Sport or Avantguarde?

[Ibby]

Hi guys currently an owner of an 03 plate C class c220 cdi classic and aiming to upgrade and take advantage of the slump in sales that the dealers are currently having.

I was looking at buying an E class saloon automatic with all the toys i can possibly get. I want to get one that is no more than 3 years old (really want the facelift one though) and have a budget of around £20k (that would include the price i get for my car on a part exchange). There are 2 models that have caught my eye the avantguarde and the sport

can someone please tell me the difference between the two models and which i should go for? I know the sport has bigger alloys and the chrome exhausts which really make the car look fantastic.

also is there anything so far as spec is concerned that i should look out for that would help in maintaining the value of the car when i come to sell on in the future or is simply a must have? (i know command is a definate so i have been looking for only those with command but would be interested to hear of any other features).

many thanks!!

 

[jberks]

i'd look for one with phone prewire and then get them to throw in a bluetooth cradle. Parktronic is also pretty sought after as are memory seats. To be honest I'd put all 3 ahead of command as, as nice as it is, as a sat nav it isn't as good as a tomtom and for 90% of us, a satnav isn't a daily essential.

As for sport vs Avantgarde - the sport looks better but I suspect the ride is better in the ag. Horses for courses really.

 

[Ibby]

thanks for the reply mate. As far as memory seats are concerned, does it come as standard with any E-class avant. or sport that has electric seats? also what other functions does the 'comand' do apart from sat nav?

 

[jberks]

thanks for the reply mate. As far as memory seats are concerned, does it come as standard with any E-class avant. or sport that has electric seats? also what other functions does the 'comand' do apart from sat nav?

No - memory seats are an extra on all E's - £600 worth (well maybe not the E55). If the Mrs drives it, they're one of the most useful gadgets. Even if not, having the seat, mirrors and wheel whirr back into place at the touch of a button is really nice, as is the easy entry and exit feature.
Command does play DVD's when you're parked and allows you to view text messages - if you also have prewire - other than satnav that's about it. I've been round this one a number of times so applogies to anyone I'm boring but command looks cool - sure and it's quite cool watching the Matrix whilst waiting for the Mrs to come out of the shops ....but .. like all gadgets, the novelty soon wears off and after that you're stuck with a satnav that is 5 years out of date and costs 2 tomtoms to update. If it breaks (and they do have issues) you're in for serious money to fix (remember they're £2000 new) and at the end of the day, after using several inbuilt satnavs, I have to say, none of them route as well as a tomtom, have updateable pois, speed camera updates etc etc

I like command - no really - but take away the novelty aspects and lets be honest, there isn't that much left.

 

[whitenemesis]

Oh, Oh! What about improved audio? Total integration with MB systems? Sat nav perfectily usable (roads don't change that much)? Pre-wire + phone book and sms. Linguatronic?...

Keep it MB and keep it COMAND

 

[jberks]

afaik - standard audio is the same with command - certainly the speakers are - To improve it takes a Bose/harmon Kardon upgrade. Could be wrong though.
Phone prewire is also separate - sure it integrates but it does with my noddy audio 20. I can dial off the dash, search the phone memory, get all the same info with the one exception of being able to read sms. I just get a beep and "SMS Received" flash up. So, I had to pull the handset out of the crade, lift it to eye level (safer than reading off a screen on the console) and read from there. You still can't reply on the move.
Linguatronic - another nice gizmo but again, not part of command as such.

As I said, command is nice and I wouldn't have it removed, but I wouldn't pay for it either.

 

[stumpy]

The Sport model has drilled alloy 'look' pedals, but one thing that put me off the sport were the wheels. I like the design but the diamond cut finish never lasts long before it goes milky and / or the lacquer starts peeling.

The Sat Nav debate will run and run. Yes, Toms Toms, Garmins etc are better in almost every way (I don't like birds eye view on the TT myself) but You still have something stuck to your windscreen that you have to secrete when you park up. Comand is so much neater and more convenient. If you don't need the upgradability of the portable units then Comand does most of what you need.

