@henryn said:
In many cases, what they are tracking are “annoyances” rather than actual “reliability”. Some other sources talk about “initial quality”, which is more closely related to “annoyances”.
What would be most meaningful to me would be an actual count of the number of trips made to the service department under warranty. I have owned new cars and trucks that never went in for warranty work, and others which required several trips to the service department.
In my younger days, I drove mostly older used cars and trucks. I wanted to know if a 10 year old model with 100k miles would reliably get me to work and not leave me stranded beside the road. To this day, I still mainly think of reliability in that way. And in that regards, Honda and Toyota have always lead the pack. Closely followed by anything on the Cougar platform, and certain Buick models, such as the LeSabre.
——————————————— @henryn, since you are a computer guy you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding out how @imidazol97 hacked into your Edmunds login info.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
@qbrozen said:
that's crazy. I would NOT go through that. I was thinking: remove seats, maybe put a wall up behind driver, change to much larger rear door, add pull-out ramps, rattle can over the yellow, done. Would easily fit 2 vehicles and possibly 3 Kei cars.
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Very nice. You probably came close to breaking your budget on that one.
By the way, that was the color combo of my Stelvio. Loved it. At least, I think it was grey. Pretty sure it was. My 135i was black over red. 350z was grey over orange. That was the best combo I've ever had to date. But I love orange.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Tried bidding on an e30 Touring last night. Auto trans was holding me back a bit. About 60k miles, cracked dash, possibly bad guibo?? There was a language barrier issue but something about shaking. Anyway, I limited myself to $8k with shipping. It went for about $14k before shipping. Yikes.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Tried bidding on an e30 Touring last night. Auto trans was holding me back a bit. About 60k miles, cracked dash, possibly bad guibo?? There was a language barrier issue but something about shaking. Anyway, I limited myself to $8k with shipping. It went for about $14k before shipping. Yikes.
If it was LHD that number doesn’t surprise me and we’ll probably see it on BaT in a few months. Guibo isn’t that big of a deal, shame about the cracked dash but those miles commanded a premium.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
By the way, that was the color combo of my Stelvio. Loved it. At least, I think it was grey. Pretty sure it was. My 135i was black over red. 350z was grey over orange. That was the best combo I've ever had to date. But I love orange.
The C43 that got away was Brilliant Blue over Cranberry Red; my wife and I liked it, but it was... different.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I have someone putting a bid together for a garage. Also just signed off on a shed. The shed is for the plow, lawn mower, motorcycles, and bikes. Garage I've requested is 24 x 40, so basically an oversized 4-car setup. Although, in reality, it will be 2 cars, a workspace, and a Sprinter. I could grow that with lifts. But I'm already turning the attached 3-car into a 5-car with a couple of lifts. At least, that's the plan. So, for those keeping score, enough space for, theoretically, 8 cars plus a Sprinter indoors. My driveway has been comfortably fitting 9, but the wife gets antsy when it exceeds 4-5.
Forgive my rudimentary layout, but I don't have a ton of free time. Here is the proposed build and location. The small shed there now will go away. The new larger shed is going at the back of the property out of the way.
Or why not just one 16' door with 4' of extra clearance on both sides rather than 2'?
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Very nice. You probably came close to breaking your budget on that one.
130 MPH speed limiter on an AMG is against all godly and manly laws. Good thing it's derestricted to 155.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Tried bidding on an e30 Touring last night. Auto trans was holding me back a bit. About 60k miles, cracked dash, possibly bad guibo?? There was a language barrier issue but something about shaking. Anyway, I limited myself to $8k with shipping. It went for about $14k before shipping. Yikes.
If it was LHD that number doesn’t surprise me and we’ll probably see it on BaT in a few months. Guibo isn’t that big of a deal, shame about the cracked dash but those miles commanded a premium.
Maybe. But, at that price, I would have needed at least $22k to make it worth it. Too big of a risk for me with the auto trans and unknown needs.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
@roadburner said:
I did better than I hoped; it was several thousand less than a new M240i and not much more than a similarly equipped 2020 M340i.
