Driven: Mercedes C250 CDI Coupe
A manual Merc, in this day and age? These things do still exist, as our man Garlick has been finding out
One stick and a whole lot of pedals
The C-Class has changed a lot over the years. The exterior has certainly grown up, but where in the line up does this car sit? It's not a CLK replacement, that hole being filled by the E-Class coupe, and it's far bigger and nicer than the stunted and frankly awful CLC. Which leaves it aiming squarely at the 3 Series coupe. A tough gig.
The C certainly looks like a proper Merc these days and the Coupe is undeniably handsome, even if there's a bit too much metal between the top of the rear arches and the windowline.
Dark grey car on a dark grey day ... dark
Fancy footwork
Our test car was the AMG Sport version, as all UK C Coupes are, including a 15mm ride height drop and stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bars over the default settings. A £575 Dynamic Handling Package with adjustable dampers is a further possible upgrade, but even as standard is enough to have you seeking out the more interesting route home. While perhaps not quite as sharp as its obvious Bavarian rival, it's way better than any C-Class has been for a long, long time. The 204hp 2.2-litre diesel suits the car, too, and the obligatory mid-range shove is more than enough to sway even the most hardened diesel sceptic.
Better than you'd think but auto still best
That would push our test car's already sturdy £40,630 asking price further into 335d territory though, at which point the Merc's charms are going to have to work that bit harder to convince.
MERCEDES C250 CDI COUPE
Engine: 2,143cc 4-cyl twin-turbo
Power (hp): 204@4,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 368@1,600rpm
0-62mph: 7.0 sec (auto 7.1 sec)
Top speed: 149mph
Weight: 1,655kg
MPG: 52.3mpg (auto 53.3mpg, both NEDC combined)
CO2: 143g/km (auto 139g/km)
Price: £33,635 (£40,630 as tested)
TBH if you want a TDI anything and are trying to save money on tax / fuel, i don't understand why anyone would pick the auto.
It costs more, so there is a tax effect, and it will return 10% less to the gallon no matter what the brochures say. I've had both and i know.
It costs more, so there is a tax effect, and it will return 10% less to the gallon no matter what the brochures say. I've had both and i know.
Around town the manual should be a lot more economical but autos usually have higher overall gearing so can be more economical in cruising. The 7 speed auto box this car would have locks up in every gear too.
I know, let's put the throttle pedal in the middle and play at Vintage Bentleys...
MB had to put extra soundproofing under the bonnets of 4 cyl diesel B Class's in Germany that were used as taxis - people were complaining about having their sleep disturbed when taxis dropped their neighbours off.
The only advantage I seem to remember picking up on, aside from the obvious smoothness in trundling about, is that the top gear on the auto is slightly taller than sixth on the manual, hence lower motorway revs. But if I was buying one I'd definitely choose the manual. After checking the residuals, anyway...
As for the gearbox it was great to use a Merc manual that felt good, although I readily admit my last experience was a while ago now, and I agree that a manual means you can use the torque more easily. That said I would have preferred an auto myself (and you can always manually downshift if you want with the auto) as I think it suits the car better overall.
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