 

[Micman]

Hi

I have a C-class Avantguarde with the sport pack. (17" alloys, drilled front discs, lowered suspension etc)

I'm guessing the difference is pretty similar between the Avantguarde and Sport versions on the E class.

Personally, as great as the sport pack is on the C-class, and the fact that it does make the car look lovely I have come to the conclusion that I would go for the version without the 'sport pack' trimmings if I was to get another Merc. I think you will appreciate the much smoother ride.

In the case of the E-class - that really is the next step up and more of a luxury car - therefore I would definitely go for the version without all the 'Sport' extras. Afterall - it isn't a sports car, it's a luxury car.

Yes I know it looks lovely with all the sports 'bling' - but do you really need it and do you want the burden of the extra running cost expense when you have to replace bigger tyres, upgraded brake discs etc.

Go for refinement over 'Sports' extras.

 

[Jack the Lad]

I had to pull the handset out of the crade, lift it to eye level (safer than reading off a screen on the console) and read from there.

Idiot!!!! I just hope you don't do this on a road near me.

 

[jberks]

Idiot!!!! I just hope you don't do this on a road near me.

Please try reading and thinking before shouting.
The handset is at eye (screen) level specifically so that I can maintain a proper lookout whilst glancing across only when safe to do so. The road takes priority at all times. Hence it takes a long time to read a short message as my attention is deliberately on the road. At that position it distracts a lot less than a screen level sat nav and a whole lot less than anything inside the cabin. Obviously I wait until the road is clear enough and would ignore messages whilst driving through built up areas. I am talking about a clearish motorway here. The important thing is to be very deliberate and consciously avoid getting fixated on the message. I don't like doing it, and if there is a possibility that I will be stopping within a reasonable time (e,g in a built up area) I can and will wait, but sometimes, on a long motorway journey it is necessary.

My point was that as I understand it, a command unit displays the message at console (below screen) level which I do consider unwise.

Please do not confuse me with the muppets swapping messages at the wheel and driving around with handsets stuck to their ears.

 

[jberks]

do you want the burden of the extra running cost expense when you have to replace bigger tyres, upgraded brake discs etc.

Additionally something often missed is that with wider tyres, fuel economy suffers. I reckon 245's cost 2-3mpg over 205s and it gets a lot worse in the rain when the best I can get from mine is around 36mpg compared to 43 in the dry. On some models the sport badge can even take you into another tax band.

 

[Jack the Lad]

Please try reading and thinking before shouting.
Please do not confuse me with the muppets swapping messages at the wheel and driving around with handsets stuck to their ears.

And you should try thinking before driving. No, there really is no difference in what you or they are doing. You are deluded if you think that you are better than them and probably more dangerous as a result.

In another thread you say

There, but for the grace of god go all of us.
I know the feeling - looking over and thinking, hell I've killed someone. In my case I was driving sensibly at the time (for once)

Well no actually. There but for the grace of god goes you. A self-confessed idiot driver. Do us all a favour and catch the bus.

 

[hawk20]

The 'sport' model offers no performance advantages at all. Just some let's pretend visual items such as 'sport' pedals whatever that means, unnecessary exhausts that cost more to replace and of course, like every Nova, the obligatory bigger wheels and low profile tyres which spoil the ride, reduce fuel economy, increase emissions, cost more to replace, and aquaplane more easily. And IMO make you look like a teenager trying to impress.

Better spend the money IMO on things that have some functional advantages like parktronic, memory seats (if wife/mistress/girlfriend drives as well but not otherwise), telephone pre-wiring, 6 cd changer and leather.

As for COMAND, it is useful if you use satnav regularly -most days. I have used it for years but recently I have switched to a Garmin which is much better in many ways. Takes full UK postcodes (COMAND doesn't), alerts you to fixed and mobile speed cameras and offers much more info and is easy and cheap to update on your home computer without buying new DVD's from MB for £250 each year.

BUT it does need taking off at the end of a journey (easy to do)
BUT that means you can carry it in your pocket iif you wish and set it to find your way back to your parked car or use it to explore new places on foot.

