Description
**** Deposit Taken***
1997 Mercedes-Benz (W202) C180 Sport Auto (5)
Just 33, 000 Miles - Extensive History - Doctor Owner 17 Years - Last 9 Years in SE France
Stunning 572 Ruby Red with 641A Anthracite Sport Check Cloth Interior
Rare Sport Model - Cruise - Air conditioning
A Simply Stunning Example - Probably The Best of its's Type Available
THE CAR
Date of Registration: 20th August 1997
VRM: R331 VTW
MOT Expiry: 31st March 2026 (No Advisory Notices)
Mileage: 33, 500 Miles
Service History: 9 Stamps (90% MB Main Dealer/ MB Specialist) + Some Invoices/ Old MOT Certificates
Last Service: 1st April 2025 at 32, 499 Miles
Keys: Two (working) Remote Flip Keys (one unused!) + 2 Alarm By-pass Keys
Complete Tool Kit/ Unused First Aid Kit/ Warning Triangle/ Unused Spare Wheel & Tyre
Previous Keepers on V5: 3 (+ 1 Owner in SE France for 9 Years & MTSV)
HPI Status: 100% Clear (report included)
FEATURES
Drivers Airbag
ABS
Five Speed Auto Transmission
Sport Check Interior (Sport Spec)
Carbon Fibre Effect Cappings (Sport Spec)
Smaller Diameter Steering Wheel (Sport Spec)
Lower & Slightly Stiffer Suspension (Sport Spec)
Quicker Steering (Sport Spec)
Rear Headrests
Vanity Mirrors in Sunvisors
Aircon (very cold!)
Outside Temperature Gauge
Cruise Control
Remote Central Locking
MB Security System (MBSS)
Electric Windows x 4
Electric/ Heated Mirrors
Power Steering
Electric/ Heated Mirrors
Load Adjustable Headlamps
Front Fog Lamps
Period (Expensive) Alpine TDM-7543M Tape/ Tuner with Alpine CHM-S601 6CD Changer in Boot
Factory Speaker System
Electric Aerial
Factory Tinted Glass with Gradient Band Windscreen
Genuine AMG 15 x 7J Alloys Wheels (Sport Spec) with Almost New Michelin Alpin-6 205/ 60 R15 Tyres
Genuine MB Ribbed Floor Mats
SUMMARY
This is an absolute gem! Supplied new by Reliance Mercedes, Chingford, to a lady doctor, living in a very smart suburb of London, this vehicle spent most of it's life garaged in her seventeen year tenure, hence it's incredible condition, in fact I'd go as far as saying its one of the best W202 C-Class I've come across, even now at 28 years old, it still has the look and feel of a new car.
I originally sold this car back in October 2016 to a British Gentleman who resided in SE France and who kept it in a dry integral garage, covered in soft blankets, hardly using it. Sadly he passed away in October 2024 and his widow asked me if I'd be interested in taking it back, to which I jumped at the chance knowing how good this car is. She told me he'd spent more time polishing it than driving it, and would only take it out on dry days, so its as immaculate now as when I sold it in 2016! It's also still incredibly low mileage too; it left me in 2016 at 30, 600 miles (which was low then) and nine years later in March this year it was still on a mere 32, 500 miles, which given this car is now almost 28 years can be considered ultra low mileage; all the French paperwork is supplied which documents its time there to further substantiate this. If you consider that it was driven to France in October 2016 and then driven back to me in March 2025 which collectively is a total distance of around 1700 miles, it shows how little it was used during its time in France!
On arrival back, the car passed its MOT, and I returned the car back to its original UK "R" prefix plates. It also underwent a full serviced. I then subsequently sold to a gentleman from Harrogate at the end of April, however due to a genuine change in his circumstances (an impending move to the USA, something he'll be happy to confirm) he reluctantly had to let this car go, so it’s back with me again. In his short tenure, he covered just less than 1000 miles which I have to say has done it the world of good as I think its driving better than ever. Believe me, I didn’t need asking twice if I’d have this one back as W202’s of this calibre just don’t come up too often. There are a few W202 C-Class's for sale that might look good on top, but there are very few, if any, that are as good underneath as this one. My mechanic still thinks this car is far too cheap at the asking price, as he says its almost like a new car, he cant believe just how good it is underneath.
This is also the rare and desirable Sport variant of the W202 range, which makes it a much more involving vehicle to drive, but without ruining the ride quality. Unlike the sport variants of Mercedes saloons today, the conservative ethos of Mercedes in the 1990's, meant they didn't go over the top when doing this, so there's no in your face spoilers or stripes; the changes they made were both subtle, but highly effective, and the car feels much more taught and "planted" on the road.
Finished in resplendent 572 Ruby red with fantastic Anthracite Sport Check interior, which pays homage to the interior of the 300SL Gullwing of the 1950's, which gives it that subtle Sporting feel. I have to say my second ever Mercedes was W202 C230K, back in the late 90's, which had the same interior, which I admit I bought in spite of the interior, not because of it. However, I now think, age has been very kind to the check design, and now I actually think it really makes the car feel a bit special especially given its roots; you might say I would say that as I'm selling it, but it's a view shared by everyone who has seen it.
As you'd expect, this car is an absolute dream to drive, and still feels (and smells) almost like a new vehicle. The durable M111 1. 8 Litre 16v power plant is both economical and surprisingly lively, driving the rear wheels through the super smooth 5-speed auto transmission also makes for very relaxed and frugal motorway cruising too. Everything works exactly as it should, and as you'd quite rightly expect with a vehicle of this quality and nature, and it comes with all it's original books, and keys and tools, all of which are in the same immaculate condition as the car itself.
So, If you're looking for a superb, and quite rare example of the W202 C-Class, I don't think you'll find many as good as this one, I can’t stress how good it is. I've actually noticed as decent examples of the W201 190 become ever rarer, the W202 has gained quite a following; its certainly a very worthy successor to its legendary predecessor, so perhaps the W202 C-Class can even be seen as a good investment as it follows in the W201's foot steps. Like the 190, it retains that "hewn from granite" feel that has sadly been lost on newer Mercedes, but equally it's refined enough to use everyday, yet is simple enough to have proven extremely reliable, which make its an excellent proposition for as an easy to live with classic.
MTSV
Established in 2005, unlike some, I don’t just simply go out, buy any old car, give it a good clean, then advertise it for more than the purchase price, disregarding any issues the car may have in the hope the new buyer won’t notice…I just couldn’t do that. The cars I source are carefully selected and I work very hard so that when my cars leave me, I have the satisfaction of knowing they are as good as they possibly can be within the constraints I have. As such I have many repeat customers and new customers that have been recommended via word of mouth…the ultimate accolade for anyone in business.
Any other questions, please feel free to contact me. I'm a firstly and foremostly a true car enthusiast of many, many years, and a Mercedes Club Member, so it's a pleasure to meet and speak to like-minded people.
Finally, I'm situated in Keighley, West Yorkshire (Postal Code Area BD21) which is approximately 11 miles from Skipton, and 20 miles West of Leeds.
All major debit/ credit cards accepted.
