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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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Passats and BMWs are purposefully geared to launch out in first to make other cars seem like underperformers by comparison, but MB doesn't play that game, so the 240 may not satisfy potential new owner unless they've really done their homework and really know what they want, without any help or aftermarket support from typical auto magazine reviewers.
Based on my personal observations in reading buyers' reviews, and feeling their enthusiasm and how often they vote with 9s and 10s when assessing their expensive new purchase, I think the C320 provides more satisfaction to new purchasers overall compared to the C240. C230s elicit more appreciative comments from their purchasers by comparison, probably because it draws younger buyers that probably are generally more enthusiastic about everything, but it also is more powerful while being a little lighter.
For example a 2001 C240 with 24K miles, auto and sunroof came out to:
Trade-in 21770
Private party 23577
Retail 25473
What is Edmunds source of data? Are these values accurate?
well, the good news is this: i just picked up a beautiful 95 silver/grey 280 that i found thru ebay in st louis. i drove the car home to atlanta over 600 miles, and arrived tired but with a huge smile from the cars performance and ride quality.
the 280 far exceeded my expectations in all aspects. it rides/drives GREAT! it has 80% MXV4's that are smoother than any of my previous experience. the car was a dream at 85-95 mph. the I-6 engine has plenty of power and the 4-sp shifts flawlessly.
only a couple of items on my wish lish missing: MOONroof (only steel), heated seats, trunk release on console. i will eventually switch to 16in wheels (and will happily spend the $ for the mxv4 if they continue the present ride quality)
i got a great deal on the car that was well worth the trip. i spent $8800 drive out. the car is in great condition and beautiful, and in my initial trip, i could not be more pleased with the 280. i was very skeptical on the "C", but this car exceeds my 300e in every way i can think of except size.
thanks for all of your posts and all the info. i look forward to being an active participant here in the future.
happy motoring. - benton
So at a retail price of $25.5 K, that's a loss of a bit less than 1/4 of the car's value over a two year, 24,000 mile period. That's pretty damned low depreciation in my book. Most cars would lose a fair whack more than that, as a percentage, at least.
I'd say with residual values like that it makes far more sense to buy a new one.
If you already have a 2001 and are looking to unload it, well, bad luck. But you'd be doing a lot worse with many other types of car. For example, an S 600 would probably have lost $25K+ of its value in the same period... If you're looking at this from the seller's point of view, why would you want to unload a 2 year old car, other than possibly having masochistic tendencies? Of course you'll get hosed.
I keep my cars for at least 10-15 years, so residual value is not a biggie with me.
Happy Christmas to all!
Mike T.
2002 Mercedes-Benz C 230 K
1966 Peugeot 404 Coupé Injection
1989 Peugeot 405 SRI
So based on your post I should expect to be able to buy a 2001 C320 with sunroof (MSRP $39K) with 24K miles from a private owner for $27K. Cool.
If you want to see real depreciation, check out a Peugeot 607 V6 in the U.K. After three years, it would be worth about only about 29% of its original value. Ouch.
My usual rule of thumb on MB sedans is something like this: First year depreciation is dealer markup plus holdback plus about 7-10%, or in this case a total of about 17-20% in the first year; second and third years about 10% each; fourth year on about 5%-8% per year.
This is rough, but for a two year-old car, figure somewhere in the neighborhood or 27-30%. Varies a lot by market, which is where Edmunds' numbers can often be too high or too low.
Check KBB and NADA as well as Edmunds, average the three, and see what you get. Real close to that 30% figure would be my guess...
I am having trouble getting the smartkey and memory seats to work properly (at least what seems like it would be intuitively proper). My wife and I have seemed to successfully program our keys and seat to the right memory locations, but when I get in (after she drives it), the seat just doesn't seem to go my memory spot, specifically the seat distance from the pedals. But, if I push my memory button on the door it works. My wife's key however, seems to work fine. Also, the seat and steering wheel move out of the way for her but not for me (just the steering wheel moves for me). I checked the menus and it is set the same for both keys (it is set to move the column+seat for both of us). In looking back on this message board it seems as if there were some problems a while back but not much talk of it lately.
