Why should I not buy a 211 320 Petrol?

[BenzedUP]

I've driven a remaped w203 C320 which is allot lighter than a w211 and that feels slugish when trying to over take, and it uses more fuel than my previous w210 e55!

I'm not a fan of them 320 petrols they also get effected by heat and become so slugish

it's about 4 to 5 cars slower than my w211 cdi!

might as well go for the 500 will be the same in fuel costs as the 320 and nicer to drive.

 

[renault12ts]

You are used to running an AMG.

I guess fuel consumption isnt a major issue.

I'd think a 320 petrol would be fine enough, but a 350 or 500 ideal. You will not have to rev it hard to make decent progress, its not got the torque of a diesel but its not exactly a sluggish engine either, still a healthy amount of torque and more peak power. Remember torque itself is useless with engine speed, so when the petrol does rev say beyond 4k rpm, you'll be making decent progress if not decent economy. A modern diesel does the performance/economy blend very well however

A 500 is probably better, and the diesels are quiet, the V6s especially so, the 220cdi's not so but ok when warm.

Get the best car in the best condition you can afford is my best advice.

On the contrary Steve. To achieve the same out of the petrol as you get out of diesel you will have to rev it, that's the point of the big torque diesels...relaxed delivery of power. And since the big diesel has more torque even than the 500 go for the 320cdi every time. Coming from a C43 to E320 petrol would be a disastrous move. On this point I agree with Benzed Up.

 

[st4]

On the contrary Steve. To achieve the same out of the petrol as you get out of diesel you will have to rev it, that's the point of the big torque diesels...relaxed delivery of power. And since the big diesel has more torque even than the 500 go for the 320cdi every time. Coming from a C43 to E320 petrol would be a disastrous move. On this point I agree with Benzed Up.

You have to take a diesel into the "turbo charged" part of the rev range and keep it within this band to make good progress, thats my experience of my car.

In saying all that I drove a bigger engined derv and have to say, it was hilariously rapid no matter what as probably without being in the turbo range it had enough shove to haul the car along (C320cdi 204) and relaxed yet make a good fist of reving round to generate peak power of 230+bhp.

Yep, the oil burner will be more relaxed, and in the real world ultimately quicker but my point was that if you cane the petrol, it will shift nicely.

Anyway.

The older 211 is a I6 engine (320cdi) and the 320 petrol is a V6.

The I6 is a perfectly balanced engine and very smooth, road tests did critise the petrol V6 for harshness too.

The diesel V6s are a revelation in smoothness and refinement though. That or a V8.

Other non MB wagons might make me suggest a 535d.

 

[Tan]

After a C43, a 320 petrol is going to feel like a slow bo, definitely a 500 or 320 CDi would get my vote.

 

[Londonscottish]

You would get a nice W220 S500 for £14k

Not an estate

 

[Londonscottish]

<cough> S500 </cough>

Well. OK, I guess I could just put a roof box on for the camping then....

 

[Charles Morgan]

E500 Estates are rare as hens teeth, but then so are the 320 petrols. If I were buying a 211 again it would be the 320cdi I would buy (I had an E500 estate until Livingstone's (spit) plans for a £25 un-discounted congestion charge for large cars forced me to cut my prospective losses) and it was magnificent, but in the real world the 320 cdi is just as good, with a much wider selection available and a much better resale market.

 

[SL300-24]

I bought this a couple of months ago for £14.5k with high miles.

They are out there you just have to be patient....go for the 320 CDI.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/82951-new-me-e320-cdi-sport-estate.html


I saw a E500 estate on Pistonheads a month or so ago and it took ages to sell....may still be unsold, so if you go for the petrol and want to sell it later you may struggle...

 

[Londonscottish]

You are used to running an AMG.

I guess fuel consumption isnt a major issue.

