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Mercedes C - Class W202 vs Mercedes C-Class W203
The Mercedes Benz C Class W202 (Below) and the Mercedes Benz C Class W203. Most people get confused by car jargon
What you need to know:
The Mercedes Benz is one of the cars that command respect. But given their price tag, most people mainly eye the C- Class W202 and the C-Class W203 because they are somewhat affordable. Mustapha Ziraba compared the two cars to help you make a better choice.
The first Mercedes to wear a C-Class badge appeared in 1993, when it replaced the 190 sedan as the company’s least expensive model. Known as the W202 in Stuttgart speak, this first C-Class quickly became one of the brand’s best-selling models worldwide.
Given that, the second-generation C-Class also known as W203 still in Stuttgart speak had big shoes to fill, Mercedes had to make sure it pulled out all the stops to convince potential buyers they are getting their money’s worth in an already advanced used car market.
Truth is, ever since it replaced the beloved old 190, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been a perfectly competent entry-level luxury car.
In Uganda that three pointed Star on the bonnet shines even more brightly for the ever increasing demographic of people with a little extra pomposity in their wallets and purses.
Anyone and everyone who is not really right there but feels the desire to get into the echelons of Mercedes Benz ownership has their eyes set on either the Mercedes Benz C Class W202 (1993 – 2000) or the Mercedes Benz C Class W203 (2001 – 2007).
EXTERIOR
The W203 simply looks better than the W202 which first appeared in 1993. This sentiment is quite true for me, you and perhaps your neighbour. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a few who prefer the W202 classic look. Popularly known as the baby benz, the W202 has traditional Benz sedan personality traits. Think of it as a smaller rendition of the bigger cousins of the time including the E-Class and the aristocratic S-Class. Despite its advancing age, this C-Class has stood the test of time remarkably well, even surviving the need to adopt more aerodynamic shapes. In fact the facelift that happened in 1998 was very welcome. To me the newer W203 is easier on the eyes from every angle. Skewed towards a sports coupe, it’s simply beautiful to look at, the 2005 refresh made it even better.
INTERIOR
For the W202, if you have been in a Mercedes of the time, it is what is in this one however in smaller proportions. It looks dated too. However for the W203, the interior speaks volumes of the upgrade the Germans intended. Both cars seat five passengers but are more comfortable for four particularly if the rear passengers are all adults. The Interior is bigger in the W203.
DRIVING DYNAMICS AND ENGINE SIZES
If we were limited to two words to describe the W203 on our roads, they would be sweet and competence.
Sweet because no one part of the car dominates. The engine talks to the transmission like two old friends catching up at a party.
Competent because even when driven at speed or a corner, it cannot be caught out. The W202 on the other hand is a sort of retired soldier with softer suspensions. It gives a sort of laid back lazy drive.
Engine
The W202 premiered around the world with a 120-hp 1.8-litre as the base engine, badged C180, though the 2.0-liter C200 and 2.2-litre C220 have proved popular.
The 2.3-litre and 2.6-litre V6 also appear in the W202 range, with the former and the C200 receiving the help of a supercharger aka Kompressor, badged as the C230 Kompressor and the C200 Kompressor respectively.
Most of the engines in the W203 were carried over from its predecessor, though a number of power plants (including the 3.2-litre V6) were new. The base engine was a 1.8-litre with a version that incorporated a Kompressor.
The W203 has a wider range of engine configurations but the most popular are the C180, C230 Kompressor and the C240 V6. Larger engines like the C280 and C320 are quite thirsty.
Maintenance
Mercedes is a very reliable brand by every metric. But I have to qualify that seeing that these are old cars, the variable in that statement is the previous owner and perhaps the current owner.
If you get a good one that was well maintained, and you also continue that very tradition you shall not regret.
Thing is with both cars, you either have to be mechanically inclined or you have to know a mechanic who is particularly good at fixing them.
By mechanically inclined I don’t mean physically, but the idea of knowing what your car is all about.
Its willingness to actually understand both the common and uncommon gremlins, why they exist and how to fix them. This way your maintenance bill will somewhat reduce.
Things as mundane as the air temperature sensor can grow into a big baboon on the back. Paul Kaganzi, a mechanic suggested proactive preventive maintenance sort of binding.
“Both cars are over 10 years old, any car over 10 years old is at some point going to be a problem car, and trust me, German problem cars are not the ones you want to hang with.
The earlier models of both the W202 and W203 are maintenance nightmares. With the W202, parts are readily available and not as expensive as many would expect.
The W203 is still a new favourite on the market and because of this fact, expect higher prices for the available parts.
With all the new technical innovations on the W203, chances of their failure are higher,” Kaganzi explains.
THE PRICE TAG
What made Mercedes-Benz unique is that the three-pointed star signals something that is widely understood, engineering excellence. It doesn’t matter what the car is, a small car, big truck, limousine, delivery van, tour bus, sports car, if it has a Mercedes-Benz badge, people know and believe it was well made, extremely durable, and reassuringly capable. And, like any product with similar attributes say a Rolex watch, Chanel purse, Maui Jim Sunglasses, it naturally costs a little more.
A Mercedes in whatever form in Uganda shall show that you are living the dream. However with the C - Class, the countless examples on Ugandan roads sort of changes the tone of a conversation around living the dream. Nevertheless People love to show off and what better way than with a car that looks expensive no matter its actual cost. With the engine carry overs for someone moving from a late model W202 to a first version W203, aside from the cosmetic changes might not realise much alongside the huge price difference. I see better value for money in the W202 than the W203.
The former is way cheaper with a well-earned reputation for true Mercedes engineering. The W203 is still expensive for what you get. Nonetheless, truth is, I think that people who care enough instinctively know that a real Mercedes starts with letters E and S.
That’s the league that genuinely places you a notch above the rest in the sedan segment. All else put aside, purchase of a Mercedes Benz is beyond mere logic.
It’s really all about emotion. If going for a W202, stick with the late models at the end of its lifecycle, that is, 1999 or 2000 model. Anything before then shall be in constant need of attention as they are likely to have mechanical issues. The W203 is questionable too, again because it is a completely new platform with several technologies, a later facelift model W203 would be the best, that is, 2004 plus model year. General rule of thumb for any Mercedes is get the facelift model.
Weighing scale
Mercedes W202 Mercedes W203
Year of manufacture 1993 – 2000 2001 – 2007
Engine size: C 200 (202.020) (136 Hp) C 200 CGI (170 Hp)
Engine power: 136 hp 170 hp
Maximum speed : 203 (198) km/h 235 km/h
Accerelation (0-100kph) sec: 10.8 (11) sec 9 sec
Fuel economy (highway): 13.1 (13.2) l/100 km. 11.1 l/100 km.
Tank capacity litres 62L 62L
Cost price for used : Shs15 – 20m Shs20 – 25m
Resale value: Shs7 -10m Shs12 – 20m
Power steering: Hydraulic Steering Steering rack
Fuel system: Multi-point injection Direct injection
Coupe type: Sedan Sedan
Rear suspension: Helical spring Transverse stabiliser
Compression ratio: 9.6 10.3
