Opinions wanted on new C-Class

[rich1975]

My Dad is about to place an order for a new c class sport. He just doesn't know which engine to go for - have narrowed it down to C200k or C220CDI. The thing is he doesn't do much mileage so economy is not really an issue. I know diesels have so much more torque but they are noisy - the petrol models seem silky smooth.

He is also slightly concerned that the ride in the sport model is a little harsh due to the low profile tyres and bigger wheels.

He wont entertain the Elegance model because he hates the wood on the dash!!!

What are everyones general views on the new c-class?

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,


Your dad will have to drive the 220cdi then the 200k, the 220cdi seems to be the one to go for currently for a mixture of performance, price, economy, residuals.

On looks I would choose the sport but then I'm not your dad. Can he get the Elegance and change the wood as an option?

Sorry I'm not much help but some people on here have driven them so can ofer real advice. What car does he have now? my dad has a E320Cdi and when its movng and your inside it, it is hard to tell. Ok on start up its never going to fool anyone thinking its a petrol, but he gets huge mpg.

Don't know what the price diference is between the 200k and 220cdi but would guess it wil more than make up for this if he keeps it say 3 years. I like the look of them but looking at the ex demos in our local merc garage over 30K for a C220cdi sport just sounds an awful lot of money for at the end of the day a C class?

I think best bet would be for your dad to drive them back to back over a reaonable distance and varied roads.

Good luck

 

[jon_harley]

I haven't been in the new C class but it's pretty easy to decide whether to get petrol or diesel, by estimating how long you're likely to keep the car and how many miles you do. From this and the mpg figures you can work out how much you'll spend on fuel in that time (ouch!) in both cases.

I did this exercise with the old C class before buying mine and it was NOT worth getting the diesel for my 10,000 miles/year. MB diesels are a LOT more expensive than the petrol versions (unlike some marques) and I reckoned, if I remember rightly, that you would need to do something like 15,000 miles/year to pay for the diesel engine over 5 years. That was 4 years ago but I doubt much has changed.

 

[verytalldave]

I have a 2004 W203 C200K.
I drove both a petrol and diesel version of the earlier model. I prefered the petrol because it was quieter and didnt sound like a taxi at traffic lights. And as I do around 10,000 miles pa, fuel costs didnt enter the equation.
The new W204 is a nice car and the differences between the elegance and the avantgarde are less subtle than on the W203.
Your father is looking to spend a a big wedge of cash on this car and HE must check all the details for himself.
We can all give our opinions on everything if asked, but to be honest, the only opinion thats important here is your dads.

 

[st13phil]

OK I'll state first that I have a W204 C220Cdi on order, so I've already voted in the petrol vs diesel debate, but here are a few things to consider:

1. Get your Dad to drive both a C200K and C220Cdi of otherwise identical spec's back-to-back over a reasonable distance and for a reasonable length of time and then decide which he prefers
2. Get your Dad to drive both a C200K and C220Cdi of otherwise identical spec's back-to-back over a reasonable distance and for a reasonable length of time and then decide which he prefers
3. Get your Dad to drive both a C200K and C220Cdi of otherwise identical spec's back-to-back over a reasonable distance and for a reasonable length of time and then decide which he prefers

OK, a slightly simplified view of things, but if the economics don't bother him then that's the only way he'll make a decision. If the economics do come into it then the C220Cdi is the one to go for even at relatively low annual mileages. Things have changed in the petrol vs diesel cost equation from the days of just looking at relative fuel costs. Specifically in this case:

