C Sports Coupe Opinions

[kevinororke]

Hi,

I currently run a W202 C Class Estate but may not need the load capicity in future. A possible replacement is a C Class based Sports Coupe. Anyone got any comments or advice about this model ? I'm particularly interested in the relative merits of petrol and diesel engines with this "sporty" car. (My current Estate is a 220 CDI which great in that sort of car). Also, has anyone got any experience of the full length Panorama glass roof ?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[jon_harley]

I had the C200K petrol engine (164bhp?) and it was nicely sporty. The panoramic glass roof is excellent - makes a huge different to back seat passengers when you have them.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I know this will go down like a lead balloon but you really can't combine diesel and sporty. Diesels are great for long distance driving and every day use (I had one for about 5 years) but trust me there is no way you will look sporty when you slow down and your car sounds like a tractor. I know that comment will get some people going but I challange anyone to park a diesel and a petrol next to each other and not spot which is which.

 

[type49]

I see your point, although the new V6 320 diesel seems quicker than the V6 320 petrol, exhaust note can't match it though.

As for the C coupe, if you go for the panoranic roof, listen for rattles.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I see your point, although the new V6 320 diesel seems quicker than the V6 320 petrol, exhaust note can't match it though.

As for the C coupe, if you go for the panoranic roof, listen for rattles.

there's no doubt that modern diesels can be quite fast but I think in a sports car that's missing the point. Speed is only part of the equation. Sound is another as you rightly pointed out. Could you imagine someone pulling up next to you at the lights on a sunny summers day in a Ferrari or an Aston and you suddenly hear the chatter of a Massey Furgeson and then as the lights change the blonde on the Ferrari casually pulls away in a cloud of black smoke. Doesn't really work does it.

If you are a Taxi driver, a businesman, a familiy man lugging the kids around etc none of those things matter. But sports car and diesel are a contradiction in terms.

 

[niva441]

I find the shove that the diesel torque provides to be quite sporty.

The panoramic roof is excellent, lets lots of light in, but it can rattle on occasion.

 

[CMR]

Well I completely agree with Omni on this. Nothing sporty about trying to glide up to set of lights with a "chatter of a Massey Fergeson"

 

[Blobcat]

Well I completely agree with Omni on this. Nothing sporty about trying to glide up to set of lights with a "chatter of a Massey Fergeson"

But since the new CDIs don't have a tractor like chatter then it shouldn't be an issue. The only reason I would buy a petrol car is because they are cheaper to buy than the diesels. The only problem I would have is that they would be twice as expensive on fuel :-(

 

[CMR]

I suppose it really does depend on how many miles you are going to do and weigh up costs Petrol vs Deisel. Maybe I have too sensitive hearing but I was walking down the street the other day and saw a really nice brand new merc in a street jam but the sound completely let it down. I agree they dont sound like a tractor but well, still room for improvement. As to cost factors you would also need to factor in servicing and parts as they are different, how much I dont know because I havent run a diesel, maybe someone else could shed light on this?

 

[Blobcat]

You can always have a read of this If you haven't driven one then I can seriously recommend it. Also the sound is quite different on the inside and mine is particularly nice when giving it bulk stick,

 

[CMR]

Sounds like I'll have to give diesel a go! Thanks for the info Blobcat

 

[sportscoupe]

hi,i`ve owned my sport edition 220 for about 3 months now and i`m chuffed with it.bearing in mind the petrol/diesel debate we owned an slk 320 for roughly 3yrs from new and i have to say the in gear urge of the coupe compares well.will concede it does`nt sound like a v6,lol.have to say it`s nice and quiet inside too,very little noise and picks up well from cold,unlike the awfull freelander td4 i part-ex`d it for.by the way does anyone have any info on the brabus d3 powerxtra kit that merc dealers are supposed to be able to supply and fit? is it worth it cost versus performance increase?cheers,rich

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I had a c220 Sport as a loan car (an 06 plate one). It was a great cruiser but it still sounded ghastly when you cranked it up, especially first thing in the morning.

I'm not talking about performance as they are pretty evenly matched these days and I'm not talking about economy (although I disagree with Blobcats comments about petrol being twice as expensive to run - there is another thread going on where a guy with a new c220 is getting 34 mpg, the same as my c240. Given that diesel is more expensive than petrol and that diesel's are typically more expensive to buy it works out about even too). What I am saying is you can NOT have a diesel "sports" car. Name me one manufacturer that makes a genuine sports car (rather than a "sports saloon") with a diesel engine?

