C220 vs C270 advice needed

[skearon]

Have been searching through these wonderful forums this afternoon, a great source of information.

Anyway I am changing my car (02 Volvo V40) and am very tempted to purchase my first Merc (my wife has a 99 E240 Auto Estate which she loves, she doesn't drive distances so the 20 mpg isn't a problem for her)

MPG is important to me as I drive 30-35K miles a year (mostly national road and motorways, seldom in the city)

The V40 gives me 48-50 mpg and I want to keep to it around the same

Local garage have a 01 C270 Automatic 105K miles, and a 02 C220 6 Speed Manual 130K miles, both at good prices with my trade in

Would appreciate any advice as regards the 2.7 vs 2.2 diesel engines as well as auto vs 6-speed manual box.

I presume manual will give me slightly better mpg, but the auto was nice to drive

Only downside with the 2.7 is in Ireland the road tax for that size engine is €1,000 vs €750 for a 2.2

Also any advice in general about things to look out for when purchasing a 2001 or 2002 C series


Thanks in advance and happy new year

 

[jberks]

Hi,
Unless you're a 55mph man, I doubt you'd see 50mpg from a 270.I have an E Auto so the comparison is tricky but if I crack 42mpg I consider i'm doing well.
You are going to get better mpg from the 220 6 speed so 50 should be achievable with a subtle right foot.

 

[Phil D]

Only downside with the 2.7 is in Ireland the road tax for that size engine is €1,000 vs €750 for a 2.2

wow ! I thought we got stiffed by uk taxes - still at least there's still a proper welfare state in Ireland.

leaving aside the tax issue, and without a detailed knowledge of the Irish market I'd say buy the auto - manual mercs (with maybe the exception of the A class) are simply wrong! (and almost impossible to resell.)
hope this is of some help
Phil

 

[Rory]

I have a late 2004 C270CDi auto, but it's an estate. I really only use it for long motorway journeys and travelling at a steady 70ish it can hit 50MPG.
According to its computer it has averaged 43MPG over 30K miles.

The think that really messes up the economy is stop start driving over short journeys - it'll be down to 30MPG then.

A manual MB can be difficult to shift secondhand - the foot operated parking brake takes some getting used to.

 

[chelsea57]

my c220cdi auto estate does 36mpg in start stop driving

a manual c220 should just do 40mpg or 45 on motorway i would think

 

[skearon]

Only downside with the 2.7 is in Ireland the road tax for that size engine is €1,000 vs €750 for a 2.2

wow ! I thought we got stiffed by uk taxes - still at least there's still a proper welfare state in Ireland.

leaving aside the tax issue, and without a detailed knowledge of the Irish market I'd say buy the auto - manual mercs (with maybe the exception of the A class) are simply wrong! (and almost impossible to resell.)
hope this is of some help
Phil

Actually due to Celtic Tiger Ireland has more Mercs per head of population than Germany does! Lots of them around

 

[harrington]

mpg c270 cdi estate

hi all i have just changed my air filter i was getting 44 mpg on a 70 mph run but now after change i am getting 54 mpg and 38 around town wow and my c270 has done 122,000 miles and drives like new.

 

[outsmartsmart]

A C270 getting 54mpg @ 70mph......

My C220CDi auto gets about 43mpg on a fast, steady and gentle 37 mile 'A' road/dual carrigeway commute and about 36mpg in general usage. I haven't stamped on the go pedal in anger really yet but would expect that to drop to low 30's quite easily if I did.

It seems to have the 'legs' for longer, higher speed journeys it seems so I'll be testing this theory with a few longer motorway trips soon.

I'd go with the C270, maybe not expecting 54mpg as typical and what you budget for, as the smoother engine, with the necessary auto and they don't seem any worse (or in fractions only) than the C220 in economy. Can't help on the taxation issue but check insurance as well?