There may be no hope

[deanyel]

Just saw a Mercedes commercial for the 2007 C-class, the essence of which is that the car has a 7 speed transmission, which makes it very fuel efficient, so fuel efficient in fact that it gets 25 highway miles per gallon. Unfortunately 25 miles per gallon on the highway for a compact car is today horrible, and virtually the worst in class. Twelve years ago, a 1995 E320, a larger, heavier car with more horsepower and a 4 speed transmission, got 26 mpg highway.

That problem aside, some wise person at this corporation has chosen to taken the car's achilles heel, poor fuel economy, and make it the subject of a high profile and expensive ad campaign, apparently so that they could mention that the transmission has 7 forward gears, an obvious point of pride. They seem to think we're stupid, something they have in common with the domestic manufacturers. It seems to me not a good sign.

[aklim]

Is a C-class a compact car?

I thought they changed the ratings because people reported that cars like the E-class you mentioned are being rated unrealistically? IOW you will never see that in the real world? Thought I read something about mpg dropping since they changed to the new system of ratings

[raymr]

The new rating system is effective with the 2008 MY. You can compare old and new mpg ratings at the EPA website: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

The link will be on the right side of the screen. So for 2008 that highway mileage drops to 23. The E85 numbers are even more abysmal.

[GermanStar]

Originally Posted by deanyel

That problem aside, some wise person at this corporation has chosen to taken the car's achilles heel, poor fuel economy, and make it the subject of a high profile and expensive ad campaign, apparently so that they could mention that the transmission has 7 forward gears, an obvious point of pride.

That strikes me as an obvious point of future repairs.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by GermanStar

That strikes me as an obvious point of future repairs.

So what do you want? To go back to the Powerglide 2 speed trans?

[dynalow]

So,

The 124 4 speed transmission starts in 2nd gear. Meaning 3 gears of normal use.

What gear will the 7 speed normally start out in I wonder?

[GermanStar]

Originally Posted by aklim

So what do you want? To go back to the Powerglide 2 speed trans?

No -- manual.

[PaulC]

I enjoy driving a car with a good manual transmission, but they really don't make sense today, given that most automobile driving is either done on a light to moderately-congested interstate, with consistent speeds meaning little opportunity to work the gearbox, or on congested roads, meaning stop-and-go traffic that makes using a manual trans a major pain in the arse after about ten minutes. The best compromise in today's world is an automatic trans that has a well-programmed full manual mode.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by GermanStar

No -- manual.

No thanx. Been there, done that and never want to do that again if possible.

[jlomon]

That 25 still can't be right, even with the new methodology for figuring out the rating. My 2000 E320 4Matic Wagon gets 27 mpg on the highway in real world conditions, and that's with a 5 speed auto. If a C-class with a 7 speed can't do better than that with way less weight, there's something wrong here.

[Mistress]

I saw a blurb on t.v. about the ratings being off on quit a few vehicles since the method and use for obtaining the ratings hadn't changed in 8 years. If i was to buy a new car, i'd ask the dealership to let me have it for a day and drive like i would in everyday traffic and see what you come up.

[AustinsCE]

Originally Posted by PaulC

I enjoy driving a car with a good manual transmission, but they really don't make sense today, given that most automobile driving is either done on a light to moderately-congested interstate, with consistent speeds meaning little opportunity to work the gearbox, or on congested roads, meaning stop-and-go traffic that makes using a manual trans a major pain in the arse after about ten minutes. The best compromise in today's world is an automatic trans that has a well-programmed full manual mode.

I actually prefer a stick in traffic, I hate holding the brake down 100% of the time.


25 MPG bad? what engine is it? The 3.5 says 29 hwy.

[Mistress]

Originally Posted by AustinsCE

I actually prefer a stick in traffic, I hate holding the brake down 100% of the time.


25 MPG bad? what engine is it? The 3.5 says 29 hwy.

At least you do....

[TheDon]

Im only getting 22 mpg with my 300D.. I think my odometer is slow or something

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by AustinsCE

I actually prefer a stick in traffic, I hate holding the brake down 100% of the time.


25 MPG bad? what engine is it? The 3.5 says 29 hwy.

I drive a std tranny quite a bit and in stop & go traffic, the nightmare of chain-reaction bumper crashes keeps me off the fellow's bumper in front and with my brake on unless I'm moving--just as with my auto tranny.

What about you other folks? Brake on or brake off at stop?

B

PS What I don't like about the stick in heavy traffic is constant use of the clutch. Aggravation!