Which Is The Best Mercedes C-Class Generation?
2022 ж. 5 Қар.
187 421 Рет қаралды
In this video, I rank the C-Class Mercedes generations that I think are best in my opinion. I take a look at the best performance and/or AMG models of each generation. The C-Class is one of the most popular Mercedes models and a lot of the best AMG engines went into the C-Class over the years in models like the C55 and C63. W201 to w203 to w205.....
190E 16 Story: • Why The Mercedes W201 ...
W204 C63 Buyer's guide: • Everything You Need To...
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W204 for me!
It's not even an argument
Without question.
love mine!
@@mannyfreitas5563 same
Best of all.
My first car was a w203 200 kompressor, not very fast, but still was fun. 18 year old going 220kph on the highway all day on my way to uni. Surprisingly economical and stable
W202 C220 was our family's first (used) Mercedes when I was in high school, and I still love it. Currently my parents (now in their 70s) drive the last new car they brought - a W203 C180K - it has well over 250.,000km on the clock.
agree... W202 and C class in general are greatest cars
My CLK 200K which has the same engine as the C180K just hit 250.000 yesterday.
@@cmpunk8546 is gonna get more numbers on the dashboard maybe even 500k if u will take care of it ..mine is a c 180 TDI and has more than 450k+ and as I know old clk s are as durable as they can be
W202 will always have my heart, that said my W203 C55 with 6 speed is a car I’ll never sell and I do plan to own W204 C63 eventually! Great video as always!
6 speed that’s so badass
w202's are really good cars no matter what engine you have in them, they are bulletproof, amg versions will probably start rising in value soon
Lol they are complete junk.
@@Columbo777 clown 🤡🤡🤡🤡
@@minefarmer202 they are rust buckets…feel free to live in your deluded world 😂
That thing rusted worse than Opels. My best friend uncle had 250td and it rusted away. Also it was extremely cramped inside. Rear leg room was non-existent. Audi A4 B5 had more leg room and thats a small car on the inside. W204 is undeniably the best overall C-Class.
@@Columbo777 the e36 is the world's rustied rust bucket clown 🤡
W204 ftw, Looks modern and elegant yet sporty
My 2014 W204 is all that and also hella reliable, never had a problem with transmission or drivetrain. It's as bullet proof as one can expect from the star logo!
As a W202 C43 and C230K owner, i have fallen in love with these cars. They give the styling of the 90s and the robustness of the class Mercedes-Benz era. Regardless of the the Chrysler partnership.
I love my 99 C230k w202
I wish to get a C43 AMG ... tell me ur expérience ?
W204 is a most beautiful car i have ever seen. but W202 & W201 are just different. My dad bought a W202 straight from Germany , and its still working like a factory new one, OM604 is basically indestructible even though its been more than 23 years. i am from Georgia and 9 out of 10 man drives 202 here and i can only say 1 word about W201......Incredible
W204 is my favorite as I am biased I still drive a 2014 W204 as my daily driver and it's almost bullet proof as far as craftsmanship goes. I have many chances to trade in but I never seriously considered it and was recently thinking of another German luxury brand trade in but that also didn't last long. This car is just perfectly designed!
@@victon460 yeah agreed...just old mercedes cars were built to be used daily and as needed..."even 2014 ones are old nowadays" my first car is W202 bur for sure my next one gonna be W204 "I hope its gonna be C63, but any will go"
C63 507 Edition coupe is just timeless imho! Best C (AMG) ever made
That lovely raw V8 sound that comes out of the M156 on that version is just 👌🏾...I totally agree with you
The W203 is my favourite its classic yet modern, beautiful car.
My W202 C220 built 1995 has been my daily used car now at 232,000 k.m. and still runs like new. Like it !!!
With 232 000 km it is still new😉
I'm seeing a lot of love for the 204. I own two of them. Bought the first , a coupe, about six years ago, and have had no issues. Bought a 2012 wagon about a year ago and, aside from an unpleasant day 1 repair bill, it's also been a dream.
