None that I have driven do that. They all hold redline. Well about 200 RPM over redline which is where the fuel cut-off is.

Thanks for the clarification on that.

I got a 2006 C280 4 Matic loaner when I dropped off my car for servicing.

It had the 5-speed transmission and the first thing I noticed was the jerkiness driving at low speeds in the city. Especially when it goes from 3 to 2 and to 1 (braking). I guess it provides more engine braking or something...

the SLK350 that I drove (7G) was very smooth. No problems with jerky shifts whatsoever...

I found the same problem with my 05 C230 jerking at low speeds in the city especially when it slowly goes from 3 to 2 and 1 and braking. The car would seem to jump forward before it reaches fully stop. I've never had this problem with the japanese cars i used to drive. Is this normal in C-class?

Just got 37.2 mpg tonight (61 mph / cruise control)

I was surprised myself... !

Here are the conditions:

Weather: clear
Traffic: barely anything on the road
Time : middle of the night
Road: I-95 South from DC towards Virginia Beach
Speed: I think it was around or under 60 mph

I stayed at a steady speed for most of the drive, and was able to get the mpg up to 37 mpg.

In my 06 7 speed I've been getting about 26 MPG. I drive about 30 miles to and from work. I can get 28-29 MPG but that would require "driving Miss Daisy" driving habits. I can't drive like a blue hair...it's just not my style.

I haven't experienced any of the "jerking" of the tranny but the manual style shifting is really slow to respond unlike a 03 CLK320 and 06 CLS500. Unless I hammer the throttle off the line it usually gets out of first gear a little too quickly for my personal taste. It seems to favor 2nd in the 5-15-30 MPH range.

What are the top speeds of your C's? I've noticed that mine tops out at 136 MPH. I took my buddy's CLS 160 MPH and it kept asking me to go faster but the 241 toll road is no place for speeds like that.

Just a side note, I drove my dad's Andial 930 slant nose turbo 185 MPH and you could feel every groove, pebble and break in the road. All of the MB's I've driven over 120MPH handle so wonderful at that speed it's almost as if they were made to go fast...*sigh* how I can't wait to go back to the Autobahn.

Okay, so since my cousin has a lapto at her pad, I finally got some time to come on here and give you guys an assessment on the fuel consumption of this car.

Basically, I made it to Vegas in 6.5 hours (long drive coming from L.A.; normally takes 4-4.5). So after sitting in 10-15mph traffic in L.A., I finally passed the 210/15 interchange around 5pm (2.5 hours after I left work).

Once the road became clear, I started to use the cruise control and had the AC on through the hot weather. The trip odometer wasn't that much help cuz it gave me an average speed of 45mph, cuz of the traffic, but realistically I was goin' 75/80 most of the trip. I got to Vegas around 9pm with 1/2 a tank of gas left. I was in C mode also. Strange thing is, when I had the 17's on, the gas mileage didn't seem to be as good. Really weird.

Anyways, we'll see how the gas consumption is today, cuz I'm heading back this afternoon.

New 2006 C230 V6 2.5 7G - 2500 miles.
My impression slow on the take off, slow when rounding a turn at an intersection trans doesn't drop down enough gears to maintain rpm's. Throttle seems to require more travel to get it off the mark, wish there was a way to quicken its response action. Once the R's get upward of 3-4-5 k responds real well. Fuel economy about 23+ around town just returned from a 1k mile road trip averaged 28.5 mixed highway/city driving. Handles great. Could use about 30 more pound feet of torque, snappier throttle action, more responsive down shifting. I did drive a used 2005 1.8 SC SS liked it much much less. I love the car overall want to give it to my wife and get a C350 of CLK350. Her 2006 Volvo S60 2.5T handles much worse but really honks quick accellertion realtively speaking compared to my C230. My previous 2001Audi S4 6 speed had it all. No regrets I'm now a M-B guy. That's my story.
gentlemanjim

i have to agree with you nlpamg, the steering on the 06 230 is very light.
i just got an 06 230 for the loaner today, and my very first impression is the steering, and then 2nd is how hard it pulls compare to the 05, off the line is not impressive, but from like 15 miles down shift and go... man, it pulls. harder than the 05 imo.
it tripped from 1st to 2nd as well w/ esp off (cant do that in the 05) im kinda bummed that my car isnt as powerful as the 06... but oh well i like em both.
the engine def. has a niced tone to it. but i like to hear the SC whine more...

I can feel the transmission downshifting from 2 to 1 in my CLK55. But, if I leave the transmission in "W" (winter?) mode, it does not do that because it starts in 2nd gear.
But, it doesn't feel as severe as that C280 4matic loaner...

It's weird... like I said, the SLK350 I had for a while did not do that (7G). It was flawless i thought. My old E420 didn't do that either.

I read somewhere in the AMG website that the SpeedShift transmission is designed to downshift like that?? I have no idea....