I'd like to know what you think of the new Benz C class. (and I know the 200 class is kind of cheap and cheesy) the one that grabbed my attention(and I really like the looks and the numbers on is the C320 4matic. it looks HOOKED UP

 

The C class is a "nice car" but if you are anything like me, you will realize how small it is(size wize)--especially when you look at the price tag.

I test drove the C320 and actually thought about getting one but it is rear wheel drive (and I travel to places that get snow every winter) so I opted out.

But, the car is chock-full-of electronic gizmos (like electric steering wheel telescoping and tilt and electronic headrest adjusters!) and it does handle nice. But boy is it a small car. You will notice right away that the rear leg room is very tight and there is a huge lip between the back floor and the rear doors--so people sitting back there really have to be careful about getting out.

Now, when I looked, you could not get the navigation system and a 6-disk CD changer because they didn't work "together" as per the dealer. Also this car, by the time you add the winter package (headlight sprayers) and a sunroom was almost $42,000--a big difference from the base price of the C class.

My opinion: its a nice car but at the time I thought I could do more with my money. Now the coupe, that's another story. If there was any car that looked like " I can't afford to buy a Mercedes but had to have one" its that. Every time I see one on the road I think it looks like a Honda.

Good luck with your decision/purchase.

 

great post

 

Very expensive for the money. Don't even think about looking at the C230. Slow, overpriced, no room. Some kid was drving a red one the other day and wanted to run. He had a very good look at the back of my Purdue specialty plate.

The 320 is nice, but it's not my kind of car. I'm still young and I want a "driving car" like a BMW. I look at Mercedes more as a "touring" car for the more settled down type. And MB options are just a plain rip off.

For $42K, a 330Ci would fit the bill nicely for me. Or maybe even a G35C. I'd overlook the C-class most likely.

 

coupe :thumbsdn:
sedan: :thumbsdn:

overpriced.

 

They're nice if your willing to spend 45K to make it a nice car.

 

45k gives you a VERY nice 5 series Of course the only 5 series worth getting is the 540.

 

I don't i guess I'm really on this germen deal now.
I promised myself once I got out of school,found a good job, got settled down I'd get a sweet ride.
I'm not knocking japan cars(cause I have one plus my dad works for Honda) but to me they are too plain. (grant it the WRX and items like that are in your face) but that's too "boy racerish"
I drive about 20-25 k a year. I want something dependable but yet something I can smile every time i drive it. and I'll probably need AWD(like 4matic). Japan car makers builds a dang good car if your gonna drive it forever but don't want flair while you drive it.
personally I want quality and some flair.

then you got domestics- which their quality totally blows
I'm even scared to buy Saab(which is owned by GM)
and Volvo (which is owned by Ford)(and yes i admit Volvo extremely safe car)

I don't really know about BMW because I read a car and driver long term test on a M3(BMW) they drove it 2 year put 40-50 k miles on it and it used like 12 or 14 quarts of oil( it was unreal)
when you spend 50-60 grand for a sports coupe i'd expect that thing to run perfect not to BURN OIL

 

I have a 2003 C240 sedan which I've been driving for the last 5 mths. I've put 10000 km so far. The car's power isn't the greatest but if you're using the car for just daily driving and cruising, there's no problems. The back seats are better than a two seater with so called back seat but it is still a bit cozy. I didn't really care for power so I got the C240 instead of the C320 and used the money I saved to get a set of 18 brabus rims and the h&r cup kit. If you get the C240, I strongly recommend replacing the hub caps with a set of alloy rims. Another draw back with the C240 is that the door handles come matt black. My car is black so it doesn't matter but silver looks horrible with the black handles. My overall impression of the car so far is good. I'll post some pics once the snow melts and I put the rims back on.

 

So you went from a CLS you could not afford cuz you wanted to get married to now talking about M3's post marriage and going german?

Did I miss something?

And like I said before, just drive Sherri from lot to lot and let her pick something out that's ultimately what's gonna happen anyway lol. :P

 

 

no shit...

i think a c class is too small for you water-s. be the good ole american boy you are and get that chevy truck you like so much!