I owned 2 until one got wrecked by a sleeping driver. Still have the manual transmission one. They are beautiful
Sold my 203 for 204, biggest mistake ever! 203 is superior.
Almost a decade of owning my 2014 W204 and although technology has advanced since then, I'm still not giving her up. W2014 was the last great C class design, performance and modern appointments.
I drive the w204 c280 AMG.. Broe what a car.. Gives u style and respect from the massis
I wish Mercedes didn't discard the striped rear lights graphics. I think they can still look cool if modernized in a certain way. A unique Merc design que signature imo
W202 C280 Elegance, was our first car, i will never forget that emotions🔥🔥🔥
For me, the W203 was the best built C Class ever but only the facelift version. My dad has a W203 C220 CDI with 320,000kms on and it is rock solid, tows a 1200kg caravan twice a year over 3000kms in one trip, has zero rattles and the interior still looks brand new. I had a facelift W204 C180, and I absolutely hated it. The ride was awful and the build quality was very poor. At 28,000kms, it rattled like a bucket of bolts. The ride quality and refinement was even worse than the W203. My dad's W203 drove smoother, quieter and the seats were far more comfortable. The 204 had hard plastic in places where the 203 had soft touch. And the 203 had excellent details and quality. for example: 1) The 203 has a roller shutter type thing behind the steering wheel where it goes in and out of and up and down while the 204 has a cheap piece of vinyl like material to close the gap 2) The 203 has rubber seals all the way down the front of the front doors and even at the bottom of the doors where a lip would go perfectly into a groove on the door sill with another piece of rubber inside (this probably explains the fact that it is quieter with less wind and road noise) 3) The 203 centre armrest is softer and the sides of the centre console is soft touch plastic and not hard like the 204 4) The 203 has a beautiful piece of plastic cover in which the spare wheel sits so you don't see the metal beneath. The tools sit in a plastic compartment which screws in to the hollow of the spare. The spare even has an extra set of wheel nuts attached to it in a plastic holder. The warning triangle feet is also very hefty and solid feeling metal unlike the cheap thin one used in the 204. 5) The 203 main door seals are covered in fabric so they never stick or make a noise and look very high quality. The 204 is just plain exposed rubber like every other car. 6) If you knock on the panels of the 203 it has a solid sound to it versus the 204, 205 and cheaply made 206. 7) Other little details like the wipers stopping when you open the driver's door was ingenious on the 203 and not carried over in to their cars subsequent to that generation. This is just some of many small examples having owned the 204 and 203. I wanted to replace my 204 with a 205 but the 205 build quality is simply horrendous. It had nowhere near the level of build and material quality of the 203. Many that I went to test drive had cracking centre armrests and the button to open the split armrest was peeling (the metal look on them was peeling). Most had the glossy black centre console all of which held up so badly showing many micro scratches. These had less than 100,000kms. Completely unacceptable. Everything also felt hollow, brittle and cheap to operate. Even worse is the new 206. While it looks great, the interior is so sparse in the base model it just looks and feels cheap. I was shocked to see that the entire bottom half of the doors and dash (including the glovebox door) is entirely hard plastic. Cheap city car plastic. What a far cry from the soft dense materials of the 203. The engines of the 206 scream like hair dryers when revved and sounds unrefined. Window switches feel brittle and cheap. All the switch gear does not have a consistent feel. In the 203, all the buttons had the same high quality push feel to it and were all consistent. In the 206, some buttons are clicky, some are mushy and some are capacitive. It seems engineers no longer build Mercedes but accountants do. Cost cutting wherever they can while covering it in a thin veneer of what they think is technology. This is why the 203 C Class was the best they ever made. It truly had S Class levels of details and build quality in a smaller package all while still being modern and having that solid Mercedes, German quality feel. I miss Mercedes as they once were.
As a pre- facelift w203 owner with only 96k miles on the odometer, I strongly agree. My mother had a w202, and while that's a great car, the w203 is more refined in every way. I think the w203 is the most underappreciated and underestimated C-Class generation.