Looks nice but color me surprised with it having 4 doors, 2 pedals and a hole in the roof
I would have preferred a coupe, but they were thin on the ground and were almost always at least $4k more expensive.
Two pedals? I still have the Club Sport and the Wrangler. And the track rat replacement for the Clubman will almost certainly be a stick. On a car like the C43 I’m sure there are a few without a hole in the roof, but I have yet to see one.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Very nice. You probably came close to breaking your budget on that one.
I did better than I hoped; it was several thousand less than a new-or used-M240i equipped to my tastes and not much more than a similarly equipped 2020 M340i.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Awesome! Congrats. Welcome to the club.
Nice option load there - all of that was extra cost (digital cluster, lighting, parking, drivers assist, performance exhaust, etc). HUD is quite rare on these I believe - MB got into that game a lot later than BMW and still has much less implementation, especially on smaller cars for some reason. Is your roof pano? And yeah, Sport+ does change some things, even on something like my wagon, you can tell.
Funny thing, years ago I had the OG C43, which was a V8 shoehorned into a W202, on the cusp of becoming a modern collectible now:
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Welcome to the old man gray club.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Awesome! Congrats. Welcome to the club.
Nice option load there - all of that was extra cost (digital cluster, lighting, parking, drivers assist, performance exhaust, etc). HUD is quite rare on these I believe - MB got into that game a lot later than BMW and still has much less implementation, especially on smaller cars for some reason. Is your roof pano? And yeah, Sport+ does change some things, even on something like my wagon, you can tell.
Funny thing, years ago I had the OG C43, which was a V8 shoehorned into a W202, on the cusp of becoming a modern collectible now:
Very nice! Yes; Pano roof. The one that I missed only had the lighting, digital cluster, performance exhaust, Burmester, and HUD. Go figure. No NAV but it did have CarPlay. The thing I do like about the parking package is the surround view. And I played with the Distronic Plus and it let me drive for an extended distance before it told me to grab the wheel. The BMWs I drove only let you take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I hadn't updated my spreadsheet in a while. I just did it and came to the conclusion that my son's Opel is officially the 70th vehicle I've purchased/leased in my lifetime.
I think, as long as they are titled in my name, I'll continue counting them. Once (if ever) they start going through the company name, they'll be on a separate tally.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Awesome! Congrats. Welcome to the club.
Nice option load there - all of that was extra cost (digital cluster, lighting, parking, drivers assist, performance exhaust, etc). HUD is quite rare on these I believe - MB got into that game a lot later than BMW and still has much less implementation, especially on smaller cars for some reason. Is your roof pano? And yeah, Sport+ does change some things, even on something like my wagon, you can tell.
Funny thing, years ago I had the OG C43, which was a V8 shoehorned into a W202, on the cusp of becoming a modern collectible now:
Very nice! Yes; Pano roof. The one that I missed only had the lighting, digital cluster, performance exhaust, Burmester, and HUD. Go figure. No NAV but it did have CarPlay. The thing I do like about the parking package is the surround view. And I played with the Distronic Plus and it let me drive for an extended distance before it told me to grab the wheel. The BMWs I drove only let you take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds.
I overlooked that you have Surround Sound, another not-inexpensive option (I believe there was the standard Burmester branded speaker, and the Surround Sound option). Surround view is great for tight parking - when I chose my car, there were a few "deal breakers" - lighting, digital gauges, and surround view were requirements. The latter has practical uses, especially when backing into tighter spots or parallel parking. I can't recall if distronic has a 30 second or 60 second timeframe until the car chimes for input - I believe you just have to lightly squeeze the wheel in a certain spot, or barely move it. Like all of the lower level autonomous functions, it can be quirky - mine sometimes likes to use the whole road, and panics too easily, but on long stretches of sparsely traveled boring road, it is a nice convenience.
I hadn't updated my spreadsheet in a while. I just did it and came to the conclusion that my son's Opel is officially the 70th vehicle I've purchased/leased in my lifetime.
I think, as long as they are titled in my name, I'll continue counting them. Once (if ever) they start going through the company name, they'll be on a separate tally.
