6 Speed
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6 Speed
While obviously I have no reason to disbelieve the poster who has had trouble with his 6 speed, ours 6 speed has been totally fine. I am surprised frankly, that his dealer cannot get its act together and fix this person's car.
My wife's last car, a Honda Prelude, was also known to have manual transmission problems, so she got the automatic. And Hondas are, rightfully so, known as good reliable cars. So sometimes you never know.
It sounds like this person has had some bad luck, combined with an incompetent service center, with the end result of him or her getting screwed. I would not hesitate to recommend a 6 speed, just drive it first because it is your typical German manual transmission -- heavy clutch, deliberate shifting, etc. My old BMW was the same way. But you get to really like it.
My wife's last car, a Honda Prelude, was also known to have manual transmission problems, so she got the automatic. And Hondas are, rightfully so, known as good reliable cars. So sometimes you never know.
It sounds like this person has had some bad luck, combined with an incompetent service center, with the end result of him or her getting screwed. I would not hesitate to recommend a 6 speed, just drive it first because it is your typical German manual transmission -- heavy clutch, deliberate shifting, etc. My old BMW was the same way. But you get to really like it.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Good advice. But, I find the clutch in my C240, and the other ones I test drove, to be on the light side rather than heavy...maybe it's a personal judgment on my part...
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From: Pennsylvania
that was one of my biggest concerns when getting this car because I saw a lot of people posting about the difficulties they were having with the 6 speed. Went ahead and got it anyway and I must say, I love it. Haven't had any problems at all.
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From: Agoura Hills, CA
C230K
the only problem i have with my 6 speed is trouble putting it in first gear. My service rep told me that there is no synchro for first gear, so that's why its a PITA to get into 1st sometimes. Can anyone verify this?
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C240 02
i would not recommend manual to any benz owner for one reason. benz is famous for their automatics and thats what they are good at. In my opinion they have not masterd manuals yet. If u really want a manual go for BMW they have mastered it.
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
Originally posted by Vince
the only problem i have with my 6 speed is trouble putting it in first gear. My service rep told me that there is no synchro for first gear, so that's why its a PITA to get into 1st sometimes. Can anyone verify this?
the only problem i have with my 6 speed is trouble putting it in first gear. My service rep told me that there is no synchro for first gear, so that's why its a PITA to get into 1st sometimes. Can anyone verify this?
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
Originally posted by BenzC240
i would not recommend manual to any benz owner for one reason. benz is famous for their automatics and thats what they are good at. In my opinion they have not masterd manuals yet. If u really want a manual go for BMW they have mastered it.
i would not recommend manual to any benz owner for one reason. benz is famous for their automatics and thats what they are good at. In my opinion they have not masterd manuals yet. If u really want a manual go for BMW they have mastered it.
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From: Agoura Hills, CA
C230K
Originally posted by lars
He really said that? Did he look as if he was hired straight out of fashion school? Not true.
He really said that? Did he look as if he was hired straight out of fashion school? Not true.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
Originally posted by Vince
so i should not have any trouble shifting into first? does anyone else have this problem?
so i should not have any trouble shifting into first? does anyone else have this problem?
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2003 MB C230K Sports Sedan
Originally posted by BenzC240
i would not recommend manual to any benz owner for one reason. benz is famous for their automatics and thats what they are good at. In my opinion they have not masterd manuals yet. If u really want a manual go for BMW they have mastered it.
i would not recommend manual to any benz owner for one reason. benz is famous for their automatics and thats what they are good at. In my opinion they have not masterd manuals yet. If u really want a manual go for BMW they have mastered it.
-Alex
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From: Orange County, CA
C230 Sedan - 6 spd.
Originally posted by alevy
Im not quite sure you know this or not.. but all benz' with the exception of the S class are available in a stick in europe and have been for YEARS.. ive been traveling to europe for many years and you would be hard pressed to find an automatic anywhere on the streets.
-Alex
Im not quite sure you know this or not.. but all benz' with the exception of the S class are available in a stick in europe and have been for YEARS.. ive been traveling to europe for many years and you would be hard pressed to find an automatic anywhere on the streets.
-Alex
-Thach
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by neptunespeed
You're right. I have 2 sisters in Paris, France. They tell me it costs a lot more for an automatic over there. I think there's extra tax on autos.
-Thach
You're right. I have 2 sisters in Paris, France. They tell me it costs a lot more for an automatic over there. I think there's extra tax on autos.
-Thach
Seriously, do you mean there's an annual penalty? That's bizarre...
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
Sechsgangschaltgetriebe
In my experience the gearbox is pretty good. Not the best and certainly not the worst I've ever used. The shifts are positive and firm, unlike the wimpy feel of some other cars' shifters (hello Honda). It takes a little adaptation though, after driving my newer Peugeot (which is pushing 190,000 miles on the original clutch), as the clutch takeup points and 405 drivetrain (FWD) are quite different. I've had no particular problems with it and I'd rate it as good.
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From: Houston, TX
2002 C240 6 spd manual
I find the manual in my C240 to be pretty good. It's not the best manual I've ever shifted, but it's not bad at all. I drove my Dad's manual 330ci and it was sweet - just a flick of the wrist to shift compared to the longer, notchier throws in the C240. I'm not sure why you would want to downshift into 1st gear while in motion. I've never had difficulty putting the car into 1st gear while stopped. The manual definitely has synchros on 1st gear or it would be very "hit and miss" as to being able to get it into gear. The part I have difficulty with is downshifting to 2nd gear around 15 mph.....I can do 3rd fine, but it doesn't have enough punch (say coming around a corner), but 2nd is very jerky and the revs don't seem to want to match up the same. Any suggestions?
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Originally posted by BenzC240
no one is disputing the quality of the manual box, what im saying is the combination of a manual with a benz has not been perfected.
no one is disputing the quality of the manual box, what im saying is the combination of a manual with a benz has not been perfected.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by TXTiger
The part I have difficulty with is downshifting to 2nd gear around 15 mph.....I can do 3rd fine, but it doesn't have enough punch (say coming around a corner), but 2nd is very jerky and the revs don't seem to want to match up the same. Any suggestions?
The part I have difficulty with is downshifting to 2nd gear around 15 mph.....I can do 3rd fine, but it doesn't have enough punch (say coming around a corner), but 2nd is very jerky and the revs don't seem to want to match up the same. Any suggestions?
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From: SF Bay Area
Originally posted by TXTiger
I drove my Dad's manual 330ci and it was sweet - just a flick of the wrist to shift compared to the longer, notchier throws in the C240.
I drove my Dad's manual 330ci and it was sweet - just a flick of the wrist to shift compared to the longer, notchier throws in the C240.
I traded cars with my friend the other day (2002 330 sedan, 5-speed). Damn, that's a fine engine. But we both like the way my car shifts better. His car shifts smoothly, but it has really long throws. My car was a bit notchy at first, but that has worn down with age and is pretty smooth now.
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From: Chino Hills, CA
2008 C300 Sport
I dont have a problem with mine... but it was pretty notchy at first too... but it also has gotten really smooth now after 10,000 miles...
Last edited by jo17jC230; Jun 7, 2003 at 01:25 PM.
