USED Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate (02 - 06)

My car

Uncomfortable drivers seat with little lumbar support. Park assist only works within 12". The pre-wired telephone ststem only worth the money if you can be sure that your chosen telephone will continue to be made for the forseeable future - mine isn't.

The 320 CDi is not the most quiet of diesels.

Overall not a patch on either the Jaguar or BMW - overpriced for what you get.

My car

I can't understand Bob Ranger's comments. I have an 05 plate E220 CDI Avantgarde and it has been 100% reliable so far. It is simply beautiful.

OK, it's no sports car pulling away from the lights, but that's not why you buy one of these. On the motorway this car eats miles and is the most relaxing A-B mode of transport I have ever owned.

The build quality in comparison to BMW is much better. As a younger driver (for a Mercedes) I really wanted to go for a 525d - as they look sportier, quicker and better rated by motoring journos. But they are not as well screwed together as Mercedes and the materials feel inferior, even the bodywork on the BMW seems to be made of lighter and flimsier panels.

So I went for the Mercedes and put aside my boy-racer instincts. It's proving to be a sensible choice and it seems to get better each time I drive it. The car is so smooth, incredibly quiet (no diesel noise inside the cabin). The load space is brillant for the family - there seems to be nothing that wouldn't fit in this car.

I also considered the 4x4 ML270 CDI but, aside from the image problem of having a 'Chesire or Chelsea' taxi, they are not German Mercs but US built and it shows.

I would recommend this car to anyone - the only sensible alternative might be a high-spec A6 Avant.

My car

My first Mercedes is a car which is very pleasing to own. It has loads of space in the back for everything, including the kitchen sink.

I would have liked the 55 AMG but had to settle for this as it was a good balance between price, space and performance.

At the dealership they are very helpful and were good when car had its first service. I had to replace all the tyres at 15,000 miles.

I would buy another one if this was stolen or written off.

My car

I have never owned such an unreliable car. What is more important is the arrogant way in which Daimler Chrysler and the dealer have handled my complaints.

The car has had three rewires to get the tow-bar electrics correct - now they tell me this item is not under warranty. The dealer broke the trim and scratched the bumper. There has been two major oil leaks and the car belches smoke using a litre of oil some 900miles.

They tell me this is within spec. It won't start and the heater and air-conditioning will not work, although today's visit to the dealer makes eight working days at the dealer and Daimler Chrysler have been trying to repair the car.

Even the dealer admits there have been serious relaibility problems. And the manufacturer has been reluctant to talk to me, never seems to return emails or phone calls.