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[NRGJS05]

Cheers Portzy.

Your home life sounds about exciting as an automatic transmission.
Thanks for the adive again though.

Going to do the rounds this weekend again!!... to make my final choice.
Need to use this money soon before it burns a whole in my pocket!!
But dont want to rush into something i will regret.

If you had a budget of 25 - 30k what would you buy.........

I want something fast, slick and easy on the eye!!!

 

[Lazarus]

If you had a budget of 25 - 30k what would you buy.........

I want something fast, slick and easy on the eye!!!

Used CL of some description, weapon of choice.

 

[NRGJS05]

Used CL of some description, weapon of choice.

You think going for a used would be better than new?
Was really hoping to just go in and buy and not having the hassle of checking web and phoning round to find a better deal.

Where would you recommend looking for used?

 

[996jimbo]

You think going for a used would be better than new?

Definitely unless you have a burning desire to be the first owner. For £25-£30k on the used market your options really open up.

 

[pammy]

You think going for a used would be better than new?
Was really hoping to just go in and buy and not having the hassle of checking web and phoning round to find a better deal.

Where would you recommend looking for used?

Potentially yes. You're not necessarily talking much used. I got my Edna at 3 months old, less than 3k miles private owner returned to garage (finance problems they had to return two new Mercs) No waiting and I saved over £7.5k

 

[Wilesy]

The folding metal roof on the SLK is fantastic. What a great invention! I've had my SLK 230 for 2 months and I'm still loving it!

 

[Lazarus]

You think going for a used would be better than new?
Was really hoping to just go in and buy and not having the hassle of checking web and phoning round to find a better deal.

Where would you recommend looking for used?

I would always consider used for the reasons I mentioned in my other post, I totally agree with Pammy, though am not sure how often _less_ than 1 year old cars come up.

A good place to look would be somewhere like MB Direct, or talk to a dealer and try to buy a *used* ex-DCUK fleet car. Cars such as CLs SLs and higher spec CLKs are often used by senior managers at DCUK and it's affiliated companies such as Charterway, Ilmoor, and T-Systems all of which are part of the main DCUK fleet.
The cars are all very well looked after, as employees foot the bill for anything that is not classed as "wear and tear" and get priority on things like recalls.

Though I'd avoid a low spec car such as an entry level E or C-Class as they tend to get changed every 6 months or so, and get thrashed a bit!

Laz.
--

 

[DRICCI]

It would have to a manual though as i dont like automatics.
What is the manual like on the SLK?

Wow, you love to live dangerously! First you come onto an MB forum and ask if a BMW is better than a Merc....... THEN you ask if Auto is better than Manual!!!!!!! Do you get into a lot of fights down the pub?

Only kidding, Auto V Manual is a well debated thread and can be summed up like this:


The manual is good if you like manual 'boxes. (and you aren't elderly, infirm or a big girly )
The auto is good if you like auto 'boxes. (and have given up driving properly)

There. Totally impartial.

cue: mass war on MB forum

 

[W210 Fan]

Wow, you love to live dangerously! First you come onto an MB forum and ask if a BMW is better than a Merc....... THEN you ask if Auto is better than Manual!!!!!!! Do you get into a lot of fights down the pub?

Only kidding, Auto V Manual is a well debated thread and can be summed up like this:


The manual is good if you like manual 'boxes. (and you aren't elderly, infirm or a big girly )
The auto is good if you like auto 'boxes. (and have given up driving properly)

There. Totally impartial.

cue: mass war on MB forum

I to like to live dangerously (Austin Powers 1), I must say having driven a lot of Fords that the gearbox on my Mk7 escort is better than the one on my W210, nothing to do with the fact that my Escort had covered half the miles of my Merc but Ford gearboxes are designed and made by Getrag, who make strong as ox boxes that also have very good, precise feel, changing gear in the escort was a stab of the clutch and a very rapid arm movement and I never got it wrong. The merc box is a bit wishy washy even though I have rebuilt it and tightened the slack out of it with new bushes yet still feels hopelessy heavy, both clutch and gearstick and has no real "feel" like the Escort box. Like I say I have rebuilt the box so I know its bad by design but Mercs are meant to be Autos, finding a manual one is like finding a small smelly deposit behind a rocking horse, the boxes are crap because they concentrate on the autos, which are supreme piece of engineering, I would like an E55 but the auto only option is a little off putting, liking cars as much as I do most of my friends would say an auto is not a real drivers car as you have less control, I say go and try the buttons on the steering wheel shift and see how you get on and ignore the fact its an auto.

 

[Dieselman]

I must say having driven a lot of Fords that the gearbox on my Mk7 escort is better than the one on my W210, .

Escorts only went to MK 5.
MK 1 RWD Mexico style
MK 2 RWD Square style
MK 3 FWD Angular
MK 4 FWD Revised Mk 3
MK 5 FWD Rounded style in either oval or straight grille format. (not one of Fords better efforts)

Ford gearboxes are designed and made by Getrag, who make strong as ox boxes

Are you sure about this. I know the Cossie boxes were Getrag but I think the run of the mill ones are in house.
They may be nice boxes to use but with an average life of 75K miles then they leave a lot to be desired.
Gearboxes have been one of our most common problems on the Mundanos at work.

 

[W210 Fan]

Cossie boxes are definately getrag and as far as I know having looked at boxes on the net when I wanted a new clutch all the others are, if not made by Getrag themselves then at least designed. Also there is an on going arguement on what Escorts are what Mk, The rounded style effort you refer to where the Orion variant had a extra chrome bit in it is sometimes refered to as a new Mk where as some say it was a facelift, The last shape where they changed the bonnet, engine intakes and emissions on most engines and changing the interior as well as modifying the rear sus and strengthening the side impact bars was noted as a new Mk, but purists argue it was a facelift as the chassis was unchanged. So it depends how much of a pure Ford fan you are. I was refering to the 10-12 year old boxes in the Escorts I used to own, only prob I had was after 100K when the final drive bearings got a bit noisey, the 83K Escort I sold when I got the W210 was lovely. As of now I am unsure what gearboxes they use, they may use their own design now, but if Ford use the same box for the 3l mondys as they do for the 2l then they wont last as long, this is the same problem old shape Vectra drivers have when they buy the 2.5 V6`s.

 

[DRICCI]

The merc box is a bit wishy washy even though I have rebuilt it and tightened the slack out of it with new bushes yet still feels hopelessy heavy, both clutch and gearstick and has no real "feel" like the Escort box. Like I say I have rebuilt the box so I know its bad by design but Mercs are meant to be Autos, finding a manual one is like finding a small smelly deposit behind a rocking horse, the boxes are crap because they concentrate on the autos, which are supreme piece of engineering

I know what you're saying but you've obviously not tried the manual in the new SLK then. Try it before you decide.