C Class

I understand (from my Merc garage in Park Royal, west London) that current/recent Cs are ok. Older ones have quality issues, so you should be ok.

Anyway, given at what you're looking, you should have at least some warranty cover.

The '220 CDI' engine is popular, also often seen in Es, as you may have noticed.

Question is, do you do the mileage to justify diesel?

As you know, in the UK it costs more than (standard 95 octane) petrol.

Modern turbodiesels run just about like petrol engines and have great torque. The clatter is audible only on the outside.

I just had a hire-car for a fortnight with a 1.9 l td (a Fiat Croma, grotty-looking but spacious; I had failed to get the requested Alfa Romeo

159 estate, great-looking) and I was pretty satisfied. Good pulling power despite largish car, and low fuel consumption with prices a bit lower than petrol (in Italy). On previous occasions I had rented Alfa 147s with the same engine.

Personally I very much like the appearance of the current C Class.

DAS

You should be O.K with any recent C Class after 2003. The decision between diesel and petrol is a matter of mileage covered. The petrol 200K is quite economical; 40 ish on along journey, you might see 50 with the 220CDi, so you can work out the break even cost. service intervals are different (more frequent) for diesels.

I am running a 02 220CDI and the engine is very good. It is hooked up to the 5 speed auto gearbox and returns over 51mpg on a long run.

Yes. It comes with the remainder of the factory warranty (The car is Mar

2005)

Probably not, my average is about 10,000 pa, mostly town driving (i.e. Tickover)

I appreciate that, but a diesel does more miles per gallon, so it works out about the same in the end and as we visit France a least once a year

Yes. Drove the car today and couldn't tell it was diesel either from noise or performance.

Unfortunately, this is the pre 2007 220 Estate

Dori, thanks for your thoughts. Web pages:

for caravanning, for my personal web site and because I love the email address.

Ash

Thanks for that. My annual mileage isn't high (10,000 miles pa) and I don't try to be an especially economical driver, but as I said to Dori (above) I do go to France quite regularly (and will be doing some more once I retire), and that is where I hope to do most of my mileage next year.

The car I tested today has automated variable service interval feature, with 9,000+ miles to go, so that should be the best part of a year.

Thanks

Richard Web pages:

for caravanning, for my personal web site and because I love the email address.

John,

That's the same spec as the car I drove today (although mine is [will be] on an 05 plate), so it's good to hear someone's real world experience.

Thanks

Richard Web pages:

for caravanning, for my personal web site and because I love the email address.

By "current" I also meant the immediately preceding model... It's more the first generation C I find a bit dull in appearance.

As regards your driving mix, in the 'old' days diesels really came into their own in stop-start city driving, returning low fuel consumption unmatched by a petrol engine (I don't doubt this is why so many taxis have diesel engines). The difference was much reduced with gentle motorway cruising.

(I had a Merc W123 200D 72 PS jobbie in the early eighties, when living in Germany.)

I don't know how modern turbodiesels compare, though. Maybe somebody here can comment.

DAS

You would probably save about £200 a year at UK fuel prices with a diesel, and £400 at french fuel prices, based on 10000mls pa.

Ash

Ash

Thanks

Richard Web pages:

for caravanning, for my personal web site and because I love the email address.

I do have the AMG version aka 240D w/72PS ;-)) IIRC you had a 60PS 200D, didn't you?

And not that it is of any importance, but I found the first C-Class (W202) the best, the successor W203 I find not so great build-quality wise. And the current version W204 looks better than than the predecessor, but IMHO it will look outdated (too) soon.

Juergen

Pi$$ on the pirates camera saves a long walk.

Thanks Dori & Ash for your helpful replies. Today I put down the deposit on the 05 CDI car above. Now I look forward to many years of happy motoring.

Thanks guys

Richard Web pages:

for caravanning, for my personal web site and because I love the email address.

Guten Abend...

Maybe I did have 60 PS. Was that the upgraded version from 55 PS?

I guess your super sports 240D had the 72 PS.

In many ways it was the best car I ever had. I was young(ish), it was my first new car, it was a Mercedes and, above all, was a company car...

{It was my second car, but the first was a used Vauxhall Cavalier and a drain on my private (and slim) wallet.}

DAS

For direct replies replace nospam with schmetterling

How else do you expect to get it on YouTube?

DAS

For direct replies replace nospam with schmetterling

Richard no problems, although mine is a on an 02 plate I have been very happy with it except for having to replace both rear springs in the last two years.

I hope your 05 220 CDI Estate gives you many happy miles of motoring.

John

Richard Cole wrote: