202 C-Class - is it all that bad?

[Derek Smith]

I’ve been thinking of a 190E (W201) as a little plaything but the prices for a halfway decent one push my limits for a toy. I saw a W202 C-Class today and was quite taken. At a distance I mistook it for a 190E but as I got closer I realised my mistake and, in fact, thought it looked better.

I’ve read all sorts of horror stories about the car being unreliable, prone to rust, etc, but this was immaculate, apart from a dent in the offside doors.

Prices for 202s are much lower than for 190s. From scanning the ads, about a third. Now that’s a saving but . . .

Has anyone any personal experiences of the 202?

[r129sl]

Where were you last week?! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Derek Smith]

r129sl said:

Where were you last week?! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I was thinking of a 190E.

Thanks for that.

[KillerHERTZ]

W202s are excellent apart from the rust.

[rubystone]

I had 2 C43s. One built in 1999 the other in 1998. Mercifully the 1999 car was stolen before all the paint fell off it. I replaced it with a 1998 car with not a spot of rust. Very reliable, almost everything worked. The facelifted cars (post 1996?) had a more modern interior feel. Anything pre 1999 when the problems with the paint started, are generally much more solid.

I'd still buy a 190e though - so well built and smaller footprint. 190e 2.6 is the pick of the 'normal' cars IMHO - I loved my 2.3-16 though with manual 'box and superb handling.

[Derek Smith]

rubystone said:

I had 2 C43s. One built in 1999 the other in 1998. Mercifully the 1999 car was stolen before all the paint fell off it. I replaced it with a 1998 car with not a spot of rust. Very reliable, almost everything worked. The facelifted cars (post 1996?) had a more modern interior feel. Anything pre 1999 when the problems with the paint started, are generally much more solid.

I'd still buy a 190e though - so well built and smaller footprint. 190e 2.6 is the pick of the 'normal' cars IMHO - I loved my 2.3-16 though with manual 'box and superb handling.

Thanks for that.

[r129sl]

This looks like value: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C850190

Not exciting, but good value.

[anonymous-user]

Thinking of taking a punt on this as a runaround for the summer;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

It's close to me and seems pretty cheap - almost too cheap - any obvious reasons to avoid? (Other than the fact it's 20 years old!).

[KillerHERTZ]

wingman0401 said:

Thinking of taking a punt on this as a runaround for the summer;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

It's close to me and seems pretty cheap - almost too cheap - any obvious reasons to avoid? (Other than the fact it's 20 years old!).

Open up the jacking point covers in the sills and check for rust. otherwise nowt to worry about at that price.

[rubystone]

Looks good! '98 car I'm guessing so pre rust...