Did you run out of space in your signature for the "70+ car history and counting" statement? It wasn't too long ago that you were crossing forty.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
100% fleet current run rate. 100% fleet no CEL's or other indicators of maladies.
Both Audi's are ready to be tracked or driven across the Country at any time.
I could go for more quantity, but then it would be very hard to maintain the quality (limited $$$$) and for certain, the 100% condition/no break downs/ no CEL's rate.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I hadn't updated my spreadsheet in a while. I just did it and came to the conclusion that my son's Opel is officially the 70th vehicle I've purchased/leased in my lifetime.
I think, as long as they are titled in my name, I'll continue counting them. Once (if ever) they start going through the company name, they'll be on a separate tally.
Did you run out of space in your signature for the "70+ car history and counting" statement? It wasn't too long ago that you were crossing forty.
I couldn't keep up with it! I took it out when I wasn't sure anymore. haha.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
@roadburner said:
I did better than I hoped; it was several thousand less than a new M240i and not much more than a similarly equipped 2020 M340i.
Looks nice but color me surprised with it having 4 doors, 2 pedals and a hole in the roof
I would have preferred a coupe, but they were thin on the ground and were almost always at least $4k more expensive.
Two pedals? I still have the Club Sport and the Wrangler. And the track rat replacement for the Clubman will almost certainly be a stick. On a car like the C43 I’m sure there are a few without a hole in the roof, but I have yet to see one.
I doubt the moonroof makes an appreciable difference. certainly not in road use. and doesn't sound like it will get real track duty. so more of a philosophical issue than practical one. Plus can slide the cover back and makes a great skylight even if you don't open it.
QB< I would make the doors 9' wide and leave 2' center piece.
I doubt the moonroof makes an appreciable difference. certainly not in road use. and doesn't sound like it will get real track duty. so more of a philosophical issue than practical one. Plus can slide the cover back and makes a great skylight even if you don't open it.
QB< I would make the doors 9' wide and leave 2' center piece.
It's a very slippery slope with added weight particular ultra high center of gravity weight.
First you say... it's just a moonroof, 50 or 100 lbs. is nothing.
Then you say an S6 isn't THAT much heavier than an S4 (200-250 pounds).
Pretty soon your tracking a 4,000+ pound behemoth.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
"Dec 22, 2022 at 6:19am ET By: Dan Mihalascu Tesla is doubling discounts on its Model 3 and Model Y EVs delivered in the United States this month to $7,500, the same amount customers will get next year in the form of the full federal tax credit. According to Tesla's customer website, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivered before the end of the year are offered with a $7,500 credit plus free supercharging for 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers)...."
"Dec 22, 2022 at 6:19am ET By: Dan Mihalascu Tesla is doubling discounts on its Model 3 and Model Y EVs delivered in the United States this month to $7,500, the same amount customers will get next year in the form of the full federal tax credit. According to Tesla's customer website, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivered before the end of the year are offered with a $7,500 credit plus free supercharging for 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers)...."
Wow. That surprises me. I have a friend who just purchased one based on the $3,750 offered incentive. I'd be a little ticked right now.
Just looking at available inventory in the Denver area, you could pick up a Model 3 for around $52k after that incentive. Not bad.
I'm still thinking there's a chance that sometime in 2024 it might be possible to get a Model 3 for about $35k. But right now with the 7,500 rebate you can get one for $42,440.
I suddenly got a flashback to 1980: "Get a car—get a check!" Even found one of those ads and posted it below.
"Dec 22, 2022 at 6:19am ET By: Dan Mihalascu Tesla is doubling discounts on its Model 3 and Model Y EVs delivered in the United States this month to $7,500, the same amount customers will get next year in the form of the full federal tax credit. According to Tesla's customer website, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivered before the end of the year are offered with a $7,500 credit plus free supercharging for 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers)...."
Wow. That surprises me. I have a friend who just purchased one based on the $3,750 offered incentive. I'd be a little ticked right now.
Just looking at available inventory in the Denver area, you could pick up a Model 3 for around $52k after that incentive. Not bad.
