6 speed manual question
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From: New Orleans
2018 C43 AMG SEDAN
6 speed manual question
I'm days away from ordering a new 2005 C230 sports sedan and I was wondering is the 6 speed manual transmission worth getting versus the automatic transmission. Is there any issues regarding Mercedes manual transmissions I should know about before making my order?
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by wdougla1
I'm days away from ordering a new 2005 C230 sports sedan and I was wondering is the 6 speed manual transmission worth getting versus the automatic transmission. Is there any issues regarding Mercedes manual transmissions I should know about before making my order?
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From: New Orleans
2018 C43 AMG SEDAN
Excellent
The dealer close to me doesn't have any C230s with the 6 spd to test drive plus I was just wondering if there were any "mechanical issues" with the 6-spd.
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From: House of Imports, MBZ (So. Cali.)
'06 ML500 w/Apperance pkg & '07 SL550 w/AMG pkg
I drove an '04.5 C320 Sport Sedan w/6-spd for about 4 months and did not have one problem with the tranny. I rather enjoyed driving a stick for a change as most of the Benz you see will be automatic. In my opinion, 1st gear is too tall for the car and I would start out in 2nd most of the time. When I did take off in 1st, you are only in it for about 2 seconds, then you have to shift.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I have an '02 and a '04.5 both with 6-spd and the newer shifter is much improved, the best shifter I've had on any car. Also the engine is so smooth it revs to redline without sounding like it's coming apart like the '02. I've had MB's with 200K miles that still shift fine, needed a clutch after about 150K miles. Get the auto/manual purely on personal preference and not worry about if it's a good or not. The MB auto's seem to have a lag that bugs me but I guess you get used to anything.
As for dealers not having 6-spd, my dealer didn't have any automatics both times I bought a car, back in '02 and last month. If you dealer doesn't have what you want and you don't want to order, have them either grab it from another dealer or go to another dealer. Also consider carsdirect.com, you fill in what you want and they'll search dealerships to get you what you want and no sleasy finance people to deal with.
As for dealers not having 6-spd, my dealer didn't have any automatics both times I bought a car, back in '02 and last month. If you dealer doesn't have what you want and you don't want to order, have them either grab it from another dealer or go to another dealer. Also consider carsdirect.com, you fill in what you want and they'll search dealerships to get you what you want and no sleasy finance people to deal with.
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I went to the dealer yesterday and asked if they had a 6MT 05 C230 SS and they did not. They said you will be lucky to find one with the 6MT. I thought this is a sporty car by having the 6MT as standard eqiupment. I test drove the 5A and did not like the lag factor. The salesman did a search for the car a I want, an 05 C230K SS 6MT Brillian Sil with charcoal w/ Ent., Sunrf., Lghtn Pkgs, he was able to find one with everything above and power seats in San Diego. There were 3 in SoCal with the 6MT and other options. He also said the Lighting Package would be hard to find too. Oh well, at least there is one or similar cars that I want when I am ready to buy. 
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
What dealer did you go to? Try MB of Laguna Niguel, they have plenty of C class with 6-spd. When I bought mine they had five 2004.5 and a few 2005 6-spd C230 Sport Sedans. Ask for John Maxwell, he'll match carsdirect.com's price which is about 800-1,000 below invoice on the 2005. He even found a C-Spot coupon for someone I sent him.
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Buellwinkle
What dealer did you go to? Try MB of Laguna Niguel, they have plenty of C class with 6-spd. When I bought mine they had five 2004.5 and a few 2005 6-spd C230 Sport Sedans. Ask for John Maxwell, he'll match carsdirect.com's price which is about 800-1,000 below invoice on the 2005. He even found a C-Spot coupon for someone I sent him.
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
reviews and editors have said that MB's new 6-speed on the SLK350 and C-Class is one of the best manual transmission on the market today for passenger cars...coming from one of the worst manual tranny's to one of the best 
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From: Glendale, CA
C230 Kompressor Sports Sedan
i recently changed my 02 coupe to 04 230K SS. tranny has been definitely improved and the redlining is much smoother then 02 engine.
it's up to you making decision on auto vs. manual. however i highly recommend manual since it's more fun on your hand and leg which always got nothing to do with automatic
it's up to you making decision on auto vs. manual. however i highly recommend manual since it's more fun on your hand and leg which always got nothing to do with automatic
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Originally Posted by DJM
I test drove the 5A and did not like the lag factor.
