I have an E220 Cdi Avantgarde estate, auto, which I bought on 2nd Feb last year. It was 6 months old and had done 3000 miles. Bought from a main dealer in Sheffield who told me that the previous owner had inherited some money soon after buying and traded for the ML he really wanted all along....
So its one year on and I thought it might be good to summarise my experiences and thoughts so far....
Firstly, it has now done 40k miles (well all bar 40 miles). According to the trip computer (which I reset when I got home) it has 36950 miles, at an average of 44mph, consuming fuel at the rate of 46.3mpg. Most alarmingly, it also says I have spent 833.08 hrs driving it - I make that 2 and a quarter hours every day, or nearly 16 hrs a week!
The good bits - all I have had to do in that year is have it serviced twice at the main dealer. Bit pricey (about 750 quid in total!) but it has had nothing else done to it. Not even tyres! It may be because i drive like an old man now, and it may be because most of my driving is in a straight line, but I have never got that sort of mileage from tyres before. Fronts have some life left, rears are getting ready.
It has averaged between 46 and 47 mpg true over the year I have had it. As said above, i do alot of driving on the M1, where its a cruise at 75 ish where possible, with some stop start queuing most days.
It is HUGE! I have a son at uni, it serves as the transit van that he seems to need to move him in and out each year. Nothing else this side of a van would cope.
However, that counts against it in car parks when it can feel very big!
I also dont find it that comfortable. The ride is good (even on the optional 18s that are fitted) but the seats just arent up to Volvo standards.
Its well built and certainly feels higher quality than the old shape S60 and various BMWs and VWs I have had.
The engine isnt that refined. It makes it shift reasonably when needed but its a bit vocal and unrefined. I have had D5 (x2) and 6 cylinder BMW diesel immediately prior though.
Its an auto, and for the most part a very good one. However, it does occasionally jolt into 1. The american style changer on the column is an aquired taste too.....
I may end up back in a company car soon. If so, the Bluetec hybrid would be an option to keep the BIK lower (perhaps) but I would be looking long and hard at the V60 D4 8 speed in SE Lux Nav or R design Lux Nav 8 speed auto as a preferable option. My wife would not approve (she likes the star) but i find the Merc a bit ostentatious for me. And as youngest leaves uni soon, I wont need a removal van!
Hope this is of interest, happy to add more info if anyone is interested.
Ian
PS One other issue - I need to work out how to open the bonnet!
So its one year on and I thought it might be good to summarise my experiences and thoughts so far....
Firstly, it has now done 40k miles (well all bar 40 miles). According to the trip computer (which I reset when I got home) it has 36950 miles, at an average of 44mph, consuming fuel at the rate of 46.3mpg. Most alarmingly, it also says I have spent 833.08 hrs driving it - I make that 2 and a quarter hours every day, or nearly 16 hrs a week!
The good bits - all I have had to do in that year is have it serviced twice at the main dealer. Bit pricey (about 750 quid in total!) but it has had nothing else done to it. Not even tyres! It may be because i drive like an old man now, and it may be because most of my driving is in a straight line, but I have never got that sort of mileage from tyres before. Fronts have some life left, rears are getting ready.
It has averaged between 46 and 47 mpg true over the year I have had it. As said above, i do alot of driving on the M1, where its a cruise at 75 ish where possible, with some stop start queuing most days.
It is HUGE! I have a son at uni, it serves as the transit van that he seems to need to move him in and out each year. Nothing else this side of a van would cope.
However, that counts against it in car parks when it can feel very big!
I also dont find it that comfortable. The ride is good (even on the optional 18s that are fitted) but the seats just arent up to Volvo standards.
Its well built and certainly feels higher quality than the old shape S60 and various BMWs and VWs I have had.
The engine isnt that refined. It makes it shift reasonably when needed but its a bit vocal and unrefined. I have had D5 (x2) and 6 cylinder BMW diesel immediately prior though.
Its an auto, and for the most part a very good one. However, it does occasionally jolt into 1. The american style changer on the column is an aquired taste too.....
I may end up back in a company car soon. If so, the Bluetec hybrid would be an option to keep the BIK lower (perhaps) but I would be looking long and hard at the V60 D4 8 speed in SE Lux Nav or R design Lux Nav 8 speed auto as a preferable option. My wife would not approve (she likes the star) but i find the Merc a bit ostentatious for me. And as youngest leaves uni soon, I wont need a removal van!
Hope this is of interest, happy to add more info if anyone is interested.
Ian
PS One other issue - I need to work out how to open the bonnet!
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