There are some peeps on the forums which have posted that Tesla has already been sending checks/credits for the additional discount to those that bought at the $3750 discount.
put the pajero up for sale on ebay. Had a local guy detail it today. He did a nice job. Got all the chrome looking spiffy. I'm trying for a quick sale and to keep from spending too much time on it, so I haven't fixed all that needs fixing. We'll see what happens.
Nissan buyer got their delivery today. She is very happy.
“She”? Did you invite her to join this forum? We need some diversity.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Sounds like a winner.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Now it can be told- a CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG with 21k miles::
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all. What does it have? AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it. LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights. Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability. AMG Track Pace- You have to ask? Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive? Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Awesome! Congrats. Welcome to the club.
Nice option load there - all of that was extra cost (digital cluster, lighting, parking, drivers assist, performance exhaust, etc). HUD is quite rare on these I believe - MB got into that game a lot later than BMW and still has much less implementation, especially on smaller cars for some reason. Is your roof pano? And yeah, Sport+ does change some things, even on something like my wagon, you can tell.
Funny thing, years ago I had the OG C43, which was a V8 shoehorned into a W202, on the cusp of becoming a modern collectible now:
Very nice! Yes; Pano roof. The one that I missed only had the lighting, digital cluster, performance exhaust, Burmester, and HUD. Go figure. No NAV but it did have CarPlay. The thing I do like about the parking package is the surround view. And I played with the Distronic Plus and it let me drive for an extended distance before it told me to grab the wheel. The BMWs I drove only let you take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds.
My Subaru will nudge you back into your lane a few times then it says to put your hands on the wheel. It seems to know when you are screwing with it.
Gonna be getting chilly down south here. Next three nights will be in the lower to mid 40's, pretty chilly for us! Asked to work Saturday so will need a heavier coat and long pants. Should be fun! Had a fun experience the other day driving a newer Honda CH-V and was very surprised how well it drove! Shifts were super smooth and it held the road nicely. Just wish it wasn't so big as it definitely will not fit on my side of the garage. And not sure I'm going to like the new HR-V either. While waiting for vehicles at both Mini Cooper dealers, saw some Countryman's and their prices started at $36,400 and went up from there. Was surprised they cost that much! And don't forget those dumb Admin fees they tack on. Got a feeling, the best way to snag one is to get a loaner and hope they knock a few thousand off the asking price. More dealers down here are starting to get more inventory. Inquired while at the Chevy dealer about any Bolt's on the ground to test drive and was told no...all that come in are already pre-sold which stinks. How does one know if it's the right vehicle without any seat time to be honest. I've only driven one EV, a Tesla months ago, so I'd need some time driving one to see if it's something I can live with. Starting to think a hybrid with both an EV & a gas motor might just be the ticket. One has back-up if unable to re-charge in time. But for my kind of driving, 30 or less miles each week, a Bolt could be the one!
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Comments
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@henryn, since you are a computer guy you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding out how @imidazol97 hacked into your Edmunds login info.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for about a week when the X1 and Clubman were serviced and it was a nice car, but it never made me want to drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving the G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43, as did my lovely bride.
And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. The first C43 I wanted to check out was the car that was nabbed by the nerds the Saturday after Thanksgiving- a blessing in disguise as this car turned up at the same dealer a couple of weeks later. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for the 2er and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.
One thing I soon found out is that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all.
What does it have?
AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it.
LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights.
Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way tachometer and limited configurability.
AMG Track Pace- You have to ask?
Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.
On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G$@ M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive?
Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it. I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Big congrats RB! Love the color combo and the way you explain it, seems like a perfect fit!
Rattle Can? Better buy these:
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I honestly never thought I’d see the day RB gets an AWD 6-cyl MB in place of his beloved bimmer. Congrats. Very pretty.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
@roadburner
Now that’s a Christmas present! Love the color combo and it’s nicely optioned.
Congratulations!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Looks nice but color me surprised with it having 4 doors, 2 pedals and a hole in the roof
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I would have preferred a coupe, but they were thin on the ground and were almost always at least $4k more expensive.
