W203 Advice Please

[Londonscottish]

Hi All,

A mate of mine (who doesn't really care about cars) is under pressure from his Mrs to get rid of his geriatric Peugeot 406 saloon and get a "nice silver Mercedes estate" like mine. I'm not going to suggest a C43/C55/E500 but said to him in the pub last night he could pick up a relatively recent W203 with a sensible engine for £7k-£10k.

Something like this maybe; 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C180K Avantgarde SE

Any C180 owners out there? Is there a C200 version? I presume I should suggest an Avantgarde? Or Sport? Any other observations/pointers?

Thanks

 

[verytalldave]

There certainly is as my avatar will prove.
There is also a C230 version as well.
The C180, C200 AND C230 all share the same basic engine of 1800cc. The difference being the power output.
I have the C200 which has the same VED tax banding as the C180, but I belive the C230 is in the top VED tax band - which makes it the same to tax as a C63. Which doesnt make economical sense.
Also, the performance differences between the 3 models is marginal, so I would go for either a C180 or a C200.
My car is the Avantgarde spec with the addition of the sports pack. The Sport only became a seperate model with the introduction of the W204.
The sports pack gives you 17" rims ( in place of 16"), bigger brakes and drilled at the front and slightly lowered.
Go for one with leather seats and parking sensors if poss.
COMAND is nice to have and adds value, as does any other toys.
Expect to get around 25-30mpg around town. Over 40mpg is easily achievable on a motorway and even 50mpg is possible given sympathetic driving on a long journey.
Personally, I dont like diesels, but these have potential for giving even better economy if that is a real priority.

A good source of information.......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C-Class#W203_.282000.E2.80.932007.29

 

[Londonscottish]

There certainly is as my avatar will prove.
There is also a C230 version as well.
The C180, C200 AND C230 all share the same basic engine of 1800cc. The difference being the power output.
I have the C200 which has the same VED tax banding as the C180, but I belive the C230 is in the top VED tax band - which makes it the same to tax as a C63. Which doesnt make economical sense.
Also, the performance differences between the 3 models is marginal, so I would go for either a C180 or a C200.
My car is the Avantgarde spec with the addition of the sports pack. The Sport only became a seperate model with the introduction of the W204.
The sports pack gives you 17" rims ( in place of 16"), bigger brakes and drilled at the front and slightly lowered.
Go for one with leather seats and parking sensors if poss.
COMAND is nice to have and adds value, as does any other toys.
Expect to get around 25-30mpg around town. Over 40mpg is easily achievable on a motorway and even 50mpg is possible given sympathetic driving on a long journey.
Personally, I dont like diesels, but these have potential for giving even better economy if that is a real priority.

A good source of information.......
Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks Dave - exactly the sort of steer I was looking for. I'm not sure a diesel makes sense as half the time it will be doing short trips in London. I drove a 203 briefly a few years ago - think it was a 180 - and it was smooth, quiet and had plenty of poke.

 

[Mike Walker]

I have a W203 C180 Avantgarde pre facelift model which does not have the Kompressor engine. Will certainly go for the post 2004 version next time, which has galvanised body panels too, and the K engine as well.

Agree with VTD in post above re motorway petrol consumption - even my older style engine gives around 40mpg. Hopefully avoid Audio 10 and get parking sensors too.

 

[Rory]

Hi All,

A mate of mine (who doesn't really care about cars) is under pressure from his Mrs to get rid of his geriatric Peugeot 406 saloon and get a "nice silver Mercedes estate" like mine. I'm not going to suggest a C43/C55/E500 but said to him in the pub last night he could pick up a relatively recent W203 with a sensible engine for £7k-£10k.

Something like this maybe; 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ C180K Avantgarde SE

Any C180 owners out there? Is there a C200 version? I presume I should suggest an Avantgarde? Or Sport? Any other observations/pointers?

Thanks

I had a 406 Executive as a company car before I opted out and bought my current Mercedes, which is the same model, Avantgarde SE, and year as the one in your link, but with the 270CDi engine.

One thing that disappoints me, and you'll really notice this compared to your E Class, is that the ride on poor surfaces is absolutely terrible. And mine's on 16" wheels, the one in the link may well be on 17" wheels (they're a different style to mine, I would have expected them to be the same) and possibly Sports suspension too. I think the load cover flapping around makes it sound worse than it is, so I drive with mine open now.

So watch that his missus doesn't box your ears if she thinks it's uncomfortable! The full electronic climate control was far better in the 406 too.

 

[Londonscottish]

I had a 406 Executive as a company car before I opted out and bought my current Mercedes, which is the same model, Avantgarde SE, and year as the one in your link, but with the 270CDi engine.

One thing that disappoints me, and you'll really notice this compared to your E Class, is that the ride on poor surfaces is absolutely terrible. And mine's on 16" wheels, the one in the link may well be on 17" wheels (they're a different style to mine, I would have expected them to be the same) and possibly Sports suspension too. I think the load cover flapping around makes it sound worse than it is, so I drive with mine open now.

