leg room on new mercs

[poseidon]

Hi,

I was dissapointed with the leg space when I bought my 1996 C220. I can not straighten legs unless I pull the seat far back in which case I can not reach steering weel. I tried an e class (w210) but it is not better.

The merc models from 80's (w123) were far more comfortable for a driver, and I particularly loved this on mercs. Nowadays I think the driver's space has been compromised (the drivers position is japanised where your knees are touching your ears). As an example I find a Rover 6 series or even 4 series more confortable than new mercs as far as leg room is concerned.

I am not particularly tall (183cm). Is there any basketball player feeling the same way about new mercs?

Regards,

Pose

 

[jon_harley]

I'm exactly the same height as you, and my two Mercs have been the only cars I've ever owned where I didn't need to push the seat as far back as it would go to get enough leg room.

It is 2007 so a 1996 car is hardly a "new merc"!

 

[television]

You guys are 1cm longer than me,33" inside leg, but then all of my MBs have an adjustable steering wheel, it too drive with the seat right back, is there a model in the range with an adjustable wheel.

malcolm

 

[jberks]

Well I have a 32" leg and I can't say I've ever had a problem. I'm not the tallest around but the seat is far enough back that the easy entry system doesn't work. I've driven 123,126,202,210 and now a 211 and they've all been fine. There are lots of adjustments up, down and tilt,as well as fore and back that all make a difference to leg room. I'd do some more adjusting. There is a perfect position for you, you just need to find it.

 

[hawk20]

Hi,

I was dissapointed with the leg space when I bought my 1996 C220. I can not straighten legs unless I pull the seat far back in which case I can not reach steering weel. I tried an e class (w210) but it is not better.

The merc models from 80's (w123) were far more comfortable for a driver, and I particularly loved this on mercs. Nowadays I think the driver's space has been compromised (the drivers position is japanised where your knees are touching your ears). As an example I find a Rover 6 series or even 4 series more confortable than new mercs as far as leg room is concerned.

I am not particularly tall (183cm). Is there any basketball player feeling the same way about new mercs?

Regards,

Pose

I am the same height as you and 33 inch inside leg. Cannot get into a Rover or most makes. Mercedes is one of the very few that offers enough legroom. I have owned E classes since 1983 and there has been no compromising of the fabulous legroom for drivers. In fact I would say it has gone up. Sounds to me -if you cannot reach the steering wheel - as if the sales staff have not shown you the adjustable steering wheel. I have owned a C and several E's and got plenty of legroom in both. Raise the seat plenty, tilt the squab to a comfortable angle to support your thighs (the C and the E both tilt), pull the wheel out and you should be fine.

Even the A and B classes have enough legroom for a 33 inch inside leg. Only the R class falls short -of all the Mercs I have tried.

 

[Lance]

I'm 6'3 and between me and my partner we have a W202 C180 in which the legroom is more than enough for me. If I put the drivers seat all the way back, I can't reach the pedals! The SLK is fine too, even headroom wise. (especially with the roof off ;o) !! )

 

[poseidon]

Hi,

Let me defend my position and give some clarifications on my car and views.

My car is classic C class and has no steering wheel adjustments. The steering wheel is not moving in any direction (except angularly around the centre). If I was aware of this issue, I would have bought elegance.
The seat adjustements make position more conformatble but do little improvements in leg room.

I think mercs have more leg room than most other cars. Peugeots and Japaneese are probably worst for driver's confort.
However I would love my car more if it had pedals 1" - 2" further away.
Similarly if the steering wheel could get closer it would be way better.

The sports cupee merc cars have always had more leg room.

Pose

 

[Blobcat]

I think you have come up against the 'One Size Fits All' problem as it only ever fits the average. You really need fully adjustable wheel as well as seat. Once you have that you should find as per the above posts that you have plenty of adjustment to get a comfortable driving position.
I would recommend electric memory seats on your next one, as this also controls the steering wheel and mirrors as well as the seat.

 

[Rory]

My car is classic C class and has no steering wheel adjustments. The steering wheel is not moving in any direction (except angularly around the centre). If I was aware of this issue, I would have bought elegance.

Is that really true that the 1996 C Class (Classic) didn't have an adjustable steering wheel, but the Elegance did? It's one of those things that I'd have expected to the same across the range.

 

[television]

Well I have a 32" leg and I can't say I've ever had a problem. I'm not the tallest around but the seat is far enough back that the easy entry system doesn't work. .

Sadly I cant watch my seat go back and have to be content with watching the steering wheel :sad:

malcolm

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I have no idea what my inside leg measurement is, but I have the opposite problem. No matter how much I pull the seat forward I have trouble reaching the pedals

 

[television]

I have no idea what my inside leg measurement is, but I have the opposite problem. No matter how much I pull the seat forward I have trouble reaching the pedals

Is that what they call being legless

malcolm

 

[jberks]

Is that really true that the 1996 C Class (Classic) didn't have an adjustable steering wheel, but the Elegance did? It's one of those things that I'd have expected to the same across the range.

My 1995 Elegance has a fixed wheel. I don't think adjustable came in as standard until much much later. In fact my 2000 E class elegance also had a fixed wheel, though 2001- models had adjustable ones. Not sure when it came in as standard on the C but I suspect it was the face lift in 99 at the earliest.

 

[Hibbo]

Hi,

The steering wheel is not moving in any direction (except angularly around the centre).

Nicely specified, love it! That's my kind of overly accurate pedanticism!

 

[Rory]

My 1995 Elegance has a fixed wheel. I don't think adjustable came in as standard until much much later. In fact my 2000 E class elegance also had a fixed wheel, though 2001- models had adjustable ones. Not sure when it came in as standard on the C but I suspect it was the face lift in 99 at the earliest.

Fairy 'Nuff. The 405/406's/Mondeos that I drove in the 90's all had fully adjustable steering. I think in the last Cavaliers the wheel only went up and down (as well as angularly rotating, of course).