 

Mercedes make fine vehicles but for the money you get WAY more car elsewhere.

 

A friend of mine has one. It's really small inside and it has been constantly in the shop. Seems like she was having lots of electrical problems with it.

 

POS my friend's 1st C320 was a lemon major electrical problems. The dealer gave him another one and he has had problems with it also.

 

Wow, did Wendy's give u a raise?

 

I never cared for mercedes, they truly are an overpriced, WAY overpriced status car. Only one i ever liked are the SLs, those are classy.

If you want to go german get a bmw. they truly are the "ultimate driving experience"

You'll be on the highway thinking youre going 60, then you look at the speedo and it reads 110. Thats how well they handle. And in the 540 6 spd ( and im sure their other cars) you can be in 6th gear and still floor past all teh competition without a single downshift. Just great cars IMO. and if you need AWD they have the 330xi.

Just make sure you can afford the scheduled maintenance on them.

Say no to mercedes, say yes to bimmer.

 

When I had my 2002 RSX-S (200 hp), a friend of mine went out and bought a bottom of the line C 230 K(ompressor) model that developes 192 hp. Let me see now, .3 liters more, add a blower and it STILL comes up 8 hp short of a naturally asperated honda engine. Wow! that german engineering sure is impressive!

Pete paid $26,700 for his stripper mercedes, and I am sure he bought it only for when people ask him what he drives, he can say "Mercedes Benz). A Mercedes WITHOUT a leather interior! C'mon! And on top of that, the thing is basically a car built around a computer.

I drove the thing, an automatic. I didn't like the way it launched-all noise (from the fan) and no muscle. But after you got the think through a gear or two, it was OK. Expressway driving was exceptional, and it DID feel cool to be driving a benz. The thing, however, did not even have a four way power seat for the driver. But like I said, this is the bottom of the line. Spec a convertable, add the biggest, baddest motor, and the car now costs north of 53 large! I must admit, the paint on the car was superb. People complain about the styling of the CL. Let me tell you, the ass end of the C 230 is beyond ugly. Way beyond.

Someone mentioned electrical problems. Yep. After two weeks, the car would not shift out of first gear. Cause, electric. Check engine light three weeks later. Cause, electric.

And now the final blow. Four of us were playing cards and getting liquored up on a friday night. Pete has a detached garage, out of sight from where we were. I got up to take a leak and noticed an orange glow on the hallway, so I looked out the window and saw the garage was on fire! Yep, the three month old baby M-B burnt itself and the garage completely down. Before the M-B, Pete owned a top of the line accord. He now drives a acura.

Another thing (and I work in automotive paint, mostly powder, but in plastic trim also). Next time you see an M-B that has a few years on it, and has unpainted plastic on it, check it out. It is not black, it is now very, very dark gray. The germans just do not do plastic correctly.

Finally, the last time the French asked for "more proof", it came marching into Paris under a German flag.

And the next time there is a war in Europe, the loser has to keep France.

 

Many Japanese cars are better than C-class in my opinion.

If you are considering the C230 Kompressor or C240, why not think about Honda Accord EX V6 with navigation system or Acura TSX.

Instead of C320, you could try Infiniti G35 sedan, Acura 3.2TL Type S, Lexus IS300, and Lexus GS300.

Most of them are cheaper than C-class with the same stuff inside, but more powerful.

 

My wife has a new C240 and she loves it. She is mid-forties and runs a family business (her side). The engine is a V-6 2.6 Liter so I think they should have called it a C260. I drove the C320 and to tell you the truth it seemed to have no more power, or at least not much more. It is best described as "elegant or classy" I guess.It has 3K miles on it now and hasn't needed to go back to the dealer for anything. As delivered was perfect. Our only complaint is that the driver's seat is hard and feels too much like a bench. If you are long legged the seat goes back a mile. The backseat leg room is zilch. But to drive it is fun and it has plenty of power- my guess is that M-B put a high numerical rear end gear in it. It is ultra quiet and smooth to drive. Wifey treats it like its a S class, funny cuz she doesn't know what the letters mean, and I'm not going to tell her!
So while she loves it, I'd rather have my TL or a CL of coarse. It's different strokes for different folks. I think to her it's like jewelry on wheels so she's happy. What else can I say...her previous ride was a POS POS Dodge Caravan so I'm sure now you can see why she's happier.

