Raza

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I took my 2002 E320 in for service yesterday, and got a 2002 C240 4Matic as a loaner car, and as soon as I got a chance to use it, I popped it into first and floored it. I noticed that when I shifted from first, it went straight to third. The Computer shifted from 1st to 2nd when I came near redline. It repeated that process for the 2-3, 3-4, and then 4-D shifts. Downshifts were still manual, but it pissed me off royally that it wouldn't let me upshift when I wanted to. What is the point of Tiptronic if the computer is going to control the whole thing anyway?

I was so surprised when this happened, because at least a hundred times I've bounced off the rev limiter in my car by being a fraction of a second too late (mainly in the 1-2 shift, for some reason it takes longer than subsequent shifts) and even though it's not exactly good for the car, it made me a better driver by timing it right. In Tiptronic in my 2002, I have complete control over when the transmission shifts (nearly).

What I would like to know is if the automatic upshifts in manual mode are unique to the 4Matics, or if it's now the standard for Mercedes Tiptronic transmissions. Jeez, I wonder why I'm looking to the other Teutons for my next car, it seems all Mercedes wants to do lately is take even more control away from me.

Well, that's enough of me ranting. If anyone's looking at the C240 4Matic, and you can deal with the terribly slow acceleration, I'd recommend it. The handling and brakes are superb, especially when compared to the C230 Sports Coupe (my usual loaner car), which favors terrible understeer.

vraa

C240... that's all you have to say right there. The C240 was never meant to be a sports demon. Try an AMG with the speedshift, much cooler indeed, but in the end it's always better to leave the car to handle it. That's what Mercedes is good at, nullifiing the driver from the car.

dswildfire

all non-amg automatics will upshift at redline. dont know about amg ones because the closest i've been to one is the outside.....5 feet away...

GDawgC220

the touch-shift automatically shifts for you when you hit the redline to prevent damage to the engine. When you try and shift near redline, by the time the transmission reacts, it's already hit redline, shifted for you, so you are esentially in 2nd when you shift therefore going into 3rd because the tranny has already shifted into 2nd for you.

Raza

That's what I noticed...when did this happen? It doesn't happen in my E320.

Raza

Eh, well...loaner car, what can you do?

I happen to always use my tiptronic. Getting into my car is like starting up a helicopter. Get in, turn on, turn off ESP, open sunroof, possibly heat seats, shift to drive, put in first, then have fun.

dswildfire

not a clue when it happened. i thought it was always a feature of the touchshift.

MB Fanatic

This doesn't happen in my 01' E320.