R-Class - Questions on UK 2008 Spec

[Sylvanus]

I've been looking for an estate that can take 4 children, 2 adults plus proper luggage for long journeys. Other requirements is that it should not look like a UAV (urban assault vehicle) since I don't roll up the sleeves of my tee-shirt, deal drugs or carry a rifle and its not needed in any ram-raids.

The R-Class seemed a great choice now that they have introduced a 7-seat version (fold down seat 7 for more luggage space) and 2WD seemed great since I'm lost as to why one needs 4WD in urban / suburban SE England!

Two questions for those of you more expert than me:

1) The dealer is telling me that only one engine version of the R-Class will exist in the UK, the R320 CDI with either 5 or 7 seats and in SWB or LWB. Is that true - seems strange given the information in the press release and blurbs:

http://www.worldcarfans.com/2070511.002/mercedes-r-class-minor-facelift

I'd prefer 2WD but it seems I'm out of luck!

2) Also be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on reliability. I love cars that "just work" and would love that to be the case with this one. Our previous E-class estate has been fairly poor.

 

[hunty]

I understand 2WD will only be available on the base 280CDI but it saves about 200KG in weight.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Im one of the few people that also like the R class, Maybe worth checking lease costs if you millage is low? they do seem to drop quite heavy.

ooh and 4wd is handy if you tow and need to get off a wet campsite and also for the trips aboard to the alps.Have to say it also 'feels' safe when its throwing down on the motorways...


Thanks

 

[Sylvanus]

I understand 2WD will only be available on the base 280CDI but it saves about 200KG in weight.

I thought the same but the list I have from the dealer shows only

R320CDI 4WD 5 Seats SWB
R320CDI 4WD 7 Seats SWB
R320CDI 4WD 7 Seats LWB

I hope you're right since the 280 and 320 are as I understand it the same engine tuned differently. Have you seen anything that confirms they'll be available in the UK?

 

[Sylvanus]

Actually. Looking at the US site:

http://www.mbusa.com/vehicle-showroom.do

It seems as though the only 2wd in the US is the R350 petrol engine so perhaps the dealer is right. Still seems odd since I can accept that 4wd is useful in the cold of a Boston / NY winter but (campsites apart) pretty useless in Godalming or Holland Park. Adding 10% to the weight is horrendous! Its already a truck-weight beast...

Still seems like the best compromise I can find...

 

[hawk20]

I have the new brochure in front of me hot from the press and slipped into my hand by a kind contact.

There will be a 2wd version -the 280cdi. This will also be available in 4wd

The 320cdi and the R500 petrol will only be available in 4wd.

The CO2 emissions are all shown as band G which is a pity.

But at last we have the big estate car version, which I thought should have been there from day one.

 

[Satch]

The R class LWB is actually a very good car and very practical.

But MB got the pricing badly wrong and were at one time offering huge dealer support just to shift the things. If you look on autotrader there are quite a few low mileage examples on a '06 or '56 plate

 

[BTB 500]

The R class LWB is actually a very good car and very practical.

I've just spent a week being ferried around in the back of a 12 month old R350 LWB. This is my mother-in-law's car ... she had an Opel Zafira 1.8 before!

Generally I was quite impressed, comfortable & smooth and the V6 sounds nice without being intrusive. Forward visibility is very limited from the middle seats though, which made my wife feel a bit queasy. The kids were pretty happy in the back, access for getting them in and out was OK but not outstanding. Liked the separate aircon for left/right/rear, and the pull-up sun screens on the rear windows. The privacy glass was great inside the car in bright sunny weather, not convinced about it otherwise (esp. with the sun screens). With all 6 seats in use the boot was enough for coats/cameras/etc.

This is a big old bus for taking to the shops etc. though. Parktronic is essential IMO (not sure whether this is standard or not), and things are a bit tight in multi-storey car parks etc. The Vito Long we will be getting soon is slightly shorter!

Interesting to see COMAND in action, the big screen and phone / audio integration were great ... but as a satnav I'd take my Tom Tom 910 any time.