Is anyone having this problem with '03 model cars? Am I just missing something in my interpretation of the manual? I thought I took the time to do it step-by-step, but it doesn't seem to work just right?
any thoughts??
P.S. When she puts her key in the ignition, the seat and wheel start to move toward her memory position, but for me they start to move only after I start the engine.
Thanks.
Mark
"Features side bolsters, thigh supports and dual lumbar supports that adjust pneumatically for optimal comfort." Most people don't think the option is worth it but if you are fussy about how your seat feels it will probably be worth it.
My experience with the new C is that the seats are somewhat uncomfortable in terms of the seat being too hard and too little lumbar support. "Automobiles" 4 seasons test similarly criticized the C320's seat comfort.
I would like to hear from current owners who have taken long trips in their new model C's regarding seat comfort.
Thanks for the hint on the seat question, I tried switching keys and reprogramming the seats and it seems to work ok now.
Thanks again!
This is my predicament -- My dealer uses Marina Body Shop for their used/new vehicles, which is also on my insurance company's list, but I have heard a few negatives about them. They are the only one on their list in this vicinity. The plus of using an insurance company provider is that the insurance company guarantees the work for as long as I own the car, which will be a long time.
The color man who does paint repairs and touchups for my dealer and who comes to my house to do same for me is a paint specialist who worked for many years in a bodyshop in another state. He has recommended a shop in Torrance (Continental), which is close to where he lives. He knows my devotion to my 320 and says he will watch over my car and make sure the work is done properly. He will inspect my car before I pick it up -- he knows I need it perfect He told me he has sent several MB and Jag owners from my area and all have been happy with the results. This shop uses Glasurit, which I understand is a high-grade German paint. Obsidian, being metallic, is probably more difficult to work with than non-metallic.
Also recommended by a friend is Lasky Coachworks in WLA.
I would really appreciate some optimistic advice from those in my area as to (1) Go with the insurance provider Marina Bodyshop also used by my dealer (2) Go with Continental recommended by my trusted color man (3) or Lasky Coachworks.
My thanks.
Miki
Have a wondrous New Year.
Miki
My thanks for your wisdom.
Wishing you and those you love a great New Year!
Miki
You might want to stop by both shops to see examples of freshy painted cars. Make sure to see only cars that haven't been covered with any wax or glaze (many paint shops mask imperfect work by using a glaze, such as Race Glaze, to effectively cover up the defects).
While all fresh paint jobs tend to look good from afar, the differences become noticable up close. Look closely at the paint job; is it smooth and glassy like a mirror, or does it have little ripples in it (the ripples are known as "orange peel" because they look a lot like the surface of an orange)? Are there any sanding marks left over? Do the newly-painted portions of the car, in your case the sides, flow smoothly into the old portions? Or is there somehow a difference between them, even if you can't put your finger on it? Any imperfection, however small, will only get worse over time. The cars may look similar today, but in five years, you'll see a diffrence, believe me.
I cannot tell you how much I reccommend going with a quality shop over one which offers a lifetime warranty. The "warranty" only provides a false sense of security; sloppy work is still sloppy work. And suppose the "warranty" shop does give you a fresh paint job in five years (you should not need one, but suppose they do)? Odds are you'll just get another sloppy paint job! Put another way, Hyundai offers a 10-year warranty. The XG350 is about the same size as the C-Class, and may be a little bigger. It offers many of the luxury features that the C-Class offers, has a longer warranty, and costs a whole lot less. You didn't buy one, though, becuase quality is important!
Most of the body shops I have seen are very crowded, crazy and hectic -- I dreaded going to them and hated leaving my car with them. This one is just the opposite. The owners are local and car collectors.
Thanks for your advice.
Miki
Miki
I had the same issue until my Salesman pointed this out. I have since turned off the seat retraction feature for my key to save a little wear and tear on the seat motor.
While I got somewhat saddlesore, it really was not all that bad. I have a chronic bad back and did not expeirence any back pains at all.
I did try and adjust the seat to a new position every couple of hours and that really seemed to help.
