Suspension - Avantgarde/Sport

[Jensen]

I have a W202 C250TD sport. I know that the avantgarde has sport suspension but was told that this is softer then the sport suspension in mine.
Is this true, and how comes?

 

[joem]

I may get corrected on this, however. W202 Sport had lowered and stiffened suspension when compared with W202 Elegance and Classic.
There was no W202 Avantgarde.

W203 Avantgarde has lower and stiffer suspension than W203 Elegance and Classic.

Therefore, since they are different cars a W203 Avantgarde could very well have softer suspension than a W202 Sport.

 

[Jensen]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I should have been clearer.
I am comparing a W211 avantgarde suspension to my W202 sport suspension.
Is the suspension just as hard or is the W211 avantgarde softer

 

[Eric Tilley]

W203 Avantgarde has lower and stiffer suspension than W203 Elegance and Classic.

And I assume the Avantgarde Sport model (or sport pack option) is even lower and stiffer still ! Although mine seems to handle our c**p roads round here pretty well considering it is on 45/40 rubber

 

[Rory]

W203 Avantgarde has lower and stiffer suspension than W203 Elegance and Classic.

I have a W203 Avantgarde (an estate) and the dealer assured me (for all that that is worth) that on all W203's the suspension is the same unless Sports suspension is specified. So I avoided the Sports option, but still find the car feels very stiff and lacks 'compliance'.

On the W211 the Avantgarde suspension is lower and stiffer than the Elegance.

 

[stevesey]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I should have been clearer.
I am comparing a W211 avantgarde suspension to my W202 sport suspension.
Is the suspension just as hard or is the W211 avantgarde softer

Certainly difficult to think it would be harder that a W202 Sport!

 

[jberks]

On the 211, the avantgarde suspension was lower than the elegance and a bit stiffer . They then did a sports suspension which they listed as mandatory if you wanted 17" wheels (std was 16"). This is stiffer still.

I believe this is the standard suspension setup in the sport model.
I have this suspension on my Avantgarde and whilst I found it a bit hard initially it seems ok now. Whether thats because I've got used to it, or whether it's softened a little over the last 40k I don't know.
In any case, I'd personally steer away from the sport because as well as this, they've gone to 18" wheels. There is enough loss of comfort with 17" without losing the extra sidewall IMO.

 

[philharve]

Hi Jensen

My W202 has lowered + stiffened suspension as standard but I have driven other makes and models of non-sport saloons that feel stiffer than my C230K. Softness is relative. I prefer a setup that favours handling rather than the ability to soak up bumps.

REGARDS

Phil