C Class - W203 vs W204
Discussion
Afternoon all, I'm looking for my next car. Ideal would be a compact diesel, auto, estate and the C Class looks like the one. Probably as 220cdi engine in comfort trim - they seem to have a good reputation in private hire circles, and these folk quickly figure out the good, bad and ugly.
At the £6k budget I want to spend, I have plenty of choice with the older model. But I'm not afraid of miles, so there are some 130k mile W204 cars coming into target as well.
Question is, is the newer model worth getting into? Is it better built, more reliable?
On the other hand, cars built at the end of their model cycle tend to have most issues ironed out.
It will be used mainly as a motorway car if that helps. Looks I'm not fussed, they are both OK.
At the £6k budget I want to spend, I have plenty of choice with the older model. But I'm not afraid of miles, so there are some 130k mile W204 cars coming into target as well.
Question is, is the newer model worth getting into? Is it better built, more reliable?
On the other hand, cars built at the end of their model cycle tend to have most issues ironed out.
It will be used mainly as a motorway car if that helps. Looks I'm not fussed, they are both OK.
I have a 2004 W203 owned since September 2014. One previous owner who had it since brand new and only drove it to the golf course every other day I think. It only had 50k miles on it and he'd kept every single receipt, insurance certificate and tax disc neatly in the glove compartment. I got it for about £3.5k I think.
I can definitely vouch for the W203 but only the petrol models as i've heard a few iffy things about the diesel ones. I put some Michelin Crossclimate Snow certified all season tyres on it which made it glide through the recent snow we had without a single problem.
They're an absolute dream to drive, so smooth and quiet especially on the motorway, no rattles or squeaks at all. A few people here and there slag them off but next time you're out driving look out for them and you'll see there's quite alot of them about, some pristine others looking as if they've just been in battle but still going strong.
Things to note with them, make sure the gearbox has been serviced and if it hasn't then get it done, they should be serviced every 40k miles or 4 years whichever comes first. A gearbox service costs about £150 at an independent specialist. Another thing to note is that they are very heavy cars and the springs seem to be a weak spot so you may have to replace all four about once a year as they are constantly snapping.
A top tip for if you do decide on a W203 is try and get one that was built in South Africa like mines (open the drivers door and you should see a plate telling you where it was built). At that time the South African plant was where they did alot of quality and reliability research and they won awards for it as far as im aware so the cars built there should be in better nick. Also i'd aim for a facelifted one (2005 onwards) as they did alot of cosmetic and reliability improvements. I wouldn't go for anything older than 2004 as you could end up with one with a Valeo radiator which if it breaks can damage the gearbox (google it).
I don't know much about the W204 but I have heard they can have problems with the doors and electronic steering lock playing up but if you research it you should be able to find out more.
I can definitely vouch for the W203 but only the petrol models as i've heard a few iffy things about the diesel ones. I put some Michelin Crossclimate Snow certified all season tyres on it which made it glide through the recent snow we had without a single problem.
They're an absolute dream to drive, so smooth and quiet especially on the motorway, no rattles or squeaks at all. A few people here and there slag them off but next time you're out driving look out for them and you'll see there's quite alot of them about, some pristine others looking as if they've just been in battle but still going strong.
Things to note with them, make sure the gearbox has been serviced and if it hasn't then get it done, they should be serviced every 40k miles or 4 years whichever comes first. A gearbox service costs about £150 at an independent specialist. Another thing to note is that they are very heavy cars and the springs seem to be a weak spot so you may have to replace all four about once a year as they are constantly snapping.
A top tip for if you do decide on a W203 is try and get one that was built in South Africa like mines (open the drivers door and you should see a plate telling you where it was built). At that time the South African plant was where they did alot of quality and reliability research and they won awards for it as far as im aware so the cars built there should be in better nick. Also i'd aim for a facelifted one (2005 onwards) as they did alot of cosmetic and reliability improvements. I wouldn't go for anything older than 2004 as you could end up with one with a Valeo radiator which if it breaks can damage the gearbox (google it).
I don't know much about the W204 but I have heard they can have problems with the doors and electronic steering lock playing up but if you research it you should be able to find out more.
