2007 Mercedes-Benz C200 Reviews

The C-Class was the entry to the prestige segment and still resonates as a solid choice. New The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was conceived to compete with the BMW 3 Series at the entry level of the prestige segment. When the W204 series C-Class arrived in 2007 it had the common Benz trait of coming in a bewildering range of

For a long time Mercedes struggled to get on terms with the BMW 3-Series, which was slaying them in the compact prestige market, but the C Class launched in 2007 was good enough to finally get the three-pointed star into the game. New The W204 was all new, it had new looks, the cabin was new, the suspension was

Mercedes-Benz has just launched an all-new C-Class model, so there's a good chance many owners of older models will be trading up. Meaning there could be a glut of used C-Class in Australia, giving you the chance to select between the many on offer, as well as the opportunity to select from the best of them. 

Mercedes-Benz built an enviable reputation based on safe, solid, comfortable and reliable prestige cars, but in recent times it has had to add another element to its appeal: excitement.

The small-medium Mercedes-Benz C-Class, while costing significantly more than many cars in its class, is becoming increasingly affordable by the standards of the prestige car market.Though it has been built down to a price when compared with upper crust Mercedes models, the price trimming has been done intelligently and you still get a car that’s well built and uses good quality materials.The C-Class is sold as a three-door coupe, a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body. Coupes from 2008 to 2011 were called the CLC-Class in an attempt to give them a sportier image. That didn’t seem to work and with the new model of 2011 the C-Class coupe name was revised.This is a rear-wheel-drive car so those travelling in the back seats of sedans and wagons will find themselves a little squeezed unless the front seats are moved forward a notch or two. This situation has improved over the years as the C-Class cars have become slightly larger, but it’s still smart to take the family along during your pre-purchase road test to make sure it suits them.Boot space is good and the big bootlid in the sedans makes it easy to load. The wagon is of the stylish school, with a sloping tailgate that robs the load area of some cubic capacity.Naturally the back seats and boots of the coupes are on the cramped side, but that’s par for the course.Few cars come with such a staggering range of engines as the Mercedes C-Class. Four, six and eight-cylinder engines are offered. The latest petrol engines have direct petrol injection and are significantly better than the older units in terms of performance consumption and emissions. Look for the letters CGI in the car’s title, indicting the new-generation engines. The name Kompressor in the car’s title means it has a supercharged engine to provide extra torque. Later units use a turbocharger rather than a supercharger.The hot AMG models use the V8s and have tremendous performance, but this comes at a cost in high fuel consumption.Mercedes-Benz C-Class with turbo-diesel engines have been sold for many years, long before they became common in other European marques. They have either four or six cylinders. The newer diesels (look for CDI on the badge) are a big advance on the older diesel in smoothness and refinement and once the car is cruising at a steady speed we defy you to pick them from petrol powerplants.The great majority of C-Class Mercedes-Benzes will have an automatic transmission, though you will find some four-cylinders cars have a five-speed manual gearbox, they may cause real hassles at resale time.Luxury levels are Classic, Elegance, Avantgarde and Sport. The latter has firmer suspension for better road feel and will make a nice car for the enthusiastic driver.Spare parts, servicing and repairs are all expensive for a car of this size, but certainly not for a machine with the high prestige rating the Benz affords you. Insurance costs are generally reasonable for a car in this class.It pays to buy a used Mercedes-Benz which has been serviced throughout its life by an authorised dealer. Their mechanics are not only trained to high standards, but are in constant touch with the factory. A car with a full service history will almost invariably command a higher price but be sure the service books are genuine.Mercedes-Benz Australia offers a good used-car scheme on cars up to five years of age. The length of the warranty varies according to the workshop’s assessment of the car.WHAT TO LOOK FORBe sure the steering is positive with no unnecessary free play in the straight-ahead position. There were some problems with the early version of the Brake Assist System (BAS). These should have been rectified by a dealer after a recall. Contact the dealer or Mercedes’ head office to see if this work has been done.Do a visual check of the car inside and out for signs of damage or worse-than-average wear. Pay particular attention to the bumper-bar corners for signs of paint scrapes. Also have a good look at the condition of the seats.Always call an expert for the final say no matter how good the Mercedes appears to be after your own inspection. Either use a mechanic formally trained on Mercedes or a senior inspector from your motoring association. Noisy engines, or units that are slow to start may be about to rack up an expensive repair.CAR BUYING TIPIf you’re considering getting an old prestige car rather than a new, but somewhat mundane, car make sure your budget is up to the task of supporting the higher running costs of the upmarket machine. 