• They're the same insurance group so that's neutral
• I'll assume that servicing costs over the ownership term are similar too (perhaps wrongly?) as I have no information to contradict that
• The initial purchase price of the C220Cdi is £990 more than the C200K, but...
• The C220Cdi depreciates marginally more slowly over three years than the C200K. Once you do the maths, the C220Cdi will have cost you about £190 more in depreciation (i.e. the "real" cost of the car) than the C200K, which is much less than the £990 "headline" cost difference
• Road tax will cost £165 per year for the diesel and £205 per year for the petrol. This is an £80 saving for the diesel over years 2 & 3 of ownership
• Assuming your Dad goes for an auto, then the diesel averages 42.8mpg and the petrol 35.8 mpg (official "combined" figures). At current fuel prices and taking into account the depreciation and road tax differences you need to do only about 2,250 miles per year to break even. Any more than that and you're saving money on the diesel

I don't know what the W203 4-banger diesel is like but I was struck by just how refined the W204 C220Cdi is when I test drove it. Yes, on idle you can notice it's a diesel if the radio's turned off but once moving it's both quiet and smooth. One review I read commented that it was as though the engine was in another car when you were driving because it was so well hushed. The higher torque of the diesel also makes it more fun to drive than the petrol in my opinion.

Regarding ride comfort, I've ordered an Elegance with 16-inch wheels because I didn't like the harder ride of the Sport. If I want to have a "sporty" drive I'll use my wife's R56 MINI Cooper S which will run rings around a C-Class as far as driver involvement goes (with the possible exception of the C63 AMG, of course ). Regarding options for the wood trim, you can get wood trim as an option in the Sport but not the brushed ally trim as an option in the Elegance so your Dad will have to decide on the trade-off between ride comfort and wood trim, I'm afraid.

One last point. Unless your Dad's in a hurry to drive away in a new C-Class then he's better off ordering what he wants and waiting, and he should be able to achieve a 6% to 7% discount without having to go through too many hoops. Having looked at the price of ex-demo cars I've concluded that MB dealers are currently taking advantage of the supply situation and are charging a premium for being able to drive it away today rather than waiting 10-12 weeks or more for a new vehicle.

 

[moosehead]

My advice would be wait until the new C230 V6 is available. They fitted this engine to the last of the 203's and coupled with the 7G gearbox is unbelievably smooth and surprisingly economical. I test drove a 204 220 CDI and despite the improvements to the engine still found it a bit noisy compared to the V6 and the wife's SLK 230K. Go for the Elegance if you want comfort. The 204 I drove was the Sport model although it didn't seem to have such a harsh ride as my 203 with the sport pack.

 

[Rory]

[*]Assuming your Dad goes for an auto, then the diesel averages 42.8mpg and the petrol 35.8 mpg (official "combined" figures). At current fuel prices and taking into account the depreciation and road tax differences you need to do only about 2,250 miles per year to break even.

In the great scheme of things, it's neither here nor there, but "Break even" against what? There would only about £60 difference in the cost of petrol and diesel over 2250miles.

However, as a C270CDi owner, I would say that if the car is used mainly for short journeys (as the OP suggests) then the diesel consumption is likely to be considerably worse (than the stated figure). I'm not sure how the petrol's are affected by such use.

On thing to bear in mind if it's intended to keep the car for several years is that repairs to diesel engines can be *very* expensive, and there's always the misfueling risk.

 

[jberks]

As everyone has stated it really depends on what he likes. The cdi will have better residuals but that depends oon how long he's keeping it. MPG is irrelevant unless you're on the far side of 20k pa. The petrol engine will be sweeter and more town friendly. The cdi is vastly improved but at the end of the day it's still a diesel (speaking as the owner of a much loved E270cdi) so it comes down to which he prefers driving (most likely the petrol) and how much the lower residuals matter.
On the elegance vs sport debate, can you not pick and choose between wheel and suspension options? E.g. My friend has an E class elegance with the same sports pack that I have on my avantgarde.

 

[st13phil]

In the great scheme of things, it's neither here nor there, but "Break even" against what? There would only about £60 difference in the cost of petrol and diesel over 2250miles.

Correct. The total costs of ownership over 3 years are that close (i.e. within a couple of hundred quid of eachother). With depreciation over 3 years being close to £11k, the diffence on fuel costs are only of minor relevance unless you do big miles. The point I was making though is that the breakeven point is no longer 10-15k miles per year.