I absolutely agree with your accurate analysys
My 204 AMG has only had two parts replaced in 12 years. One water pump and a sensor on the gas pedal. Its fantastic to drive. and the most reliable car I have had.
I’ve owned 203,204,205 and I think I agree with your ranking. The 204 overall is my favourite , the 205 was brilliant tech wise and all the track modes etc but the 204 was just a beautiful combination of true raw literage and modern car feel
Still driving my 2014 W204 and glad I kept it over the W205 as it cannot touch the last great era from W204.
I bought my kids a 2011 C300 each last year 😁
@@MrRjnr nice - the 300’s great, my sister had one 👍🏼👍🏼
W204, I’ve owned two and work for a dealership. I’ve had hands on time with all of them.
What does that mean? Sorry didn’t understand. I’ve been wanting to get a 204 (c300/350). They reliable?
@@chiefhere1968 Yes, any powertrain option in the W204 is decently reliable. Mercedes Benz current day is absolute garbage.
@@peytonwalker8050 Thank you for your input! 🤝
going to say it again, hands down one of the best channels for benz and the best commentary!
W202 no doubt Even to this day i am still excited when i see a clean c43 amg ❤
The 204 is a revolutionary generation and brilliant design. It is this gen Mercedes started to attract young drivers and the first time able to compete with BMW in this section.
Agreed drives brilliant
Love videos like this that take a backward glance at some of our favourite AMG Cars. How about a similar series for the often overlooked SLK AMG range?
Good suggestion. You don’t find much love for the SLK/C/XF
Thanks for vid..i'm from Edinburgh Scotland and last 6 years own a 39000 genuine mile 2006 C180 Kompressor Coupe but 'Evolution' model...so quite rare ...
For me W204 mopf (Modellpflege, facelift) as well. Previously I drove a S203 C200 CDI T Avantgarde, now my current daily is a C250 CDI T Avantgarde of octobre 2012 which is so reliable and comfortable, love it!
Awesome as usual material , thx ;)
I love the w202 very reliable and very 90s looking amazing amg!
Great video. The W202 and W203 generations are some of my all time favorite C-Class models. And even more so in AMG form. But I love any and all C and E Class sedans. I’ve _never_ been into S-Classes, or Mercedes station wagons (and I’m a major wagon fan) but the C and E Class sedans are some of my fav Sedans. They age well visually. They feel solid. Just can’t go wrong.
Been waiting on a video 🔥🔥
Your ranking is perfect. Fortunately I own a manual aftermarket 190E
perfectly put together👌🏻
Your listing is very accurate, but I feel the W202 should be number 2, as it distinctively stands out for durability and reliability.
Yeah w202 is so reliable they were taxis. It's the work horse of the c class. Also in 94 the w202 won a dtm championship if I'm not mistaken!
So reliable you barely see them on the road anymore, yeah. For every 202 I see at least 5 or 6 203's in Germany
I highly recommend doing a video on the top AMG Mercedes SUVs since AMG made some good offerings before the recent crossover/SUV craze of the past 8 years
As owner of both W201 190E 2.3-16 and W204 C63. I agree with your list.
I liked it when the Benz's had sharp lines and squared off shapes. New ones are just bulbous and round and don't look as aggresive.
Great video bro!!
W204 🔥 stylish n sturdy
i had a w203 180 compressor with amg sports . last year 2022 i sold it to my son as i could no longer get in and out of it (i am 72). with 64,000 kms on the clock it will do him for many years.
Fully agree with this list, i thought the 204 would be on top, but when i saw you rated it 2nd i already knew the incredible 201 is king, love the hell out of bruno sacco designs.
I've owned a w202, w203, w204 and I've driven several w205's and I, by far LOVE my w204. Its such a good mix of classic solid mercedes quality with a touch of modern amenities and just enough technology to still be useful day to day. The W202 charmed me though, I LOVED the very simple understated looks and interior, and the w203 was quite fun but something always broke on it. The w205's are cool but I don't know if I would want to own one long term, I personally prefer the boxier benzes.
