V6CDi and 7g (plusIIRC) is haunting me...

[st4]

In the shape of this...

My old man bought a new car. Of all the things, a V6CDi Mercedes with a 7g box. I assume its a 7g plus but the changes in E more (he'll not use S mode) seem woefully slow.

DSC_0317 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0305 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0313 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0315 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0306 by [email protected], on Flickr

He bought the car from John R Weir Mercedes in Perth. The cars done 6k miles, and is in great new condition. Additional spec wise its not massive, but these things standard are insane. Memory seats, dual zone climate, COMAND (its got that), 6CD, xenon with high beam assist (for those who can't drive at night), speed limit assist (for those who cannot read signs), DLRs, stupid range of adjustment seats, leather (for those with poor taste in car seats) and airmatic in all the models. Its got paddleshift too

Its lovely. The 7g is better than the one than in my car, still ponderous at changing gear, but in such an out and out luxury car, it suits it better.

The Bluetech engine uses a urea based additive to clean the exhaust gases, from a non CO2 emissions point of view, its very clean. It has a DPF and the salesman said, 20 miles at 60mph is enough to stop it giving trouble.

Its a fair bit more refined than my soon to be ex 211, but otherwise remarkably similar, trim is a bit better, but dash plastics appear to be the same. Seats are superb but made of leather sadly, but its a very comfortable car nonetheless.

A few other MB's there


DSC_0303 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0318 by [email protected], on Flickr

Afterwards, he took it to the Ballathie house hotel, good for lunches, not cheap, but not super dear and beautiful cuisine. My facebook followers can read about the smoked salmon and braised lamb there.

Car looks in its element

DSC_0321 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0334 by [email protected], on Flickr

Nice Hotel actually, would make a nice, if plush place for a forum GTG


DSC_0327 by [email protected], on Flickr


DSC_0329 by [email protected], on Flickr

He drives so much more slowly than me, so I cannot tell what it really does MPG wise but it returned 41.7mpg after him driving it for 2hrs30mins. When i drive like that, the shed does 45mpg. Impressive really as I suspect its faster (he did kickdown a few times) and a fair bit more spacious inside than an E class without being terribly massive. One thing is that its a seriously complex car and a lot of what should be easy to do (like adjust the lumbar support) is operated in the COMAND system. I think the screen for the speedo is a gimmic but its a quirk.

By god its comfortable and refined, as cars go this is as good as it gets if you want something comfortable and safe. At what he paid, I suspect a lot of high spec E class 350 owners would be better going for a lightly used S. Given how poorly the 212 is trimmed in comparison to this car, and how capable this S class is, its a no brainer really.

 

[bpsorrel]

John Weir was probably really grateful your Dad bought that car, judging from this article!

Pre tax profits fall 41% at John R Weir

Seriously though, a really lovely car! I do like the detailing in the interior of the S, beautiful!

 

[LTD]

Superb purchase Steve.

Your father has good taste.

 

[Dieselman]

I hope you Dad gets really bored of that car super quickly and looks to dump it at silly money.

Just let me know first...

 

[HB]

Lovely lovely car Steve.
John R Weir will be owned by Arnold Clark soon as will Verve Vw ( dam)

 

[HB]

I hope you Dad gets really bored of that car super quickly and looks to dump it at silly money.

Just let me know first...

I believe Steves father is already selling the car and STEVE comes with it. Lol.

 

[D-18]

***, looks like a lovely machine. Hope your Dad has a lot of trouble free miles to enjoy it.

 

[Dieselman]

I believe Steves father is already selling the car and STEVE comes with it. Lol.

He's gonna be keeping that car for some while...

 

[C240Sport97]

is that cubanite silver or indium grey?

 

[st4]

Its Indium Grey Sean.

Superb colour actually. On an S class 221 the iridium silver of my car and soon to be car doesn't work IMHO, great on a 220 but the 221 suits a more sombre colour.

He'll keep it for four years IIRC.

