C Class C230 V6 Coupe: Manual or 7 speed auto decisions..

[Dr Zoidberg]

Thinking of buying one of these.. I'm new to MB's and not had an automatic before so I'm tempted to spec the 6 speed manual. However the dealer (and others) say you should always go for an auto with a merc.
As this model features the 7 speed auto should I go for that and maybe also get the steering wheel paddles which presumably turns it into a sort of manual? Thing is you hear bad things about steering gear changers too..
Any advice from owners using this gear box greatfully received.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,
A lot of people do not get on with manual gearboxes in Mercedes because of the foot operated handbrake on most models. The auto's are great and with the road congestion we face makes driving easier. IMHO I would have the 7G box but not bother with the paddles. The autobox has side to side tiptronic function if you want to drop a few gears as standard.
I would recommend you try one of each before you part with the folding.

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

Thanks for the quick reply. I've only test driven the C220 so far so not yet tried the 7 speed auto. By the side to side function do you mean you move the gear lever left to down change and right to change up when you are in D position?

 

[hawk20]

Thanks for the quick reply. I've only test driven the C220 so far so not yet tried the 7 speed auto. By the side to side function do you mean you move the gear lever left to down change and right to change up when you are in D position?

Tip lightly left: it drops a gear. Tip left and hold: it chooses the gear for best acceleration.
In my view the Merc boxes are so brilliant you can put it in drive and let it do the business. It even learns your driving style. If you are pushing on it changes to facilitate that. If you are in peaceful mood, it chooses gears to suit.

Recent major study shows auto box is only extra you more than get your money back on when part exchange. Very few dealers will give you a good price for a manual. Only a white car with a manual box is harder to shift.

Remember you never see a manual Formula I car now.
You never meet anyone who wants to go back to winding their own windows or locking all the doors manually
And I'll bet you if you get a Merc auto box you will never look back.

 

[jberks]

You never meet anyone who wants to go back to winding their own windows or locking all the doors manually
And I'll bet you if you get a Merc auto box you will never look back.

Lots of people have come on with the same quandry. Lots of people say they fear losing the 'control' you have with a manual. Oddly I have never heard anyone with a Merc auto regretting it and switching back to manual.

Do drive both, but once you've lived with an auto for a couple of days, I suspect you'll join the rest of us in taking the mickey out of all those that think by pressing a pedal and moving a lever 200 times a day, stalling at traffic lights and holding on the clutch in a traffic jam, they somehow have more control than you!

 

[blassberg]

I've had an M and she has an SLK with the 6sp manual. Fine in both cars. Foot operated brake not a problem in the M, 'real' handbrake in the SLK. No issues.

But I have the 7G-Auto with paddles and would not a car without both. Yes you can tip with the auto gear stick but passengers think you're showing off. With paddles they never know as they are so discrete (AMG left / right paddles are different - non AMG you cna up/down on both sides). You're in control. Leave in drive - come to an overtake opportunity - double click to max acceleration gear - pull back in - hold to reset to Drive - job done - car in mirror getting very small. Onto slip road, single click, accelerate away, hold to reset to Drive. Tight corner, single click, manual type engine braking on way in, accelerate out - overtaking ideally if two lanes - reset to drive. Smile.

 

[blassberg]

not sure I know what a C Class C230 V6 Coupe is but would recommend a go in a C320CDI. Where are you?

 

[Blobcat]

I'm thinking that claws (Dr Zoidberg) are probably better suited to an autobox don't know if your claws would be much use with the paddles.

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

Wow. A huge amount of thanks to you all. Always worrying when joining a forum as a newbie that you'll get either ignored or patronised for not knowing much. None of that here I'm happy to say.
Thanks to all for the auto recomendations and also for the excellent tiptronic descriptions. Guess a 'proper' auto box it is then

 

[SLinKyjoe]

What the Futurama brings

Dr Zoidberg.

Bender would have you buy the 7g auto.

least ways you can find it easier with the parking brake.

Now I shall just ring Planet Express and get this package delivered to omicron Persia 8.

