Well, had my coupe for two weeks now and chalked up just over 1000 miles already. Mostly on a week's holiday, so I've really had a chance to familiarise myself with the car.
First observation - aren't "ordinary" cars slow!! 8)
Absolutely love the car. Drives great, looks great and loads of luxury. Its drawn some real attention for me. Right down to people stopping and pointing!!(and no, they weren't giving me the bird
)
As promised I'll give you my opinions on the Sequentronic gearbox and the Parktronic parking distance sensors as you North Americans apparently don't get those on your coupes.
Sequentronic is the sequential (i.e. clutchless manual)/fully automatic gearbox for the coupe. In sequential mode you simply take your foot off the gas, tap the shifter back to change up and then back on the gas again. Obiously vice versa for reverse. If you want fully automatic you tap the shifter to the left (at any time) and you get auto. Tap it left again to go back to sequential.
I have been unable to make smooth changes in Sequential mode through 1st-2nd-3rd gears, even when being really leisurely. However, from 3rd upwards the changes are almost undetectable. Bit dissappointed with the rough changes low down, however, we're not talking heads through windscreen rough here, just not as smooth as one would expect from a Merc. Down shifting is a dream. Both up and down changes are not as swift as can be achieved with a manual box (surprise) but I am very pleased with my choice. Had the chance to spank the car down some of my favourite country lanes while on holiday and although I had to plan slightly further ahead due to the speed of the gear changes it was soooo much fun just tapping the shifter and booting the gas!! Right choice for me, especially as a lot of the roads near me are traffic nightmares - no more clutch to worry about during those jams!(but I can still have full control when I want).
Parktronic provides a bit more than the parking sensors I've seen previously. As well as the audible warning Parktronic also provides visual displays (on the dash and over the rear window) as to how close you are to objects. As you get nearer a gauge fills up in stages (showing both left and right sides). When you get to the red - stop! Works really well and I don't even have to think about parking now. Rely on the Parktronic and I end up 10-15cms away from everything.
Sorry about the lengthy post. Hope its of interest to you. I have taken a couple of shots of my coupe but the quality of my digital camera is v poor, so will wait for some better ones before I post.
Final point - does anyone feel that the gas pedal is poorly placed? Obviously my car is right hand drive, which may be the cause, but it feels to me like the gas pedal is too far over to the right. Maybe its just me but I'd be interested to hear what others think.
Cheers all.
GUY
First observation - aren't "ordinary" cars slow!! 8)
Absolutely love the car. Drives great, looks great and loads of luxury. Its drawn some real attention for me. Right down to people stopping and pointing!!(and no, they weren't giving me the bird
)As promised I'll give you my opinions on the Sequentronic gearbox and the Parktronic parking distance sensors as you North Americans apparently don't get those on your coupes.
Sequentronic is the sequential (i.e. clutchless manual)/fully automatic gearbox for the coupe. In sequential mode you simply take your foot off the gas, tap the shifter back to change up and then back on the gas again. Obiously vice versa for reverse. If you want fully automatic you tap the shifter to the left (at any time) and you get auto. Tap it left again to go back to sequential.
I have been unable to make smooth changes in Sequential mode through 1st-2nd-3rd gears, even when being really leisurely. However, from 3rd upwards the changes are almost undetectable. Bit dissappointed with the rough changes low down, however, we're not talking heads through windscreen rough here, just not as smooth as one would expect from a Merc. Down shifting is a dream. Both up and down changes are not as swift as can be achieved with a manual box (surprise) but I am very pleased with my choice. Had the chance to spank the car down some of my favourite country lanes while on holiday and although I had to plan slightly further ahead due to the speed of the gear changes it was soooo much fun just tapping the shifter and booting the gas!! Right choice for me, especially as a lot of the roads near me are traffic nightmares - no more clutch to worry about during those jams!(but I can still have full control when I want).
Parktronic provides a bit more than the parking sensors I've seen previously. As well as the audible warning Parktronic also provides visual displays (on the dash and over the rear window) as to how close you are to objects. As you get nearer a gauge fills up in stages (showing both left and right sides). When you get to the red - stop! Works really well and I don't even have to think about parking now. Rely on the Parktronic and I end up 10-15cms away from everything.
Sorry about the lengthy post. Hope its of interest to you. I have taken a couple of shots of my coupe but the quality of my digital camera is v poor, so will wait for some better ones before I post.
Final point - does anyone feel that the gas pedal is poorly placed? Obviously my car is right hand drive, which may be the cause, but it feels to me like the gas pedal is too far over to the right. Maybe its just me but I'd be interested to hear what others think.
Cheers all.
GUY
