When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It is really all over the place on the reviews, it’s quite confusing.
The three reviewers that I always watch for Mercedes cars all LOVED the C43. This includes Autotrader, Rokenr and Thomas from autogefuhl. Of course they had some nitpicks about the car (it’s not perfect) but overall they seem to enjoy the package.
in regards to the Chinese reviewer sayin the steering lacks feedback…that’s the first I’ve heard that. Even the negative reviews have all said the steering is fantastic around corners especially with the rear wheel steering. Some of these reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt as I feel some don’t even know how to put into words how a car operates lol
the only concern I have that is across the board is the transmission. I even asked a current owner of the C43 and he said it’s pretty bad.
The gent in EU with an estate? There is no conceivable way it's worse than the current w205 c43 but I was hoping it was as good or better than a ZF8 speed.
These are things that could be different here in the states upon release too - so it's hard to say. We know the MCT can be good, albeit more sporty than comfortable.
The gent in EU with an estate? There is no conceivable way it's worse than the current w205 c43 but I was hoping it was as good or better than a ZF8 speed.
These are things that could be different here in the states upon release too - so it's hard to say. We know the MCT can be good, albeit more sporty than comfortable.
another guy in Russia with the sedan. He says the car is amazing and so much better than the w205 but he did say the transmission was awfully jerky, laggy and just didn’t mesh well.
supposedly Mercedes is going to make an update to it via software
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by ylli101
It is really all over the place on the reviews, it’s quite confusing.
The three reviewers that I always watch for Mercedes cars all LOVED the C43. This includes Autotrader, Rokenr and Thomas from autogefuhl. Of course they had some nitpicks about the car (it’s not perfect) but overall they seem to enjoy the package.
in regards to the Chinese reviewer sayin the steering lacks feedback…that’s the first I’ve heard that. Even the negative reviews have all said the steering is fantastic around corners especially with the rear wheel steering. Some of these reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt as I feel some don’t even know how to put into words how a car operates lol
the only concern I have that is across the board is the transmission. I even asked a current owner of the C43 and he said it’s pretty bad.
Originally Posted by ylli101
It is really all over the place on the reviews, it’s quite confusing.
The three reviewers that I always watch for Mercedes cars all LOVED the C43. This includes Autotrader, Rokenr and Thomas from autogefuhl. Of course they had some nitpicks about the car (it’s not perfect) but overall they seem to enjoy the package.
in regards to the Chinese reviewer sayin the steering lacks feedback…that’s the first I’ve heard that. Even the negative reviews have all said the steering is fantastic around corners especially with the rear wheel steering. Some of these reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt as I feel some don’t even know how to put into words how a car operates lol
the only concern I have that is across the board is the transmission. I even asked a current owner of the C43 and he said it’s pretty bad.
Maybe it got lost in translation? If someone is able to understand what those reviewers are saying instead of relying on the auto translate maybe we can figure what they said exactly? The built in video translator is a hit and miss.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by alexasa
The gent in EU with an estate? There is no conceivable way it's worse than the current w205 c43 but I was hoping it was as good or better than a ZF8 speed.
I share your thoughts with the transmission, seems like the main actual issue is the transmission stills needs to be updated and smoothen out on the W206 C43, the other complaints these reviewers have in common would be weight and four-cylinder which isn't going to change. Ignoring those, the main focus that is very important will be the transmission tuning, they need to fix this and I think that is the only issue that they really need to focus on first.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by alexasa
The gent in EU with an estate? There is no conceivable way it's worse than the current w205 c43 but I was hoping it was as good or better than a ZF8 speed.
These are things that could be different here in the states upon release too - so it's hard to say. We know the MCT can be good, albeit more sporty than comfortable.
I agree with you and too wish the transmission is as smooth as the ZF, the ZF is definitely tuned towards the comfier side instead of sporty according to many reviewers, it is a traditional torque converter transmission after all and not a DCT or MCT. I think I heard one reviewer said the current M3 with the ZF compared to last gen is a bit soul-less because of that, too refined, no excitement, can hardly feel the shifts, their words if I recalled correctly.
I agree with you and too wish the transmission is as smooth as the ZF, the ZF is definitely tuned towards the comfier side instead of sporty according to many reviewers, it is a traditional torque converter transmission after all and not a DCT or MCT. I think I heard one reviewer said the current M3 with the ZF compared to last gen is a bit soul-less because of that, too refined, no excitement, can hardly feel the shifts, their words if I recalled correctly.
