This is a 2005 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Elegance SE — which, translated from German, means “I’m still going strong long after your shiny new hatchback has been recycled into tin foil”. Yes, it’s got high mileage. And by “high,” I mean the sort of mileage you’d expect on a car that’s circumnavigated the globe… several times. But here’s the thing — it’s a Mercedes. A proper one. Built in the days before they decided plastic dashboards and four-cylinder petrols were “the future.” This one’s been looked after. Fastidiously. Religiously. Possibly even lovingly. The service records read like a meticulously kept diary: 13,973, 25,497, 36,253, 47,452, 59,294, 71,007, 86,829, 105,217, 116,492, 142,997, and a heroic 182,182 miles. Each one a testament to oil changes, filters, and the sort of attention to detail usually reserved for national monuments. Under the bonnet, you get the indestructible 2.1-litre CDI diesel — an engine that sips fuel like a Victorian lady sipping tea, yet pulls like a small train. The ride? Smooth as a diplomat’s apology. The cabin? All leather, walnut trim, and that distinct Mercedes smell that says “I’m worth it”. It’s not pretending to be anything it’s not. It’s not pretending to be new. It’s an honest, hardworking, wonderfully comfortable Mercedes-Benz saloon that will, if you treat it right, probably still be going when your grandchildren are learning to drive. So if you want a car with character, history, and the ability to laugh in the face of obsolescence, this is it. Bring your sense of humour, a full tank of diesel, and an appreciation for engineering that simply refuses to quit.