My 2014 W204 will always be my favorite daily driver. Bought it almost a decade ago and continue to drive it with LOVE after all these years!
Your list is perfect.
I totally agree with your ranking and I even Own a C250 Turbo Diesel w202 amazing car to drive for long and confy travels with no issues and really reliable, I love it.
As always, a thorough collection of undisputable facts. However, personally, will always adore the W204 the most. Not only it looks the best (from launch), it's the pinnacle of AMG theatre. Even the civilian versions were pretty much perfect, come to think of it...
Personal favorite will always be the w204 but can't disagree with your reasoning behind the rankings and all are truly special. Would be great to see videos that rank the E and S-classes!
Had a lot of experience with the C Class over the years. My dad previously owned a W201 190D, a W202 C200, a W203 C220 cdi, and a W203 320 cdi. I currently run a 2003 W203 C200 Kompressor. Great car. Love it.
LOVE my W204
your videos are awesome
I agree with this list 100% it’s between the 201 and 204 for me. Good job
w201 and w204 legendary cars :) w201 2.3-2.5 v16 for drift, w204 for drag races and fun
Bought a facelift w204 c180 as my first car. Love for that
as always fantastic content - what do you think about the M278 V 8 as fitted in the R231 SERIES SL
i driving the w203 sportcoupe (cl203) i love it!
The w204 c63 is my dream car
I'm amazed that you didn't mention the w204 C63 AMG Legacy edition of which was produced for South Africa only in 2015 with a limited 10 units being available, that car for me in craziness is just kinda more extreme for me than the Blackseries version.
W204 2.2 cdi sport auto om646 engine i had in rare light grey . I loved and only had a thing for that car and still do
I agree with your rankings, but I still love my W205 C43 wagon for the daily driver. Not sure why the AWD doesn't get more respect, great rwd bias yet can still get me to the mountains. Head and shoulders above Audi and even the recent BMW wagons.
204 not only the best C class amg but for me the best Amg off all its might well be the most impactfull benz ever ,a game changer
Can you make a episode of W124, one of the most important Mercedes model🙏
W204 C63 507 Edition. Probably just as rare as the black series. My buddy used to own one. OMG....that thing was a beast.....😳
I have the 250c Class elegance 1998 , undergoing work just now , but still a great looking Car.
Proud owner of w204 unfortunately not c63 but c220 but love how comfy they are and still is great abd enought power even for its 168bhp ❤
Would love a s class video like this. Any chances you’ll do one ?
Love the 204. We have two 2007 C200 Kompressors (Supercharged) in the family.
Your videos are very nice
I love the W204 to death but I gotta take the hat off for the W201. Such a masterpiece.
i agree with this list, own the w204 and the w201 { but in 2.3L trim } love both these cars. the w204 is my daily driver. w201 is now my project car.
Instant like n sub!
Technically, you could say the 201 is not a C-class (in name) but the 124 was not an E-class until they flipped the badge around. The 201 "birthed" the category for MB, so should be included, just like the Audi 80 can be considered the forerunner the A4 and the E21 3-series that was actually a coupé, gave rise to the (sub) compact executive saloon segment.
For reliability, probably the W204. For looks, I'd go for my W205, but I know I'm in the minority. For power, the W206 is the obvious answer. But for sound, it's the W204. 3.0L V6 in the 300 and the big 6.2L V8 in the 63. The good old days.
I own a red w204 C63 sedan and non car people always ask me if it's new and think I'm rich lol. Truly one of the best statement cars ever
Yeah I own one too. However mine was upgraded with special headers applied to the intake bolted to an AMG own tailpipe/catalyst muffler assembly and each corner gets an AMG- spec coil spring and shock absorber with AMG aero cast alloy wheel rounded up the mods package.
