SecondHandSense: Mercedes E-Class EstateWe are not a nation of estate-car lovers (principally perhaps because many of them look like saloon cars with a storage cube tacked onto the rear), but we have embraced the Mercedes E-Class estate. It is stylish, has vast carrying capacity, is very well finished and is a pleasure to drive. It also has a three-pointed star on the bonnet, which is reason enough for many people to buy it.
The star has been tarnished somewhat in recent years, however. When looking at the E-Class estate model from 2003 on, we were reminded of the numerous electronic faults that plagued bigger Mercedes cars and which have taken until about 2006 to remedy. When looking at a car of this vintage, it is imperative to check and see if it has been subject to a safety recall and what other faults may have become apparent in that time.
When the car was re-launched in 2003, it created a justifiable stir with its elegant and appealing styling, its interior finish and its practical layout. It made its main competitors look rather harsh by comparison. When you get above the Classic version and arrive at the better equipped Elegance and Avant Garde versions, the car becomes very desirable, with a choice across the range of engines from 2.2-litre diesel right up to 3.0-litre petrol. The optimum choice is probably the 2.7-litre CDI diesel which has plenty of pulling power, cruising performance and economy. In fact, after a long journey in a car like this, you will feel this is the way cars should be designed in terms of comfort and strength.
It is also wise to look for an automatic gearbox when buying in this bracket. This car is heavy and you will find a manual gearbox to be especially cumbersome in traffic or even on the open road. The automatic gearbox is also refined and well mated to the engines.The internal finish and rear load capacity are also noteworthy.
Everything about the inside has been well thought out, cleverly designed and is user friendly. The boot area is a massive 1,900 litres. More clever thought is evidenced by the fact that the rear door opens and closes with the click of a button instead of the driver having to reach skywards for a heavy tailgate.
The E-Class has a five star crash rating in the EuroNCAP crash test programme but, as mentioned, has a number of safety recalls recorded. At least 70,000 cars were recalled at one stage for problems with the electronic braking system. Potential buyers would be wise to look for a full service record for the car.
A 2005 model with the 2.2-litre CDI diesel engine, leather upholstery, automatic transmission, traction control (and all those other electronic aids), multiple airbags, climate control and other extras and with only 29,000 kilometres on the clock is on offer for €52,750. A 2005 version with the 2.7-litre diesel and with 40,000 kilometres is on offer for €49,950. A 2006 version with the same engine and 46,000 kilometres is for sale at €59,995.
FOR: Style, space and strength AGAINST: Those nasty expensive electronic problems in earlier cars