Can you tell us why, please?
Case for the BMW 8 speed box is that amazingly (with some engines at least) they claim is does as many miles per gallon as the manual version. That is some achievement. And being in the same tax band should help sales.
I've driven the 5GT and can only say that the box is lovely. Smooth as silk.
I have been living with a brand new E500 Sport for a few days now which is always a better way of getting to know a car than a quick spin round the block with a salesman.
The reasons I'm not a fan of the 212 are that in my opinion it does not move the game on from the car it replaces and in some cases moves it back (maybe safety and economy excepted).
I find that as a car it is not a relaxing place to be. External styling is fussy and contrived, which unfortunately has been carried into the inside. I find all of the sharp angles and creases in the dash looking back at me does not make me feel relaxed at the wheel. The plastic mouldings all feel cheap and there is no 'softness' to anything. On the 211 for example the leather on the doorcard is beautifully padded as you squish your arm into it, but not so here. You have less padding and harder leather (if it really is leather).
Ergonomics are worse too. Why place the heating controls right down low and then give over half the dash to the stereo. They have comand so should not have to duplicate all the functions on the dash too.
The quality is also suspect. On my demo, at 65 mph + with the wipers on, the drivers side wiper actually hits the windscreen edge with a loud annoying clack.
There is far too much road noise too. Yes, it has Hawks pet hate of wide low pro tyres but they are only 18s and still look far to small for such a big body. I think the glass is thinner than it should be because when driving in the rain you can hear the tyre noise of the car in front. Almost as if you have a window open.
But worst of all is the ride. OK, this is the Sport model but it has the Airmatic option with a comfort mode. It is the worst riding car I've ever driven to be frank. Diagonal bumps have caused such a problem that I have hit my head on the side glass such was the force of body movement. Put it in S mode and the car is undriveable. For those who know London will know Mortimer St. It is a road with dips and craters, potholes and speedbumps in the centre of London. Driving this E Class down there was like being at Alton Towers. This ride is also causing the interior to creak and rattle already.
So my thoughts are that MB is a brand in crisis. It doesn't know what it wants to be and it has lost its mojo. An E Class should not be like this, nor should any Merc really. They seemed to have joined a party just as others have left. BMW did the challenging styling trick with Bangle which was a roaring success in the end, but now it is toned down again and a bit more uniform. BMW used to ride less well than a Merc because of the 'sporty' pretence, but now it seems BMW ride better. etc etc.
And as for the quality, my brand new car is in the menders already and this demo has a wonky wiper.
I accept that in the case of the E Class less is maybe more, but this one I'm in costs a distinctly unfunny 65k !
There you go Hawk - you did ask
