fact that it changes gear for you, rather than having to faff about with the clutch and gear stick manually
Will

errrr lazy ?











where's that nomex suit ????????????

 

[Will]

errrr lazy ?

where's that nomex suit ????????????

Perhaps - but then are we all lazy for driving automatic MBs? :bannana:

I dare you to remove your electric windows and other luxuries that you take for granted. What about remote central locking - why bother - you can just walk around the car and lock/unlock everything manually

Will

 

[stevesey]

Tired of hearing this excuse

hand/foot operated brake...

It's not the logistics of the feet I find annoying, but the fact you have to lean forward to release it. Not so bad when first pulling away, but I found this very annoying in traffic and at junctions (if it was easily to hand I wouldn't mind so much).

 

[ROBB]

Perhaps - but then are we all lazy for driving automatic MBs? :bannana:

Will

errr no comment

I dare you to remove your electric windows and other luxuries that you take for granted. What about remote central locking - why bother - you can just walk around the car and lock/unlock everything manually

Will

we all coped just fine without them didnt we?? besides - electric windows (for driver anyway) is more of a safety feature??

The passengers have nothing better to do

 

[st4]

Tired of hearing this excuse

hand operated brake.

1. You depress the clutch with your left foot. step on the gas, get the biting point and use your left hand to release your hand brake.

2. In a merc. you depress the clutch with your left foot, step on the gas, get the biting point and release your brake with the right hand. How is that different?

On stopping on a gradient, you are supposed to put your car in neutral according to the highway code, and the pull up your handbrake, while keeping your foot on the brake.

That is all true. However the way I was tought to drive when stopping a car, was "handbrake, then neutral". I would come to a stop, depress the clutch with the left foot and brake with the right foot (no need for three feet ) and when the car came to a stop, on with the handbrake, then move the gear lever to neutral, or to 1st gear, then find biting point to get a quick get away....

The logic for this is that handbrake will hold the car if I step off the clutch inadvertently. With a foot operated parking brake the handbrake, then neutral thing becomes a wee bit awkward.

Your method does it the other way meaning the car is completely out of gear in order to apply the parking brake, then you have to lean forwards to get the parking brake off. A normal system is far less awkward.

However with the newer manual MBs (211, 204) they have a foot operated hill hold, SBC Hold (in my car) that means I can come to a stop, engage SBC, clutch in and gear ready and when I want to take off, find the biting point and away I go.

 

[lynall]

In a manual remember all the times you were in a traffic jam just moving but not enough to full release the clutch left leg like popeye

Difficult hill start or shunting in an awkward place in a manual oh what jolly japes.

But on the other hand i would like to try my engine with a manual box would be interesting.

Merc vans i sometimes service all manual all rubbish, some are virtually new, clonk or clunk every gearchange, only vehicle i drive that does this very difficult to get a smooth and silent change.



Lynall

 

[renault12ts]

I agree with ***. Also the brake comes off suddenly, all at once, there is no in between. I could do it easily. But the other poster is correct; how do you put the brake on before taking the car out of gear?

 

[recycled]

Are you on about the foot or parking brake.You can't in a manual merc with the parking brake and you do not need to.I am sure your foot brake can hold the car, while you put it in neutral. i always neutralise the car before using the footbrake. In fact my foot is always on the brake pedal when stationery so my lights are always on.