Faults:

Parking brake broke, pain to fix but found parts cheap enough via online sources. Thankfully happened at home in my driveway so no danger.

Air con never worked, needs a re-gas.

Servicing and MOT was cheap enough providing you find a good independent garage. Usual mechanical stuff was replaced as the age and miles rose - shocks, mounts, discs and pads etc. I keep the car serviced by the book. Very small rust spots, but nowhere near as bad as what Mercedes cars from this era usually have.

General Comments:

A car I have had a long time now, and has been an excellent vehicle. Dark blue Elegance looks the part with standard Mercedes alloy wheels. Interior has a nice look to it also.

My C200 has a 2.0 auto, adequate performance and does around 30 MPG. Try and avoid the lethargic C180, it has a 1.8 which is too small for a car this size.

Very sharp looking car and still respected by those in the know. Try and avoid the tatty ones if you are looking to buy one yourself. Go for a well optioned car in a nice colour, auto with a decent engine, and you will also sell it again easily.

Overall just a solid Mercedes from a time when they were still making great cars.

Faults:

One broke spring at 120,000 miles.

One broke spring at 160,000 miles (£200 fitted).

Windscreen winder mechanism at 155,000.

Cat converter broke up at 120,000 miles.

General Comments:

This is without a doubt, one of the most solid cars ever built.

Basically just as reliable as any W202 C-Class, but with 300 BHP and touring car handling.

Sharp looking car. Lovely AMG wheels are very strong if you are unlucky and hit a nasty pot-hole.

Barely any rust after 17 British winters.

Everything is over-engineered for reliability and durability. Nothing major mechanical has ever gone wrong.

Chain driven cam never needs attention, and saves the costly replacement of cam belts.

Parts are however cheap. Pads, discs, wheel bearings etc are very cheap.

Hardly any servicing needed. Just oil and pads.

The engine is still as sweet as a nut.

Very fast at 155mph electronically limited.

Just under 300 BHP.

Mine has run happily on LPG since it was fitted by the previous owner at 80,000 miles.

Ride is very firm.

Leather seats are very comfortable and very hard-wearing. Still not through the driver's bolster.

Handles very well. Never close to swapping-ends.

Kicks ass at the lights. Has beaten a few M3s.

A bit thirsty around town on petrol.

Faults:

Catalytic convertor has failed, making the exhaust note very raspy and noisy.

Driver's window has a bad scratch; apparently a common problem.

Handbrake ratchet failed.

General Comments:

I quite like the look of these cars. Mine has lovely full leather interior, with privacy glass. She looks really nice, I just wish she went a lot better.

When I say this car is slow off the mark, I mean it's really SLOW.

I wouldn't buy another one after this. I would definitely go back to the Japanese cars. This compared to my previous Mitsubishi Evo... the Merc just doesn't stand a chance in any department.

Why did they make it so slow? Disappointed.