The long and short of it is that if you genuinely want sporty you can not have a diesel. The two completely contradict each other. And I don't care what anyone says a diesel ALWAYS sounds like a diesel. And that sound is simply not sporty.

So. If you want a good cruiser for lugging the family around that will go on for years and has relatively good economy (but only if you get a small engine) then get a diesel. If you want a "sports" car, get a petrol engine. Horses for courses.

 

[Chris_J]

Is that me with the C220 and 34mpg? That's all I get out of my 54 plate 220 with 34k on the clock. I'm lucky if I see 41/42 on the motorway, that's leaving the mpg counter on from start and not resetting.

A sport? No way, totally agree with OCNR and I sometimes wish I'd either gone BMW or stuck with the CTR I got rid of.

I also have a couple of interior squeaks and rattles. One comes from the centre where the telephone pre-wire is fitted, one from the dash which sounds awful at times, and one from above the passenger seatbelt.

Will Mercedes look at these? It's still under warranty and asking for a service in 600 miles.

 

[kevinororke]

Hi, thanks for all the comments about the C Class Sports Coupe. Looks like the Panoramic glass roof is worth having and my interpretation of the petrol / diesel arguement is that petrol just has the edge. I'll start looking for good one when the old Merc Estate has paased its MOT.

Thanks, Kevin

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

don't forget kevin, these are just opinons. The Diesel/petrol thing is always emotive. At the end of the day you just need to buy what suits you and which you prefer. Which ever you go for let us know and I hope you enjoy it

 

[type49]

Go to a dealer & arrange to drive both. If you drive less than 10K per year, it's not worth buying a diesel. Also, don't just look at the MPG difference, remember diesel costs more to buy so look at the cost difference.

 

[Clive197]

Hi all
I have had my C220 CDI Auto with Panoramic Roof, Sport Suspension, Leather and COMAND for 5 weeks and I LOVE IT.
My first Diesel, on some runs to work (26miles) I have managed to get 46MPG which I reckon is more than reasonable.
As for this tosh about it not being a sports car because it doesn't growl like one is missing the point. One of my definations of a Sports Car is when you are doing 50MPH and you want to overtake a little old biddy who is driving along in front of you knitting (or something) You put your foot down and accelerate and when your doing 90MPH your still being pushed back in your seat not wanting to let go until the boys in blue bring you to your senses, and it takes them 6 months to wipe the smile off your face, who gives a monkeys that it didn't growl.

 

[vindaloo]

Hi,

I've had my C200 K Coupe for a week now and absolutely love it:mrgreen: :mrgreen: I wondered if I was doing the right thing swapping my CLK for one. I know I've personally made the right choice. Mine has the Panoramic roof and I feel this is a must. I love my car!! I would have liked a facelift model as they are so much nicer inside...maybe in a year or two!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Hi all
I have had my C220 CDI Auto with Panoramic Roof, Sport Suspension, Leather and COMAND for 5 weeks and I LOVE IT.
My first Diesel, on some runs to work (26miles) I have managed to get 46MPG which I reckon is more than reasonable.
As for this tosh about it not being a sports car because it doesn't growl like one is missing the point. One of my definations of a Sports Car is when you are doing 50MPH and you want to overtake a little old biddy who is driving along in front of you knitting (or something) You put your foot down and accelerate and when your doing 90MPH your still being pushed back in your seat not wanting to let go until the boys in blue bring you to your senses, and it takes them 6 months to wipe the smile off your face, who gives a monkeys that it didn't growl.

I had a C220 Sport a couple of weeks ago as a loaner and the comment about over taking is possibly a bit one sided. btw, I really don't want to anoy anyone saying this because in most respects the C220 was a great car, certainly better put together than my 2003 C240 and fantastic on the motorways BUT if you've tried a decent sized petrol engine you will discover the overtaking is much easier. The problem with a diesel is that you get a hit of power, approach the 4000 rpm mark and it all goes away. You don't get that in a petrol, the power is pretty much constant. What I found with teh C220 was that it felt really quick but just had no mid range grunt compared to the C240. Possibly if you have come from a 1.8 petrol engine it would feel quicker.

I am saying this from a position of having driven both cars in the last couple fo weeks for quite some miles (had the C220 for about 500 miles). Like I say, teh C220 Sport looked great and was a very very nice ride BUT it was still a "sports sallon" not a sportscar. There is a difference.