{"id":50100,"date":"2023-11-03T08:48:58","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T08:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highwaynewspro.com\/?p=50100"},"modified":"2023-11-03T08:48:58","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T08:48:58","slug":"a-year-23000km-with-my-mercedes-glc220d-ownership-journey-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highwaynewspro.com\/news-features\/a-year-23000km-with-my-mercedes-glc220d-ownership-journey-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"A year & 23000km with my Mercedes GLC220d: Ownership journey so far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adjustable side bolsters for front seats that literally hug you. I cannot express enough gratitude for this.<\/h2>\n

BHPian bordeaux<\/strong> recently shared this with other enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

Replaced 2009 Honda City iVTec at 1,75,000 KMs (bought used at 49,000 KMs in 2013) with a new GLC 220D 4MATIC. Booked and canceled Isuzu VCross, Skoda Superb, Jeep Compass, MG Gloster during the process. Rejected a used BMW 320d GT. Finally, took the plunge and bought a brand new Mercedes. Ran it hard for 23,300 KMs in the first year of ownership. Two mega road trips and a couple smaller road trips took us through 10 states and 3 UTs burning a total of 1960 Ltr of diesel. Plenty off-roading, one overnight camping and so much fun. I feel unleashed!<\/p>\n

Car Being Replaced:<\/p>\n

2009 manufactured Honda City iVTec SMT that I purchased in 2013 at 49,000 KMs. We ran it pretty hard clocking over 1,75,000 KMs across the country. It took us to 18 states, several UTs and an extensive road trip through Bhutan. This Honda exhibited exceptional reliability as we never got stuck anywhere even though we abused this car a fair amount. We didn’t really have to pay for anything other than just regular servicing and accident related repairs. Nothing broke down apart from the lockset (the keys and locks) at 175,500 KMs.<\/p>\n

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Masai Plateau near Injole MH<\/p>\n

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Somewhere in the Sahyadri mountains<\/p>\n

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Indian states that we traveled to with our Honda City.<\/p>\n

Why Replace?<\/p>\n

Though the car was definitely taking us places, it certainly couldn’t take us everywhere. I never cared about the lack of ground clearance, bad roads, no roads and took our car wherever we were wanted to go. But there was always this urge to have the ability to go the extra mile, the mild off-roading experience and J&K\/Ladakh\/North East. I know people have been doing Ladakh in their low slung sedans for almost forever now but when I go there, I want the ability to go “everywhere” which is certainly not possible in a petrol sedan. No off-roading capability, no torque! There was also need for more space. Additionaly, as the car aged, it basically started feeling like a Bolero pickup with a really harsh ride, almost nil noise insulation. A new car was needed and as time passed the need was quickly transforming into urgency!<\/p>\n

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross in 2016:<\/p>\n

I was looking for a replacement for as early as 2016. I remember I was in Kodaikanal, TN on a road-trip when V-Cross was launched. And I immediately booked it. But reality settled in a week or so when I realized that it was way too long and I wouldn’t be able to maneuver it in our cities or the super narrow roads in the hill stations. Canceled the booking.<\/p>\n

After this, the car replacement was put on a backburner as I went through life ferrying the Honda City wherever we could. As time passed, I was also becoming a lot clearer on what I really needed from a car and my list of requirements emerged to be:<\/p>\n