Have a look at the MB website search engine and you may be surprised just how close to a nearly new E class you can get with your money if you don't work too far up the scale. Give you an idea: I recently bought in September, an E220cdi Avantgarde estate, 1st reg March 2008, only done 6k miles, parktronic, leather, memory seats, tinted glass etc etc for a tad under £25k. From an MB dealer.

 

[Jensen]

I too would go for the non sport version, better ride comfort IMO far better

 

[stumpy]

I am trying to remember if you can spec a Sport with Airmatic. I think we had one on loan which had air. Was a while ago now though.

 

[jon cash]

Avantgarde models have a very nice balance between the softly sprung elegance and the much harder ride which the sport models have. There is no denying the fact that the sport models have a meatier look too the from the side and rear with there 18in multi spoke alloys and their twin oval exhaust's, Also the sport does handle marginally better but the ride is compromised especially when it comes to rural roads.

If it was my money i would have too have the sport but i can see why most people avoid them like the plague, In my experience selling these vehicles the sport models have a much smaller market second hand but as they are produced in smaller numbers if they have a resonable spec you can hold out for more money then you average merc due to their rarity.

Sating that if my daily commute involved rural roads for ease of driving then it would have to be a avantgarde.

best resale options are probably command, mem seats, parktronic, heated seat, phone, panoramic roof.

 

[jberks]

And you should try thinking before driving. No, there really is no difference in what you or they are doing. You are deluded if you think that you are better than them and probably more dangerous as a result.

In another thread you say


Well no actually. There but for the grace of god goes you. A self-confessed idiot driver. Do us all a favour and catch the bus.

Clearly we will have to agree to differ. You're on your high horse and are deluding yourself that you are a superior driver with 100% attention at all times and that I am a white van man hurtling round corners whilst texting my mates and yelling out of the window. Sorry for being honest and not dilusional. We all do things from time to time that we're not happy about but sometimes we have to. Its life. I should have lied and avoided this sillyness obviously but I take it you have never changed a tape or reached across for a packet of sweets or even glanced down at the speedo as you approach a police car abd never use a satnav either. You also never look across the motorway to see an accident on the other carriageway (something I feel equally strongly about but as there's no govt campaign I dare say you're happy that people do this).
There is a huge difference between the careful, deliberate and cautious actions I describe and what you are shreaking about or maybe you simply don't have the self control and though I don't think it is particularly relevant, observational training (I'm also an amateur pilot who'd be dead if he was remotely as wreckless as you claim) to do as I describe. I try to avoid it and 99.9% of the time succeed in doing so, but that 0.1% of the time I do. - and I'm at least honest enough to admit it. However, I supect that I'm probably paying vastly more conscious attention to the road whilst doing so that I probably was (and everyone else is) 5 mins earlier whilst cruising down the road in a daydream.

Sorry but anyone who claims never to have used a handset, read something, had a conversation or otherwise been distracted at the wheel is either a saint or infinately more probable, a liar. My original point was about dangerous distractions of an in dash screen and that stands.
Get off your high horse and as they say, he who is without sin....
If you want an intelligent discussion I'm happy to have one but please don't lower the tone of this forum by getting personal and abusive.
Again sorry for being honest.

 

[stumpy]

Related to what JB is saying above - sometimes I am amazed at the position some people have their sat navs on the windscreen. One I saw was plumb in her line of sight in the middle below the rear view mirror!

 

[hawk20]

Related to what JB is saying above - sometimes I am amazed at the position some people have their sat navs on the windscreen. One I saw was plumb in her line of sight in the middle below the rear view mirror!

I stick my Garmin, with its suction pad, onto the screen on the front of the radio. Then it is in the same place as COMAND would be. I just listen to the voice instructions which are clear and excellent.

 

[DougCLK320]

I stick my Garmin, with its suction pad, onto the screen on the front of the radio.

I'm stuck with "old tech" audio 10, which looks like an old fashioned radio... but I do get a funky little storage pocket below.
Until today, I hadn't thought it necessary to spend all that dosh upgrading to "Comand" - with its fancy big screen display.
Brilliant idea Hawk.... At last! Somewhere to stick my TomTom to.
Need to get one now!!!
Doug