Two pedals? I still have the Club Sport and the Wrangler. And the track rat replacement for the Clubman will almost certainly be a stick. On a car like the C43 I’m sure there are a few without a hole in the roof, but I have yet to see one.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Nice option load there - all of that was extra cost (digital cluster, lighting, parking, drivers assist, performance exhaust, etc). HUD is quite rare on these I believe - MB got into that game a lot later than BMW and still has much less implementation, especially on smaller cars for some reason. Is your roof pano? And yeah, Sport+ does change some things, even on something like my wagon, you can tell.
Funny thing, years ago I had the OG C43, which was a V8 shoehorned into a W202, on the cusp of becoming a modern collectible now:
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
"CPO 2020 Mercedes-AMG" - big congrats!
- Ray
Enjoy - for may (s)miles!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I think, as long as they are titled in my name, I'll continue counting them. Once (if ever) they start going through the company name, they'll be on a separate tally.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
100% fleet current run rate.
100% fleet no CEL's or other indicators of maladies.
Both Audi's are ready to be tracked or driven across the Country at any time.
I could go for more quantity, but then it would be very hard to maintain the quality (limited $$$$) and for certain, the 100% condition/no break downs/ no CEL's rate.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I was thinking about your must haves with a M2.
Looks like you have your bases covered. Enjoy it
I doubt the moonroof makes an appreciable difference. certainly not in road use. and doesn't sound like it will get real track duty. so more of a philosophical issue than practical one. Plus can slide the cover back and makes a great skylight even if you don't open it.
QB< I would make the doors 9' wide and leave 2' center piece.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
First you say... it's just a moonroof, 50 or 100 lbs. is nothing.
Then you say an S6 isn't THAT much heavier than an S4 (200-250 pounds).
Pretty soon your tracking a 4,000+ pound behemoth.
Oh well, as long as he is happy, nothing else matters
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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That was not nice.
I was going to say that color looks very familiar to the color of my Genny. Maybe it’ll grow on him faster than the Genny did on me.
Good luck with it @roadburner. We know you’ll get that tack broken loose in no time.
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
"Dec 22, 2022 at 6:19am ET
By: Dan Mihalascu
Tesla is doubling discounts on its Model 3 and Model Y EVs delivered in the United States this month to $7,500, the same amount customers will get next year in the form of the full federal tax credit. According to Tesla's customer website, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivered before the end of the year are offered with a $7,500 credit plus free supercharging for 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers)...."
Just looking at available inventory in the Denver area, you could pick up a Model 3 for around $52k after that incentive. Not bad.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
I suddenly got a flashback to 1980: "Get a car—get a check!" Even found one of those ads and posted it below.
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That was not nice.
I was going to say that color looks very familiar to the color of my Genny. Maybe it’ll grow on him faster than the Genny did on me.
Good luck with it @roadburner. We know you’ll get that tack broken loose in no time.
jmonroe
Hey, I'm part of the club with the TTS so I'm allowed to joke about it.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
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Gee and it doesn’t seem to be rusted out. We have a poster buddy that would like one of those just for nostalgia purposes.
jmonroe
Nah, I have my nightmares to remind me of those days.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
Had a fun experience the other day driving a newer Honda CH-V and was very surprised how well it drove! Shifts were super smooth and it held the road nicely. Just wish it wasn't so big as it definitely will not fit on my side of the garage. And not sure I'm going to like the new HR-V either.
While waiting for vehicles at both Mini Cooper dealers, saw some Countryman's and their prices started at $36,400 and went up from there. Was surprised they cost that much! And don't forget those dumb Admin fees they tack on. Got a feeling, the best way to snag one is to get a loaner and hope they knock a few thousand off the asking price. More dealers down here are starting to get more inventory. Inquired while at the Chevy dealer about any Bolt's on the ground to test drive and was told no...all that come in are already pre-sold which stinks. How does one know if it's the right vehicle without any seat time to be honest. I've only driven one EV, a Tesla months ago, so I'd need some time driving one to see if it's something I can live with. Starting to think a hybrid with both an EV & a gas motor might just be the ticket. One has back-up if unable to re-charge in time. But for my kind of driving, 30 or less miles each week, a Bolt could be the one!
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)