Brisk Help Req, c180 or slk200 ?

[merc85]

My father in law is venturing into Mercedes ownership and knows zero about the car's.

He only needs 2 seats, but 4 is ok. He has seen 2 car at Mercedes in Colchester essex.

1st, Mercedes c180 Blue efficiency (sport) 1.8 m271.820 engine, has only done 10,200 miles in fire opel. £18,750

2nd Mercedes slk200k 1.8k 2010 and done 25,532 miles Palladium Silver.
£16,000

Given the condition of the cars being the same which engine is the better out of the two for reliability, which one will hold its value better, and which would be better for general light usage he does around 2k -3k per year.

I only know about older Merc's so could do with some help in advising him.

 

[merc85]

salesman called him this afternoon to ask what his thoughts were on the cars lol hence the brisk help

 

[Giantvanman]

What year is the C180?
Can't give any info on engines (sorry) as we only had our SLK for a year (and very few miles) and have just got the C180. Can only give driving and general ownership impressions.

 

[merc85]

sorry its a w204 2012, driving/owning impressions would be ace buddy

 

[GP801]

Don't think there is much in it engine wise. Our SLK is a 2005 vintage 200k. Have had it from new and apart from a new battery it has needed nothing other than routine servicing. There have been issues with fire opal paint on some 204s needing a complete respray. Having said that our SLK is in fire opal and after 10 years shows no evidence of paint problems

 

[merc85]

Don't think there is much in it engine wise. Our SLK is a 2005 vintage 200k. Have had it from new and apart from a new battery it has needed nothing other than routine servicing. There have been issues with fire opal paint on some 204s needing a complete respray. Having said that our SLK is in fire opal and after 10 years shows no evidence of paint problems

Really appreciate the reply thanks

 

[jotter22]

Gotta be the SLK for some summer fun!

Tony.

 

[dinoy]

go for e class convertible if budget streaches as these are their from 2009 and diesel and 2+2 and hold value pretty much, or w230 sl 350 pano but this would have to be earlier model start from 8k and up.

spanner in the works

 

[merc85]

do the engines i've mentioned suffer with the cam sprocket wear? or is that the earlier lumps?

 

[Giantvanman]

1st, Mercedes c180 Blue efficiency (sport) 1.8 m271.820 engine, has only done 10,200 miles in fire opel. £18,750

2nd Mercedes slk200k 1.8k 2010 and done 25,532 miles Palladium Silver.
£16,000

Given the condition of the cars being the same which engine is the better out of the two for reliability, which one will hold its value better, and which would be better for general light usage he does around 2k -3k per year.

sorry its a w204 2012, driving/owning impressions would be ace buddy

The SLK:
Fun with a capital 'F'. Great for hooning around the lanes; when you steer, it feels like it is pivoting around your spine, if that makes sense. Very eager and willing to rev and a surprising turn of speed, emphasised by being close to the ground.
Downside of the engine is that it can be a little abrupt…..when trying to ease onto the throttle, especially in Sport mode, it can be all or nothing. Gear changes when accelerating hard in Sport are not smooth; nice exhaust note and supercharger noise but not seamless.
The seats are very comfortable, even for me, but the suspension is on the firm side so it can get quite shaky on bumpy roads. The small boot isn't a problem because you adapt. If you are tall, the choice is a driving position further further forward than you would prefer or you put up with the leather seat back squeaking as it rubs on the rear bulkhead.
The car did not have any faults in the year and our one was very well appointed.

The C180:
Don't be put of by low capacity 1.6 turbocharged engine because it drives well. Pulls well and the lag isn't pronounced at all. It is there but is not a problem at all. Where the C excels though is ride comfort. Bearing in mind my son sold his A200 Sport to get the C180 Coupe Sport and bearing in mind he loved his A-Class, his impression echoes mine; the Coupe is a beautiful drive and an elegant car. It will never be a back lane fun car but it handles spirited driving with aplomb.

With the choice on the table, if it were me, I would go for the C180. That is a very good price. The SLK just MIGHT hold it's money better because small two seaters are always in demand but I am not sure that is an especially good price for the age and mileage. On the other hand, if it were a second car with those low annual miles, for fun above all else, it would be the SLK.

