Which "C" class? Best engine? best year(s)?

I promise, one of these days, instead of asking about this or that car I will actually buy one.

My other thread about the 318Ti versus C230 coupe got me to thinking about the C class Mercedes. Is there a year or years that stand above any other year for these sedans? I think I read on here once that the best engine is one of the inline 6s, if I can find one. Obviously, if I get serious about a C class, it will be 6 cylinder powered, but is any engine that can be recommended over any other of the 6s?

This car would be a DD of sorts...if that helps.

You can only get an I6 in the first generation. I don't know anything about the AMG one, but the 2.8 was derived from the same engine as what was in the 300E/E320 which my dad still says is the best engine he's ever owned--That is including GM V8's, BMW I4 and I6's, toyota's, Ford V8's, etc. etc.

FWIW, we looked at a 280C, the first generation, pretty hard. Even though it was supposedly the car that started to bring MB quality down, this one felt rock solid at 130,000 miles.

I personally would skip the C class and look at the older 190 series or W124 chassis E class. Just my .02.

Any of the C class Benzes with a 6 cylinder (V6 or I6) is nice.

The older 190 cars may need more attention due to age and wear. The W124 is a nice car but not as sporting as the newer C class chassis.

I'm a big fan of the C class with a nice 6. Get an AMG if its in the budget. :)

This W124 video is amazing though. Talk about built tough!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn19Qj5jtf4

We bought an '89 190E 2.6 a couple of months ago.

So far, it it has been a good car. I've had to replace the water pump and trans-cooler line. It drives nearly as smooth as the previous W123 280E, but with much much more pickup.

The 190's have this thing behind the driver that looks like a back seat. We found it useless even with small kids. If I moved the seat forward enough for my then 6 year old to sit back there I could not drive the car for more than a couple miles.

On the other side of things I added some KYB shocks and some decent rubber and it was a fun car to toss around. The 2.6 had good pep for what it was. I always wanted to add forced induction and a 5 speed but life got in the way.

Due to the kids getting bigger I only had the car for a short time.

500E/E500 is the way to go. I still lust them.

amg_rx7 wrote: This W124 video is amazing though. Talk about built tough! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn19Qj5jtf4

That's my Benz!

I've been nothing but impressed since I bought mine. I'd like to find bigger swaybars for it, but it's really nice as is. I keep going back and forth over keeping it; if it could tow comfortably I'd keep it forever I think.

What are you trying to tow with it? At least in Europe, they have a fairly high tow rating.

AMG C36? I think this was one of the first cars AMG built after mercedes bought them out. It was either the C36 or the E36, 3.6l I6 motor. Might make you go broke though, you did ask about the best engine.

There is also the C43 AMG. Can be found rather cheap.

190 2.6 5 speed has got to be one of the better choices in this class. Keep in mind Mercedes quality took a real nosedive after 1994 or so (more dependent on when the car was designed than the actual build year... the 1994 E series just happened to be the tipping point)

But an 400E is so cheap, I think I'd choose one of those instead. (500E is of course THE choice, but you could buy 3 400's for what an E500 will run)