For two years now, the best entry-level 'German' type junior prestige car has come from Lexus. The luxury arm of Toyota's global octopus specifically developed the IS series as a riposte to the dual monopoly enjoyed by BMW's class defining 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class.Since the IS250's launch in 2005, Lexus has had it well and truly over the 320i and the old C180K in the circa-$60K stakes.Consider six cylinders against four, rear-wheel-drive dynamics that approach Bimmer and surpass Merc, plus standard kit and equipment that show up both the Germans as parsimonious.Although it's never bothered badge tragics that you have to go far north of $70K to get a petrol Bimmer or Merc with a real engine, the best thing about the 2007-generation C200K is that while you may be a try-hard, the car itself no longer is.The E-Class's version of the supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine has been bequeathed to the C200K so it achieves if not rapidity then at least respectability.With 135kW and 250Nm (30 more units of each than previously) driven through a five-speed automatic, the C-Class gets to 100km/h from rest in a feasibly claimed 8.6 seconds. That's barely removed from IS250 territory and more than a second ahead of the sleepy 320i auto.All right, it's not going to trouble anyone with the readies to buy a V6 C280 or anyone with the sense to get the diesel version, but at last this entry-level Merc sedan has spark.It still sounds like an adenoidal Hoover, though. To get a Mercedes with a decent engine note do you really have to auction one of your organs so you can afford a V8?Still, the enhanced response, especially when set in sport mode, is backed by dynamics and body control that are altogether sharper these days.That's in keeping with the marque's desire to capture buyers further from the verge of senescence than has long been the case.No, the C-Class is not 3 Series-sharp, due in part to its hefty 1490kg kerb weight and light steering.But though it lacks the 320i's razor-keen turn-in, the Merc keeps up with the game in most circumstances.In real-world deployment, there's daylight between them, the Mercedes riding the raddled roads that encapsulate the Nero-like neglect of the Iemma era with the suppleness you've every right to expect. The contrast with the run-flat-tyred BMW doesn't flatter the latter.Much; far too much; has been made of the dual shapes assumed by the latest C-Class.There's the SLK-evoking Avantgarde range, with a tristar badge on its nose(supposedly for the young and hair-highlighted).Then there are the Classic and Elegance models that, with the star mounted more traditionally on the bonnet, won't frighten the fogeys and the follicle-challenged.Whichever, the main thing is the C-Class provides better value than previously, as evinced by a more obviously upmarket interior and an options list that fits easily on one page.If the ask is still steep for what is, after all, merely a mid-size four-potter, the C200K rivals the Japanese car as the best 'German' around. Snapshot Mercedes-Benz C200K ClassicPrice: $56,990Engine: 1.8L/4-cylinderSupercharged: 135kW/250NmEconomy: 8.8L/100km (tested)Transmission: 5-speed automatic 

