new C200 1.6D - advice please

[smoothound]

Hi folks - 1st post - so please be gentle.....

Considering buying a new C Class C200 1.6D Manual. 1st merc for 10 years - due to poor local customer service - now moved to a different town - here's hoping . Will be taking a test drive in a few weeks. Meanwhile please can anyone advise.....

I know it will be underpowered - and usually this hurts economy - especially given my mainly urban and very hilly driving - would be interested to hear real world MPG?

Is it really as rough and sluggish as reviews indicate?

Are the controls of the 4-way lumbar electro-pneumatic seats; on the seat itself? in the software? on the door? or where? cant see any in pics on the web

I can't believe that keyless go is only available in a £4,000+ package - is that true? Or can you negotiate it separately?

Many thanks in advance

cheers

 

[d215yq]

If it's anything like the manual 1.6TDi Seat I hired to drive upto a ski resort, just make sure you like changing gears. Was actually suprisingly quick between 2,000 and 2,300rpm, but dead everywhere else. It wasn't just me as well as the indicator suggesting to change gear was constantly on, gear change required every increase/decrease of 5mph and change in incline.

 

[smoothound]

If it's anything like the manual 1.6TDi Seat I hired to drive upto a ski resort, just make sure you like changing gears. Was actually suprisingly quick between 2,000 and 2,300rpm, but dead everywhere else. It wasn't just me as well as the indicator suggesting to change gear was constantly on, gear change required every increase/decrease of 5mph and change in incline.

Thanks Mr d - This helps a bit, but TBH without power:weight data - or model data I am not sure how the SEAT relates.

Most VW (e.g. Seat) 1.6D Lumps provide 115BHP - but the weights tend to be far less than a C - which uses a Nissan/Renault 135BHP engine.

cheers

 

[V6Matty]

afraid to say the 200d is very slugish in the real world, and as you say it will hurt the economy, my brother while deciding on which S205 to have tried that engine and hated it, drove the 220d (2.1l 4 pot) and loved it, same spec car as well just different engine and he said it could have been two totally different manufactures if you were blindfolded and going just by the feel of the thing. real world figures on my bothers after 6 months and about 14k are around the 54mpg mark, bear in mind he lives just on the edge of Cambridge and apart from the stop star the has to do when visiting the office (where he says he averages about 32mpg) the rest of his travels are motorway and he's getting more like 58mpg. Hope this helps a little but if It was me in your position then I'd really hold out for a 220

 

[JBell]

1.6d and a manual gearbox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John Laidlaw]

And a Renault chain cam engine.... no thank you in any form, sorry!!

 

[smoothound]

thanks guys

thanks

sadly you confirmed my suspicions

will think again - probably stick with a beemer

cheers

 

[John Laidlaw]

Would you not consider the 220?

 

[V6Matty]

any reason you can't have a 220, or possibly a 300E (Merc hybrid system)

 

[JBell]

I would look for an ex-demo 220CDi AMG Line

 

[A.J.]

thanks

sadly you confirmed my suspicions

will think again - probably stick with a beemer

cheers

I can definitely recommend the C220, think about it before you go charging into something inferior !!

 

[smoothound]

I can definitely recommend the C220, think about it before you go charging into something inferior !!

sadly 220 is not an option for me (a limited list to pick from) - I could get a petrol 200 SE - but its a bit basic - and fancied the higher trim level - would have sacrificed performance to a degree - can get a higher trim 320d - so thats prolly the way to go - anyways i will test drive the 1.6D just to check -

thanks again folks