To resurrect the old debate... I got a 2006 C230 loaner today...
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From: So Cal.
2019 GT3 RS, 2017 M3 30 Jahre
To resurrect the old debate... I got a 2006 C230 loaner today...
I was excited b/c I wanted to feel what it felt to be back on reasonable size tires/wheels rather than my loud/harsh 19's...
Here's my takes on the 2006:
The pro's are that the steering seems a lot lighter and a lot more sensitive (I don't know if that's just me b/c I'm used to having the 19's on w/235's in the front and 265's in the rear), furthermore, the engine is a lot quieter and sounds pretty good. Another pro is that the air conditioner doesn't really strain the engine as much and you don't feel it come on or see your revs at idle change.
The con's, sorry to say it, but I did feel that the transmission was a bit jerky (perhaps it's b/c the car wasn't broken in correctly or I'm just not used to it). Also, I can almost feel that the M271 has more low end power (I didn't take the car to the limits b/c I didn't have my radar detector on me and I didn't want another ticket). Off the line, my 05 feels faster (even though I have 19's). I think that this car off the line feels like a C240 in a way. Another con for me is that the fuel economy is reduced by at least 3mpg's. When I beat the **** out of my car and go nuts on the side streets, the lowest I can get it to is 14.6mpg. When I beat the **** out of this car on the side streets, it got to 11.3mpg. When I tried to baby this car and go speed limit on the freeway, the highest I could get it was 25.9mpg. When I do the same to my car, I get 29.1mpg. So the fuel thing is a big con for this car...
No offense to the '06 guys, I'm not bashing it, I still think it's a good car, but I don't think I'd take this over my '05.
I don't think I'm adding much new to the debate, but I figured I'd put in my 2cents and concur with the other reviewers...
Here's my takes on the 2006:
The pro's are that the steering seems a lot lighter and a lot more sensitive (I don't know if that's just me b/c I'm used to having the 19's on w/235's in the front and 265's in the rear), furthermore, the engine is a lot quieter and sounds pretty good. Another pro is that the air conditioner doesn't really strain the engine as much and you don't feel it come on or see your revs at idle change.
The con's, sorry to say it, but I did feel that the transmission was a bit jerky (perhaps it's b/c the car wasn't broken in correctly or I'm just not used to it). Also, I can almost feel that the M271 has more low end power (I didn't take the car to the limits b/c I didn't have my radar detector on me and I didn't want another ticket). Off the line, my 05 feels faster (even though I have 19's). I think that this car off the line feels like a C240 in a way. Another con for me is that the fuel economy is reduced by at least 3mpg's. When I beat the **** out of my car and go nuts on the side streets, the lowest I can get it to is 14.6mpg. When I beat the **** out of this car on the side streets, it got to 11.3mpg. When I tried to baby this car and go speed limit on the freeway, the highest I could get it was 25.9mpg. When I do the same to my car, I get 29.1mpg. So the fuel thing is a big con for this car...
No offense to the '06 guys, I'm not bashing it, I still think it's a good car, but I don't think I'd take this over my '05.
I don't think I'm adding much new to the debate, but I figured I'd put in my 2cents and concur with the other reviewers...
Last edited by nlpamg; May 24, 2006 at 03:19 AM.
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From: Los Angeles
2014 Audi S5 Cabriolet 3.0T
I have a 06. I agree, it is slower than the 05 and the fuel is an issue in mine too. However, I feel like the V6 has a very good feel to it. This may just be me making my car sound better, but I really like the V6. The transmission was jerky at first when I got the car, but I dont seem to have any issues with it. I have 7500 miles and my father just got a new one (50 miles) as a loaner and I noticed the transmission. I honestly believe that they are two completely different cars: 05 = sportier and 06 = more of a luxury drive.
I dont know if that makes any sense, but I love my 06 and also have no issues with the 05.
Mike
I dont know if that makes any sense, but I love my 06 and also have no issues with the 05.
Mike
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From: asdfasdf
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Originally Posted by nlpamg
The con's, sorry to say it, but I did feel that the transmission was a bit jerky (perhaps it's b/c the car wasn't broken in correctly or I'm just not used to it). Also, I can almost feel that the M271 has more low end power (I didn't take the car to the limits b/c I didn't have my radar detector on me and I didn't want another ticket). Off the line, my 05 feels faster (even though I have 19's). I think that this car off the line feels like a C240 in a way. Another con for me is that the fuel economy is reduced by at least 3mpg's. When I beat the **** out of my car and go nuts on the side streets, the lowest I can get it to is 14.6mpg. When I beat the **** out of this car on the side streets, it got to 11.3mpg. When I tried to baby this car and go speed limit on the freeway, the highest I could get it was 25.9mpg. When I do the same to my car, I get 29.1mpg. So the fuel thing is a big con for this car...
I agree with you on the 7G tranny being jerky. It's absolutely irritating, and I wish there was a MB Campaign to solve the problem.
After getting a Nissan Altima loaner...........all I can say again is.........be thankful you had a C-Class loaner.
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From: Southern Methodist University
2001 C320 (purple), 2002 BMW 540i
Originally Posted by TA-9FF
After getting a Nissan Altima loaner...........all I can say again is.........be thankful you had a C-Class loaner.
(i had the very same altima right before Cam did)
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From: Ventura County, SoCal
05' C230K S.S.
Dude, I've gotten a best of 36 m.p.g. in my 05 C230K S.S., that of course is on my nightly commute to L.A. with little traffic, & cruise control set on 63 in the slow lane, no A.C., it does take a while to reach it though, it usually starts out at about 28, then slowly creeps up from there.
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From: NorCal
2006 C230
Originally Posted by nlpamg
Here's my takes on the 2006:
The pro's are that the steering seems a lot lighter and a lot more sensitive (I don't know if that's just me b/c I'm used to having the 19's on w/235's in the front and 265's in the rear), f
The pro's are that the steering seems a lot lighter and a lot more sensitive (I don't know if that's just me b/c I'm used to having the 19's on w/235's in the front and 265's in the rear), f
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From: Washington DC
OLD: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, NEW: 2007 SLK350
The best I got on my 2004 C230 was 37 mpg, while driving steady on I-95 in little traffic.
Once, I got a 2005 C240 loaner, but didn't check the mpg on it.
Once, I got a 2005 C240 loaner, but didn't check the mpg on it.
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From: N. Cal
05' C230K Sport Sedan
Last weekend a trip from Bay Area down south to LA gave me 32mpg overall. Of course it was with A/C and stereo turned on constantly throughout the trip, not to mention some traffic jams leaving the Bay and entering LA. Average highway speed about 80-85mph on I-5...not an ideal speed for fuel efficiency, so i think 32mpg is pretty awsome. This kind of number beats some japanese so called "fuel economy" 4-cyclinders cars. Mercedes enginners really know what they are doing!
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by eckc21
Last weekend a trip from Bay Area down south to LA gave me 32mpg overall. Of course it was with A/C and stereo turned on constantly throughout the trip, not to mention some traffic jams leaving the Bay and entering LA. Average highway speed about 80-85mph on I-5...not an ideal speed for fuel efficiency, so i think 32mpg is pretty awsome. This kind of number beats some japanese so called "fuel economy" 4-cyclinders cars. Mercedes enginners really know what they are doing!
Since I'm driving to Vegas this weekend (on my 19's), I'll give an update on that when I get back.
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From: Illinois, Indiana
2005 C230 Sedan 6spd
Originally Posted by nlpamg
When I beat the **** out of my car and go nuts on the side streets, the lowest I can get it to is 14.6mpg. When I beat the **** out of this car on the side streets, it got to 11.3mpg.
I often floor the gas racing other "slow" cars and I've never gotten anywhere near the MPG you mentioned. If the engined is all warmed up, and I start to race people....I say I still get 20MPG at worest.
The worest MPG I got was during winter months and I need to make a lot of short trips, trip ends before the engine even got a chance to warm up. Probably like 18MPG.
You said you got 14.6MPG beaten the ***** out of the car.......you must be a mean driver!!
and 19" wheels didn't help MPG either I would assume.
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From: Southern Methodist University
2001 C320 (purple), 2002 BMW 540i
Originally Posted by eckc21
Average highway speed about 80-85mph on I-5...not an ideal speed for fuel efficiency
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From: So Cal.
2019 GT3 RS, 2017 M3 30 Jahre
One thing regarding my fuel economy is to take into account stop and go traffic in Downtown LA and on the 405 etc... The mpg dips incredibly.
