Mercedes Benz C-Class

Noise - Mercedes C200 CDI Avantgarde

2005 (55)

I was really looking forward to my new company merc, I had already had the good fortune to have a BMW 3 series and a Volvo S60 to compare it with. I have never had a car with so many rattles when moving, the passenger headrest constantly vibrates and the drivers window sometimes sounds like someone is trying to get out of the door skin and join me in the car and as for the rattle from the binacle covering instrument panel!

The engine noise is, in my opinion, excessive amd people are always looking for the taxi when I pull up anywhere!

However, noise apart, the C200 does what it says on the tin very well, it is comfortable on long drives and the ride quality on windy roads is Ok for me ( I am not rally driver) The autobox is good and the power steering is weighted well, now where are my headphones..........


Mr M Wall

C200 Kompressor Advantgarde

2001 (Y)

The Mercedes C200 was arguably the most disappointing car I have ever owned. I bought it brand new, the dealer talked me into buying a manual (never buy a manual Mercedes - resale value poor and transmission harsh). That was my first mistake. Second mistake, I bought the first of a model (trust me a mistake with any marque, let them be out a while).

The car was back at the dealers more times than enough random failure to start - turned out to be ECU frequency - along with steering clunking, clutch problems. I owned it for one year, lost a fortune.

On reflection it's mpg was about 30 bearing in mind it was a supercharged petrol. Comfort was ok and the leather was of good quality. This was my second attempt at enjoying a Merc, I had a 1989 C200d for a while disappointed with that one too.

I went back to BMW and have never looked back.

MR M Bell

Mercedes C Class estate, second class driving is better than first class walking

1998 (S)

Had a C Class estate for 10 years and 160,000 miles, so kind of know the score. the 250 TD offers either performance, or economy of a sort, but not both. Press on and its 33 mpg or less, and to get over 40 requires a feather foot, and less than 65. Well below current diesel standards. Reliability is pretty good, but glow-plugs last 50K only, and a new set is about £250. This and the dodgy economy makes diesel almost as dear to run as petrol, though probably more durable at high mileages.

All in all, not quite as good as the brand name would suggest - rust in tailgates and front wings exceeds expectations, though merc did replace the former at their cost. On the credit side, there is a "feel-good" factor to driving a merc, which even when old, is still a merc. That said, the Mondeo I had previously was probably more comfortable, and in some ways a better sorted, if less robust car.

Mr E Hughes