What W202 C's best on a budget?

[frstep]

My W124 300TE has only got a couple of months to live (see other thread - MOT due, rear suspension needs £££ work and too much tin worm. It's looking for a good home, if anyone knows someone who wants it for the good bits).

My budget is around 4-5k and I think I can stretch to a highish mileage W202 estate of around '98 vintage. (Alternative plan is a VAG or PSA car of about half the age...). Optional things I'd quite like include auto, leather, cruise, but the big question for the moment is what engine? 250TD - bit thirsty? I'd be stretching to get an early 220CDI, but are they worth the extra? Or should I be sensible and got for a 200 petrol? Or go for a bigger engine and budget an LPG conversion?

Reading the forum I hear problems with all the diesel engines, but then again people generally only post problems, and there are probably many more cars that have not had any problems. Probably same thing with rust - surely most C's don't rust?

Any advice you C-experts can give would be greatly appriciated. (Oh, and any tips on where to buy or who to go for servicing in the Bristol-area could also be useful!)

Ta!

Fraser.

 

[robparker]

you wont have problems with any c-class diesel engines, but they arnt the most economical. avoid 5-speed autos, go for the 4-speed or manual. I personally like the LPG conversion thing, but you have to budget £1500 for a 4 cylinder conversion, so to make it pay you have to be doing the miles. i think estates look 100x better than saloons also, but thats just my opinion!

 

[hexflyer]

I have T plate '99 C250TD, not had any real probs with it, just a glowplug thats gone down so will have all 5 replaced at next service, i get on average 36-40mpg thats with the 5 speed auto which can be a bit jerky in the low gears otherwise very smooth.
Engine has plenty of power and is an excellent cruiser, to overtake just blip the throttle and go! there is turbo lag but its to be expected as its an early gen engine.
if you can get an elegance, you get the nice wooden centre dash and some more toys

i paid £6k for mine back in feb this year and very pleased with it, i test drove some of the 4pot 2.2cdi's but found they had too much vibration, the 5 pot 250 is a much smoother engine

 

[MercAl]

I am not by any manner of means, an expert. But I do have a C Class C220 CDI. Been really impressed with the engine. I bought a 6 speed manual, which again, I've been really impressed with. Loads of torque. There's a lot of talk on the forum about auto being better than manual, but to be honest, I prefer manual, and the consumption is brill. If I watch what I'm doing, I can get 49 mpg on a run, which suits me fine. Also, I tow a caravan which is why I bought manual in the first place. I believe, (rightly or wrongly!), that manual is better for towing purposes, and even with the caravan fully loaded and 3 passengers, I can still get 30ish to the gallon. Cant ask for any more!
So far, I don't have any rust issues, but to be honest, the rust thing is gonna affect most cars eventually, so I'll worry about that when it comes along.
Mercedes are'nt perfect, as you probably know, but it's streets ahaed of anything else I've ever owned, and the C Class is a great allround car.
Only my opinion...every man to his own!
Good luck in your quest.

 

[frstep]

Manual vs auto is an interesting question - many people feel auto is the only way to go and that the manuals suck... but it does cost a few mpg.

And not all cars rust eventually - I ran a 20 year old Matra Murena for 5 years, and not a spot of rust on that (hot-dipped galvanised

F.

 

[shaungriff]

i bought my c250td estate on a P reg for £3600 in july. it has all receipts for everything thats been done. its done 137k which is nothing if the car's been maintained, i went to see 1 with over 400k on clock ! i bought manual because i read the later 5 speed auto's can have expensive electronic problems. mine has loads of power, is very smooth & quiet & i get around 35mpg around town/ over 40 on a run. i was put off the 2.2 cdi because of past experience with vitos with that engine ... there fine til they go wrong then they're a nightmare as in injectors/cylinder heads etc. for £4-5k you'll get a nice T reg c250td est with leather etc.. i think there's a silver one on ebay now !

 

[MercAl]

Manual vs auto is an interesting question - many people feel auto is the only way to go and that the manuals suck... but it does cost a few mpg.

And not all cars rust eventually - I ran a 20 year old Matra Murena for 5 years, and not a spot of rust on that (hot-dipped galvanised

F.

Yep...I agree entirely with you on the rust issue...But I said 'most'!

 

[JohnnyW]

I recently bought my first Merc (a 1994 C200 Elegance Auto), which incidentally is my first petrol engined car!
Although not the most responsive engine due to the sheer weight of the car, it does have that smoothness that Mercs are renowned for. Am still discovering things about the car (even though I've had it for almost 5 months!), like the rheostat being on the reset button for the odometer!!)
Very pleased with it to date. It is absolutely immaculate with leather interior and even has the original unopened first aid kit in the back shelf!!
Only paid £1700 for it. Very pleased with price also, considering it was on Autotrader at £1850.
Big motoring at bargain price - compensates for the drop in mpg from my previous VW diesels!