Driving the 2002 C230K Auto
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From: NEW YORK
2002 C230K
Driving the 2002 C230K Auto
I think I finally got the hang of it ...getting the most response/power out of this car. I notice that when I press the accelerator 1/2 to 3/4 down, I get surprising acceleration to the point where sometimes I back off on the pedal. However, when I mash the pedal all the way down, I usually get the 1-2 second delay while it downshifts .
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From: Valencia, Ca
C230 brilliant silver, panorama sunroof, auto, everything but leather.
I have noticed the same thing with the automatic. I kind of push the pedal about 3/4 and let it up until it shifts and then I push it down about 3/4 again and repeat. It seems to work the best.
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From: Cheyenne, WY
2002 C230K
My fastest results have been using the touch shift feature. I'll drop it down to 1st at a stop light, then rap it up to about 5k rpm then drop the transmission to 2nd at about 4.5k, then let 3rd gear rap up high and put the transmission in "D" for the rest of the drive...excellent results. I get pushed back in my seat. The dealer told me specifically NOT to run the engine too hard during the first 1000-1200 miles, I couldn't wait to break it in. Worth the wait, the car will absolutely fly. It is going to be hard to stay out of trouble.
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From: NEW YORK
2002 C230K
to Hazebenzo,
So if I get it right, you start in first till about 5000 rpm , then shift to second and third when ( at what rpm ) ?
When you shift to third, what speed (mph) would you be at ?
So if I get it right, you start in first till about 5000 rpm , then shift to second and third when ( at what rpm ) ?
When you shift to third, what speed (mph) would you be at ?
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From: Cheyenne, WY
2002 C230K
When I hit 3rd (about 4500 prm) I haven't paid attention to mph. I usually do this little trick at the top of the on ramp to the interstate, so I haven't really been paying too much attention but I'll check it out tonight and take better notes and let you know. After 3rd gear, since I put it in "D" and am travelling realtively fast, 4th goes pretty quick, in my observation the transmission likes to go to higher gears quickly as you approach about 70 mph, but I like to get on the interstate and set the cruise at about 87 mph so I stay on the accelerator and it lets the engine speed build up a little big higher than a normal acceleration, so I get pushed back in the seat more than I would have ever expected from a 4 cyl engine. Needless to say, I love it.
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From: Cheyenne, WY
2002 C230K
OK, I have an update on the touch shift...did a little hot-rodding last night.
1st gear run up to 5000 rpm, (around 30 mph)
accelerate thru 2nd up to 5000 rpm again (around 60 mph)
let 3rd gear wind up to around 4500 rpm (around 75 mph)
hit 4th at full throttle run up to about 3500 rpm (approx 85 and accelerating)
Drop the transmission into "D" and set the cruise. Relax. Repeat as necessary.
If you have the transmission select the shifts for you, you'll get better mileage, but you won't blast up to 80 mph nearly as fast, the touch shift still provides a transparently smooth transisition through all gears. I'm convinced that the Kompressor is built to run at higher rpm.
1st gear run up to 5000 rpm, (around 30 mph)
accelerate thru 2nd up to 5000 rpm again (around 60 mph)
let 3rd gear wind up to around 4500 rpm (around 75 mph)
hit 4th at full throttle run up to about 3500 rpm (approx 85 and accelerating)
Drop the transmission into "D" and set the cruise. Relax. Repeat as necessary.
If you have the transmission select the shifts for you, you'll get better mileage, but you won't blast up to 80 mph nearly as fast, the touch shift still provides a transparently smooth transisition through all gears. I'm convinced that the Kompressor is built to run at higher rpm.
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
Originally posted by pixmation
Is this the one that was wrecked?
Is this the one that was wrecked?
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
DISLAIMER: this is not a flame-thread...
