Do some searching. This info has been discussed. My opinion is get a 98 for 5K or less. They are out there. http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/1125318822.html I think they seemed to get better all the way to 2000, the end of the W202, just based on problems posted here. The weak points have been listed before. Mine is very good. Only weak areas have been some electrical accessories and the front end components. I like the 4 cyl. plenty of power for me and very good MPG.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra