C vs S, whats best?
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Jersey
2003 E500 Sport, 2006 C280 4Matic
C vs S, whats best?
Ok so as im going over my C280 manual I realize that there is no description of the S function on my auto shifting settings thing a ma bobber. So i wonder, which mode is better? C or S? Which one gets better gas and which should i use while tarein it up on rt 80?
Seems to me that S is more gas friendly but shifts weird when i drive around my town, I am constantly going up and down mountains and sometimes hit 6000 rpm while going downhill. Any advice or thoughts?
Seems to me that S is more gas friendly but shifts weird when i drive around my town, I am constantly going up and down mountains and sometimes hit 6000 rpm while going downhill. Any advice or thoughts?
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From: Los Angeles, CA
05.C230K.SS
I think C stands for Comfort Mode, and S stands for Sports Mode. I read somewhere that at comfort mode, you start off in second gear, while in sports mode, you are in the standard 1st mode...
quote me if im wrong fellaz
quote me if im wrong fellaz
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From: So. Cal.
MK IV .:R32
k I only know of 2 differences
1) in C you start in 2nd gear, while in S it will downshift into first.
2) in S the car downshifts easier. If you accelerate a bit hard in S it will downshift, but in C it stays in the current gear
1) in C you start in 2nd gear, while in S it will downshift into first.
2) in S the car downshifts easier. If you accelerate a bit hard in S it will downshift, but in C it stays in the current gear
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
In my car C is good for a few things:
-Snow (as mentioned)
-Relaxed driving where you want a smooth ride with no harsh shifts.
- Driving in bumper to bumper traffic is a LOT better in comfort mode because you only have to apply minimal pressure to the brakes to keep the car from moving. Also it's easier to accelerate slowly and more linearly which is great in traffic if you're like me and you always wind up going between the gas and brakes over and over.
- Driving up a hill where you don't want to roll backwards from a stop
-Snow (as mentioned)
-Relaxed driving where you want a smooth ride with no harsh shifts.
- Driving in bumper to bumper traffic is a LOT better in comfort mode because you only have to apply minimal pressure to the brakes to keep the car from moving. Also it's easier to accelerate slowly and more linearly which is great in traffic if you're like me and you always wind up going between the gas and brakes over and over.
- Driving up a hill where you don't want to roll backwards from a stop
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
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From: OC
Mini Cooper, M5
on my dads e60 5 series you can hit the sport button while driving and you can feel the shift program change instantly
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2007 C230 SS
always put the vehicle in park and then change from comfort to sport mode and vice-versa as mentioned before.
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From: OC
Mini Cooper, M5
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2007 C230 SS
i don't see why it wouldn't. you can obviously do it without putting the car in park but it may affect your engine/trans(not entirely sure).
as far as i know, when i test drove my car the dealer stressed the idea of putting the car in park before shifting between modes.
as far as i know, when i test drove my car the dealer stressed the idea of putting the car in park before shifting between modes.
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
lol doesnt s and c only just change what program the tcu uses? Its not like anything mechanical changes between s and c other then when the tcu pick its shift points.
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
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From: Las Vegas, NV
C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
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From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
There is NO NEED to put the car in park!! The reason MB says this is because in certain situations it will change the gear you are in the moment you press the button. This can, apparently, in some lawyers fantasy land, cause you to lose control of the vehicle. I've probably switched settings while in gear or at speed hundreds of times.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
There is NO NEED to put the car in park!! The reason MB says this is because in certain situations it will change the gear you are in the moment you press the button. This can, apparently, in some lawyers fantasy land, cause you to lose control of the vehicle. I've probably switched settings while in gear or at speed hundreds of times.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 13, 2008 at 05:27 PM.
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From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
1) you start in Forward AND Reverse in 2nd gear. Yes, we have 2 R gears.
2) The shift points change (well, that's what the sales guy told me)
3) If stopped uphill, in C it actually holds the car for you if you release the brake! The car will roll backwards if you do the same thing in S.
Personally I use C/W all the time. S is quite useless other than for wasting gas.
2) The shift points change (well, that's what the sales guy told me)
3) If stopped uphill, in C it actually holds the car for you if you release the brake! The car will roll backwards if you do the same thing in S.
Personally I use C/W all the time. S is quite useless other than for wasting gas.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan
1) you start in Forward AND Reverse in 2nd gear. Yes, we have 2 R gears.
2) The shift points change (well, that's what the sales guy told me)
3) If stopped uphill, in C it actually holds the car for you if you release the brake! The car will roll backwards if you do the same thing in S.
Personally I use C/W all the time. S is quite useless other than for wasting gas.
2) The shift points change (well, that's what the sales guy told me)
3) If stopped uphill, in C it actually holds the car for you if you release the brake! The car will roll backwards if you do the same thing in S.
Personally I use C/W all the time. S is quite useless other than for wasting gas.
The shift points do change. It's actually pretty noticeable!
I've only found "S" to be good if you want a quick go from a stand still.
I've noticed that when i'm in "C" and floor the gas from a stand still, it will start off in second, then quickly shift down to first to give you that boost you're looking for when jamming the gas.
