New convert

[Qcut]

Hi All,

New member here. After years of Audi ownership, I've wholesale converted to Mercedes. Exchanged my Q7 for a new C-Class Coupe and a new C220 Estate. The Merc dealerships always put me off in the past with their superior and condescending attitudes but this time around I've noticed a massive change. I think the cars are great - especially the ride and refinement.

Anyone got any comments positive or negative on the models I've plumped for? Don't know any other Merc owners....

 

[JonA4]

Hi. I've recently changed from owning Audi's for the last 4-5 years. I needed an auto but couldn't find an A4 at the price I paid for my C200k A/G sport. I must admit I love it now, I thought I had made a B-I-G mistake after buying it but now all seems OK.

Audi do do some things better than Mercedes: wipers on the right stork, variable wiper option (for those who haven't got auto wipers), stereo display is much easier to see in sunny conditions than the Mercedes stereo, lumber support, better shaped boot, better dealers...so far.

Mercedes has a MUCH better ride, great seats, more gadgets as standard, better phone system M-U-C-H better lights especially on the older A4, they were crap!!!

It would be a hard choice if I have choose again between an Audi or a Mercedes though!

 

[The German Flower Pot]

ive had 2 bmw's(e30 coupes) then 3 audi's (old quattro coupe styles) & now 3 w124's

also had 3 clios but i dont like to talk about that

id say old mercs were much better than new mercs

not in a side by side test as im sure new mercs are all shiney & new but a 1992 e class & a 1992 cl would be much better then when compared to cars of that day than the equilivant cars are now to their modern day rivals

 

[PaulMdx]

Qcut, what made you get rid of the Q7?

 

[Qcut]

Hi. I've recently changed from owning Audi's for the last 4-5 years. I needed an auto but couldn't find an A4 at the price I paid for my C200k A/G sport. I must admit I love it now, I thought I had made a B-I-G mistake after buying it but now all seems OK.

Audi do do some things better than Mercedes: wipers on the right stork, variable wiper option (for those who haven't got auto wipers), stereo display is much easier to see in sunny conditions than the Mercedes stereo, lumber support, better shaped boot, better dealers...so far.

Mercedes has a MUCH better ride, great seats, more gadgets as standard, better phone system M-U-C-H better lights especially on the older A4, they were crap!!!

It would be a hard choice if I have choose again between an Audi or a Mercedes though!

Agree about your comments on the Audi. I adored my Q7 but fuel and duty costs were getting silly. I always loved their cars but I admit to hating the firm ride. I also haven't had a great experience with Audi dealerships.

The Merc ride is probably best in class and I think it's a close run thing on seats between them and Volvos. My Coupe is very refined too and the steering and grip are superb with the sports kit. Haven't got the C220 yet so can't wait for that.

The comment about old Mercs and new Mercs has some merit. I remember back in the 80s that Mercs (even the dull 190E) had a sense of occasion and quality that marked them above the other cars (except Jaguar). The 3 German marques are all pretty close now imo. For me, the difference is BMW engines & handling, Merc ride & comfort, Audi design and interiors, but all similar standards really. It has to be said too that for premium marques they are getting a bit too commonplace on UK roads

 

[Qcut]

Qcut, what made you get rid of the Q7?

well in addition to the fuel etc... £850 for 4 new tyres after just 12 months kind of hurt a bit!

 

[stumpy]

well in addition to the fuel etc... £850 for 4 new tyres after just 12 months kind of hurt a bit!

Did you feel that people hate you for driving such a big car? I had a VW Toerag on loan for a few days and found it a struggle in tight situations, as well as peoples icy stare as you go near them.

 

[Qcut]

Did you feel that people hate you for driving such a big car? I had a VW Toerag on loan for a few days and found it a struggle in tight situations, as well as peoples icy stare as you go near them.

I would say, on balance, that the car got more envious/admiring looks than icy stares. Family and friends all loved it. If I lived in a metropolitan city I would have expected it to be either vandalised or ticketed by tree-hugging eco-mentalists though I'm sort of expecting the new car to make me a bit more annoynmous, especially as it's an estate.

 

[joem]

Frankly, the Q7 is deservedly a hate magnet, what is it for, it is rubbish off road compared to a Land Rover and attracts all the tax it deserves for running costs for a completely pointless and useless off roader that is only ever going to be driven on the school run by Cheshire wives.
This Audi is a marketing exercise that no reasonable user of a 4x4 would ever consider. It is a fat footballers wives car which has no place on UK roads.

I would tax this at a million pounds a minute - it is not a car it is a traversty - there is no good reason for having one.

 

[Qcut]

Frankly, the Q7 is deservedly a hate magnet, what is it for, it is rubbish off road compared to a Land Rover and attracts all the tax it deserves for running costs for a completely pointless and useless off roader that is only ever going to be driven on the school run by Cheshire wives.
This Audi is a marketing exercise that no reasonable user of a 4x4 would ever consider. It is a fat footballers wives car which has no place on UK roads.

I would tax this at a million pounds a minute - it is not a car it is a traversty - there is no good reason for having one.

Actually it is a very comfortable, safe and spacious carrier for my kids and their luggage on long motorway trips, taking rubbish to the tip etc. I think you need to learn to deal with your anger, perhaps a walk in the woods?

 

[Ashley H]

I think there's a real danger for everybody - not least those of us who enjoy our motoring - in the comments by Joem...