Will, I never understood when we spoke about more Modern Mercedes it was the 212 you focused on. I've driven a 212 and whilst they are sharp to drive, this is far nicer trimmed, miles more comfortable and spacious (you are a giant) and with airmatic suspension it doesn't seem barge like from the passanger seat at all. I don't get people who buy high spec E class 350 saloons at all now when they can get a 6000 miles one of these.

I was actually expecting to hate it and think it was a big old mans barge, but its actually excellent and one or two corners he punted it into, it went round nicely with remarkably little body roll and over steep crests and bumps it remained comfortable and completely rattle free.

I'm the first to slag a Mercedes off, but for cabin trim, lack of rattles and for a relaxed feeling on the road, nothing comes close.

Harry, thanks for the tip off. John R Weir were fabulous so he told me, and from my experience of dealer servicing the shed after MB Glasgow I thought they were great, but pricey. He'll dealer service it and he said he would be more likely to go to JRWs as they treated him well (good discount and they brought one down to him to test drive so he didn't waste his time going up to Perth).

What I'd love to know is whether its a 7g or 7g plus.

A fella on the darkside rants and raves about his 350Bluetech. I hope the 350 engine doesn't have the IPS motor, main bearings, and manifold clogging issues as other than that, its a great engine and definately the engine for this car (so much sound proofing in the S class, way more than a 211) you really don't hear it.

So, I love C classes and love S classes. Quite a transformation from "I love BMWs". eh???

 

[C240Sport97]

S class is the best the Mercedes does .. it's a great choice.

this has got me thinking about a S63

 

[st4]

S class is the best the Mercedes does .. it's a great choice.

this has got me thinking about a S63

You'll miss the CLS but I know what you mean

S63 IIRC only comes in LWB. Great for back seat toys and for being driven in if the need arises.

 

[Dieselman]

I like the comfort (the seats are a class above an E) and space of the 221, the only thing that bothers me is whether it's a bit stodgy on handling, hence thinking of a W212.

Take it for one of your trips and report back.

 

[st4]

I like the comfort (the seats are a class above an E) and space of the 221, the only thing that bothers me is whether it's a bit stodgy on handling, hence thinking of a W212.

Take it for one of your trips and report back.

I've not driven it but intend on borrowing it. I'll report back but IMHO from the passanger seat and his comments it seemed fine. My idea of good handling might be someone elses idea of a boat.

Take one out and see, I could see you in a 221 actually. :bannana:

 

[LTD]

S class handling is different from what you normally expect - it's the airmatic that does that.

The car will try and stay flat in corners so the initial tendency is to oversteer as you expect a corner to drop down. You'll get used to it.

To be fair, an S class is not intended to be flung around the roads. It's designed to be a luxury cruiser. Step out of one after a couple of hundred miles and you know exactly what I mean.

 

[Dieselman]

S class handling is different from what you normally expect - it's the airmatic that does that.

Does the airmatic actually jack up the drooping corner, or is it that the spring rate increases at the same rate as the air is compressed, so as the car rolls over the springs get stiffer so stops it rolling.

 

[HB]

S class handling is different from what you normally expect - it's the airmatic that does that.

The car will try and stay flat in corners so the initial tendency is to oversteer as you expect a corner to drop down. You'll get used to it.

To be fair, an S class is not intended to be flung around the roads. It's designed to be a luxury cruiser. Step out of one after a couple of hundred miles and you know exactly what I mean.

You're just an old and need an S Class.

 

[st4]

Does the airmatic actually jack up the drooping corner,

From what little I understand no, thats how the ABC system works in CL and SL classes where the dropping corner is jacked up to negate roll.

This also works by jacking up the front under hard braking to negative dive under hard braking

or is it that the spring rate increases at the same rate as the air is compressed, so as the car rolls over the springs get stiffer so stops it rolling.

I think this is probably closer.

 

[LTD]

You're just an old and need an S Class.

Nothing wrong with that at all.