Would you do a video on the CL - S coupe? Thx
About 10 years ago I had a chance to buy a 202 C55 in upstate South Carolina. It was really cheap, it needed a good bit of work, had 125,000km, but ran and drove. I really couldn't find out much about it at the time.. and really thought it was something this euro guy had put together. He worked at Michelin and was going back to France and was taking a new Z06 Vette at Michelin's expense. I have thought about that damn thing on and off for ever.
I love them all, and while the 204 will always have a special place in my heart as my first Mercedes, I absolutely agree with this ranking.
I have now owned 6 W202 and I absolutely love this generation. The build quality and reliability is unmatched. It was WAY ahead of its time. Its almost like a baby W140. Even today it drives flawlessly and makes a fantastic daily driver. Fuel consumption is absolutely comparable to modern cars (I drive it with 7,5 L / 100km or 31,6 mpg). It was so unfortunate that this model had terrible rust problems. Otherwise this would be a car for literally eternity.
I’m planning on getting a w202 c280 v6 model. Have you had any experiences with that model? What’s the fuel consumption like for that?
@@ibradeybunch Very good engine. The M112 is bulletproof! However the fuel consumption is not the best. I think 13-14L/ 100km is realistic. Maybe a little bit less.
@@JustinsSupercars Thank you
@@ibradeybunchmy 99 c280 gets very good gas mileage I’d say probably 27 mpg on the highway
@@ibradeybunchI have the c280 I6 model, very reliable, fun to drive. I get around 10l/100km combined on Autobahn and City
i love the w204.
No matter how much Mercedes improves its line up, this channel will always find a way to put worst but older cars on top of newer and better ones. Haha Kind of unfixable nostalgia. 😅
201 is so awesome. what a design! But I prefer the W124 500E
Well done
I’ve got the c400 specifically, /c450/c43 with the M276 DELA 30. I was wondering if you could do a review on the engine. It’s been hard to find in-depth information about it. W205 is it for me, best styling, interior, sound system, tech. That’s obviously a product of a newer car, but it’s still the best. Looks wise, they were able to compliment a soft/medium and aggressive look into the car, and it’s not too ANGULAR. This duality makes it the best blend of luxury and sporty(with simple aftermarket options)
Take your engine apart and do a video about it.
All of them are great of course, but if it was me I'd rank them 1-W204 2-W203 3-W205 4-W201 5-W202
Lucky enough to own a W204 C63 AMG, absolute monster of a machine and I’ve yet to do anything to it - quite an investment piece at the moment so I’m being careful 😂
How many miles? Coop?
As a W203 owner, I 100% agree with this list. That said, the W203 is still a brilliant car. It's quite comfy for a C class and it's very stable at higher speeds. It's also very reliable, no matter the engine. The only things I dislike about it are the front end and headlight design on the pre-facelift model and the heavy steering at low speed.
Have a w202 c280. Would love a w204 c63 amg. And have owned a w203 c320. Love the w202 for the box light body and class.
loved it! I feel like every generation but the 205 has a marquee model. the Cozy 190s, the C32/43 of the 202, the C32 of the 203 and the C55 to close it out. the 204 needs to introduction. but the 205 while very fast has no "moment" for me.
W203 the last generation of true mercedes
W204 C63 amg, ....I still feel the privilege!
I have a c55 and a w210 e55 and had a w211 e55. The c55 fit and finish is ok but I just love it’s agility and power.
I love my C55. Made to cross europe !
Owned a 205, 201 and 202. My favourite is the 202, they're just at that sweet spot of classic and technology whilst still being built like tanks, just unfortunately they rust a bit too much after MY1994. The 204 is always going to be iconic with that 6.2L engine but I'm really not a fan of the M156, I'd rather have the M113K E55 AMG if I wanted a uber AMG from that kind of era.