OK, first things first. if you have your foot on the floor, the touch-shift tranny will hold the gear to redline REGARDLESS of when you hit the stick. (FACT)
2) for the past 3 years (or more) the automotive press has lamented the "superior logic" function of the MB trans, which include actions like in #1. it will also downshift you if you apply too much throttle (trying to gracefully accelerate out of a sweeper inn 3rd, and the tranny kicks down to 2nd and the back-end breaks loose). basically, the engine computer thinks its smarterthan you are.
3) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
4) what is possibly described above by shifting at ~5000 is the "seat ofthe pants" feel from when you upshift onto the torque peak. while this may be the most enjoyable method, it requires the manipulation of the gas to trick the tranny into doing what it is told... this is not the best for anything because it results in non-constant throttle openings and jogging from 1/2 to full throttle rapidly and repeatedly, which can lead to carbon build-up and torched exhaust valves (among other things)
5) these are the observations and derivations of a man with degrees in finance and marketing and only 3 hours of physics. they may be innaccurate, but they have been gleaned from 10 years of continuous study of the automobile, both hands-on and theoretical (reading). I'm not an expert, but my friends all bring their problems to me first.
OK, first things first. if you have your foot on the floor, the touch-shift tranny will hold the gear to redline REGARDLESS of when you hit the stick. (FACT)
2) for the past 3 years (or more) the automotive press has lamented the "superior logic" function of the MB trans, which include actions like in #1. it will also downshift you if you apply too much throttle (trying to gracefully accelerate out of a sweeper inn 3rd, and the tranny kicks down to 2nd and the back-end breaks loose). basically, the engine computer thinks its smarterthan you are.
3) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
4) what is possibly described above by shifting at ~5000 is the "seat ofthe pants" feel from when you upshift onto the torque peak. while this may be the most enjoyable method, it requires the manipulation of the gas to trick the tranny into doing what it is told... this is not the best for anything because it results in non-constant throttle openings and jogging from 1/2 to full throttle rapidly and repeatedly, which can lead to carbon build-up and torched exhaust valves (among other things)
5) these are the observations and derivations of a man with degrees in finance and marketing and only 3 hours of physics. they may be innaccurate, but they have been gleaned from 10 years of continuous study of the automobile, both hands-on and theoretical (reading). I'm not an expert, but my friends all bring their problems to me first.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by pixmation
if you set your touch shift gear to 1st at stop. Just hold the accelerator pedal down, it will upshift itself when the engine hits redline.
if you set your touch shift gear to 1st at stop. Just hold the accelerator pedal down, it will upshift itself when the engine hits redline.
To me, the ONLY 2 benefits of the touch shift are the ability to manually go to the next gear without accidentally pushing the lever all the way to "D", and the protection of not being able to over-rev if you downshift. All automatic transmissions can be shifted manually! Do people forget about this?
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From: NEW YORK
2002 C230K
dasMafia,
What is "torque brake the start" ? What do I do ?
) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
What
What is "torque brake the start" ? What do I do ?
) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
What
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From: Lincoln, NE
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Roadster (hardtop current ly attached)
Originally posted by Jerry Schwartz
dasMafia,
What is "torque brake the start" ? What do I do ?
) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
What
dasMafia,
What is "torque brake the start" ? What do I do ?
) the automotive press (ALL levels) have noted repeatedly that the quickest way to get your benz to a stated speed is to torque-brake the start and leave it in D... let the tranny do its own thing... this is of course documetned with many, many instrumented acceleration tests.
What
as far as #3 goes. if you read Car and Driver, Road & Track, or even ****-poor Motor Trend, they have repeatedly stated that the LOWEST accelerations acchieved during a MB track tests were accomplished by just leaving it in D and crushing the throttle... no joke, check the road-test of the new SL500 in the current Road & Track, I'm pretty sure that they make that exact conjecture, and someone did last month in a test of the C230 as well (C/D or R&T, I can't remember right now).
anyone have dissenting data?
P.S. I concurr with the journalists after driving the C230, CLK320 and ML320... if you wanna get there, just hammer it and let the tranny do its thing.