I owned a G82 M4 with that ZF transmission and I can tell you it is very boring, it lost its soul and excitement. I drove the M2 Competition and was blown away by the transmission with how much energy and personality it had.
I think in a daily amg though like the c43, the ZF would be welcomed
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by ylli101
I owned a G82 M4 with that ZF transmission and I can tell you it is very boring, it lost its soul and excitement. I drove the M2 Competition and was blown away by the transmission with how much energy and personality it had.
I think in a daily amg though like the c43, the ZF would be welcomed
I see then that is on par with what the reviewer I came across said, but I forgot what video was it. I think it was a British review.
@Kinematic My car got picked up today on the Glovis Symphony.
Fantastic, mine has to be on that too. I'll reach out early next week for an update. Assuming the track is SA -> Europe -> East Cost (I think it may stop at Baltimore before heading south towards you)
Edit: Wait a sec I just saw your link, looks like heading right to BAL
Last edited by Kinematic; 02-24-2023 at 03:13 PM.
Reason: Update
Yep, heading straight to Baltimore. I didn’t think there were any ships that went straight to the US but i guess this proves otherwise lol
Originally Posted by Kinematic
Fantastic, mine has to be on that too. I'll reach out early next week for an update. Assuming the track is SA -> Europe -> East Cost (I think it may stop at Baltimore before heading south towards you)
Edit: Wait a sec I just saw your link, looks like heading right to BAL
Fantastic, mine has to be on that too. I'll reach out early next week for an update. Assuming the track is SA -> Europe -> East Cost (I think it may stop at Baltimore before heading south towards you)
Edit: Wait a sec I just saw your link, looks like heading right to BAL
yup, pretty much best case scenario! As long as they release the car next week lol
and potential bummer - even full leather is shown without crest in headrest, looks like early builds are getting and recent ones are not in performance or standard seats. Not sure if it's region dependant or not but I thought the AMG crest was a nice touch
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by alexasa
Just waiting on some US reviews. Feedback has been all over the place. Either the car is not a cohesive package or these reviewers don't actually have relevant insight on the car.
One of those Chinese reviewers goes on to say the steering lacks feedback, the brakes are too sensitive and the ride is too firm, that the car looks boring and then commends the cornering ability but the gearbox is great - this feedback is at ends with itself IMO. And most all of them bring up the C63 when they are not even driving 8/10's in the C43. Really confusing reviews honestly.
Finally have time to watch the review, you were referring to the Hong Kong review posted earlier Right? In terms of them praising the transmission at the 10:05 mark? Although the Google automatic video translation is not ideal, but translation (assuming is accurate) does seem to be praising the gearbox and to sum it up: in terms of the response time of the clutch, it can deal with the higher torque compared to a DCT and he explained that as long as you don't shift close to the last 200 RPM, it shifts with no hesitation and torque loss is improved compared to a conventional torque converter transmission? Then he goes on to say that the MCT has been used for so many years so generally reliable, horizontally placed in the vehicle, the powertrain and the whole all wheel drive system can all work efficiently together, so the power seems to be more instant. All of this compared to the DCT in the A 45 S.
I watched that NZ video and legit lol'd - wtf is that guy smoking to think that's "one of the best, angriest sounding 4cyls around." Sounded as quiet as a Tesla driving by!
Finally have time to watch the review, you were referring to the Hong Kong review posted earlier Right? In terms of them praising the transmission at the 10:05 mark? Although the Google automatic video translation is not ideal, but translation (assuming is accurate) does seem to be praising the gearbox and to sum it up: in terms of the response time of the clutch, it can deal with the higher torque compared to a DCT and he explained that as long as you don't shift close to the last 200 RPM, it shifts with no hesitation and torque loss is improved compared to a conventional torque converter transmission? Then he goes on to say that the MCT has been used for so many years so generally reliable, horizontally placed in the vehicle, the powertrain and the whole all wheel drive system can all work efficiently together, so the power seems to be more instant. All of this compared to the DCT in the A 45 S.
Yeah - I took that as generally good as all MB products hesitate when you wait too long to shift (fuel cutting, etc.) in manual mode.