Personally, I don't like these big 4x4 jobs (Q7, X5, Volvo X90 etc). Like Joem, they seem utterly pointless, needlessly complex & over-large. I do NOT, however, expect the general or motoring tax system to reflect my personal inclinations. As far as I'm concerned, if you want one, have one.

Let's all bear in mind there are plenty of people - whether through envy, mis-guided enviro-friendliness or whatever - would love to ban / tax to death the cars we all enjoy.

I run a large, powerful estate car with my own money. Can I justify a large estate? Up to point, I believe I can (family, long distance commuting, etc). Can I justify a 320 instead of a 200? No, of course I can't other than personal preference and a willingness to put my hand in my pocket to cover the running costs.

Please - let's separate the issue of how cars are taxed from our own tastes, needs & preferences.

 

[jberks]

I can kind of see both sides here. The Q7, along with the X5 are hard to justify from an off-road perspective, especially when compared to a Disco or Range Rover. Lets be honest, if you really needed a real 4x4 nobody in their right mind would touch either. It would be a disco or something from the Mitsubuishi stable. True they are spaceous, but an E class or 5 series estate can pretty much match them in that arena.

I have a freelander - on not on the same scale but I find myself feeling almost apologetic for that these days too. Officially I need it to tow the horse around and to get across muddy fields, but if we're really honest, thats 30% of it. Every dodgy field I've ever met the Mrs at, I've happily trundled across in my E class! The other 70% is all about the country/horsey image the Mrs wants to portray. The height and ride are nice to have and the feeling that you can handle whatever the world throws at you gives an bit of smuggness.

But when I see the school run women in their LR/X3,5 etc I get irritated too. They don't even have that 30% genuine need as justification. They have them 100% for image and in their cases, even that image is a lie. After all, the mess mud would make of the prada doesn't bare thinking about !

 

[Qcut]

This thread was supposed to be about MB's, and in particular comments/experiences of the C Class. It has turned into a discussion about the merits/demerits of 4x4s. I've sold mine. I loved it but I've made a change due to the economic circumstances. I am well aware some people don't like 4x4s - well that's their opinion. There is no POINT to buying convertibles in a country with crap weather like ours, or driving supercars on congested roads - people do, it's a free country, it's their choice. Life would be so dull if we all conformed.

So, back to the original thread, anyone got any comments on the new C Class? Or maybe got some pics of their pride n joy convertible or M Class?

 

[stumpy]

My only experience of the C Class estate is sitting in a few at Brooklands. I thought the drivers environment a nice place to be with a very comfy seating position. I got in the back though and even at a gigantic 5'6" I found my legs brushing the seat in front. I got out thinking that the sacrifice in rear room was to aid boot space, but no, the boot looked tiny.

I can't help thinking that coming from the huge Audi to the C estate you may struggle for space somewhat. Did you not fancy an E Class estate? Much more like the Audi you had and can be had with 7 seats.

 

[Qcut]

My only experience of the C Class estate is sitting in a few at Brooklands. I thought the drivers environment a nice place to be with a very comfy seating position. I got in the back though and even at a gigantic 5'6" I found my legs brushing the seat in front. I got out thinking that the sacrifice in rear room was to aid boot space, but no, the boot looked tiny.

I can't help thinking that coming from the huge Audi to the C estate you may struggle for space somewhat. Did you not fancy an E Class estate? Much more like the Audi you had and can be had with 7 seats.

Hi stumpy. Yeah. I was waiting for the new E Class but it looks to be a while yet. Two things though; the children are getting older and we carry around less stuff nowadays, and we don't really take adult passengers in the rear due to the two car seats.

I fell in love with the new C Class looks and interior. They may not be to everyone's taste but they impressed me. I can't wait for it to arrive.

 

[stumpy]

I agree, the C estate with the right kit on is the best looking small estate. What is the exact spec you got?

 

[Qcut]

I agree, the C estate with the right kit on is the best looking small estate. What is the exact spec you got?

Black leather with burr walnut trim, COMAND, parktronic, sunroof, heated seats, multi-contour seats, 17" double spoke alloys, sunblinds, memory pack, speed sensitive steering, rear side aribags.

 

[st13phil]

Black leather with burr walnut trim, COMAND, parktronic...

Nice spec. I've had my W204 C220cdi Elegance Auto since mid-January, have done best part of 5k miles and am well pleased with it. It did have an injector problem which caused it to knock on startup when very cold (fixed by MB Oxford under warranty), but other than that it's been fault-free.

It's a very refined motorway cruiser with excellent ride quality and, despite what some of the magazines may have you believe about the "comfort" suspension as opposed to the Sport model, it can be hustled along twisty roads pretty briskly too. Personally, I prefer the enhanced ride comfort that the softer suspension brings. My daily commute is around 30 miles of cross-country motoring on A & B roads in each direction and it's returning ~40mpg which compares quite well with my previous (manual) VW Golf TDI PD150 which averaged about 46mpg on the same commute and shook the fillings out of my teeth in the process

Gripes? None of any significance, other than the standard Bluetooth doesn't support PBAP or SAP so you end up having to (laboriously) transfer phone contacts one-by-one to the car, and that the standard sound system is a bit "flat" sounding. If you need the phone system for business use, then I'd seriously consider adding the phone pre-wire option and buying the Bluetooth cradle.

BTW, if you've got the time to do it I'd strongly advise doing the Factory Collection for your S204 - you won't regret it.