Faults:

The door locking mechanism seems to be going, but other than that, I cannot say anything else is going or has gone wrong since I just purchased it about a month ago.

General Comments:

This is the second older Mercedes I have owned... the former being a 1990 E320 TD Wagon/Kombi, which unfortunately I had to sell due to an overseas move, and I have since said I will buy no other car than a Mercedes.

I love the car as it handles great, looks wonderful and is overall a great driving experience. I am looking to upgrade it, yet keeps its original form and style... need a bit more horses under the hood though, so performance tuning here I come.

Faults:

Diff went at 70,000 miles.

Water pump at 73,000 miles.

General Comments:

Take all clichés about old Mercs (excellent build quality, "clunky" doors etc) as read, they certainly apply here.

It was the best C180 (W202) I could find but unfortunately it came with a nasty, dealer fit rear spoiler which was attached to the boot lid with 3 screws (I am not kidding here). I've removed the offending article and filled in the holes as best I can, but may have to get a new boot lid.

The interior will outlive me. The seats are comfortable and supportive (more so in the back than the front, strangely) and there is plenty of room. The dash is the dash of an old Merc, which you either like or you don't. The windscreen demister is asthmatic and I find I have to wipe the thing with a cloth in winter the way my father had to with his Hillman Hunter. Americanised foot operated parking break and dash mounted light switches are just things that you have to adapt to. The lack of a folding rear seat is irritating.

The 1.8 litre engine is enough, it's not a huge car. Fiddle about with the gears enough and you'll get as much forward momentum as you need. Any kind of meaningful overtaking needs to be done in third. This you will find to be a raucous experience that tends to unsettle the car's otherwise dignified approach to things.

Handling is in keeping with the over all theme of the car. I tend to average late twenties MPG in town and mid thirties otherwise. It will happily cruise all day at 150km/h (90mph).

If you are buying one (and I recommend you do), go for the Elegance spec for the alloys, metallic paint and classier interior. Get one with automatic transmission, and if the car also has air conditioning, the gods have smiled upon you indeed.

Faults:

Needed a new starter motor upon purchase of the car (at 172000 Km).

Tail light bulb failed.

Driver power window began to become scratched when wound up and down.

General Comments:

Look of car made more modern with large 18 inch mag wheels.

This car is slow to start off in first gear, but very quick and responsive in higher gears.

Good manual gear ratios.

Very responsive power steering.

Solid, comfortable ride.

Very small and impractical glove box.

Distinct sense of build quality that only comes with Mercedes-Benz.

High service costs are a pain, but worth the money to keep the car running for decades.

Faults:

Nothing has ever gone wrong with my car.

From day one everybody said they are slow and an old man's car, but mine as never let me down.

The C Class 220 diesel is the best car in the world. It has passed every MOT with no problem, and it's a 1995 car.

All I ever done to it was put tyres and a couple of bulbs in it, and it still can do 125 miles per hour and 55 mpg if driven right.

General Comments:

Best car out there.