When you have children your life changes. Leisurely dinners become flying visits to ‘The Big Bear Burger Factory’. The relaxing holidays to Sandals is replaced by an exhausting weekend break to a Centre parc. And your choice of car is less about your desire for speed than your need for space.

The fact is that a one year old child is about the same size and weight as a Spaniel yet requires the same amount of equipment as a professional Carp fisherman. A weekend visit to the grand parents is accompanied by a push chair, walker, play pen, changing mat, industrial size tub of wet wipes, books, balls, kites, inflatable dolphin and selection of cuddly toys. Cars may be getting bigger but children are getting bigger quicker.

But do not despair if your feeling under pressure for space here’s a possibility, the Mercedes Benz V-Class, where in this case the ‘V’ stand for vast.

Introduced to the UK in 1996 the V-Class was based on the highly successful Mercedes Benz Vito van. These ‘Vanny’ underpinnings are hard to disguise and even the most casual observer would struggle to call a V-Class pretty. But as you’ve no doubt caught yourself saying ‘its not how they look it’s what’s on the inside that counts’ and in this regard the V-Class is a real beauty.

Inside buyers have a choice of 6 or 7 seats, the extra seat cost around £700 when the car was new and converted the twin rear seats into a three seater bench. Versatility was a priority for Mercedes Benz so the V-Class offers a huge number of seating lay outs, most popular is to turn the middle row around to form a space more like a railway carriage than a motor car. Fold down tables that stow in by the seat sides can then be used to form a large and very civilized environment that’s ideal for reading, writing or even lap topping while on the move. The ride is comfy and smooth thanks to rear air suspension as standard although speed bumps taken at speed can unsettle the system and the occupants.

Whilst rear passengers can bask in the space and comfort the experience for the drivers is less satisfying. As a van the Vito is pretty good but the addition of windows, rear seats, and trim pushes the kerb weight of the V-Class to nearly 2000kg and transforms it driving characteristics. Under steer is a constant companion and brakes feel spongy and unsure. The dash mounted gear stick seems a good idea but for shorter drivers it’s a bit of a stretch making the auto box a better option. The drivers’ seat is adjustable for height but that doesn’t change the fact that the steering wheel is tilted back towards horizontal only reinforcing the sensation that you are helming a bus not a car. But consol yourself, at least the passengers are having a good time eh?

Unsure how the public would view the V-Class Mercedes Benz introduced it with a limited model range, just one engine and three trim levels. Power came from a 2.3 litre petrol unit producing 143bhp but with neither power nor refinement on its side it was something of a disappointment. A more powerful V6 joined the line up in April 1998 but proved too thirsty for most buyers and it wasn’t until the introduction of a 2.2 litre turbo charged diesel in February 1999 that the V-Class gained broader appeal. Nearly as quick as the V6, more economical than the 2.3 litre petrol, the diesel is by far the best engine in the range and if budget will allow, the only one to consider.

The V-Class is available in three trim levels the Trend, Fashion and Ambiente. Confusingly the Fashion and Trend offered virtually identical list prices and very similar equipment levels the Fashion differentiated itself with the addition of an umbrella, compendium of games and a couple of coat hangers on the seat backs. Top spec Ambiente models provide noticeably more equipment and when new many buyers shelled out a hefty £3,500 for the leather upholstery, alloy wheels and wood trim to give the V-Class a much more up market feel. Today second hand examples command a premium of around £2,000 more than the entry level models.

Issues with build quality still haunt the V-Class and many buyers will be disappointed that it doesn’t exhibit the same level of quality normally associated with the brand. Whilst the seats feel like they’ve been lifted straight out of an SL the dashboard doesn’t and some owners report some pretty major mechanical problems. But as all parents know life is a compromise, few other vehicles offer this kind of space and when space is what you need, you have to pay the price. Just allow your self the extra few hundred quid to make sure you buy yourself a decent warranty. That way the only whining you’ll have to worry about on a journey is from your two old, not your transmission.

• Boot – 581litres of space even with all the seats in place, but space is tall and narrow not low and deep like a saloon car
• Engine – 220CDi diesel is the best bet, avoid V6 2.8 in V280 model as it’s a fuel guzzler
• Twin sliding doors – check mechanism carefully as prone to failure
• Air conditioning – standard on all models since June 1998
• Drive shaft boots – check carefully as if damaged will cause the universal joints to fail
• Seats – At nearly 40KG they are very heavy to remove; 2001 model year cars and later have lighter (28kg) seats
• Leather – standard on Ambiente it may seem a little decadent if you have kids but it is hard wearing and easy to clean
• Safety – individual seats have three point seat belts and twin armrests, all models have ABS, twin airbags and traction control system
• Games compendium – standard on Ambiente and Fashion models but most sets will have long since disappeared
• Servicing – Popular with private hire and taxi companies some V-Class have covered inter galactic mileages, check the history to authenticate the genuine mileage

• Mercedes Benz V220CDi Ambiente
  4 speed automatic gearbox
  2001 ‘Y’ with 40,000 miles
  Pay £16,750 at a dealer £15,500 privately

Values Mercedes Benz V220CDi Ambiente Auto

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited October 2004