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MERCEDES-BENZ C280
It's a sad truth about human beings, but all too often it takes a crisis to precipitate the kind of change
that results in excellence.
Take Mercedes-Benz, for instance.
Up until the arrival of the C-class cars, which replaced the 190 in 1994, all of Mercedes' products had become so outrageously expensive, so completely out of touch with worldwide economic trends, that sales for the German luxury maker had slumped to disastrous levels. Levels that forced the announced elimination of tens of thousands of jobs in the early '90s.
Worse, pessimistic sales forecasts at that time pointed to a disastrous long-term trend. Heck, in 1993, long-time rival BMW outsold Mercedes for the first time ever and that trend, too, looked as though it would continue. Yes, a crisis was at hand.
Sure, Daimler-Benz was rich enough in 1998 to take over Chrysler, but half a dozen years ago the company that made the three-point star a worldwide symbol of excellence had some major rethinking to do. Certainly there were tough decisions to be made on the business side (jobs were cut in a Daimler-Benz re-structuring), but also the engineering and design side of the company had to change in the early '90s.
It was time to create cars for real-world customers, not just those with wallets fat enough to support a passion for distinctive engineering. And certainly it was time for the engineers at Mercedes to stop building cars for themselves, regardless of cost.
And they did. Witness the Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder C220 and the six-cylinder C280. Essentially identical except for equipment and engines, they were clearly breakthrough cars for Mercedes. When launched in Canada they were named overall Car of the Year by the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada for 1994. On a continental basis, the C-class that year was named North American Car of the Year by a jury of 45 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States.
What's so special about this model? For starters, they were the first Mercedes products to have cupholders. They also arrived priced well against their competition (BMW 3-series). Indeed, because the
C-class was so superior to the 190, it immediately looked like a bargain.
The C220 was the entry model but I've always felt its 147-horsepower four-cylinder left performance a bit anemic. Mercedes apparently came to that conclusion, too. Displacement was increased to 2.3-litre for the C230 and most recently, the supercharged C230 Kompressor has been introduced. The C280 arrived with the 2.8 multivalve inline six (194 horsepower) introduced earlier this decade in the 300E 2.8. And then for '98, a 2.8-litre multi-valve V6 was introduced with about the same horsepower, but lower emissions and other advantages.
You should also know that all C-class cars-220, 230 or 280--have always been loaded with the basic luxury goodies: dual airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, CFC-free air conditioning, climate control, power windows and sunroof, central locking for doors, trunk lid and fuel-filler door and an eight-speaker AM/FM cassette stereo (CD is an option).
Compared to the 190, the C-class cars were and are slightly larger: 5.8 cm. longer overall, with a wheelbase 2.5 cm. longer at 2,690 mm (106 in.). The extra room showed up in the back seat (notoriously cramped in the 190).
Stylistically, the C-class has held up well over the years. The nearly flush grille shares cues from the previous S-class cars and the whole curvaceous shape still looks right at home with Mercedes offerings that have been styled more recently.
Inside, Mercedes' designers followed the trends of the early '90s, with a curving, terraced dashboard that combined with generous glass areas to promote an open feeling. Instruments and controls were laid out in pure, no-nonsense Mercedes fashion.
Mercedes expected the C-class to appeal to younger buyers and it has. That's something the 190 was never able to do that to the company's satisfaction. The cars have been proven to be much more nimble than the old 190, too. A new suspension design and sharper steering had lots to do with that.
Do remember that powertrains for all C-class cars have been improved since this model was launched and there have been various refinements and safety features such a side airbags which have since arrived as well. So a '95 C280 is by no means identical to a '98 or '99 model.
That said, the Canadian Red Book shows that a '95 C280 is a pretty good used buy, given that visually the car has evolved only a little these past few years. As you would expect, quality levels have been top-notch, so if a new C-class is just too much, but you want a Mercedes, an older C280 may just be the car for you.
CURRENT RED BOOK PRICING (avg. retail): MERCEDES-BENZ C280
1999-46,550 (original MSRP: $49,950)
1998-$41,100 ($49,950)
1997-$35,825 ($50,995)
1996-$31,175 ($49,995)
1995-$25,950 ($48,750)
1994-$21,850 ($48,750)
1993-NA
1992-NA
BUYER'S ALERTS: Note an issue with the EGR (exhaust gas recirculate) valve that called for a replacement in Jan of 1995 (TSB CMP95_0131). On your test drive also be alert to drivetrain noises and vibrations (41_018, APR 95), slipping or soft shifts from the transmission (ATRATB268, JAN 95) and test the sunroof, especially its tilt operation (CMP91_0551, AUG 94).
THE VERDICT: A three- or four-year-old C280 looks like a good used buy if it passes the mechanical inspection.
CHECK THE SPECS
1994 MERCEDES-BENZ C280
Market segment: Executive sedan.
Typical market competition: Lexus ES300, Infiniti J30, BMW 3-series, Acura Legend, Saab 9000, Volvo 850, 940 960, Audi 100, Chrysler LHS and New Yorker, Cadillac Seville STS, Lincoln Continental.
Engine: (front engine/rear-wheel drive) 2.8-litre fuel-injected in-line six-cylinder engine, with double overhead cams and 24 valves; 194 hp at 5,500 rpm; torque rated at 199 lbs-ft at 3,750 rpm.
Transmission: four-speed electronic automatic.
Steering: recirculating ball, power-assisted.
Brakes: power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with standard anti-lock braking.
Tires: P195/65R-15.
Fuel economy: (litres/100 km) 12.0 city/8.5 hwy or 24/33 mpg.
Wheelbase: 2,690 mm (106 in.).
Curb weight: 1,493 kg. (3,291 lbs.)
Pros
* Solid, "Mercedes" ride
* Quiet and comfortable
* Affordable, by Mercedes standards, with all that means
Cons
* Competing in tough marketplace
* "Fun" quotient not as high as with BMW 3-series
* Affordable, but still not inexpensive
OVERALL SCORE: 8.0 (out of 10)
ROAD TEST REPORT CARD for 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280
Access: B+
Driving position: B
Instruments/Controls: B
Visibility: B
Climate Control: B-
Steering: B-
Brakes: B+
Handling: B-
Acceleration: B
Engine: B+
Transmission: B
Interior space: C+
Trunk/Cargo: B-
Noise/Vibration/Harshness: B+
DURABILITY/RELIABILITY REPORT CARD for 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280
Overall: B+
Mechanical: B+
Hardware/Body/Paint/Trim: B+
SAFETY REPORT CARD
Anti-lock braking: yes
Airbags (driver/passenger): yes/yes
Traction control: no
Driver/Passenger Crash Protection (0-5 stars with five stars the best): No test planned
INSURANCE HISTORY
Claim cost rating: NA
Collision cost rating: NA
Comprehensive cost rating: NA
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