Reviews Monster's C-class Estate Review

[dalab]

It doesn't have double glazing but yet the cabin is quiet thanks for the extensive insulation.

I was referring more to the absence of noise from poor adjustments or materials.

car makers don't want to put too powerful sound systems in their cars as it would expose weaknesses in quality.

I hadn't thought about it but it makes sense.

Some roads in the UK are actually worse.

I hear stories but that already seems like Vietnam in the 70's

Tank-like qualities confirmed!

The same thing I thought about a W124 when we passed a division of at least 15 cm high at 90 km/h and it was like nothing, tank feeling!

 

[Monster]

Today is the first day of spring and the weather is just perfect for a road trip down the south coast.

After driving the W223 extensively , and test driven the W214 about 2 months ago, it is good to jump back behind the W213 for a long drive, and compare the driving experiences between the cars.

The W213 is now showing its age, especially in areas of noise suppression and suspension control.

Wind and road noise around the A pillar, side mirrors and the pano roof are comparatively more audible, even more so at speed over 110km/h. The suspension , even at the lowered ride height, do experience the occasional float over slightly bumpy surfaces.

The one thing that has not changed though, is the silky smooth twin turbo V6, generating effortless power right across the rev range.

It makes swift progress on the highway, with plenty of speed in reserve to see off aggressive moves from others, especially from over ambitions Ford Raptor drivers.

The E class is always the "business class" of the range, and it fulfils its intended purposes perfectly.

The S class is the best of what Mercedes can offer, the "first class" of the range.

I agree with the assessment made by @Mr. Mercedes , the gap between the S and the E class is far greater than the gap between the E class to the C class. It would be nice to add the W223 to the garage on day.


Back to the W213, it is only 9 km away from reaching the 10,000 km mark. It only took 5.5 years to do so.

 

[Monster]

Dry and sunny winter days are the best for road trips. especially on a long weekend,

The w213 is just the car for it. 6 years on and just over 11,111 km on the clock, the E 450 is pushing along just fine.

Even with 5 people on board, or approx an extra 360 kg of load, the car does not appear to be fazed.

The suspension kept the body in control, the air suspension felt more tied down actually with the extra weight.

The twin turbo V6 continued to perform effortlessly, especially on high way driving and overtaking.

Until Mercedes Australia get their act together with the S-class, or decide to bring in the W214 version of the E 450, we will be keeping this car for a while to come.

On a side note, for those who are interested, the W211 just turned 20 years old !

Due to its age there are a few maintenance issues to attend to, but the car should be fine and back in service in a few weeks time.

 

[Monster]

How quickly time flys, the C class estate just turn 9 years old.

With the ever deteriorating road surfaces in Sydney, I have decided to replace those stiff Continental run flats with non run flat Michelin Pilot Sports 5.

I was hoping for a dramatic improvement in ride quality, however it was not to be. The new tires have soften the sharp edges of the ride but it is still never settled.

On the positive, the new tries have dramatically improved the mid corner grip. The front and rear of the car now feel more in sync, the tires are biting into the road surface and I could carry about 8% more speed through corners and roundabouts without feeling on edge.

Even after all these years, the car is still receiving positive comments. in the past 6 months, I had two people walking over to me, asking if they can buy it from me . Not that I am looking to let go, but I will keep those offers in mind.

It is such a shame that Mercedes Australia decided not to offer any C class or E class estate anymore, and I will resist owning those SUV for as long as I can.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Your wheels are still immaculate mate. Great effort considering the shitty Sydney roads.

Isn't it about time to start shopping for a replacement load lugger?

 

[Monster]

Your wheels are still immaculate mate. Great effort considering the shitty Sydney roads.

Isn't it about time to start shopping for a replacement load lugger?

Thankfully I have managed to avoid most of the shitty roads in Sydney, but then again I don't drive much these days.

As for you second question, should I join the dark side? Mercedes Australia seems to be doing everything they can to turn away loyal owners.

 

[Giannis]

Isn't it about time to start shopping for a replacement load lugger?

He needs to run in his current one, first!

 

[Monster]

He needs to run in his current one, first!

Yes indeed, 9.5 years on, the estate has reached 44,980 km. Mechanically it has been extremely reliable, I have not encountered a single mechanical fault at all.

The car still looks almost show room fresh, especially after the extensive car wash over the weekend.

The exterior and interior design has stood the test of time. It does not look like a near 10 year old car at all.

The car will definitely keep going for another 5 to 10 years.....however it maybe time to change to something else.

 

[Giannis]

however it maybe time to change to something else.

I understand. The dust probably got bored of sitting on the car.

 

[Monster]

The W211 is back after spending 1.5 months in the repair shop for a new front bumper (car was hit in a low speed accident when the other driver turn into our lane), plus other precautionary replacement of rubber seals and door stops.

I am very happy to be driving the car again, and be reminded of how smooth, comfortable and well engineered it is. It is a clear reminder of what Mercedes used to be, and the level of engineering and manufacturing standards which the brand was able to achieve, 20 plus years ago.

 

[Monster]

A flashback from exactly 10 years ago when we took delivery of the car.

10 years and 47,150 km later the car still look modern, elegant and it is still one of the best looking estate car around.

The interior design and overall quality is holding up extremely well. Thankfully it has remained mostly creak and rattle free. The only interior noise audible is from the rear seat folding and lockinig mechanism, it does tend to creak when a passenger is sitting on the rear seat.

In terms of the driving experience, the car feels agile, light on its feet and it can be pushed to about 7/10 of the limit without losing composure.
The engine is quiet, refine and it has good low end response with minimal turbo lag. Performance is above adequate; however the power delivery drops off significantly above 4,000 rpm. For those who are interested, the average fuel consumption is around 9L /100km for highway driving, to 12L /100km for city driving.

The only real significant issue I have with the car is suspension tuning. The ride is never settled. It varies between frim and bumpy to firm and crashy. All 4 Continental run flats were replaced with Michelin Pilot Sports 5, which helped to soften the sharpness of the ride. However it is nowhere near the level of ride comfort that Mercedes is supposed to have, for their standard passenger car range.

Overall it is a very good car for the daily commute, for the airport runs, and also for the occasional spritied drive on the twisty back roads.

The car will be staying , along with the others and the incoming M3 touring.....

 

[Swissbob]

Do you have AMG suspension?

Because you’re keeping it, it might make sense to put the Comfort suspension in that car.
Without Airmatic it’s very easy to change it.

 

[Swissbob]

BTW there are 3 suspensions plus the Airmatic available on the 205.

Comfort, comfort but 15mm lower and sport 15mm lower. I guess you’ve got the latter one.

I changed the suspension on my Viano from Sport to comfort, because it’s a very similar set-up ( passive dampers Coil springs) it was simply a plug and play thing.

No issues with the MOT as well although it’s a little bit higher now.

The ride comfort isn’t comparable at all, the difference is really noticeable.