DSLR camera i see now why,which one u r using..Sony,Cannon or Nikon? a friend of mine has the new Sony alfa DSLR (not sure if that is the correct name) and he is very happy with it.

cawimmer 430
Thanks once more everybody for your nice words.
Regarding the suspension dont mix it up.Its simple.
1.There is the agility control system wich is standard in all versions.
Wich is a selective antivaibration absorption system wich automatically chooses according the driving surface difrent dumping absorption levels for each wheel seperatly.
2.Advanced agility is a system wich on top of all the functions of simple agility has a sport button witch when you press it adds stiffer absorption for
suspension quicker gear shifting (auto) and heavier steering wheel.
Thats it.

So at the end of the day, say you are buying a new C-Class what would you choose the 200 K or 220 CDI? for the sake of driving dynamics? The more economic engine of 220 CDI doesn't mettter in my case since I will not drive very much (~11k km/year)....I have only driven the 220 CDI and I didn't like the diesel engine noise.

You also said the 200 K is loud at higher speed, what about at about 120-130 km/h, how about road and wind noise? Refinment and more responsive engine is important to me as you see :-)

Thanx!

Welcome to germancarzone SirOracle! Enjoy your stay, and I think Cawimmer would choose the C 220 CDI - but I'm not completely sure!

i'd be choosing the c220 too the diesel engine does sound something like a 'whimpering' noise i reckon, and it's less responsive than the C200, but i really enjoyed the surge of energy after the initial turbo lag but then again, since fuel consumption is not an issue for some people, the choice might be different

Driving dynamics I suppose refers mostly to handling first, then the responsiveness of the engine.

I've driven two automatic C220 CDI Avantgarde models and I found the engine-transmission combination to be a bit lacking namely in engine response. The C220 CDI is a good engine, but in combination with the 5-speed automatic transmission it was a bit slow to respond. This isn't the case when driving a W211 E220 CDI for example, which I've also experienced numerous times. I hear the manual C220 CDI W204 is a better performer, but then again I dislike Mercedes manual transmissions with a passion.

Based on this and character, I'd probably opt for the C200 Kompressor over the C220 CDI. The performance is enough to satisfy me and I've always liked 4-cylinder engines for some reason, especially the newer ones which can feel and sound like a smooth 6-cylinder engine in some cases. Refinement and engine response? The C200 Kompressor performs very well here. The refinment like I said in the review is on the level of a 6-cylinder engine, despite this engine being quite old. The response time is also good, especially considering that it's mated to an automatic transmission.

Yeah, the C200 Kompressor gets pretty loud at 160 km/h+, below that it is still bearable. At 120-130 km/h the engine is actually fairly quiet. I expected this since that's the "speed limit" on German Autobahns which isn't derestricted so the car has to perform well within this speed range. Wind noises were actually fairly low, particularly around the big mirrors. This wasn't the case on the C220 CDI at high speeds, but here, for some reason, it was. This might sound far-fetched, but maybe the AMG body kit had something to do with it, possibly "deflecting" more wind away from the mirrors? Speculation, speculation...

I've also driven the Classic trim level C200 Kompressor 6-speed and the suspension setup is similar to that of the Elegance models meaning they're a bit softer. Indeed, the Avantgarde models feel much sportier and driver sportier too. If you want a C-Class with great driving dynamics, start with the Avantgarde trim level. The engine is a matter of taste, but for me a C200 Kompressor (even a C180 Kompressor) is an appealing package.

Christian you may be right, in one of my comments, I also made mention of the lack of wind noise around my door mirrors, could it be the AMG body kit

Or i am def or this amg package is doing a really good aerodynamics job

capo

^That's a gorgeous looking C Capo