2007 Mercedes Benz C220
Mercedes C-Class is sold as a three-door coupe or cabriolet, a four-door sedan and
five-door station wagon. It has rear-wheel-drive car with a north-south engine, so the
front seats are set relatively far back to make space for the engine.
People travelling in the back seats of sedans and wagons may find themselves a little
cramped unless those in the front seats are willing to give up some space. This has
improved over the years as the C-Class models have become slightly larger. The back
seats in the coupe are smaller, but that’s par for the course.
Boot space is good and the big bootlid in the sedans makes it easy to load. The wagon
has a sloping tailgate that steals some capacity so tall items may not fit. So, we
suggest you look at the cargo space as part of your vehicle selection checks.
Mercedes C-Class offers four, six and eight-cylinder engines are offered. Most are
naturally aspirated, some use Kompressors (which is what Mercedes calls
turbochargers). In recent times the turbo units have become by much more common.
Mercedes-Benzes with diesel engines have been sold for many years, long before they
became common in other cars. The newer diesels are a big advance on the older
diesels in smoothness and refinement, and are even more economical.
2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe
Once the Merc is cruising at a steady speed, we defy you to pick new generation diesel
them from petrol powerplants, but they can be surprisingly noisy at idle, especially
when cold.
The hot Mercedes-AMG models have tremendous engine performance and excellent
handling. Some may find the ride is rather firm so try before you buy, ideally with all
occupants who are likely to be travelling with you.
Spare parts, servicing and repairs are expensive. We’ve heard very few complaints
about availability. There are Mercedes dealers in many country cities and towns.
Country dealers may not have all parts in stock but can often have them sent to them in
a day or two.
Insurance costs are generally reasonable for a car in this class, it makes sense to get
quotes before deciding to buy any Mercedes as they can be quite high due to
expensive parts.
A used Mercedes-Benz that’s been serviced throughout its life by an authorised dealer
will cost more as a used car. Check the service books are genuine and that the Merc
has been serviced by the book – either by distance travelled or time.
Some private mechanics who have been formally trained by Mercedes, perhaps even
worked for a Mercedes dealership before leaving and setting up their own business are
well regarded.
Mercedes-Benz Australia offers a very good used-car scheme on cars up to five years
of age. The length of the warranty varies according to the workshop’s assessment of
the car.
2016 Mercedes-Benz C300 cabriolet
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Call an expert to carry out a full inspection no matter how good the Mercedes appears
to be. Ideally use a mechanic trained on Mercedes, or at least a senior inspector from
your motoring association.
Do a visual check of the Merc inside and out for signs of damage or serious wear and
tear.
Scuffed bumper corners are a sign of poor parking skills. As are scrapes on the wheels,
the front-left is usually the first one to suffer. Perhaps if the previous owner hasn’t been
good at parking their driving skills have also been below par.
A noisy engine, or one that’s slow to start, may need expensive repairs or even a
complete rebuild.
Be sure the steering feels positive with no unnecessary free play in the straight-ahead
position.
HOW MUCH?
Look to paying from $6000 to $10,000 for a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C180; $9000 to
$14,000 for a 2009 C200 Avantgarde; $12,000 to $18,000 for a 2011 C250 Elegance;
$14,000 to $20,000 for a 2010 C300 Elegance; $18,000 to $26,000 for a 2015 C200
Avantgarde; $24,000 to $33,000 for a 2016 C200d; $28,000 to $37,000 for a 2016
C350e; $35,000 to $47,000 for a 2018 C220d Sport Edition; $40,000 to $53,000 for a
2019 C350e; and $55,000 to $73,000 for a C300 Edition C.
CAR BUYING TIP
Spend as much time researching finance and insurance as you do on checking on the
cars.
RECALLS: To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at:
www.productsafety.gov.au/products/transport/cars/
