Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I was not thinking to buy it in January 2011, and had been wanting a Renault Laguna 2 litre wagon, but after a day driving a couple of VW Golf wagons, a Renault Scenic manual and a Laguna 2.0 Auto, I drove the Merc C200 wagon and decided to buy it on the spot. I was so impressed with the general feel and quality of the car, that it paled all the others straight away, although I didn't like the black interior that much.

I gradually got to appreciate the common-sense design of it over the next few months, and after a few bits and pieces to sort out the previous owner's hangovers, like missing the rubber inserts on the rear suspension (suspect the previous owner had lowered it), raising it back to factory spec and getting the necessary second electronic key, all was well.

Great ride, quality and economy. Best of all, the steering was spot on. Best steering I have ever had in a car, as well as the best aircon that I have had as well. The only thing was not a lot of legroom in the back and the stereo speakers are bad - but that's easy to change.

Faults:

Air conditioner compressor broke just after I bought it.

Fuel pump had to be replaced.

Many creeks and rattles from the dash.

General Comments:

The seats are very hard and unsporting. Though the ride quality is very good.

There is no leg room in the back if the driver is over 5 foot 9 inches.

Its engine is not as smooth as it should be for a luxury car, and the transmission can be VERY jerky when pushed hard. The throttle is stiff and sticky, which as a whole ruins the driving experience.

The car just doesn't feel solid like a Mercedes from the 80's. But it still feels better built than most modern cars.

The things I like about the car are:

The clear dials and buttons that are easy to locate.

The power boot release, which when pressed, fully opens the boot.

The one touch power windows, which can be operated via the key in case a window is left open upon exit. The key can also be used to lower the windows before you get into the car on a hot day (by holding down the lock and unlock buttons respectively).

In conclusion, it's not as well built as Mercedes of old, but it still has some nice modern touches. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad car by any means. It's just not perfect.