Item: Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 2000 - 2008
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

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Estate

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

C CLASS

The Mercedes C-Class Estate is very satisfying to own and to drive, but not as roomy as its predecessor

Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 2000 - 2008

Prices for the C-Class estate aren't over-the-top by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a>' standards, but they're not cheap. The purchase price - even on older cars - will put a big dent in your bank balance.

However, you'll get a good proportion of that back once you resell it, because the C-Class holds its value very well. That makes the overall cost of ownership far lower than it may appear when you're buying it.

Servicing costs are high, but not outrageous - noticeably dearer than an A4 Avant, fractionally more than a 3 Series Touring. Leave the Mercedes dealer network, though, and you should slash the labour bill by almost half, according to Warranty Direct.

Fuel economy is reasonable: mid-30s to the gallon for the C180k and about 40mpg for the diesels. The C350s hit you for mid-20s, though.

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The Mercedes C-Class Estate is very satisfying to own and to drive, but not as roomy as its predecessor


Cars with the manual gearbox will be significantly cheaper, but spend more to get an automatic if you can. They're smooth to drive (the manuals are notchy), make the foot-operated parking brake less of a hassle and will hold their value better.

We'd choose a C180K ('K' for Kompressor, meaning supercharged in German), with Classic or Classic SE trim. It offers the best value: enough performance for most needs, decent fuel economy, and it's the cheapest to buy.

The C200 CDI and C220 CDI turbodiesels are refined and frugal, but you'll need to stump up a fair bit more to get the keys.

The C200K, C230K and C240 petrols are strong, too, while the bigger-engined versions (C280, C320 and C350 petrols and C320 CDI diesel) are swift and sweet if you've got enough cash to run them. There's also the ultimate C-class, the high-performance C55 AMG: bruising in every sense.

Classic is the basic trim, rising through Elegance and Avantgarde to top-trim Sport. 'SE' denotes extra kit on each level.

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

A full service history is essential. It will ensure a better price when you resell the car, and you can also be sure that a well maintained C-Class estate will give you little, if any, trouble.

These are generally robust cars. Anyone who says Mercs aren't built like they used to be may be right, but they're still well screwed together using durable materials and proven engineering.

Witness our Reliability Survey findings, where the C-Class nets a place in the top quarter of the table. The JD Power customer satisfaction survey also echoes the general reliability of the C-Class - it's better than the bigger E-Class, for instance.

Even so, problems with the electronics and software are reportedly quite widespread, alternators can fail, some automatic gearboxes are trouble-prone and you should keep an ear out for odd noises from the suspension.

On most cars, these faults will have been (or, if you're buying newer, will be) sorted by Mercedes' three-year unlimited-mileage warranty.

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The Mercedes C-Class Estate is more lifestyle than worker estate, but it's still extremely practical with a handy 470-litre luggage bay. Drop the rear bench and that stretches to 1384 litres - almost identical to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a>'s and roomier than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/estate/review/n101">Audi A4 Avant</a>'s.

The range of petrol and diesel engines provide good mid-range pull, from the supercharged C180K petrol and C200 CDI diesel up to the C350 (or rare, expensive and hairy C55 AMG) petrols and C320 CDI diesels.

All have a sensibly equipped cabin, with simple controls, a good driving position, plenty of storage areas and mostly good-quality materials. Two can sit in comfort in the back, but the raised transmission tunnel in the floor makes it cramped for three.

Drivers will like it, though. It's far crisper and more agile than the previous C-Class estate through the bends, but it's also excellent at smothering bumps, sealing out external noise and tackling long-distance drives.

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Used Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate 2000 - 2008 review

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Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Mercedes C-Class estate?