W202 C Class - Any experiences
Discussion
Although I'm currently driving around in a BMW E36, after failing to find a decent 190E to buy, I'm still keen on the idea of a small automatic Merc in the future.
I realise there's a lot of love on here for the 190, and it's probably better built than the C class, but has anyone got any ownership experiences of the W202 C class?
I briefly test drove a couple a few years ago and quite liked the driving feel - comfy but reasonably agile - and obviously they have more engine choices than the 190 and a 5-speed auto.
Are they all rust prone? Is there any quality / rustproofing difference between the early and later cars? What's the best engine - straight six or V6?
Would like to hear from anyone who has experience of these.
I realise there's a lot of love on here for the 190, and it's probably better built than the C class, but has anyone got any ownership experiences of the W202 C class?
I briefly test drove a couple a few years ago and quite liked the driving feel - comfy but reasonably agile - and obviously they have more engine choices than the 190 and a 5-speed auto.
Are they all rust prone? Is there any quality / rustproofing difference between the early and later cars? What's the best engine - straight six or V6?
Would like to hear from anyone who has experience of these.
Cheers, I knew about the head gasket and wiring loom issues on the earlier straight six so I'm guessing a V6 would be a better buy, as well as being newer and available with the 5-speed autobox.
I guess this means more likelihood of rust though, being a later car (although also newer)?
Judging by the number of good 190s that keep surfacing I'm guessing there must be some low mileage, garaged W202s out there in the hands of retirees. They just don't seem to pop up for sale very often!
I guess this means more likelihood of rust though, being a later car (although also newer)?
Judging by the number of good 190s that keep surfacing I'm guessing there must be some low mileage, garaged W202s out there in the hands of retirees. They just don't seem to pop up for sale very often!
IanA2 said:
Having had both from new, I'd say the build quality of the 201 is superior. In retrospect, I should not have changed the 201 for 202.
Everything I've heard leads me to believe that the 190 is one of the best-built Mercedes ever, perhaps better even than the W124, so perhaps that's not surprising but, having driven both, I preferred the way the W202 drives. It feels more agile and responsive and handles pretty well given it has no sports car pretensions. Also a better choice of 6-cylinder engines and gearboxes (5-speed auto) than the 190.The interiors look pretty tacky compared to the 190 though.
I guess by the time I've become fed up with my E36 BMW and want to buy a Merc, there will only be 'good' examples of the W202 around as the rest wil have died from rust or neglect;)
Thanks for the feedback R129SL.
I did actually test drive an early C280 Elegance at MTSV, but it had a light grey interior and cloth seats that looked incredibly cheap and tacky and would have disgraced a Vauxhall Vectra, so I couldn't face buying it. I later test drove a C240 at the same dealer, which had a more tolerable blue cloth interior but was white and also down on power (dodgy MAF, it transpired), plus I thought 'Why buy a 240 when a 280 is what you want?' so another non-purchase.
I'd actually quite like the later V6 as apparently it has more low-to-mid range than the M104, but that means buying a later car which I gather might be even more shoddily built and rustproofed than the earlier models.
I like the style, minimalism and quality of the 190, but am not so keen on the rather poor economy of the 2.0 petrol for the performance and the low top gear of the 4-speed auto, as most of my mileage is on motorways.
I did actually test drive an early C280 Elegance at MTSV, but it had a light grey interior and cloth seats that looked incredibly cheap and tacky and would have disgraced a Vauxhall Vectra, so I couldn't face buying it. I later test drove a C240 at the same dealer, which had a more tolerable blue cloth interior but was white and also down on power (dodgy MAF, it transpired), plus I thought 'Why buy a 240 when a 280 is what you want?' so another non-purchase.
I'd actually quite like the later V6 as apparently it has more low-to-mid range than the M104, but that means buying a later car which I gather might be even more shoddily built and rustproofed than the earlier models.
I like the style, minimalism and quality of the 190, but am not so keen on the rather poor economy of the 2.0 petrol for the performance and the low top gear of the 4-speed auto, as most of my mileage is on motorways.
r129sl said:
According to my Road Trip app, my 190 2.0 carb has given 31.45mpg over the last 2,000miles. You'll never get that out of a C240 or C280. My C240 struggled to give 23mpg. The performance and smoothness of the 6-cylinder C, especially the V6, are of course in a different league. Get the right one and you will have a satisfying car for buttons money. Remember Derin's?
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
(Sorry for the picture and bandwidth theft, Derin.)
Yes, it was a nice one but again a 240!!http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
(Sorry for the picture and bandwidth theft, Derin.)
23mpg is a fair bit worse than I imagined. Mark Taylor suggested high 20s was achievable in the M104-equipped C280 I test drove at MTSV, which he was using as his own car at the time.
My current early E36 325i (manual) manages 35mpg on a motorway run at 75-80, despite similarly low top gearing to the 722.4 Mercedes auto 'box, so I guess if I eventually get a W202 it'll be going in for an LPG conversion, something that is at least easier to achieve on the later EFI cars than the older KE-Jetronic models!
I'm more likely to get categorised as an old duffer in a W202. They mostly seem to be driven by old men.
The W202 is fairly bland. I prefer the style and size of the 190 but the fuel economy of the petrols isn't great for the power outputs and I don't think I could live with the low gearing on the motorways. The W202 is a bit more usable.
I guess the Lexus is built the way Mercedes used to build their cars back in the '80s and '90s. Just too big and too juicy for me to run as an only car.
The W202 is fairly bland. I prefer the style and size of the 190 but the fuel economy of the petrols isn't great for the power outputs and I don't think I could live with the low gearing on the motorways. The W202 is a bit more usable.
I guess the Lexus is built the way Mercedes used to build their cars back in the '80s and '90s. Just too big and too juicy for me to run as an only car.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff