Does anyone recommend mercedes c220?

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 00:27

I'm thinking of buying a car, I really like c220's, does anyone have one and will you recommed it? Are the taxes quite high? I don't know much about it.

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 00:36

This is the one I'm talking about, I'm not sure i I got the name correct. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnfysO3pF8&feature=grec_index

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 09:22

You need to find a late model C220 - here's the reason:



I think it was in about 1993 that Mercedes Benz decided that the production costs were too high - this came with new management. To cut a long story short, MB cars went through a 10 + year period of producing cars with shocking unreliability - all sorts of problems, which almost caused the once illustrious MB name to be utterly scorned. However, lately, it seems they've 'pulled their socks up' and once again produce reliable, quality vehicles. You really need to talk to people far more qualified than me to get the details of what I have roughly told you!



It was because of the above reason that I bought a 1991 C200E - I was lucky to find a low mileage one and it has been, and continues to be, completely reliable. I am not interested in 'image/street cred.' - I just want a safe, strong, reliable car!



Checking your profile, I see you are a young lady of 26. I can't imagine why, at your age, you desire a car like a C220?

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 10:08

mess 3 - i'd agree



had an SLK 350 when it was new in 2004....



within 3 months the whole wiring system had burnt out and took an eye watering 6 months to get a replacement wiring loom from the factory - mean while, of course, the car was off the road....



and when i gobbed off at the dealer principal, he said "they don't make them like they used to"



i think it was made in mexico as i recall - certainly not germany....



As uncle percy used to say "you can't beat the japs - other than in the war............."

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 10:09

Brilliant car.



C220 CDI Sport/or basic C220CDI



wonderful car,economical,quick,comfortable,and also under 2500CC, not a fortune import duty but a little more than a petrol model.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 10:39

It wasn't just MB that went thru a period of "under engineering" with rubbish cars the result, Jaguar did the same.

My advice to the young lady who asked the question would be BUY A BMW.

Geoff

Famgusta City

(wish I could afford either!!)

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 10:49

i had c220 diesal in 55 brand new ,worst car i ever owned for faults.



the management system had electrical faults constantly.

merc said nothing wrong at the time .....i recall driving down m27 on sth coast doing 90mph ,then complete power failure in 3lanes of traffic ...mercs advise was to wait 5minutes and it will reset itself ,damn frightning at the time



caution perhaps with earlier model?

kav

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 11:38

You're quite right, Geoff!



In fact, almost the whole of the British and Italian motor industries 'self-destructed' due to thoughtless production of crap vehicles!



I had a BMW 525i - loads of [expensive!] problems; my [now] neighbour has a late [ish] BMW 316 - it's forever giving various problems.



If buying new in TRNC and you've got 40 grand burning a hole in your pocket, perhaps the latest *MB C220 might be OK - I think you'll need approx. 600+TL per annum to tax it + about triple that for fully comp. insurance. Unless you're doing an exceptionally high mileage, I'd keep away from a diesel, as previous diesel

advantages are no longer valid, and you still need to oil change them far more often than the petrol version.

*Low spec.



You have to be very careful buying cars in Cyprus, most [apart from Jap./Singapore imports] have the *lowest specification - i.e., sub-standard glass, braking systems, thinner wire in the wiring looms, thinner, lighter body steel, etc., etc.!

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 11:50

Thank you guys for all you comments. Please dont rely on the name I have given you "c220", I may have got it wrong, the one i'm on about is the one on the link, I think it's c200 but I'm not sure about the name. Tenakoutou, I desire the car for the looks of it, and it is the only model of mercedes that I like. Of course, it is not only the way it looks, I also searched for the price of that model MB(the one on the link) and I was surprised to find that it was cheap as an average make car, 12.000stg. That is the price of a 2007 japaneese car. So it automatically made me think why not go for a MB. Like I said if I go for MB, that is the only model I would go for, I wouldn't consider any other model other than that.



Geoff, BMW will be too big for me.

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 12:19

I may go for japaneese cars.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 12:19

Please be aware that it is a MASSIVE and expensive hassle importing a privately owned car into TRNC - I may be wrong, but I reckon it could cost you close to 40 grand [Stg.]



The only advantage would be that you would have a UK specification model. If you buy one new, or if a Cypriot dealer import, in TRNC, you'll be paying top whack for what, to you, might look the same, but in actual fact is the lowest spec. that MB produce - probably assembled in some third world country, or USA, which is just as bad, if not worse!



I have a [London] Turkish Cypriot friend who bought a brand new Honda CRV in Lefkosa. After 18 months, he'd had enough of TRNC, and returned to London with his wife and two kids. He shipped his Honda back to UK - my God, the hassle and expense he had to upgrade it to an acceptable [UK] standard was almost unbelievable - a real ulcer inducing saga - all because it was a 'grey import', even though he bought brand new from the main Honda dealer!



Please be warned!

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
10/04/2011 12:32

Really, I didn't think it could be assembled in any other country other than Germany. I wouldn't think about importing one into the T.R.N.C.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
11/04/2011 01:33

Yes oceana a Japanese car is much better, more reliable, and costs less to run...

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
11/04/2011 18:11

I have had a 2003 C180, a 2006 C230 and now the newer modal 2009 C180. Absoloutely zero faults in all 3 over 100000 miles. So now I have bought my wife a new CLC 180, the coupe, and that is perfect as well.

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
11/04/2011 18:43

My first MB was a C220CDi, yr 51. A great runner, good bodywork, very economical, and still going strong with my dad today who wouldn't be without his pride and joy!

One thought - only problems ever were ones actually highlighted by Merc themselves when they had 'recalls'. I wonder how they would be handled living in TRNC - if you're eligible for them and who would do them. Just something to think about.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
11/04/2011 22:22

FORD FOCUS FIESTA MONDEO reliable cheap to repair and service

17 years working for a company that ran 120,000 plus cars of all makes the most reliable

Japanese cars I would have said yes are not bad but google Toyota Honda and nissan recalls they are the cars in front and with sticking brake and accelerator peddles

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
11/04/2011 22:41

Thank you everyone for your opinions.



Just to make my mind clearer, how much does insurance, rotax and so on cost roughly per year for Mercedes? I think it's quite high.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
12/04/2011 00:29

heavier the car weight heavier the tax in trnc plus more for diesel the dearer the car new the dearer the insurance plus driving record as a constant over the above lighter the car cheaper the car less tax and insurance

donga


Joined: 01/04/2009
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
12/04/2011 01:46

wouldnt fancy driving a c class merc as an everyday car in the TRNC. The roads are at best are useless (like some of the drivers) & theres probably 2 half decent roads to drive it on.