So the question is, what price fun? The SLK's ride could, I imagine, become wearisome. We weren't able to go any medium or long trips in ours which is why it was replaced with an SL.

 

[merc85]

Really appreciate that thankyou buddy

 

[grober]

My thoughts are-- drive the bl**dy things first. They are very different cars. THE SLK has zero carrying capacity for example-- i'll just nip down to safeway/waitrose/lidl for some groceries=NO I'll just nip down to the doctors surgery with the daughter in law and her kiddy with that tickly cough=NO I'll just pop into Jewsons/screwfix/Wickes for some rail for those new curtain rails = ONLY IF IT ISN'T RAINING
Are we talking the CLC 3 door here? or the saloon or the coupe for the C180-- The last CLC coupes were built in Brazil.

 

[merc85]

Thanks grober, and i would if it was me lol, The c class is a 4 door 1.8 petrol sport

 

[jotter22]

My thoughts are-- drive the bl**dy things first. They are very different cars. THE SLK has zero carrying capacity for example-- i'll just nip down to safeway/waitrose/lidl for some groceries=NO I'll just nip down to the doctors surgery with the daughter in law and her kiddy with that tickly cough=NO I'll just pop into Jewsons/screwfix/Wickes for some rail for those new curtain rails = ONLY IF IT ISN'T RAINING
Are we talking the CLC 3 door here? or the saloon or the coupe for the C180-- The last CLC coupes were built in Brazil.

Dont eat so much,most curtain poles come in 2 halves and you can just go to the pharmacy for the tickly cough on your own with the information you have already got from your DIL....Hope this helps

Tony.

 

[grober]

Well the W204 is the better car IMHO--- signalled a long awaited seed change in MERCEDES quality- whereas the SLK started life in the Jürgen Erich Schrempp era. Many SLK's make good buys but that's because they don't lead very hard lives due to the type of use they get. Engine wise - its basically the same powerplant the turbo in theory will be the more thermally efficient/economical engine and is why Mercedes moved to turbocharging after a long established kompressor technology. In other words the c class is a car generation younger than the SLK

ps this nothing to do with how they drive but more to do with the overall ownership experience

 

[merc85]

Thanks grober and that was my thoughts too but not owning either of the models i was unsure

 

[tron]

If he does not know whether he wants a two door sports car or a four door saloon, any advice from here would be superfluous apart from this: you do not have to let tje salesman push you into a deal. Take your time, there are always other cars.

 

[st13phil]

Well the W204 is the better car IMHO--- signalled a long awaited seed change in MERCEDES quality- whereas the SLK started life in the Jürgen Erich Schrempp era.

I've owned both a W204 and an R171 SLK (still own the SLK). The quality (both perceived and actual build quality) was indistinguishable between them, so don't base any decision on that as it's spurious.

And you can get much more in an SLK than you'd think. No, it's not as spacious as the W204, but it isn't pint-sized either. My wife and I can easily get a weekly supermarket shop in the boot with plenty of room to spare, and have done three-week touring holidays in it in Spain and Italy without being compromised on luggage.

However, they are very different animals to drive and to live with. I don't know how old and/or agile the OP's FIL is, but the SLK can be "challenging" to get in and out of if someone parks close to the doors, like in a typical supermarket carpark. The ride in the SLK is not as plush as in a W204 either, but it's by no means uncomfortably hard. The cabin of the SLK is noticeably noisier at motorway speeds though.

Overall, if the OP's FIL wants a bit of fun then the SLK is a great choice, and if he needs to move anything big he can hire a van. If he want's a more relaxed, conservative, choice then the W204 would fit the bill better.

 

[merc85]

Just a Update lol

Well the father in law drove both during the wk, and had a tough time deciding which one togo for.

In the end the C-Class won him over deposit paid and he collects i soon :bannana:

Used Cars - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport C180 BLUEEFFICIENCY fire opal

 

[Aletank]

Well the father in law drove both during the wk, and had a tough time deciding which one togo for.

In the end the C-Class won him over deposit paid and he collects i soon :bannana:

Used Cars - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport C180 BLUEEFFICIENCY fire opal

Lovely car & lovely colour ! Makes a change from the normal black & silver