I love to
my C320 Coupe !
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
i have an auto c320 and i kick myself in the *** often for not getting the 6 speed (i bought mine off the lot and they only had 3 c320's, all auto). the touchshift mode is kind of fun, but the shifts seem to be very delayed, and flicking the shifter to the side isn't anything like controlling a real manual tranny. yet again, i'll repeat the others - it's all personal preference - but don't make a decision you might regret later. 
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Originally Posted by prodigy1387
i have an auto c320 and i kick myself in the *** often for not getting the 6 speed (i bought mine off the lot and they only had 3 c320's, all auto). the touchshift mode is kind of fun, but the shifts seem to be very delayed, and flicking the shifter to the side isn't anything like controlling a real manual tranny. yet again, i'll repeat the others - it's all personal preference - but don't make a decision you might regret later.
I drove around for a few hours, going here and there to see what it would be like having a manny as a daily, but i never got caught in traffic or anything...that's the only thing that would concern me is the traffic & manny combo. Other than that, I like driving a manual...choices choices.
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
Originally Posted by GDawgC220
i'm most likely going to be getting a '05 c230 SS at the end of this year and am still deciding between manny or auto. These past few days, I've driven relatives manual tranny cars and then get back into my auto...mixed feelings. I like to do the shifting myself a lot, but then when getting back into the auto, I like not having to do the work :p
I drove around for a few hours, going here and there to see what it would be like having a manny as a daily, but i never got caught in traffic or anything...that's the only thing that would concern me is the traffic & manny combo. Other than that, I like driving a manual...choices choices.
I drove around for a few hours, going here and there to see what it would be like having a manny as a daily, but i never got caught in traffic or anything...that's the only thing that would concern me is the traffic & manny combo. Other than that, I like driving a manual...choices choices.
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
I'm probably going to lean towards the 6-speed because I found it more fun than letting the auto do the shifting 
and the more "pulling" feeling when climbing the RPM's and letting the gear hang longer.
I drove my aunt and uncle's VW beetle the other day...1.8T pulled pretty nice, tho they added a performance exhaust so i'm not sure if that had anything to do with it but hearing the turbo spool up when punching the gas was sweet
I hope the dealers have a 6-speed demo so that I can see how the new 6-speed manny's go
and the more "pulling" feeling when climbing the RPM's and letting the gear hang longer. I drove my aunt and uncle's VW beetle the other day...1.8T pulled pretty nice, tho they added a performance exhaust so i'm not sure if that had anything to do with it but hearing the turbo spool up when punching the gas was sweet
I hope the dealers have a 6-speed demo so that I can see how the new 6-speed manny's go
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From: Somewhere between the gutter and the stars...
C230K Sedan
Originally Posted by MarcusBenz
I drove an '04.5 C320 Sport Sedan w/6-spd for about 4 months and did not have one problem with the tranny. I rather enjoyed driving a stick for a change as most of the Benz you see will be automatic. In my opinion, 1st gear is too tall for the car and I would start out in 2nd most of the time. When I did take off in 1st, you are only in it for about 2 seconds, then you have to shift.
I also think the 5th gear is pointless due to the ratio of the 6th gear. Me, I usually use 2nd - 4th and 6th. I enjoy a manual, but if I could go back and do it again, I would get the auto for this car.
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From: Florida
2005 C230K SS, 6sp
I've had my 2005 C230 SS for a little less than a month, and love the manual. All of my cars have been manual, automatics are nice, but not for me. The clutch and shifter actions are both good, I'm usually stuck in bad traffic for my commute and the clutch action is easy even when crawling at 3 mph for 5 miles. On the other hand, the shifter is a bit stiff compared to my last car but I'm certain that will work out over time. Most of my friends take a double take when they get into the car and realize it's manual, it's a Benz after all and "should" be automatic. Though, compared to the automatic, the manual makes this car much more responsive. And I do agree that the 6 speed is a bit of an overkill, a 5 speed would be just fine.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I don't think you have any really steep hills in Boston where that would be an issue. I drive much steeper streets in California that you can imagine, where even an automatic would start sliding backwards and I have never had a problem.
