1995 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C-180 Esprit from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

My Wiper Arm Died. I bought a second hand one at half the cost of a new one $800 (aud). This plays up every so often, I'm convinced these only have a 10-12 year life span.

My alternator died. This cost about $650 (aud) as this is a French brand not Bosch. Unfortunate, but these are heavy duty and a half.

My fan dies out when it's on 5 for length of time. I'm told this is the fan seizing up. Don't know how much, don't really think I want to either.

My dash clock can't be read. Just a globe, no big deal, there's a clock on the radio.

My hazard light switch doesn't work.

My rear demister switch doesn't work.

I have a headlight and a brake light that constantly go out, this is wiring related. Also have an indicator that go's, but only when I have been driving extremely fast - don't ask me why.

My seat belt adjuster won't "click" into any position, it just moves up and down at will.

The gearbox linkages wore out, leaving me with the car stuck in reverse. The orriginal quote was for a rebuilt gearbox @ $8000 (aud), thank god I found a very honest person on line who directed me to the problem. I also found a new mechanic.

The engine is very noisy, so noisy It can be embarrassing to drive. Friends ask me if the "rattly engine" was an optional extra, others ask if the car is diesel.

Great car, takes alittle while to understand, just a different way of thinking. Drive one for a while, then drive something else, then you will begin to understand the Mercedes.

Sluggish take off, embarrassing with the air conditioner on, speaking of the air conditioner, I question if the recycle button actually achieves anything?

The airconditioner is very weak, but then again, so is the heater.

Despite all the bad I speak of, this car is very reliable. Never does this car make you feel unsafe or unsure.

Very much a highway car, at 100 km/h, drop the car back into third and nail it, not many cars will keep up. The faster you go, the easier it gets there.

I frequently have this car up around 195-200 km/h mark and it feels like your doing about 115km/h...that feeling that you can accelerate another 40 odd kay relatively quick and hassle free.

Lack of road noise, yes even at 200 is incredible, with the music on, the passengers would never know.

Mine has the sports suspension and I find it hard to fault the handling of this car, you would have to drive one to understand. No other car provides sports car like handling with out compromising on the ride quality quite like these. Mine does have a tendency to understeer initially, though I put this down to cheap tyres.

The best brakes I have ever come across. They won't let you down, and you NEVER ever feel like you can't stop, even when these brakes are worn right out.

Although mine is no S600, It is one of the best engineered entry model cars I have ever seen.

Mercedes-Benz is a lifestyle, not a car.

I also forgot to add the master cylinder needed to be rebuilt, from memory this only set me back about $150.

I also have had major immobolisor problems, resulting in the car being towed everywhere while people try to fix the problem. My window almost had to be smashed to get into the car to fiddle with the immobolisor, says a lot for the security of these cars... almost impossible to pinch. I have only had the car back for a week or so and there is a terrible vibration when I drive, I have never felt or heard anything like it, perhaps something was bent when one of the tow truck drivers towed my car.

Since I commented on my C180 I have come to the conclusion that this car is no good, nothing works, unless I have paid top dollars to replace it. I am selling this to buy a Volvo S40, might I say that although the Volvo doesn't drive/handle/brake as well as the Benz, it does everything else far better, and is much more reliable.

Anyone thinking of buying one of these cars, please read the comments listed by other peoples surveys here, as it seems the newer the Mercedes, the bigger the problem.

My 1996 C230 had a rattle from the engine at idle when I bought it. My Mercedes mechanic diagnosed a worn out front pulley shock absorber tensioner. This was replaced at about $160 (NZ) which is about $US110. This is not an uncommon wear and tear item. I don't know if your engine has this shock tensioner though.

Your spot on that is the noise, it also needs a new cat hence the tinny noise, sounds like an m3 :) my partner now drives this car...old...noisy...slow...but she loves it and refuses to let me sell it.

I bought a brand new C200 in 1995. It was a reliable car. But when I test drive a BMW 3 series, it is obvious that a Merc is no where near a BMW in terms of performance, ride, handling, steering feel, stability at high speed etc. I wonder why people pay so much for a Merc (including myself, which I regret it very much). Since then, I have already bought 3 BMW. I sold E36 to buy an E46 and then a 5 Series. I am so very happy with BMW. I am pretty sure that those people who are happy with their Merc, never used a BMW in their life. A Peugeot, a Honda, Proton Perdana or a Citroen is better car to drive than a Merce.

Had a '95 C180 Esprit from Nov 2002 to May 2007.

Aside from the fact that I'm sure I overpaid (a dealer) too much @ AU$25,000 in '02, I must say that the car has performed well. It's ONLY a 1.8L engine running 1,300kgs, remember. The average Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8L 1995 is 300kgs lighter!!

So, for a start compare horses with horses: The question you have to ask is, would you rather have the Lancer or the Merc? I know my answer to that!

Overall I had very little trouble with the car throughout the time I had it. I bashed the catalytic converter on the edge of the side-walk when I first got it, would have cost $2500 but paid only $500 for an after-market one, lots noisier, but did the job.

Engine seemed to overheat in hot weather, but manufacturer assured me that's OK; in the end they were obviously right.

Had the odd problem with the instrument cluster, but nothing really serious (stupid dealer's electrician mis-diagnosed the problem and cost his boss AU$1,000!! Idiot, not my problem; speedo showed 96,000km less after that...

Trouble with the Esprit is it's a bit bare compared to more optioned cars, however I LOVED that grey/black very tough, very sweat-porous seat material, ultra comfortable in humid weather.

Otherwise, a VERY reliable, trouble free car, I simply cannot criticize the car except I do think Merc's should be VERY WARY of trying to compete in the cheaper car market. I will be very sorry to see Merc's reduced to Toyota level in the eyes of auto buyers.