 

[Myros]

Am I the only one

who wishes his V8 5litre SL had a 5 speed manual box. I like the 4sp auto, but I'm just crazy for all that gear-changing action. It must be my age.

 

[blassberg]

who wishes his V8 5litre SL had a 5 speed manual box. I like the 4sp auto, but I'm just crazy for all that gear-changing action. It must be my age.

Do you really want a manual to do that or more control over more ratios which could include auto?

 

[Myros]

Blassberg, to be honest

I just love changing gear. I'm a real artiste at it. It's as close as I'll ever get to formula one ballroom dancing or whatever the fotm tv show is. My Dad used to let me change gear from the passenger seat when I was a kid, and Isuppose it has just stuck with me. I love all the nuances of timing and control that go into making a perfect change. It's about the only challenge left these days.

 

[jberks]

It's about the only challenge left these days.

You should try the cross-pennine sport of transit dodging - every day a new white van challenge!
Keeps your mind off the gearchanges.
Had a new one this morning - A blue vito with stealth (read - no) brake lights! Kept my journey interesting trying to anticipate whether he was speeding up or slowing down.

 

[Myros]

I was on it yesterday

doing my Graf Spee impression in the 300TE, having collected it from the mechies. I think my smoke signals may have offended a few followers.

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

Is that Woodhead Pass? I remember when I first drove over there towards Manchester.. It was a fairly quiet run about ten at night. Had a good thrash over the top then lots of twisty corners as you head towards Glossop and Manchester.
The next time I did it in the day.. Those twisty corners I was thrashing around for the first time had huge vertical drops at the edge! Funny how knowing what would happen should you mess up those corners reins in the speed somehow!

 

[Myros]

I used to do that run , and the A57 Snake Pass

nearly every week in all weathers. Try doing it in a 1200cc VW Beetle with candle-power headlamps and cross-ply tyres, and the phrase 'pucker factor' takes on a whole new meaning.
Actually, JB and I meant the M62 between Manchester and Leeds. A joyful bit of road when empty, a car park with a nice view when full.

 

[Blobcat]

I just love changing gear. I'm a real artiste at it. It's as close as I'll ever get to formula one ballroom dancing or whatever the fotm tv show is. My Dad used to let me change gear from the passenger seat when I was a kid, and Isuppose it has just stuck with me. I love all the nuances of timing and control that go into making a perfect change. It's about the only challenge left these days.

I agree with you about changing gear yet I still have an auto. I double de-clutch all the time, have never worn a clutch out and love the feeling of hitting the power band with a perfect gear change. Reason I have an auto though is that I drive 30-35,000 miles p.a. and most of the roads I drive are so congested that they are no fun anymore. Sitting for 3hrs+ on the M4 was the final straw for me, up and down on the clutch, in and out of first gear. When I finally got off the motorway I was knackered.
I have the bikes for the fun roads and I have my large diesel auto Mercedes to make my working life easier .

 

[blassberg]

I have the bikes for the fun roads and I have my large diesel auto Mercedes to make my working life easier .

enjoy the weather!

 

[angus falconer]

I'm new to MB's and not had an automatic before so I'm tempted to spec the 6 speed manual. However the dealer (and others) say you should always go for an auto with a merc.

Unlike Blassberg I have last century's technology - the five speed auto without paddles, buttons or speedshift override. I still think it's a fantastic gearbox - seamless creamy upshifts whether I am feathering the throttle or giving it full beans. Perfect round town, perfect on the motorway. Kickdown usually enough to get past laggards, I ocasionally knock it down to 4th or maybe 3rd if I need a well-timed blast. On country roads if I am in a hurry I might just leave it in third and the torque and power spread gives a wide speed range.

I don't miss changing gear one iota.

PS I think Mercs with manuals are just downright strange - In Belgium they use manual C's an E's - as a passenger the usual Merc serentity is broken by all the lurching and clonking - really not at pleasant and as others have pointed out probably harder to shift when it comes to resale (no pun intended).