Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £19,672 to £51,570
The concept, bold looks, enjoyable handling, practicality, spray-reducing wheel-arch liners
Automatic transmission, awkward rear end styling, parking brake, rubbery steering, unexciting C200 K engine, lack of rear wiper, illogical electric window switches (they move in and out, not up and down)
The Sports Coupe hasn't taken off to quite the degree expected, as it's neither an out-and-out sports coupe nor a luxury cruiser - but it's an interesting concept, and a nicely adult proposition for those who have outgrown their hot hatches but who aren't ready for a stodgy saloon.
Mercedes slipped up a bit with this one, and early examples weren't up to scratch. Problems included engine management glitches (some cars had very jerky acceleration and power losses), electrical failures and general trim/quality defects. These should have been ironed out by now, however, and all the basic mechanicals should be pretty sturdy and up to prior Mercedes standards. The company offers the 30-year mobilio-life anti-corrosion guarantee, too, which has to be reassuring.
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wrote on 14 11 2006