C class advice plz

[escort_power]

hi everybody im new to this forum so thought is say hi.
im interested in getting a C class merc, probably a C180 as the insruance is only an extra £100 a year on what im paying for my ford escort...
im after something between 1996 and 2001, but i know very little about these cars and was wonding what to look out for, what kind of mileage is ok on these cars and what kind of prices im gonna be looking at?

 

[MondeoMan]

You're going to notice the difference coming from an Escort! There's some useful info at www.honestjohn.co.uk (car by car breakdown), but general things to check are rust (often around the wheelarches), failed wiper mechanisms, and rattly cats (make sure it has plenty of MOT). Apart from that they're pretty solid, and parts prices are quite reasonable on the whole. The C180 isn't too frightening mechanically, but the electrics are - make sure everything works. I don't like the manual gearbox, mostly because it doesn't gel with the car's character.

I have a '96 C200, and I reckon the 4 cylinder C class (in Elegance or Sport trim) is huge value for money. I could have bought a 4 year old rep car from auction for the same money, but it wouldn't have given the same satisfaction.

 

[jberks]

Never been sure of the C180 though. Check out the cost difference if you went to a 200 - the 180 is a touch underpowered and the 200 may not be any more on the insurance.
At '96 to '01 you are crossing the facelift point around '98. Post 98 cars have a sportier look and extra toys including aircon so post '98 would be my advice. They also have less troublesome central locking and the newer 'electronic' key. On the down side, the paintwork and build quality reduced around the same time, so post 98 cars are more prone to rust as advised above.
As with all MB's history is all. Check that its been properly serviced at the right time, including such things as changing the auto gearbox fluid on schedule. A properly looked after one will go well over 200k.