C-class getting cheap now

[big x]

Picked up a C 180 Elegance at auction recently, 97 P,auto 5 speed,aircon,cruise control,met green black.4 sets of remote keys,old invoices.FMBSH the last 3 months ago,mileage 92k.
Nice condition all round apart from small amount of rust around the boot lid handle.The price £2900 plus auction buyers fee.Comp insurance is £210.I'm convinced these can be run on the cheap with careful sourcing of parts from Eurocar parts and the like.The first step on the road to bangerdom I guess but it clearly makes no economic sense for a car of this value ever to return to a main MB dealer for a routine service,the last owner spent £795 in 2003 for a B service including new front discs and pads !

adam

 

[andy_k]

got to agree there, the c class doesn't seem to have the longevity of earlier models such as the W123/124, even 20 years down the line some of these cars are being sold at higher prices than you have paid for your '97. Without wishing to offend many of the forum members, the C class seems like it is viewed as a "cheap" option which is a great shame because they are great cars.

when you are shopping for parts, don't exclude the dealers from your search, surprisingly enough they are very often the cheapest

Andy

 

[pepper&boulou]

I suppose it's down to how well they are looked after my nextdoor neighbour has an M plate c250D in white and it looks as good as new .The only fault it has is the MB star is missing (it keeps getting nicked)

 

[andy_k]

I'm not so sure it is just down to how well they are kept.

We've been casually looking around for the past couple of months and there seem to be a lot of C class cars going through the auctions and private sales for very little money.

No amount of service history, TLC etc will help once the average prices hit the trade guides as these are what govern the prices people are willing to pay.

Just looking at Parkers prices for 96 cars the E220 and C200 estates are priced roughly the same (actually within a fiver for the models we've been looking at) at £6130, but taking those prices into the real world shows some major differences.

I've looked at (but not bought) 2 E220s, both of which were privately owned and both of which were being offered above the guide price (both at £6500) and both of which were sold within a couple of days of being advertised.

I've also looked at C200 estates in various trim levels at prices from £4000 for a 97 car with full MB history and a reasonable mileage. even on dealer forecourts they don't seem to be advertised at the "book prices".

I don't know why this is but the C class seems to be dropping in price at the moment - perhaps it's a good time to pick up a bargain?

Andy

 

[GrahamC230K]

I don't know why this is but the C class seems to be dropping in price at the moment - perhaps it's a good time to pick up a bargain?

Andy

I think it's simply because there are lots of w202s on the road, it's a modern car but having a few evolutions itself, the w203 has been out for for 3? years and is getting facelifted itself too.

When you have an obvious newer model giving direct competition, the older shape will always drop price quicly.

The w202 had quite a long production run, but look at a '93 interior and you would run a mile. My point is, for a car of this era, maybe the 202 shape was in production too long. It overstayed it's time and hence the plumet?

 

[First_Benz]

w202???

forgive my ignorance but can you tell me what a w202 is please?
I seem to read all these w2xx labels everywhere..

Thanks

 

[Steve_Perry]

forgive my ignorance but can you tell me what a w202 is please?
I seem to read all these w2xx labels everywhere..

Thanks

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=40567#post40567



S.

 

[frog1520]

This months Mercedes Enthusiast has a buyers guide to the W202 for anyone interested!