MARK TOLJAGIC

SECOND-HAND

"Over three years of ownership, my car has been in the shop more than I've driven it. I've given it plenty of chances.
Three strikes, you're out."

What is the author of this Web post driving? An old Jaguar? A Fiat?

Would you believe a 2002 Mercedes-Benz C240?

To hear some owners tell it, Mercedes's star has been falling.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2005 vehicle dependability study — which surveys owners of three-year-old models
— ranked Mercedes-Benz well below the industry average, with 283 problems reported for every 100 vehicles
(the average is 237 problems per 100 vehicles).

It's sobering news for Mercedes-Benz, which held the Number 1 position in 1990 when J.D. Power published its first
dependability study.

Trouble is, used-car shoppers still recall those heady days when the German auto maker was the gold standard-bearer
and plunk down their money fearlessly.

The three-pointed star, one of the most recognizable logos in the history of commerce, remains alluring, but buyers
should keep their eyes open.

CONFIGURATION

The entry-level C-Class debuted in 1994 to replace the cramped 190 sedan.
With a 2.5 cm wheelbase stretch, the four-door featured a roomier cabin than the outgoing model.

Engineers specified a Honda-like double-control-arm front suspension, combined with a multilink rear set-up,
for this rear-drive sedan.

North Americans were restricted to just two of the six engines available in Europe:
a 148-hp 2.2-litre four-cylinder powered the C220; the 300E's 2.8-litre inline-six trickled down to the C280,
making 194 hp and 199 lb.-ft. of torque.

Both motors came solely with a four-speed automatic transmission, which was upgraded to five forward gears in 1997.
The four-cylinder grew to 2.3 litres (the nameplate becoming the C230) that year, but retained the same output.

The C280 received an engine transplant for 1998 — a 2.8-litre V6 (in place of the inherently smooth straight-six),
with three valves per cylinder. The four-banger gained a supercharger (Kompressor in Deutsch), good for 185 hp.

The second-generation C arrived for 2001, styled to more closely resemble its handsome big brother E- and S-Class sedans.
Dimensions inside and out were virtually identical to the old car.

Buyers could choose between an 18-valve, SOHC, 2.6-litre V6 in the C240, good for 168 hp and 177 lb-ft, and a 215-hp,
3.2-litre V6.

North Americans could finally get a C with a clutch: the C240, with a six-speed manual stick.

The following year, the four-door got two running mates: a slickly styled hatchback coupe and a practical wagon.

The decontented coupe (the entry-level model to the entry-level C-Class) was powered by the resurrected 2.3-litre
Kompressor engine, hooked up to the six-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

The upmarket wagon was powered exclusively by the 3.2-litre V6.

For 2003, Mercedes made its 4Matic all-wheel-drive system available in the C-Class for the first time.

ON THE ROAD

The C-Class was girded to do battle with BMW's 3 Series, but in reality, the baby Merc was ill-equipped as a sports sedan.
Emphasis here was on comfort, not speed.

"Performance is tepid with the 2.6-litre V6," reported one owner.

That engine propelled the C240 from zero to 96 km/h in a molasses-like 8.8 seconds, and that's with the manual transmission
— almost two seconds slower than a BMW 325i.

The supercharged four was actually better, hitting highway speed in 7.5 seconds. But critics disliked the ropy six-speed shifter;
this is a car that works better with an automatic transmission.

More significantly, the C-Class suspension was set up for high-speed cruising rather than carving up back roads.
The long suspension travel and lots of lean in the corners made the car feel too "nautical" for serious drivers.
Optional sport suspensions mitigated the effects somewhat.

Stung by the criticism — the C-Class scored poorly in comparison tests — Mercedes launched a couple of high-performance
 variants, including the V8 C43, but these cars are rare in Canada.

WHAT OWNERS REPORTED

The C-Class certainly succeeds as a compact luxury sedan.
Owners were delighted with the cars' fit and finish, styling, amenities, cabin isolation and sense of safety.

"The interior preserves the lovely Teutonic ambiance of the older Benzes, with great seats for long trips and very logical
controls," blogged the owner of a 2000 model.

The C-Class gives owners a bona fide Mercedes experience in a smaller, lighter package.
"This car is very fun to drive when it is working," remarked the owner of an '01.

Ah, there's the rub.

The first-gen C-Class suffered from electrical problems involving servo motors, dashboard electronics, sensors,
fuel pressure regulators and the like. As well, leaking head gaskets afflicted six-cylinder models, and some drivers
reported transmission problems.

More disconcerting, however, is the barrage of complaints about the second-generation cars, especially from
owners of '01 and '02 models.

The long list of faults includes broken a/c controls, purge valves, alternators, batteries, lamps, power windows,
ignition keys, door locks, audio systems, fuel gauges, suspension bushings, off-balance driveshafts,
reprogrammed transmissions, malfunctioning sunroofs, and squeaks and rattles.

The supercharged four-cylinder has a stalling problem, owners noted, as well as supercharger and head gasket problems.
 The rear window of the hatch can fall out, and more than one owner noted various fluid leaks.

"We have almost 30 pages of service records in two-and-a-half years," one owner noted.

"I feel that I paid for a Mercedes and got a Dodge or a Yugo," wrote another.

If you have your heart set on a C-Class Benz, seek out a first-generation model.
The older the better seems to be the guiding principle here.