 

Every week this kid has a new "what should I get thread." He always ends it w/ "i'm not ready to buy now." Yet he still asks for help on cars....each time being in a different price range. Most of his threads imply that money is extremely tight (wedding, home, etc.) and he works at Wendy's....yet he now wants a Benz? If he was complaining about the price of a CL-S and even a civic SI, he isn't gonna get a Mercedes...even if it's a C. I hate counting other people's money and I think it's wrong, but honestly this kid here is just wasting our time.....

 

Okay okay.... this German Car bashing has to stop. I had an Acura CL type S and i loved that car but it just wasnt what i wanted anymore. I got a 2003 C320 Sedan and i love it. Talk about a good torque spread!
If you are thinking of getting this car, get the Bi-Xenon option. It makes the car look more agressive IMO.
Now all this crap about CD changers not working with the Navi.. puhlease! Just because a u spoke to somone who didnt know who he was talking about doesnt mean a car is crap. After all the first sales guy i spoke to at David McDavid acura in dallas told me the CL-S had 225 HP.

Just because a car does not have the oh so wonderfull Acura/Honda badging on it doesnt mean its unreliable. Ever car has problems some more than others but my car has been rock solid. Saved my life a few times with the Brake Assist and is one hell of a looker when i am out there... just like my CL-S was when i had it.

Calm down guys... you dont need to bash other cars just to feel good about your own car.

 

those headlights look so SWEET!

 

those lights are hot!!

 

Thanks guys!
A night pic....

Now i have a question for the nice ppl on the board. I have been told that Xenon lights change color spectra over time... they usually get a more prominent blue color or tint as time goes by.
Is that true?

 

nice car, i considered it and then looked at the price tag. I was near 40k for all the stuff i already had in my CLS. Just a value decision for me If the car had more power then perhaps but i guess a c-class with more power is essentially the e-class

Btw,
what i don't understand is why MB has those nice HIDs and then those piss yellow lights together.

 

good post bud
I was gonna say almost every car has a weak spot in it. Like the CL and TL with the trannys.(unless you get the 6 speed). It's hard to build a totally flawless car

 

For the price you pay, I wouldn't even consider one. Why not try a used E-class?? Those things are pimp daddy especially in silver. But if brand new is the case; I'll be up all over the Volvo S60R. You can't go better for what you get at the price they're offering. Here are some suggestions:
1.) BMW 530i
2.) Used 540i
3.) Lexus GS300
4.) Used Lexus GS400

But personally, like I said before, the S60 R would be the best choice if not the S60 T5.
-Justin

 

Agreed, every car has problems...BUT some more than others.

And even with the tranny problems, the tl/cl's are statistically more reliable than benz's.

We have 3 high end benzes in our family ('91 560sel, '94 sl500, '00 s500). The 2 older ones have given us a lot of serious electrical problems, even after being "fixed" repeatedly. It started towards the end of the warranty, fixed under warranty, and it still happens, and MB won't fix THE EXACT same problem unless we pay.

The problem on the 560sel causes the battery to be drained if it sits for more than 2 days. it has 40k miles, so we rarely drive it. If it sits for 2 days, the battery is shot (can't jump or recharge) and needs to be replaced. It's been to MB since warranty for this problem, and it was fixed but started happening again 2 years ago and has been to the shop 3-4 times since and several battery replacements. The car sits in the garage and will be sold because they can't solve this problem.

The sl500 has an ignition/misfire problem. It happened during the warranty period and was fixed. A month after the warranty expired, it happened again and we were forced to pay to have it fixed. I was pulling out of a carwash one day, and as soon as I tried to accelerate it misfired and stalled with traffic speeding up on me as I tried to restart it. Got very close to being rear ended because the brake lights do not illuminate unless the ignition is 'on'. It started and I was able to turn back into the carwash's 2nd entrance.

The car has about 60-70k miles on it now.

The s500 hasn't given us any trouble yet, but again that is driven only several days per week and is relatively new.