BUT, one thing is that I have the car for another day... I must say, I have found new respect for this car. The engine sounds MUCH better than the M271. I think that this car will indeed walk/inch away from the 05's at speeds above 70mph. The 7gtronic is fine at highway speeds, only on city roads is it really jerky. I found better use of it in "manual" mode. I don't like the fact that MB changed it for 2006 where you have to hold it to the left for a little bit to get it to engage the best gear for acceleration whereas with the 2005's you can just tap it and it automatically goes to the best gear for acceleration.
I am starting to like this car more now. I really like the speed-sensitive steering...
I think I'd choose a 6-speed 2006 over a 6-speed 2005, and an auto 2005 over an auto 2006 now based on my experience...
BUT, one thing is that I have the car for another day... I must say, I have found new respect for this car. The engine sounds MUCH better than the M271. I think that this car will indeed walk/inch away from the 05's at speeds above 70mph. The 7gtronic is fine at highway speeds, only on city roads is it really jerky. I found better use of it in "manual" mode. I don't like the fact that MB changed it for 2006 where you have to hold it to the left for a little bit to get it to engage the best gear for acceleration whereas with the 2005's you can just tap it and it automatically goes to the best gear for acceleration.
I am starting to like this car more now. I really like the speed-sensitive steering...
I think I'd choose a 6-speed 2006 over a 6-speed 2005, and an auto 2005 over an auto 2006 now based on my experience...
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From: Southern Methodist University
2001 C320 (purple), 2002 BMW 540i
Originally Posted by nlpamg
I don't like the fact that MB changed it for 2006 where you have to hold it to the left for a little bit to get it to engage the best gear for acceleration whereas with the 2005's you can just tap it and it automatically goes to the best gear for acceleration.
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From: asdfasdf
One with 4 wheels
Originally Posted by shahedC
The best I got on my 2004 C230 was 37 mpg, while driving steady on I-95 in little traffic.
Once, I got a 2005 C240 loaner, but didn't check the mpg on it.
Once, I got a 2005 C240 loaner, but didn't check the mpg on it.
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From: Glendale, CA
2016 Mercedes S550
damn those are good numbers....all i've got i was like 28.5 coming back to vegas(I-15) but around the streets/freeway while moderate bashing on the throttle i get about 20-22...not bad i really dont care to much, if its gonna save me a total of $200 at the end of the year, i rather just drive the way i want whenever i want. But i gotta give it props it holds up great in almost every aspect!
oh yeah and as for the 06 loaner...i heard quiet a few complaints about the tranny's, ohh well
oh yeah and as for the 06 loaner...i heard quiet a few complaints about the tranny's, ohh well
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From: Tyler, TX
2025 Mazda CX70 Turbo S, 2015 G550
I usually get 31MPG on my 40 mile commute to work. And a couple of times I've gotten 37 driving from Tyler to Ft Worth. ( i like to keep the tirepressure a little high)
I kinda like the sound of the M271 too.
I kinda like the sound of the M271 too.
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by b3d_sage
meh, just be glad you don't have an 01 where if you tap it to the left it downshifts once gear. If you hold it to the left it will keep downshifting and even hold the car at RPMs ABOVE redline.
The 2006 he is referring to right now is a loaner because his car is at the dealership.
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From: Southern Methodist University
2001 C320 (purple), 2002 BMW 540i
Originally Posted by drexappeal
Phil has a 2005, so the auto tranny on the '05 is just like the '01 where you tap it to the left once and it down shifts one gear. He's saying that he likes the way the 2001-2005 auto tranny is and doesn't like the 2006 auto tranny.
The 2006 he is referring to right now is a loaner because his car is at the dealership.
The 2006 he is referring to right now is a loaner because his car is at the dealership.
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From: asdfasdf
One with 4 wheels
Originally Posted by b3d_sage
I only did that once as a test to see if it actually worked the way other people had been talking about, and it stayed well into redline for a good 7 or more seconds before I finally went "CRAP! <tap right>"
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
Originally Posted by b3d_sage
I am quite certain there is a difference in my tranny from some of the others here. I have read people saying that if you hold it all the way to the left until it downshifts to first, it will automatically hold the gears until redline, then upshift...
You may be right.
