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Tanks a million

I am in the process of sourcing a C220CDI or E220CDI estate from the BCA auction network but am undecided about manual as opposed to auto gearbox. I read your columns in the Saturday Telegraph every week. You often speak highly of post 2007 diesel Mercedes and have commented that the C220CDI SE with a manual box could do 500,000 miles. Is the auto tiptronic box as reliable as the manual?

Asked on 15 September 2011 by TL, Maidstone

Answered by Honest John
My comment was that the Plain Jane C200CDI Classic SE manual was the only car I had recently driven that felt like it could do 1,000,000 miles in 10 years. Used manuals are much cheaper than automatics. Car for car about £2,000 cheaper. But they have dual mass flywheels and clutches that will need to be replaced from time to time. All told, you are probably better off with the auto.

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A big improvement on the previous C-Class. Feels well built and robust. Very comfortable and refined. High quality ride. Good CDI diesels.