2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C240 review from North America

Car was missing some kind of protective panel underneath to cover the transmission when I bought it. Not really a fault, but questionable as to why it was not replaced by the previous owner. Had it replaced myself at my local dealer.

Driver side bottom half of fender liner was not properly attached, coming loose at high speed and subsequently being worn through by the tire. Also had that replaced.

The button that flips down the rear head rests for added visibility when reversing, is very temperamental and only works randomly.

I get the feeling that leaving the car parked in direct heat from sunlight makes the script on the computer dim out in certain spots, and the rest of it remains bright. Quite odd, given it doesn't happen all the time.

These are very minute things that don't even bother me, and I'm merely listing them for the knowledge of others who are looking to buy this type of car.

I love the comfort that this vehicle has to offer. The reason I didn't give it a 10 is because it's not an E class or S class, and those two are an even smoother ride. When compared with other makes, this car is definitely at the top of the list for ride comfort. Zero back pain on long road trips. Gas mileage is somewhere in between OK and Good. In town I will typically use around 10L/100km, and on the highway I can do 8.6L/100Km if I take it easy.

All the buttons and controls on the console are well placed and easy to use when driving. The car is well thought out. It is sophisticated, yet simple.

The headlights are awesome in the dark, and far brighter than my old Civic.

With a little trial and error, the computer display is easy to use and get the hang of. It lets you flip back and forth between all types of useful information while you're on the go.

Oil changes cost nearly $200, but you only need to do them every 15,000km or once a year, whichever comes first. I think that's a bargain for the amount of driving you can do till the next service appointment. The B service is the more expensive one, but it also has a huge km gap until the next one is due. The computer on the dashboard actually tells you how many KM you have left until the service needs to be completed. This car pretty much takes the worrying out of driving. The engine doesn't even have a dipstick anywhere. The oil level is also shown on the computer.

For a Mercedes, I would say running costs for this vehicle are fairly decent. I love the car very much and plan on driving it for years to come. If problems emerge, I will be sure to post them here.