25.5 MPG overall and average speed of 67 MPH.
This is our second C (2001 C240 and now a 2002 C320 Sportwagon) and it has been great overall. My wife is the primary driver and she loves the rock solid feel of the car.
Miki----Sorry about your car. It was probably one of those lowlife Kings fans!!!
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2030103.003
M
Come to think of it.......I was wearing my purple and gold leather Lakers jacket that night!!! Thank you for your sympathy ...the Kings sure are playing good basketball, though, aren't they!!!
Miki
Thank you so much, kind sir. I am working on the relationship as we speak!
Miki
Sorry to hear about your car! Hope the shop you are going to does a perfect job for you, and you will never be able to tell the difference when they are done. I look forward to hearing about your experience.
Hope the new year holds better luck for all of us. Enjoy sunny southern Cal. - it snowed here again in Boston today (at least my C230 is off the road until mid-March). Take care!
- Paul
On the same trip I drove my father's '98 town car for a few hundred miles. Big difference. Of course the seats are plush, but too much so. And forget about the drive feel. It has a switch to adjust the steering feel from low to high. It was on high, so based on the ride I thought it meant "high assist", but switching to low told me it was high feel.
Anyway, I think the seats are well formed and provide support, but those needing additional low back support should get the adjustable lumbar.
I have to say that the last time I saw a car driving with no taillights was in the 1970s, a Vauxhall Firenza. Those things had evil electrical systems. It sounds as though the C Class is also occasionally host to the ghost of Lucas ;-)
All kidding aside, actually I'd just get a couple bulbs and bung them in. My older C blew two bulbs in rapid succession in the rear so I would certainly check the (quick) cheap answer first rather than heading down to the dealer.
Interestingly the bulbs were actually cheapest at the dealership by like 50c, which surprised the heck out of me...
Let us know what happens, eh?
good luck...rj
I found the references pretty much aligned the equipment mentioned with the '02 brochure description of the Sport Package.
The MB usa site has not been updated (when I checked) however; still no sport package to click on.
Also found it interesting that the author of article mentioned that the cost of the C320 with sport package was 35,200, which is curiously the MSRP of the current C class 320 sedan???
Any posters in LA who can provide more info from the show?
We sat in the E-Class, too. This was very interesting. The E-Class is actually not that much bigger inside (the difference is very, very slight) than the C-Class, but it's much, much nicer. It's fantastic, actually. I had always thought that the E-Class was considerably larger inside than the C, but it isn't. The E-Class is both luxurious and futuristic at the same time. If I needed a bigger car than the C, I'd get the S-Class, though.
The C230 coupe is quite nice. The rear seat isn't as big as that in the C-Class sedan, obviously, but it's not bad, considering the small size of the car.
If the Z4 is any indicaton of things to come from BMW, I see nothing but blue skies ahead for Mercedes. What an eyesore! I actually like the new look of the 7-series- it has a very agressive stance- but the Z-4 is terrible. The X5 was beautiful but is essentially a car- there is very little room inside.
The SL convertible was beautiful. The SLK is desperately in need of restyling. I didn't care for the new CLK's; they looked kind of like Camry Solaras, at least at the show. The G-Class has a ton of room inside; I liked it.
Is this something that will automatically be corrected when I get my car serviced? It's irritating to see such a low (now a minus 18 miles) mileage on the FSS when I know that it should read at least 2900 miles to go for the FSS "A" service. Thanks for any input on this issue.I plan to have the "A" service in a week or so - after only 7,800 miles from the last service. Meanwhile I am driving our '93 Toyota, which has never had a problem in 9-1/2 years, pending service on the C280.
%
length....+5.1
width.....+4.9
height....+3.4
fr head....-3.9 (!)
r head....+1.0
fr leg......+.5
r leg.......+7.9
fr should.+6.2
r should..+3.3
cabin......+13.7
trunk.......+30.2 (!)
Only a few inches here and there but adds up to +13.7% increase in cabin volume. By comparison though...the S has 22.8% more cabin volume than the C.
The FSS may not be broken. It determines the mileage based on sampling the oil. Maybe you drove the car very hard during those 250 miles and the oil became very dirty, hence the new reading. ctic