So watch that his missus doesn't box your ears if she thinks it's uncomfortable! The full electronic climate control was far better in the 406 too.

Yeah I actually like 406's. It's just his one is getting very battered and creaky with lots of failing electrics.

Take you point about the 17's though....and sports suspension......

 

[verytalldave]

As Rory intimates, the W203 is not without its faults.

BUT......BUT.......BUT.......

looking down that sculptured bonnet towards that 3 pointed star makes it all worthwhile.

 

[Rory]

As Rory intimates, the W203 is not without its faults.

BUT......BUT.......BUT.......

looking down that sculptured bonnet towards that 3 pointed star makes it all worthwhile.

I was spoiled - I had several 406's and I chose them over BMWs or Audis (MB wasn't on the list) as the Exec model was loaded with every option as standard.

However the C Class is just so much better engineered. One thing I noticed was that after 100miles in mucky weather in the 406 Estate you couldn't see out of the side windows. The C Class Estate side windows stay clear.

 

[verytalldave]

Yeah I actually like 406's. It's just his one is getting very battered and creaky with lots of failing electrics.

Take you point about the 17's though....and sports suspension......

If comfort is more important than 'style', then dont buy an Avantgarde model with sports pack.
Buy a standard Elegance model.
That has softer suspension with standard 16" wheels and tyres. Cheaper to replace and will give a smoother ride.

However, having said all that, my W203 Avantgarde with sports pack is quite acceptable to me and certainly not 'uncomfortable'.
It depends on your personal preferences.

 

[Londonscottish]

However, having said all that, my W203 Avantgarde with sports pack is quite acceptable to me and certainly not 'uncomfortable'.
It depends on your personal preferences.

A major part of the problem is that my mate lives round the corner from me (in London) and is therefore hemmed in by speedbumps for several miles in any given direction. Plus he's not looking for something particularly sporting.

So my heart says "get the AG with 17's and lowered sports suspension" (because it looks fabulous!!) but my head says "recommend 16's on softer suspension" (as this will keep him and his family happy as they trundle down to Westfield/Sainsbury's/wherever).

(It was to solve this very dilemma that I bought a 211 with airmatic as you can dial out the speed bumps when needed then dial in sports suspension as soon as you've left the smoke).

 

[Chrishazle]

On the AG you get loads of electric toys that cost a lot to fix if/when they go wrong. On the Elegance you get enough toys but not too many! From all I've read, Comand isn't worthwhile, especially the satnav part, so I'd go for an Elegance on 16" wheels, Audio 10/20 with CD changer - which happens to be what I bought having looked at an AG! I went for the C270 as the early road tests said this was the best engine, but I should have spent a bit more for a post April 2004 car - nano paint and galvanising!! Check for tin worm around the wheel arches and door bottoms.

 

[crockers]

Mine is the AV with sports pack - I think compared to the W204 sport the ride is SOFT not hard. I find it extremely comfy on long runs and that is on 17" wheels.
For £10k ish he may be able to get into a C320 cdi - now that engine with the 7 speed box is fantastic (I know I'm biased) and he will also get better fuel consumption than the 180K etc.

 

[Londonscottish]

Mine is the AV with sports pack - I think compared to the W204 sport the ride is SOFT not hard. I find it extremely comfy on long runs and that is on 17" wheels.
For £10k ish he may be able to get into a C320 cdi - now that engine with the 7 speed box is fantastic (I know I'm biased) and he will also get better fuel consumption than the 180K etc.

320 CDI with 7G is a beast! I'll have a look to see it it's doable.....

 

[Londonscottish]

320 CDI with 7G is a beast! I'll have a look to see it it's doable.....

....looks like the 320's are coming in at 12.5k and up - a bit too much for him

 

[Rory]

On the AG you get loads of electric toys that cost a lot to fix if/when they go wrong. On the Elegance you get enough toys but not too many!

On the facleift W203 (from mid 2004 onwards) the equipment is exactly the same and the cars were the same price. Elegance has "wood" trim and green tinted windows and Avantgarde has aluminium trim and blue tinted windows. Avantgarde had different style wheels, and the rear pair are wider.

The suspension was supposed to be the same too, unless Sports suspension was ordered, but I'm convinced mine is lower (and it doesn't have the Sport option).

 

[Londonscottish]

On the facleift W203 (from mid 2004 onwards) the equipment is exactly the same and the cars were the same price. Elegance has "wood" trim and green tinted windows and Avantgarde has aluminium trim and blue tinted windows. Avantgarde had different style wheels, and the rear pair are wider.

The suspension was supposed to be the same too, unless Sports suspension was ordered, but I'm convinced mine is lower (and it doesn't have the Sport option).

Thanks. I'll suggest AG then, on the basis that I may be a passenger one day and would much prefer the aluminium