Not really. I live in London and these days I tend to cummute on a bike. Plus my employer gives me a fuel card so I only pay the tax - so 7000 miles a year works out at £750-ish of fuel for me. That's less than a year's insurance. Or one medium-sized service. Depreciation alone dwarves the fuel expense.

Jaymanek's point about better diesel residuals is a good one though. If I saved £1k a year on deprieciation by getting a doesel rather that a petrol
that would make financial sense.

What? Sense? Get me out of this straightjacket nurse! I need a facelift E500 now! Phew I was comong over all What Car there. Next thing I'll comparing boot space.....

 

[Londonscottish]

E500 Estates are rare as hens teeth, but then so are the 320 petrols. If I were buying a 211 again it would be the 320cdi I would buy (I had an E500 estate until Livingstone's (spit) plans for a £25 un-discounted congestion charge for large cars forced me to cut my prospective losses) and it was magnificent, but in the real world the 320 cdi is just as good, with a much wider selection available and a much better resale market.

Hi Charles - a good summary, thanks

 

[renault12ts]

You can put your golf clubs in an e class estate lying them not across the space but front to back. Not many cars have that big a boot. You did want to compare? And then the other 3 sets will lay along aside. Impressive.

 

[Londonscottish]

I bought this a couple of months ago for £14.5k with high miles.

They are out there you just have to be patient....go for the 320 CDI.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/82951-new-me-e320-cdi-sport-estate.html


I saw a E500 estate on Pistonheads a month or so ago and it took ages to sell....may still be unsold, so if you go for the petrol and want to sell it later you may struggle...

Yeah I love your car. Great spec/price. Got to love that TV.

And yes big a petrol woud be harder to shift on as the years go by and the authorities load more and more tax onto them, As Charles Morgan pointed out.

I think I'll use the depreciation argument to add a couple grand to my budget - then I'll be in the right area for a choice of V6 320d's.

 

[st4]

I think I'll use the depreciation argument to add a couple grand to my budget - then I'll be in the right area for a choice of V6 320d's.

They are very good cars and it will make your C43 seem like it had a leaky petrol tank.

Very refined from idle. Dont discount the 280cdi either if its cheaper

211s do vary in spec but even a basic spec is still a decent equipment level.

 

[PXW]

They are very good cars and it will make your C43 seem like it had a leaky petrol tank.

Very refined from idle. Dont discount the 280cdi either if its cheaper

211s do vary in spec but even a basic spec is still a decent equipment level.

Yes, worth considering the 280CDi - it's exactly the same engine as the 320CDi (both are 3 litre V6s, despite the model designation) and can be tuned/chipped very easily if you want to up the performance. Though tbh I've never bothered with the re-tune; despite coming to the car out of a 535d tourer I've found the performance perfectly adequate.

 

[Londonscottish]

You can put your golf clubs in an e class estate lying them not across the space but front to back. Not many cars have that big a boot. You did want to compare? And then the other 3 sets will lay along aside. Impressive.

Well that would be handy if I actually played golf

Seriously, though, I've got young kids and need the room for all that clobber - especially when camping. Plus we're about to move house again and the wife wants to use it for furniture. Plus we'd like a seven seat option. Plus I want self levelling - and air if poss. And Iike to be able to fit a detachable tow bar for rear-mounted bike rack.

All of these things point at a (non-AMG) E Class. (no tow bar on an AMG...)

 

[renault12ts]

Well that would be handy if I actually played golf

Seriously, though, I've got young kids and need the room for all that clobber - especially when camping. Plus we're about to move house again and the wife wants to use it for furniture. Plus we'd like a seven seat option. Plus I want self levelling - and air if poss. And Iike to be able to fit a detachable tow bar for rear-mounted bike rack.

All of these things point at a (non-AMG) E Class. (no tow bar on an AMG...)

You can get a fully made up single bed (with drawers) in the back. You could probably lie in it too, but I didn't try that.

 

[Londonscottish]

You can get a fully made up single bed (with drawers) in the back. You could probably lie in it too, but I didn't try that.

That's impressive!