manual or automatic gearbox

[rob weedy]

i have just ordered a mercedes SLK 200 which would give me a better price when i come to sell it, auto or manual

[smudge]

Personally, I use to prefer manual cars, simply for the art of driving up & down the gear box. But due to a problem with my left foot, I decided to sell my manual Mercedes last year, to buy an automatic. I sold it to the first customer, but the phone didn't not stop ringing after & people still asked details about it. The majority were after an automatic Merc.

I must admit, I am quite getting used to driving an automatic & I'm sure I won't have any problems selling it on in the next year or two.

So, for selling purposes, I would say go for an automatic. Good luck.

[smudge]

P.S. My husband's Land Rover is an automatic & he would never go back to manual now.

[wizard]

I like driving automatics but I personally feel safer driving a manual because of the sense of control etc. But having said that, automatics are a smoother ride and can be a lot cheaper to run in terms of fuel.

All the best

[smudge]

Not so sure about the fuel consumtion wizard. My previous manual Mercedes Esprit was an 1800cc & my current automatic one (same model) is an 1800cc - the latter uses slightly more petrol.

You are right about the 'smoother' ride though!

[BenDToy]

Up until the latest model, you would be ill advised to buy a manual Merc. As smudge found out, no-one wants them, mainly because their autos are so good, and their manuals are so bad! However I have been told that the latest SLK manual is very good, and so this advice may not apply to a new one. I would play safe however and stick to the established wisdom. Also it is probably worth asking your local dealer. Pretend to be selling one and you'll find out soon enough!

[BenDToy]

Message for Wizard. It is very unlikely that you would get better fuel consumption in an auto, unless you are driving a manual in 2nd gear all the time! Autos are much thirstier.

[smudge]

*consumption

[ramp]

Have family that own and run a retail car sales - they have had one or two manual mercs and these sat around for months - now they only take in automatics - hpe this answer syour dilemma (merc main dealers may not tell you this though)