With the new C-Class Mercedes on the road, the baby Benz is finally good enough to go head-to-head with the benchmark BMW 3 Series and win without any silver-star badge advantage.It tops everything from the Alfa 159 through to the Audi A4, the Saab 9-3 and Volvo S40.The C-Class's improvements start at the bottom, which means the C200K is as good in the basics as the rest of the family and it opens the door for an affordable $56,990.The latest C is all-new, which means a new look, new cabin, upgraded and refocused suspension and all the rest. The styling is edgy and pert, much like a scaled-down S-Class, but also with the sort of youth-focused fender shapes and dash design that should work for younger buyers. Even the seats have more shape and support than the old-fogey armchairs in bigger Benzes.The cabin is different, from the shape of the steering wheel to the small roller wheel controlling the sound system (in BMW iDrive-style) and other minor functions.Even the dash and dials are different, but there is still the solid style you expect from a Mercedes.Australia has seen only the four-door C this year, but the wagon is coming next year with the promise of more practicality and another alternative to the 3 Series.The range runs from the C200K, with a 1.8-litre supercharged engine, to the C220 diesel and the 3.0-litre 280 from $84,974. It's a good spread and it covers the engine choices, but obviously there will be more in future, and not only the wagon and C63.The baby Benz should make the cut for the Car Of The Year competition, because it is one of the most important newcomers for Mercedes since the original compact 190E in the 1990s. And it finally has the youthful feel that has been missing from silver star baby cars. The C-Class is a surprisingly sporty drive, which is definitely a big change from earlier Mercedes-Benz compacts, even with the 1.8-litre starter engine. It feels light and nimble, nicely responsive in the engine room, yet still sits on the road the way you expect a Benz to do. So it is solid, but not dowdy.The C200K test car got along well, with solid torque from the bottom of the rev range, and economy was excellent. The trip computer showed fuel use of less than 7L/100km on highway cruising and an average of 9.4L/100km, good for the car and its class.The engine is not the sweetest we have driven, and definitely not a match for a BMW six, but it does the job. The automatic transmission is as smooth and effective as anything in the class, though it would be nicer with steering-wheel paddles.The suspension is jiggly on some broken surfaces, but generally does the job without fuss. The car feels light to handle, even encourages you to have fun on twisty roads.It responds well to the wheel, though not as sharply as a 3 Series, and is nicely balanced in corners.The brake assistance, however, is overdone and it is easy to make a jerky stop or get too much braking if you are trying for smooth slowing. Benz needs to wind it back a bit.The sound controls are too complicated for easy use on the go, despite the Command system controller. The interior finish also looks on the cheap side, with too much hard black plastic. It is not what is expected from a Benz, with the dash top dragging down the improvements in the dials and wheel and console design.It would also be good to have some cup-holders that pop out from the dash, instead of just an open hole in the console. But really, those are just little niggles in a car that is very good.The test car was equipped with extra gear, which raised its price to $62,690, but the basics are all the same and impressive nevertheless. 

