newbie owner to be

[anddy26]

Hi Guys..
ok i love the look of these cars but dont really know te differing specs..
I am at the moment looking to buy an E240 tip auto elegance on a 51 plate..what is the top spec and what is the basic ie avantgarde elegance etc..ohh and i know they are heavy on fuel..but im gnna get it gas converted..or is that unethical for these beauties.lol

Thank you in advance for you comments

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Hi Anddy26. The 240 should get you around 30mpg on motorway driving and about 23-25 around town.

Elegance = posh model with wood and springy suspension
Avantgarde = Sporty with no chrome on door handle, stiffer suspension and no wood (or different wood depending on the year).
Classic = cheap and nasty

I would go for the Avantgarde based on looks, but then I do like the interior more on the Elegance.

You should ask about rust. I'm not sure what years the e-class had a bit of a rust problem but I'm sure there are plenty of people here that will let you know. I think 51 wasn't a good year for MB and was around about the time they were cutting costs (and quality) all over the place, but I have a C not an E so I'm not best placed to comment.

What sort of driving do you prefer? Fast and sporty, or luxury and a bit more wollowy?

 

[anddy26]

Hi thanks for your comments, at the moment im running around in an 03 nissan navara..so im used to wallowing..but i am looking for the comfort now..i checked the book for the mpg and the 16mpg gave me a tad of a jolt,how ever i do like the sporty look so am i better of with the c class? i actually dont require the 2.6 engine because i will keep the pickup for the towing vehicle.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Kind of depends what you are after. The 2.6 V6 is smooth and refined rather than sporty. It's only 170bhp so not lightning fast. If it's smoth you are after i'd go fo the 2.6 if you can. You'll definately get better mileage than the book says. You may get about 16-18 mpg if you hammer it a lot and only aver drive around town. Over the last 2500 miles I have averaged about 28mpg. The Audi used to give me 55mpg so it was a bit of a shock.

You'll see another thread (can't remember the name) from someone went from a BMW to a C-Class (I went from an Audi A6 to a C-Class) and have been sort of disapointed. Not really with the car but more with teh whole MB experience. Don't get me wrong, they are not bad cars just not as special as you may expect.

The E-Class is quite big (about the same size as the A6). It's a tricky decision to be honest. I would suggest driving both and seeing which best fits your needs.