The W203 is a very good car the 204 feels a little less special as the use of plastics is more evident you'll have to get in both to see what suits you best but a good W203 worth looking for is a Sport model they tend to have all the toys fitted.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
The 203 is indeed a fine car. I've bought a sub £1000 180k coupe for winter use. It's just great, despite a little bubbling around a wheel arch here and there.
The later 203's , particularly the estates with the five spoke 17" wheels, look modern and stylish.
W204's seem to be well liked by the trade, with prices softening on only the high mile ex fleet stuff.
Going back to the OP's question, I'd go for the end of line 203.
The later 203's , particularly the estates with the five spoke 17" wheels, look modern and stylish.
W204's seem to be well liked by the trade, with prices softening on only the high mile ex fleet stuff.
Going back to the OP's question, I'd go for the end of line 203.
I used to own a W203 hatchback and bought one of the last W204's last year as I didn't like some of the features of the W205. I'm currently on the look out for either a late 203 or late 202 (less ecus requiring individual coding). Which probably says everything about my feeling towards the 204. In fact at the moment I'm using the Volvo that used to annoy me as it's got winter tyres and I'm not missing the 204 (apart from the DAB for early Monday morning).
It's not that it's a bad car, but it's nothing special and many of its design features aren't as well considered as previous Mercedes, or just needlessly restrictive.
Apparently it was tested far more extensively than previous models, so should be far more durable, but then Mercedes also claim they exhaustively tested the active main beam system, that turns main beam off unnecessarily.
If you do go for a W204 get a post facelifted model as the active dampers allow it to ride as well as the 203, but also handle much better, also if sat nav is fitted it can read and notify personal points of interest, including cameras.
Both of mine have been 220 cdi, the later engine is noticeably more powerful. It is also economical, slightly not as much as the figure, would have you believe, from 45 to 48 mpg.
It's not that it's a bad car, but it's nothing special and many of its design features aren't as well considered as previous Mercedes, or just needlessly restrictive.
Apparently it was tested far more extensively than previous models, so should be far more durable, but then Mercedes also claim they exhaustively tested the active main beam system, that turns main beam off unnecessarily.
If you do go for a W204 get a post facelifted model as the active dampers allow it to ride as well as the 203, but also handle much better, also if sat nav is fitted it can read and notify personal points of interest, including cameras.
Both of mine have been 220 cdi, the later engine is noticeably more powerful. It is also economical, slightly not as much as the figure, would have you believe, from 45 to 48 mpg.
I bought a 2006 C320 Sport estate off a forum member before xmas as a stop gap, and I have fallen for it big time!
I had a prefeaclift one before as a stop gap and to be honest although fine it was only a stop gap, where as this one I love!
100k miles on it, full Merc history, black with full black heated leather, comand, 7g auto, fitted a Dab motion and it already had the ipod kit, which I added a £20 bluetooth dongle to for music and it is a great car.
So much so that I have decided to sell my 2013 X3 and I have made an offer on my old 2006 E320 estate.
I would look for a 6cyl if you can find one, they are bullet proof and still give good MPG. I got 39mpg from my last tank, the old C220 would have got around 44mpg doing the same.
The C220cdi is slow, 10 seconds to 60, where as the 320 is 6.7 and feels effortless in comparison.
I was not a fan of the early W204, felt cheap in comparison, especially the interior.
This is the same as mine.....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
It owes me less than £5k so shop around.
I had a prefeaclift one before as a stop gap and to be honest although fine it was only a stop gap, where as this one I love!
100k miles on it, full Merc history, black with full black heated leather, comand, 7g auto, fitted a Dab motion and it already had the ipod kit, which I added a £20 bluetooth dongle to for music and it is a great car.
So much so that I have decided to sell my 2013 X3 and I have made an offer on my old 2006 E320 estate.
I would look for a 6cyl if you can find one, they are bullet proof and still give good MPG. I got 39mpg from my last tank, the old C220 would have got around 44mpg doing the same.
The C220cdi is slow, 10 seconds to 60, where as the 320 is 6.7 and feels effortless in comparison.
I was not a fan of the early W204, felt cheap in comparison, especially the interior.
This is the same as mine.....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
It owes me less than £5k so shop around.
Edited by gizlaroc on Monday 29th February 20:45
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