First impressions on my W204 Mercedes C Class (vs Peugeot 405?)

[carlo]

Rather surprisingly I have gone ahead and bought a 2010 C220 Merc C Class estate, having had more than an eye on these for quite some time now.  Anything built after 2005 vintage does sort of frighten me, especially something 'prestige' and German, so it's a bit of a gamble.  Price-wise it's just about in the territory of "if it blows up I can live with it", although I'm hoping of course I really like it enough to not mind some extra expenditure.  This is my first German car after 44 years motoring/20 odd cars.  I won't count my first as it was East German.

It needs a bonnet badge which had snapped off, rear parcel shelf and some alloy centre caps but does have the first 11 years full Mercedes dealership history which is quite reassuring.  So far nothing much appears to be wrong with it !....

Initial impressions are pretty favourable.  I love the size/practicality, the engine though very gruff goes like stink, steers and handles very sweetly, appears very well made, fantastic hi-fi/aux music setup, layout in the cabin is ergonomically great (love the pop down radio cover).  In fact I think I prefer this pre-facelift's interior to the post 2011 one.  It just feels far more modern than anything I've had for quite a while, because it is.

Biggest grumble so far, as I suspected it would be, is the ride quality which is the most important thing in any car I buy.  This one is an SE and runs on the smallest wheels, I've just treated it to four new all season tyres and I still find it overly firm.  It's a strange ride quality actually, over quite poor surfaces/potholes it's quite impressive but over flatter roads it seems to show up every imperfection and I find it quite knobbly.  And weirdly it seems to worse on the motorway where you would think it would be better.  Perhaps this is just a typical Germanic ride, although a Peugeot 405 it ain't.  I find it a bit depressing that I haven't managed to find a single car that is as comfortable as a 40 year old Peugeot.  Seats are pretty firm in the Merc too.

However I reckon if I can get used to that and the thing doesn't explode in the next few months I might have myself a keeper.  Which means I will probably have a very decent Xsara Picasso automatic available after Christmas, will list it if so.

 

 

[Lord Sterling]

Nice! Useful too being an estate. This is a 2.1 Diesel? 

I've driven a fair few of these and the more rounded facelift ones. They're nice but mixed in with a bit of 'meh' about them. There is still a bit badge snobbery attached to newer Mercs.

I'm sure you'll enjoy this as its a good mix of premium and load-lugger.

[N Dentressangle]

Really nice cars, but I think they all ride like that. Modern German cars are just not made for knackered British roads.

And I agree - not much beats old Peugeots for ride quality. Loved my 405 TD for the way it loped along.

[carlo]

Yup it's a 2.1 with 300 lb/ft of torque  -  nice.

Of course it could be this for sale and not the Citroen in a few weeks.

[stuboy]

thats is very nice

[BorniteIdentity]

Best looking Mercedes estate since the 123. My BiL has one and absolutely loves it - 50mpg, brisk, carries a boxer dog and looks great. 

[Lacquer Peel]

They seem to be fairly low profile tyres by our standards and I think those alloy wheels are probably quite heavy. 

Steel wheels and 195/65/15s may improve things. 

I noticed the ride of my MG improving noticeably after fitting lighter alloy wheels.