My chariot for the weekend. New E-Class

[This is Pete]

It's got flappy paddles...what's that like?

It's a lot like tickling a dog behind its ears.

 

[developer]

It's a lot like tickling a dog behind its ears.

Or fumbling with the local tart behind the bike sheds (as I recall) .

 

[st4]

I really like these, but I wouldn't bother with lots of options there's plenty in the sport spec as it is.

IIRC parktronic, seat heaters, intelligent light system.

I actually prefer the alcantara/artico seats that come standard to cow.

Boot is huge.

I was loaned one with them, they are a nice material although the seat design and being mounted so high is poor.

I thought the sport rode great and the car was really nice to drive, albiet with steering that was far too light.

Overall, the 204 IMHO, bar the interior but the facelift fixes that, is probably the nicer car if you spec ILS and parktronic as its still large but seems to have nicer seating.

 

[Peter DLM]

Well, stuck a couple of hundred miles on it this weekend. There's a lot to consider with these cars, with lots of buttons to press to change slightly the driving experience.

With the ECO button lit, and the gearbox in E, there's a horrible shunt when I presume the drive is disengaging somewhere in the transmission when sat at lights. The first couple of time it happened I guess that the taxi driver behind me had rear ended me With the ECO button off, and the box in M or S, then it was fine.

That's the only downside I encountered really, other than the economy. The engine is a nice revver with plenty enough power, the blast along my favourite A road proved that the flappy paddles worked well and the car handles far better than my S211 AG ever did. But, my old car would have returned at least 10mpg better like for like. The highest I saw, before the A road thrash, was 32.4mpg.

Distronic Plus works very well indeed, I'm a bit of a fan of that now

Harmon Kardon also a success I think. The latest COMAND is very clever indeed, excellent graphics and nice touches like showing the lane structure at a junction and highlighting in blue which ones to be in. Another touches I liked are a list of upcoming 'events' on your route including Service Stations and what services they have and junctions etc.

Dash graphics are awesome. Lots of nice features, including one to advise if a rear door has recently been opened or something, each time I used a rear door and got back behind the wheel, I saw an image of the rear row of seats and the selt belt arrangement. Not sure what it was telling me though.

So, a Diesel version of this would be make a brilliant day to day tool I think. Buy me an E63 Estate someone?

On the way up I saw what appeared to be an orginal D-Type, with an old boy all goggled and helmeted up driving.

 

[Peter DLM]

Well, stuck a couple of hundred miles on it this weekend. There's a lot to consider with these cars, with lots of buttons to press to change slightly the driving experience.

With the ECO button lit, and the gearbox in E, there's a horrible shunt when I presume the drive is disengaging somewhere in the transmission when sat at lights. The first couple of time it happened I guess that the taxi driver behind me had rear ended me With the ECO button off, and the box in M or S, then it was fine.

That's the only downside I encountered really, other than the economy. The engine is a nice revver with plenty enough power, the blast along my favourite A road proved that the flappy paddles worked well and the car handles far better than my S211 AG ever did. But, my old car would have returned at least 10mpg better like for like. The highest I saw, before the A road thrash, was 32.4mpg.

Distronic Plus works very well indeed, I'm a bit of a fan of that now

Harmon Kardon also a success I think. The latest COMAND is very clever indeed, excellent graphics and nice touches like showing the lane structure at a junction and highlighting in blue which ones to be in. Another touche I liked are a list of upcoming 'events' on your route including Service Stations and what services they have and junctions etc. It paired with my iPhone instantly and streamed music from it also. Just like my little Smart car

Dash graphics are awesome. Lots of nice features, including one to advise if a rear door has recently been opened or something, each time I used a rear door and got back behind the wheel, I saw an image of the rear row of seats and the selt belt arrangement. Not sure what it was telling me though.

So, a Diesel version of this would be make a brilliant day to day tool I think. Buy me an E63 Estate someone?

On the way up I saw what appeared to be an orginal D-Type, with an old boy all goggled and helmeted up driving.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Good review, I'll more than likely be in the market for an E350 CDi Sport saloon later this year/early next so it's good to hear a positive review.

 

[Peter DLM]

Indeed, I'm smitten. Feel good factor was off the scale in this car. Dunno if it was the new car + leather smell together with the great seats and toys to play with, but it did it for me.

 

[Peter DLM]

Blummin' iPad is playing havock with changing words on me though, so apologies for any weird sentence structures in there

 

[Peter DLM]

hopefully there is now a usable cupholder where the gear shift should be?

yup, under the first section there are two big cup holders, push the Silver cover further back and there's a 12v plug and storage.

 

[st4]

Good review, I'll more than likely be in the market for an E350 CDi Sport saloon later this year/early next so it's good to hear a positive review.

IMHO this is the best looking colour

Nice interior lighting

I got a 220cdi and it comfortably trumped the 250CGi that Peter had on loan. Early 212's don't have the colour matrix screen and the 350cdi has a normal 7g, the 7g plus came out later so it might be worth while holding out for a later one that has the nicer screen and upgraded box.

My only downer on it was the seats. These IMHO are very bad.

 

[Peter DLM]

I actually really liked the seats. They were set too high when I collected it, but when adjusted down, and for lumbar support, I easily found a perfect driving position for me.

 

[st4]

I actually really liked the seats. They were set too high when I collected it, but when adjusted down, and for lumbar support, I easily found a perfect driving position for me.

Even lowered they were miles too high and although you could get the seat base to tilt upwards, the base itself was too short and you couldn't get your thighs supported properly. Not an issue I've ever encountered on any upmarket car before. Shame, as otherwise it was impossible to fault as a large car it drove well, was incredibly refined and had a nice cabin and switch gear. Steering was a tad light but thats it really.

 

[Peter DLM]

Without wanting to sound rude or anything, but, are you of a strange configuration in any way?

 

[st4]

Without wanting to sound rude or anything, but, are you of a strange configuration in any way?

I am strange on so many levels....

 

[A210AMG]

I like them, they have grown on me and a Estate in E220cdi or E250Cdi would suit my needs very well. 50mpg in a car so big would be great. I think they look so much suited in estate and far more usable the stuff we end up carrying.

I've spent too much time on the Mercedes Benz web site recently configuring one..... but then today I spend only about an hr polishing my car after last weeks 2000 mile trip to the Alps.

It still looks so good !!! and 43mpg loaded up is still pretty great !!!

So then I think why swap....Given my annual miles...

Oh well no harm in looking.

Mine would be a Silver sport estate with very few options,

Probably extra long range tank
through load facility
side rear airbags
and nice to have Pano roof or sunroof (as I like my sunroof I have now)


As already mentioned lots of kit on these is std.