Mercedes C Class Review (2001 to date)

Quick Summary

The Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe is, after the initial crippling blow to the wallet, surprisingly affordable to run. It has proved reliable and is in major demand amongst young upwardly mobiles. Specify either a Twinpulse or a diesel in silver and you'll have buyers queuing up when it comes to sell. Which, given the car's inherent qualities, might not be any time soon.

Overall:

Models Covered: 2dr Hatch C180, C180K, C200K, C230K, C320, C220CDi [base, SE, Evolution Panorama]

NO NEED FOR THE HARD SELL

Delivering an opinion on a Mercedes C-Class saloon is easy. Lop the tail end off and call it a Sports Coupe and you're dealing with a whole different kettle of kippers. Whilst some lauded it as a stylish and affordable Mercedes, the spiritual heir to the VW Corrado and so on, there were others who sniffily deride it as neither Sporting nor a Coupe, offering a lot less than an equivalent C-Class saloon. That's perhaps a little harsh. The Sports Coupe has a lot going for it. Track down a decent used model and you'll soon see why.
Used Mercedes C Class for sale

History of the C Class

Although it hasn't been around for too long, the C-Class Sports Coupe has already amassed a fair bit of history. When it was first launched in May 2001, the range consisted of a 129bhp 2.0-litre (the C180), a 163bhp 2.0-litre supercharged version (the C200K) and the range-topper, the 197bhp 2.3-litre supercharged C230K. The 143bhp C220CDi diesel model arrived the subsequent month, heralding a new diesel coupe sector into which manufacturers like Peugeot and Citroen quickly jumped.This line up lasted just over a year whereupon Mercedes adopted Twinpulse technology for its four cylinder petrol engines. The C180 was replaced by a 143bhp C180K, whilst the 163bhp C200K and the 192bhp C230K were familiar, in name at least. Under the bonnet all three engines were remarkably similar 1.8-litre supercharged units that offered better fuel economy and massively greener emissions capabilities than their predecessors. In early 2003 Mercedes opened the order books on the 214bhp C320 V6 model.A series of revisions were brought in across the C-Class line-up in Spring 2004 and the Sports Coupe got in on the act. The suspension pick up points were tweaked for better driver feedback, the width of the track grew by 18mm and the steering was made a good deal more direct. Clear lens headlamps, a re-shaped bumper and a radiator grille with three louvers were the main external changes.In the summer of 2005, a series of new models were introduced to the range. An entry-level C160 was perhaps the biggest shock. It arrived packing a 122bhp non-supercharged 1.8-litre engine. The C230K was axed in favour of a C230 with 2.5-litre V6 power and the range-topping C320 became a 272bhp C350.
Used Mercedes C Class for sale

Mercedes C Class Road Test

So how does it feel on the road? It depends on how you drive. Changes to the engine management software with the advent of Twinpulse mean that this car attempts to learn your driving style. Punch the accelerator hard and the response is instant and spiky. Unlike turbocharged cars there's no annoying lag as you wait for the blower to spool up, the C200K offers drive on demand. If you're smoother with the throttle the software takes the edge off the rate the throttle valves are opened, making the car seem creamy smooth. It's an impressive showing. Plus all the usual executive basics and a vast options list that may bump the asking price of used examples into the ionosphere. Earlier models are easier to hunt down and of these the C230K is still the best bet, despite an engine with all the aural charm of a Dutchman with catarrh.
Used Mercedes C Class for sale

Buying a Mercedes C Class

Don't worry if your Kompressor engine sounds a little rough – they all sound that way. You should be concerned if the interior of your C-Class is less than pristine as some of the plastic mouldings don't really come up to scratch. Many of the interiors were also finished in very pale greys and mushroom colours and will therefore get grimy in short order. There should be no major mechanical defects, but check alloy wheels for signs of kerbing and make sure the ABS and traction control systems work effectively as the electronics have been known to fail.Trade experts reckon these cars are most desirable when specified in an attractive metallic colour with air conditioning and leather upholstery. You might bear that in mind when choosing a car as the right specification will make selling on easier.
Used Mercedes C Class for sale

Mercedes C Class Typical Pricing

With demand still massive for the Sports Coupe there won't be too many outrageous bargains about. Early indications have shown that this is a car that holds onto its value tenaciously, but the switch to 1.8-litre Twinpulse engines across the range has softened prices of the earlier cars slightly. A 2001 C230K Sports Coupe will retail at around £18,000 with C220CDi models commanding a similar value, whilst a C180 opens at just over £15,000. Insurance ranges from an affordable Group 13 for the C180 to a slightly more serious Group 16 for the C230K.
Used Mercedes C Class for sale

Mercedes C Class Parts

(approx. Based on C220 CDi Sports Coupe) Allow around £50 for front brake pads and £25 for the rear, and about £370 for a full Mercedes exhaust system. A full clutch system would cost around £220, a radiator is about £140 whilst a starter motor can be up to £470. An alternator should be in the region of £415 (exchange).
Used Mercedes C Class for sale