At the same time, it wouldn't do to alienate the more mature market that's been the mainstay of the brand.So Stuttgart is offering a split-personality C-Class range, with an each-way bet of a sporty trim to lure young turks and the conventional type for traditional buyers.The blatant clue is the nose badging: trads get the customary, discreetly-small gun-sight logo mounted on the bonnet, turks get a dinner-plate sized version embedded in the grille and usually seen only on the coupes.The C-Class is the crucial, key-entry point into the badge. Of the six million sold globally since 1982, about 40 per cent were to first-time Merc buyers. That's close to 250,000 new disciples a year who might gaduate into the E-Class and S-Class.So to attract newbies and foster their loyalty, the C-Class has been given an equipment and visual taste of the top shelf, with echoes of S-Class styling most noticeable around the nose.Toss in swelling wheel arches, a strong line rising along the flanks into sharp new tail-lights and functional rear vents that suck air through the arches, removing the need for a spoiler lip and you have a vastly better-looking body.Cabin cues for the generation gap mean the turk's Avantgarde spec gets a sparkling emphasis on the exotic; black birdseye maple, chrome and aluminium (think Prada shoes and high-end Nordic jewelry). But of the two traditional fit-outs, the cheaper Classic spec's piano-black trim is the more understatedly stylish (Bally loafers and jeans), while the higher Elegance level tends towards burr walnut and an unfortunate choice of beige with more beige (Hush Puppies and button cardigans).But colour preference aside, the cabin is comfortable, apart from wind rush around the larger door mirrors, politely hushed.The more angled dashboard seems further away from the front seats, and there's plenty of front leg and shoulder room, although no noticeable increase, despite the car having sprouted a bit more length and width.Front-seat passengers get plenty of headroom, too, but the rear is compromised by the sloping C-pillar. The longer-legged will still find their knees grazing the seat backs.But the pay-off is that the boot holds a full-sized alloy spare, where others have space savers (or nothing at all in the run-flat obsessed marques).There's a substantial amount of standard loot, including a multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth and MP3 interfaces, an automatic two-zone, climate-control airconditioning and a six-stacker CD audio system with a 4.5 inch colour monitor.Options include Merc's central knob COMAND satnav/DVD/info control system and goodies like Harmon/Kardon audio, panoramic sunroof and other lust-haves.Sadly, buyers here will have to wait on government approval for Europe's intelligent headlight system that adjusts in response to oncoming traffic and pulsing emergency brakelights.But the new C-class gets for the first time and the only standard in our market; the Mercedes Pre-Safe system that detects a crash risk and prepares the car, tightening seatbelts, adjusting seats, closing windows and sunroof.Of course, the rest of the safety list is impressive, with a stronger body and improved crumple zones bolstered by an arsenal of airbags, electronic stability and ABS with brake assist.The car is expected to easily win a five-star rating in official crash tests.Upgraded and boosted engines mean the new entry level is the supercharged C200 (the C180 having been axed) in-line 1.8-litre petrol four-cylinder. An extra 15kW raises it to 135kW/250Nm that gets to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic with sequential mode.The same transmission delivers the 125kW and 400Nm of the four-cylinder 2.1-litre turbodiesel in the C220. Despite the force-fed help those engines get, on the road they're confident and refined, but never really sporty.The five-speed box is staid in fully automatic mode and inclined to change up too early and down too late.Pushing it into sequential mode stirs things up a bit but changes are delayed by a couple of seconds, unless you bury your foot in the carpet to convince the system you mean 'now.'The manual, a no-cost option, might be a bit more persuasive for those who want to shift for themselves. But fire up the C280's 3.0-litre petrol V6, with 170kW and 300Nm channelled through a seven-speed automatic and you'll find a whole new world of fun.With plenty of urge on tap, this is the combination that throws the best spotlight on all the work Mercedes has done to improve the driving experience.All the new variants benefit from a wider track and sharper steering, but it is the C280 that makes the most of the more direct ratio, flicking in and out of corners and lanes with joy.And these more energetic stints emphasise the flexibility of the new suspension, which adapts to the driver's style and road conditions with a system of variable shock absorbers.Cruise around sedately and it is solid, but compliant. Get a bit more athletic and it firms up to give tauter handling and fantastic road-holding. The 17-inch alloys bearing mixed-width tyres (the rears larger than the fronts) help it claw into the road.A wagon and coupe won't arrive until 2008, but Merc hopes to sell close to 4000 C-Class sedans this year, including the run-out model. They would eventually like to capture 30 per cent of the segment, a slice they achieved in 2002. They expect the volume seller to be the $56,900 C200 (which slips in under the luxury car tax bar), followed by the $60,300 C220 CDI and then the $85,000 C280, which gets the $5700 turk's trim added at no cost.  Snapshot Mercedes C200KPrice: $56,990Economy: 8.4L/100kmEngine: 1.8-litre supercharged 4-cylinder0-100kmh 8.8 secs The rivals BMW 320i ExecutivePrice $58,500Economy 7.9L/100kmEngine 2.0-litre in-line 4-cylinder0-100kmh 9.7 secs Audi A4 1.8TPrice $56,150Economy 8.6L/100kmEngine 1.8-litre turbo in-line 4-cylinder0-100kmh 8.6 secs Lexus IS250Price $56,490Economy 9.1L/100kmEngine 2.5-litre quad cam V60-100km 8.4 secs