##merck.jpg --Right##TWO months in and the new Mercedes-Benz C-class is living up to initial impressions and proving a great car to live with. Most pundits have billed the new C-class as a huge leap forward from its predecessor and it's a view I share, having spent more than 5,000 miles behind the wheel - it's sleek, dynamic and great fun to drive.

There are so many improvements and enhancements from the old model, but for me the best feature is the 2.0-litre supercharged 163bhp engine and with about 170lb-ft of torque to play with, the Kompressor will hit 60mph in just 9.3 seconds, which is great fun for a greying boy-racer like me.

In the fleet market, the C-class will undoubtedly have wide driver appeal with the executive user-chooser, but for a view on its performance in the second-hand market I spoke to the residual value experts at CAP Motor Research.

According to CAP Monitor editor Mark Norman, the C-class is the RV trendsetter. 'It's a wonderful car that takes the C-class back to the top of the pile. It's smaller, more dynamic and more appealing to a wider-range of people - and it beats its predecessor in every area you can think of,' he said.

Our C200K Elegance auto has a residual value of ú11,275/40% after three years/60,000 miles compared with the old shape C230 Kompressor Elegance auto which retained ú11,350 (40%) over the same operating cycle. The only niggle I have with the car is with the climate control system which, on a number of occasions in very cold temperatures, has not always done a satisfactory job in demisting the front screen and windows, although it's fine after a few minutes.

Mike Gunnell