E36 or C180

mondeo

What would you go for,, A 97/98 BMW e36 saloon 316i/318i or a Mercedes C180 97'/98'. Prices are in around the same. Want to buy a run about for my father for Xmas so looking at one or the other, need to get rid of that old 94'Accord he has been driving the past 7 years for somthing a teeny bit more attractive.

Cheers

VolvoMan

E36 318i and nothing less, but the C180 will probably suit him down to the ground if he is of the older generation.

mondeo

VolvoMan wrote: »

E36 318i and nothing less.

You weren't the chap who recently bought an S80 by the way?

Ye I bought the S80 there recently, the car I am enquiring about now is an xmas gift for my father. I was thinking the Bmw would be the better buy alright. Budget of about 3.5k for the car.
He is 69 yrs old and been in hospital for past 4 months and just got out and want somthing nice for him to come home to.

alias no.9

Does he value comfort or driving dynamics more? Seriously though, look at both and see which is in better nick. At that age, you're buying what you see in front of you, not a brand. It would be best to bring him along to see it before colsing the deal though, even if you have to use some pretence to get him there.

mondeo

alias no.9 wrote: »

Does he value comfort or driving dynamics more? Seriously though, look at both and see which is in better nick. At that age, you're buying what you see in front of you, not a brand. It would be best to bring him along to see it before colsing the deal though, even if you have to use some pretence to get him there.

I'd say comfort would be his priority, he is not a fast driver, a car is an A-B thing for him and thats it really. Although he use to ponder on about buying a BMW years ago. My mother
was too practical and would not let him :P

alias no.9

The Merc would have the edge on comfort, look for leather, heated seats, all electrics (all come with sunroofs I think), etc...

edit... and don't forget the autobox and cruise control, they come with a 5 speed autobox which was rare at the time.

BrianD3

Would you not get him a Volvo S80, you probably know whether he likes it or not based on what he says about your own one. I don't think I'd put my old man in either an E36 or that model C class, neither is very comfortable and NCAP ratings for both are bad. The last time (a few years ago) I was in a C class I found the seats and ride rock hard and thought the interior plastics were ugly. Not what I expected in a Mercedes.

alias no.9

BrianD3 wrote: »

The last time (a few years ago) I was in a C class I found the seats and ride rock hard

The seats are sprung rather than cushioned like in a french car, different experience and a matter of individual preference, but both are comfortable.

mondeo

BrianD3 wrote: »

Would you not get him a Volvo S80, you probably know whether he likes it or not based on what he says about your own one. I don't think I'd put my old man in either an E36 or that model C class, neither is very comfortable and NCAP ratings for both are bad. The last time (a few years ago) I was in a C class I found the seats and ride rock hard and thought the interior plastics were ugly. Not what I expected in a Mercedes.

The s80 I'm driving is a big car, same size as a 7 series I don't think he would be able to park it straight..... although on my budget I could certainly get him one, Trying to keep the engine size for him under 2.0L aswell for tax reasons as he does not have alot of money to be paying 2.0L road tax, 1.8 max I think.

EPM

C180 auto problem solved

mondeo

EPM wrote: »

C180 auto problem solved

Going to look at a few cars on saturday, I'm not coming home until i get him
The 3 series or the c class, one or the other..:D

Mr Benevolent

mondeo wrote: »

Going to look at a few cars on saturday, I'm not coming home until i get him
The 3 series or the c class, one or the other..:D

Best Xmas present ever! Now to drop hints at the OH to buy me an M6

VolvoMan

mondeo wrote: »

The s80 I'm driving is a big car, same size as a 7 series I don't think he would be able to park it straight.....

Look at an S60 then. The same car really, only smaller and with a bit more style.

colm_mcm

S40 would be in the same size class as the Merc and BMW. S60 a good bit bigger too.

mondeo

VolvoMan wrote: »

Look at an S60 then. The same car really, only smaller and with a bit more style.

S60 is nice too, I'll see what I come across, I will keep the option open anyway. S60 is a cracking car no doubt.

unkel

alias no.9 wrote: »

The Merc would have the edge on comfort, look for leather, heated seats, all electrics (all come with sunroofs I think), etc...

edit... and don't forget the autobox and cruise control, they come with a 5 speed autobox which was rare at the time.

+1

Unassuming comfort, style, build quality and elegance. No other car comes close at this price point. Auto is a must.

Mr Benevolent

Very surprising, the amount of Merc recommendations here. I'd gotten the impression that the C180 wasn't that great or reliable. In saying that, here's one, a bit overpriced though!

mondeo

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/C-Class/180-ESPR/200936195077766/advert?channel=CARS

This is a nice one I'm going to view if they still have it on saturday

unkel

mondeo wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/C-Class/180-ESPR/200936195077766/advert?channel=CARS

This is a nice one I'm going to view if they still have it on saturday

Really your old man deserves a break. He's probably been driving manuals for 50+ years. After his retirement he (and the Merc) needs an autobox

Mr Benevolent

unkel wrote: »

Really your old man deserves a break. He's probably been driving manuals for 50+ years. After his retirement he (and the Merc) needs an autobox

+1. Avoid manual Mercs, if only because they're less relaxing to drive. And the interior on that one is dire.

Agricola

Personally id prefer the E36. I think the shape is pretty timeless. I would say that though, since I own one! But if it was my Father, Id go with the Merc too.

mondeo

unkel wrote: »

Really your old man deserves a break. He's probably been driving manuals for 50+ years. After his retirement he (and the Merc) needs an autobox

He never drove an auto in his life, I don't think he knows what an auto is haha.

TJJP

EPM wrote: »

C180 auto problem solved

That vintage C180 is a known rustbucket. Check paint very carefully for starring on later South African built cars.

vw4life

TJJP wrote: »

That vintage C180 is a known rustbucket. Check paint very carefully for starring on later South African built cars.

no they weren't,and never built in south africa

mondeo

I have never heard anything really bad about these Mercs, except c180's with leather here are not common but I will try find one as the cloth interior is not very nice.

VolvoMan

The W202 C-Class was supposed to be one of the first under engineered Merc's and I've seen a lot of them suffer from the typical rust problems you get with Merc's of that era. So I wouldn't be buying one on the basis of their quality and reliability to be honest.

Also, if there ever was a manual to avoid, it is a manual Merc. The positioning of the parking brake beside the clutch pedal makes hill starts almost impossible.

Mr Benevolent

vw4life wrote: »

no they weren't,and never built in south africa

Behold!

Oh yes they were.

vw4life

all 202 models were built in germany,some 203 models were built in south africa and I've never seen rust on a 202 model that was a manufacturer fault

VolvoMan

vw4life wrote: »

all 202 models were built in germany,some 203 models were built in south africa and I've never seen rust on a 202 model that was a manufacturer fault

Manufacturer's fault or not, I have seen it on a lot of them at this stage and it is well documented at this stage that Merc's of this era were vastly decontented in an effort to cut costs.

Fishtits

Personal opinion.

I wouldn't touch a Merc with a barge pole.

I've had several BMW's with no great problems, never been let down.

I deal only with trade guys, they are unanimous in that Merc have serious quality problems.

One experience was a pre owned S class, 700 miles since new, spent four of his first six months ownership in a MB workshop, without a solution. Said case is currently before the courts.

Crazy.

colm_mcm

that manual C Class interior may as well be form a Vito with the garish cloth and clunky gearbox. Merc do good auto boxes, manuals not so good especially with the pedal parking brake.