Totally agree... the C63 W204 will skyrocket in price soon enough
Yep, my '99 C180's sunroof leaked like a sieve, rusted like an 70s Japanese car. I've just covered the whole roof with vynil wrap for now till I can get the roof panel replaced, fortunately I know a guy.....
owned a c63 w204 facelift, so with the mct 7 speed. the car had the sound, the looks, and the fun behind the wheel. but I'm glad I swapped it for the m113k - in an SL55. tbh the 5.4 supercharged V8 is not as loud, and not as high revving, and the 5 speed is a bit slow, but it is so much more daily driveable, and boy once the supercharger kicks in its SO MUCH FUN. I enjoy it much much more, also the c63 had a terrible ride quality, the seats were horrendous. it's only fun for the weekend. I'd get a standard w204/c204 350 rather than the c63, if I'd have to get one again.
@@matteiasm.3618 what didn't you like about the seats? Personally it's one of my favorite things about the car, the only thing I don't like about them is they're only heated and not cooled. 😖
I have an old 2004 C230 , It seems to be reliable! has 160,000 kms. I hope it lasts a long time! It's my first Mercedes Benz!
Hi i actually really like your video however id have to make some adjustments to your comments on the w201 AMG(as i have one and am quite into it). Actually there are several things to note. 1st the 3.2L W201 3.2AMG was the first official AMG-Mercedes Merger car. 2nd (considered only the road versions) the AMG 3.2L M103 I6 was as powerful as the EVO2 but it was more the smooth powerfull gentleman Versus the 2.5-16V Evo2 as the supersports athlete. 3rd AMG at least taking the pre-merger times into account had quite a big lineup in the w201 AMG. Actually counting the bodykits(premerger Smallbody, premerger Widebody, v8 widebody, premerger Hammer/3.2 Optik, aftermerger Hammer/3.2Optik) were alone 6 options, then wheels (penta 15", AMG AERO 15" and AERO 16") 2 or 3 stylings depending on the view, then at least 3-4 steering wheels(premerger wood option, premerger 5spoke Hammerwheel, after merger 5spoke softline wheel), several AMG only woodtrims, and an AMG only setup of springs and shocks, then coming to the engines: 2.3L M102 with sharp cams, 2.6L M102 enlarged bore and stroke with sharp cams and head(160hp I4), 2.6L M103 with sharp head and cams (185hp i have one), 3.0L M103 sharp cam 210-215hp, 3.2L M103 (234/244hp) and 3 press cars of that 2 were disassembled by AMG 3.6L M103 with 280hp and 1 test of a 6L M119 or M117(dont know 100% which one it was). Then came 2 exhaust options (I4+I6) and I'm sure I missed a few. In all AMG had quite a lineup on the w201 but only a few people know what really was produced as a lot of premerge/ 91 stuff is lost or kept in archives.
I own W202 C55 (LHD) in Japan. Love W202. i used to own w202 c36 before c55. V6 engine is smooth. AMGmeister,do you know exact count of w202 c55 sedan Mercedes made in the wrold? Ex owner said, Mercedes-Benz made a special order offer to a few VIP.And i heared there was 12 W202 C55 in Japan.
Im surprised the CLK DTM and CLK 63 Black series weren't mentioned. They definitely laid down the groundwork for the w204 coupe.
I can’t disagree with your list but I am partial to the W204. I’ve had two of them, a new 2009 with the P30 package and carbon fiber trim and more recently a nice used 2011 with the P31 package, locking diff and carbon fiber trim. They were more fun to rip around in then the W212 E63s I’ve had (M156 and M157).
I currently own 2 of them (a coupe and a wagon), and I have every intention of driving them until either they or I check out.
Great list! but I would prefer the 203 to 202.
Dad has a 201 2.5 16v timeless design inside and out with an amazing engine
W202 remains my favourite 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
W203 c55 ❤️
totally underrated, a great car
W202 hands down. No other comes close.
As an owner of 190e 2.3-16 : dam thank you to give w201 the first place! Given how much less powerful it is compared to all the others (even being almost 1,5 times lighter), i did not expect that)
w204 for me aswell.What’s your opinion about the w204 kompressor 1.8 avangarde?