Should I buy an old European car?

Question

Accepted Answer

From personal experience I would advise against buying an old Euro, they can be expensive.
They can be nice to drive, and it’s nice to have a prestigious brand in your driveway, but parts can be expensive if you need to repair them.
My dalliance wasn’t with a Mercedes, it was another European brand, but I was regularly forking out for repairs as one thing after another failed and I mean seriously spending money. The problem is that they all look like new on the outside, even when they’re clapped-out.
It would need to be low mileage, less than 100,000 km, properly serviced, should have no oil or water leaks, no exhaust smoke, the engine should be smooth running, and the transmission should be smooth and seamless in operation.
Servicing isn’t necessarily expensive if you avoid dealers and use an experienced specialist mechanic.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model	Body Type	Specs	Price from	Price to
C200 Kompressor Evolution AMG	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $8,800	Price To: $14,300
C200 Kompressor Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Price From: $7,920	Price To: $13,310
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Price From: $7,370	Price To: $12,320
C230 Evolution AMG	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 2.5L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $11,660	Price To: $15,620
C200 Kompressor Classic	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Price From: $7,700	Price To: $12,430
C200 Kompressor Elegance	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Price From: $8,250	Price To: $14,630
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Price From: $8,250	Price To: $12,870
C220 CDI Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.1L Diesel 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $9,130	Price To: $13,090
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $8,250	Price To: $12,870
C200 Kompressor Classic	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $7,700	Price To: $12,430
C200 Kompressor Elegance	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Price From: $8,250	Price To: $14,630
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Price From: $11,110	Price To: $17,820

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model	Body Type	Height x Width x Length	Ground Clearance
C230 Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Height x Width x Length: 1406x1728x4343 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C230 Evolution AMG	Body Type: Coupe	Height x Width x Length: 1406x1728x4343 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Height x Width x Length: 1406x1728x4343 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C200 Kompressor Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Height x Width x Length: 1406x1728x4343 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C55 AMG	Body Type: Sedan	Height x Width x Length: 1426x1744x4611 mm	Ground Clearance: 132 mm
C350 Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Height x Width x Length: 1427x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 132 mm
C220 CDI Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Height x Width x Length: 1426x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 132 mm
C220 CDI Classic	Body Type: Sedan	Height x Width x Length: 1426x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 132 mm
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Height x Width x Length: 1465x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C230 Elegance	Body Type: Wagon	Height x Width x Length: 1465x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Height x Width x Length: 1465x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm
C200 Kompressor Classic	Body Type: Wagon	Height x Width x Length: 1465x1728x4526 mm	Ground Clearance: 115 mm

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model	Body Type	Front Tyre Size	Front Rim	Rear Rim
C230 Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 7.5x17 in
C230 Evolution AMG	Body Type: Coupe	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 7.5x17 in
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R16	Front Rim: 7x16 in	Rear Rim: 7x16 in
C200 Kompressor Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Front Tyre Size: 225x45 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 7.5x17 in
C55 AMG	Body Type: Sedan	Front Tyre Size: 225x40 R18	Front Rim: 7.5x18 in	Rear Rim: 8.5x18 in
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Front Tyre Size: 225x45 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 8.5x17 in
C230 Elegance	Body Type: Sedan	Front Tyre Size: 225x45 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 8.5x17 in
C220 CDI Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Front Tyre Size: 225x45 R17	Front Rim: 7.5x17 in	Rear Rim: 8.5x17 in
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R16	Front Rim: 7x16 in	Rear Rim: 7x16 in
C230 Elegance	Body Type: Wagon	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R16	Front Rim: 7x16 in	Rear Rim: 7x16 in
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R16	Front Rim: 7x16 in	Rear Rim: 7x16 in
C200 Kompressor Classic	Body Type: Wagon	Front Tyre Size: 205x55 R16	Front Rim: 7x16 in	Rear Rim: 7x16 in

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model	Body Type	Specs	Fuel Consumption
C180 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 8.5L/100km
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.0L/100km
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Fuel Consumption: 8.7L/100km
C230 Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 2.5L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.6L/100km
C350 Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 3.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 10.0L/100km
C180 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.5L/100km
C220 CDI Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.1L Diesel 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.4L/100km
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.6L/100km
C55 AMG	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 5.4L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 17.3L/100km
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.0L/100km
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Fuel Consumption: 9.6L/100km

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Model	Body Type	Specs	Braked Capacity
C230 Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 2.5L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C230 Evolution AMG	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 2.5L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C200 Kompressor	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C200 Kompressor Evolution	Body Type: Coupe	Specs: 1.8L ULP 6 SP MAN	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C55 AMG	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 5.4L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C230 Elegance	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C220 CDI Avantgarde	Body Type: Sedan	Specs: 2.1L Diesel 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C230 Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C230 Elegance	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 2.5L ULP 7 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C200 Kompressor Avantgarde	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg
C200 Kompressor Classic	Body Type: Wagon	Specs: 1.8L ULP 5 SP AUTO	Braked Capacity: 1500kg

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