w203 or w211 estate?

[kreyszig]

Hi all
I'm looking for an estate that will be a daily driver, as well as picking up building materials and bits of furniture for the old house we're buying. Just the two of us, no dogs or kids.

I've arrived here via thoughts of a pickup truck, but a comfortable estate seems more generally useful, and - comfortable! Especially as we may be travelling across country/europe to pick up/find cheap old furniture. But I digress!

We're pretty skint with the house purchase and our budget is around 2-4k. The C and E class estates of around 2003 both appeal but there are a few more of the former around at the lower end of that range. I'm comfortable with the idea of a 120Kish miles vehicle but would draw the line at 150K I think.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether I should be looking at an e class at the top end of that price range - the space is a big plus, is there a big difference in quality for example? Being able to do a lot of maintenance myself is important too - does either suffer particularly from specialist tool syndrome?

 

[whitenemesis]

The 203 C class estate is more of a "life style" estate. The slopping rear window really eats into the load carrying space.
The E class is widely recognised as the load lugger of choice, massive carrying capacity and very comfy too!

 

[LittleG]

Agree with the above, I carry a lot of medium sized stuff in my 203 but I went to pick up a nursery sized chest of draws and it would not fit, got it through the tail gate but not passed the arches, was also carrying something large and heavy which slid backwards and it hits the window before the door.

Also bought my 203 with 130k on the clock now on 175k without letting me down once on my 1000 mile round trip to work.

 

[BTB 500]

As above the 203 is nice but not really a load lugger.

Other option might be an ML?

 

[Charles Morgan]

I've had both. For your needs, a 211 any day of the week, just so much more usable.

Don't rule out a late 210 (mine is too high mileage for you) - they are IIRC bigger than a 211 and they are pretty cheap. I have shifted a lot of antiques in mine.

 

[kreyszig]

cheers people! got to be honest I was hoping that's what you'd say! Hadn't thought of an ML though - will take a look at what my £ will get

 

[mejermy]

Don't be too frightened of the mileage. Bought my S211 with 110k on and it's still going fine at 160k. I have a tow bar and a large but lightweight trailer which is really handy for bulky items and makes loading/unloading very straighforward.
Servicing DIY not complex, except where codes need to be read in the case of faults, but suggest you do the EGR and swirl flaps delete.

 

[kreyszig]

Don't be too frightened of the mileage. Bought my S211 with 110k on and it's still going fine at 160k. I have a tow bar and a large but lightweight trailer which is really handy for bulky items and makes loading/unloading very straighforward.
Servicing DIY not complex, except where codes need to be read in the case of faults, but suggest you do the EGR and swirl flaps delete.

will a standard OBDII code reader do the trick?

 

[whitenemesis]

will a standard OBDII code reader do the trick?

It'll read engine codes but not any of the others.

 

[Bakili]

I wanted to buy s203 as running cost is lower than w/s211. Viewed few and was very disappointed with room in boot. Little one's pram did not fit in s203 boot without folding rear seats down. So went for w211 saloon, amazingly boot space is massive on w211. Same pram this time was swallowed by w211 boot + still a lot more space to put more things.
If you need boot space, I would only suggest s211 but with your budget of 4k will be difficult to find nice s211.

 

[developer]

E all the way - C's are small inside, by comparison.

 

[W2--]

For load space E 210/211 are the best.

I'm not a fan of the Early ML. Not that good the drive, higher running cost, also if you are planning to load with heavy stuff, the load floor is much higher than the estates.

 

[219]

As above , the load space in the 203 is a lot less ; mine has a towbar and I use my trailer to carry bulky items ( if you are going to be lugging building materials this is probably a better option ; long items can go on the roof rails ) .

I've had 123 and 124 estates but not later ones ; however I understand from another owner that at least some 211 estates have the SBC brake by wire thingy which could be a worry if it goes wrong , very expensive if it reaches the units rated number of applications outside warranty , as with an older/higher mileage vehicle it may well .

BTW , you can still pick up reasonable 124 estates for reasonable money if you get lucky - one of these would be a very good option - especially if it is just to be a workhorse and you're not too bothered about cosmetics .