Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C180K Avantgarde SE 4d Auto (2004/04) Owner Review
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Economy
Value
Bought just before the facelift - so saved many 000's - but you do wonder (other than image) what does better than a Mondeo or a Vectra.
Costs
32 mpg is good and insurance very low but £400 for a major service and £200 for an oil service is expensive. Shop around for tyres if you take the 245 low profiles. Can be £200 a corner.
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On the road
Driving
Real smooth and fast enough to keep up with most things you come across. With the low and wide alloys from the sports pack, it also looks fast.
Performance
Not a sports car. More of a luxury cruiser and so the neighbours hate you - but goes well enough.
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Living with it
Reliability
No problems so far, some delivery niggles, all sorted out.
Image
Top notch, discerning gentleman's carriage, no chavs need apply.
Comfort
Ride from the lowered SE suspension is a bit taught and the noise from the 245 tyres - but quite refined.
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Security and Service
Security
Solid, well built with alarm and immobiliser. Only a professional could pinch one of these.
Service
And here's the rub. The dealers who used to rival Rolls Royce now act like Vauxhall - ruins the experience of owning the car. I'm off to BMW.
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Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Other
This one and the one I had before (and one of the demonstrators in between) has a mysterious central locking problem - it deactivates when going around right hand bends.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
New
Would you buy the same model again?
No
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
No