However, as a C270CDi owner, I would say that if the car is used mainly for short journeys (as the OP suggests) then the diesel consumption is likely to be considerably worse (than the stated figure).

Again I agree. The effect on a petrol car's consumption will be at least the same if not more in my experience. If both only achieved (say) 80% of their "official combined" figure then this tips the advantage further to the diesel.

On thing to bear in mind if it's intended to keep the car for several years is that repairs to diesel engines can be *very* expensive, and there's always the misfueling risk.

My last 3 cars have been VW diesels. All have been run for 4 years and circa 80,000 miles and none required any engine work other than normal oil and filter changes and a cambelt change at 60k miles. I accept that Common Rail fuel systems aren't as long-lived as the VW Pumpe-Duse, but that's a mileage rather than time issue.

I started my post by saying that rich1975's Dad needs to drive both and decide which he likes best and that still stands. Personally I'd go for the diesel but I understand and respect someone who prefers the petrol. I was merely making the additional point that the diesel makes a marginally better financial proposition for more owners than people think :neutral:

 

[st13phil]

On the elegance vs sport debate, can you not pick and choose between wheel and suspension options?

Not on the W204 C-Class. In the UK market we get a choice of one or the other as a complete package as far as suspension goes. No mix-and-match

 

[rich1975]

Thanks for all the opinions.

They have been to test drive an elegence and the sport again today. The decision has been made.

They are going for the C200K Sport with auto trans and leather. The petrol engines are much quieter and the difference in running costs is neglible bearing in mind the mileage they do. They also like the Kompressor element of the petrol as oppose to the CDI badge on the back.

Their view on the Elegence (they are both 60) was that it was really wallowey (if you know what I mean) and they hate the wood trim.

I think they have made the right decision - it also means I can now buy it off them in 3yrs when MB offer them circa 13k in a PX:lol:

 

[st13phil]

Thanks for all the opinions.

They have been to test drive an elegence and the sport again today. The decision has been made.

They are going for the C200K Sport with auto trans and leather.

Hey, congratulations to them both. I'm sure they'll be very happy with their choice. Now you need to start saving :wink:

 

[rich1975]

I think they have made the right decision. I really like the front end on the new c class sport.

I have just bought their C200k Avantgarde SE with 30k on the clock for the part ex price that MB offered them

It's my first MB and I really like it - except for the corrosion on the alloys/lacquer which I think is really poor for a car that cost 27k!! We are going to have a chat with Merc before placing the order for the new c class. We feel they should do something about it seen as though It has always been serviced by them. It is clearly a fault. Worth a try.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Result your dad gets a new car and so do you (to you) cool.


Alloy corrosion I will agree is bad, my dad in 1998 speced up a SLK with the AMG alloys something silly like £1400 and they were terrible at corosion, maybe a stone chip here and there set it off, but I've had replica alloys at a fraction of the price that wear better.

I maybe sad though as in winter I have a sponge and bucket near the lean to and wipe my alloys now...salts a killer.


1st Mod for your car = New alloys


Post some pics of the new and old when you collect the car.

 

[cj...]

My advice would be wait until the new C230 V6 is available. They fitted this engine to the last of the 203's and coupled with the 7G gearbox is unbelievably smooth and surprisingly economical. I test drove a 204 220 CDI and despite the improvements to the engine still found it a bit noisy compared to the V6 and the wife's SLK 230K. Go for the Elegance if you want comfort. The 204 I drove was the Sport model although it didn't seem to have such a harsh ride as my 203 with the sport pack.

c230 v6 is already available as i have supplied one of my customers with a 230 elegance which he picked up last week.
If he doesnt like the elegance wood he can opt for designo appointments instead.

 

[verytalldave]

What colour is he buying?
Just being nosey!
I believe the sport model now comes with 17" wheels as standard. Is that true?