Any experience of the 1.8 CDI (134) engine with a manual?

[Hangcheck]

I appreciate this is not a particularly Pistonheads kind of engine but was wondering if anybody else has experience of the above?

My wife has just got an A200 CDI and both of us are finding it difficult to drive smoothly when pulling away. It seems to pick up and then gives the impression it's going to stall/bog down so instinctively you dip the clutch/add some throttle which causes it to wake up and you end up pulling away far faster than you'd intended.
She test drove an automatic as that's all the dealer had before ordering which obviously masked the issue (if indeed there is one). Is this some kind of economy tuning emissions type issue that is shown up with a manual gearbox?

Cheers

[Andy Pandie]

Had a simular problem with my C220 manual when I first had it, what I discovered completely by luck, was when I lifted the clutch in gear with no throttle input the revs rise slightly, presuumably to prevent stalling(?), then once rolling drop off. I found it a complete nightmare at first especially in stop start traffic, like you alsmost stalling then over compensating. Once I was aware of the initial unwanted throttle input things improved drastically. I'm guessing that yours does something simular, just do what I did, by selecting first gear and lift the clutch without touching the throttle to see if the revs rise

[Hangcheck]

Andy Pandie said:

Had a simular problem with my C220 manual when I first had it, what I discovered completely by luck, was when I lifted the clutch in gear with no throttle input the revs rise slightly, presuumably to prevent stalling(?), then once rolling drop off. I found it a complete nightmare at first especially in stop start traffic, like you alsmost stalling then over compensating. Once I was aware of the initial unwanted throttle input things improved drastically. I'm guessing that yours does something simular, just do what I did, by selecting first gear and lift the clutch without touching the throttle to see if the revs rise

That sums up exactly what's happening. So how do you drive around it? I've tried to slip the clutch a bit and keep the revs up which doesn't stop it. Luckily I won't be driving it really but I hate jerky driving and it's a slight against my manhood that I can't stop it! :-)

[MX-5 Lazza]

My 2011 C220 does the same thing in that if I lift the clutch at idle without touching the throttle the revs will rise a bit to prevent stalling. However there is no dip afterwards. I use this all the time when creeping along in traffic. In fact I can use it through the gears too - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and roll it up to around 40mph without touching the throttle!

[Hangcheck]

MX-5 Lazza said:

My 2011 C220 does the same thing in that if I lift the clutch at idle without touching the throttle the revs will rise a bit to prevent stalling. However there is no dip afterwards. I use this all the time when creeping along in traffic. In fact I can use it through the gears too - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and roll it up to around 40mph without touching the throttle!

I've done that with her previous VAG diesel and as you say it's useful in traffic. The Merc seems to dip as soon as the revs begin to rise before recovering, if you hold it in first for longer it's not as noticeable. I'll have a play at the weekend to see if I can drive around it.

Cheers