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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedans
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Comments
I got big hesitation of choosing between C230k and C240 now. The thing is...
Is c230k noisy and uncomfortable than C240?
And do you think that it is possible buying C230K(AT transmission,sunroof,cd changer) with $29K oneshot cash money?
Plz reply~
thanks.
The 2005 CL class has it.
The current C-class "looks" smaller than a 2000, but is the interior and trunk room really smaller?
The new 203 is a very solid feeling car. Possibley the most solid feeling one in the current line up.
Does anyone knows how many watts does the stereo system in the 2001 C320 sedan have?
Actually, it is the Sun shade vibration which is causing the distorted sound, even at a low volume.The service centre says-the bass is too much.Although, for the same CD,same audio settings, 2 months back there was no distortion!!
Has anybody seen similar problem??!!Thanks
Are there places you can do that with a C230 or C240?
If you ask the MBZ dealers for a discount from the ED MSRP, I know they will simply say "The Euro Delivery MSRP is already an adequate discount for you. We can't discount any further."
M
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/models/features/specs/o- - verview_engine.jsp?spec=8&menu=3_1&modelCode=C230WZ&c- - lass=05_C
I don't much believe in sourpuss dissing as a discussion tactic, either. I also would never discourage anyone from buying either car...our Corolla was most certainly NOT a "tin can", and the C is still superior in every way except ownership cost. Having owned 14 MBs and nearly as many Toyotas, you can't convince me that either of these is something to deride...oh well...
Just about the only way to get a non-roof car is to order it, and by definition, that's not an option in this case.
I've been buying these cars since 1968, and lament the day [sometime in the mid '80s, I think] when it became "necessary" to have a sunroof in this "class" of cars; this occurred about the same time it became mandatory to have alloy wheels, power windows, leather, etc. This was when the steep decline of the dollar vs the D-Mark made it necessary to disguise huge price increases with more equipment. Next thing you know, the marketing types have convinced everybody that this is what the car should look like.
In the EU, you can have any C or E with cloth upholstery, no sunroof, steel wheels, etc....we, on the other hand, get no such choices. Special-order cars are the only way to avoid the sunroof "penalty" [I'm 6' even, but would pay them to leave it off any car I buy]. The seat should have enough travel to suit you anyway, but I know that can be a near thing depending on where your height is [legs vs torso].
I have run consumer reports and carfax...now I would like to hear from anyone who has owned this model...pros/cons and advice.
From my reading it seems the C280 would be preferable; but we're trying to stay at $10,000 and under.
We weren't necessarily looking for a MB, but ran across this one and thought we'd do some research
Would basically be a commuter car but may want to take it on vacation sometime (1000+ miles one way...)
Thanks.
Had two bmw's and they were problematic and I'm tired of hassling with cars. I prefer German designs and rear wheel drive (the acura TL is the only japanese car that interests me) but not if it's going to be a stressful ownership experience.
Also, we don't have "packages" of options, but instead you pick and choose from options on an individual basis.
As an example, my own 1998 C230, I ordered the Classic trim (I want to pick my own alloys, thanks, and like the steels for winter tires) and added a sliding roof, heated seats, and MB Tex interior.
I do wish we had a wider range of MB products, including C-Class diesels. However, we are getting the Smart foretwo this year, a step in the right direction. However, Smart pricing is very high for the type of car. A well equipped Mazda 3 is the same or less. Too bad.
Needless to say, though, had this work not been covered it would have been quite expensive. No surprise, therefore, that I am contemplating saying goodbye to the car when the warranty expires -- I love the 280's look, but what most folks here have said about German reliability does seem to be true.
However, what most say about the way German cars drive relative to Japanese or US models has also been my experience (based on owning VWs, Hondas, my current MB and my wife's BMW): they are wonderful to drive. So if I do say goodbye to my C280, I will replace it with another Benz or (more likely) a 325 with stick.
Bob
I'm considering the purchase of either a 2000 model C280 or a 2001 model C240, both with fewer than 50,000 miles. However, the Mercedes cachet notwithstanding, I'm not interested in spending a lot of time and money on maintenance, repairs, etc. (Owning Hondas and a Lexus have spoiled me in this regard.)
Could anyone with direct experience and/or knowledge of these cars advise me? Just how expensive and time-consuming would it likely be to keep them in reasonable running condition? What am I letting myself in for? At what point do diminishing returns set in? Etc.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
That said, I have no regrets about having bought the car (though I may trade it in soon, as the end of warranty is fast approaching).
Good luck with your decision.
Bob
The thought of buying a used model out of warranty seems almost reckless.
I would be very cautious about purchasing a used 2001 C240. I bought a new one in May 2001, and I’ve lost track of how many times that car has been back in the shop. It has been one electronic problem after another. This is the worst car I have ever owned, and I bought my first new car in 1960. I plan on replacing the C240 when its warranty expires next year.
Bob
Our car was built in Jan '02 at the Bremen plant, about 19 months after production first started, and apart from a couple of very minor problems that were fixed easily, has so far [knock on wood] been very nice to live with. This is our 14th Mercedes, and I too have been buying cars since 1962 [over 50 in all during that time]; the only generalization that works is that the Japanese do a better job of managing their suppliers and subcontractors, which means that there are fewer problems and faster fixes. That said, nothing drives nor is as competent an all-around touring car as a Mercedes sedan or wagon...EXCEPT a Lexus LS...if you can find a used one of those you can afford, that would always be my first choice.
Is M-B reliability improving at all? I would love to get a C Class but I want good reliability.
In Canada we get a really basic C Class sedan for around C$ 38 K but it looks like crap inside without the wood accents. Both my current Japanese compacts are better looking inside. The next model up has the smaller 6 cylinder and a much nicer interior called a Classic I think (the one I would like). I would have preferred to buy the C last year over the Honda we ended up with but quality scares me (the Honda has been flawless). It is such as shame because I have enjoyed driving many premium cars, the M-B is the only one car I have ever wanted to own.
One of my colleagues, a German, recently switched after 30 years from M-B to Honda and Toyota products (their ML is now a Pilot and the E Class is now a Lexus ES300). She said that Honda and Toyota now represent what M-B used to mean in terms of quality and durability.
So is resale getting affected by all of this? They still seem to sell for good price up here but maybe because I am in a big city with lots of demand and dealerships for service.
I'm not a 4-matic expert, but my understanding is that the system now used across the board [all lines available with AWD] is the same - an updated, simplified, and vastly improved 3rd generation technology that indeed moves power as needed to any wheel independently. Someone else can chime in here if I'm wrong...
Last year I purchased a Lexus RX330. The fit and finish of the Lexus are fantastic. The creature comforts and "toys" can't be beat and it was appreciably cheaper than the C320 AWD wagon I was also considering.
While I know the RX is a crossover, I anticipated that it would be a fairly decent handling vehicle under normal conditions. Unfortunately, it is not. Driving it on a longer trip is tiring as it is constantly drifting all over the road.
The C280 may be more costly to maintain but at least when driving it feels secure and handles well and doesn't wander off on it own.
However, there's plenty of supply for the demand. If someone is set on a 2005 and can also wait a few months, there will be strong discounts on those 2005's. The current C-class is entering the latter half of its lifecycle, and the 2005's mid-life refresh won't send sales through the roof.
But for now the best deals are on the 2004's.
Thanks
Just like you should use the recommended oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid, use the recommended octane. That is what your car was designed for.
However, I want to know if anyone has a complaint about the a/c on this car. It seems when the outside temp gets above 90 degrees this system goes into overdrive and won't stop. My old '96 had a fabulous a/c. This one can't seem to handle it.