Mercedes C class??

[CarreraDan]

Guys,
With gas prices going higher every week my girlfriend is looking to off load her Grand Cherokee and get something that gets better mileage (she gets around 16 with the WJ). Another thing I have a newer Grand that has more options and the V8 to pull the boat with so there is really no need for us to have two Jeeps. So tonight we go car shopping that is always a blast with her--she hates salesmen and it is absolutely hilarious to watch her look at cars. After looking at a few overpriced Boxsters (I tried) we went to Carmax to look at sedans (could look at different brands).

After hearing about ugly dashes, cheap wheels, no leather, etc, I hear an "oh this is nice" and look over to see a 2005 Mercedes C230 Sport. Salesman comes running over to open the car for us and insists we take it for a drive. Last Mercedes I have driven was her 83 300 TD that the Jeep replaced. The test drive was surprisingly nice and the car drove very well, I was impressed., and she liked the interior. So are 2005 and 2006 Mercedes POS's and not worth a second look. Price is fair, found an 06 certified about an hour away with 10000 miles for 24K that I might have to go check out. Warranty is good for five years or 50k miles, she would most likely keep this for three or four years. It is strange how low of miles most of the Mercedes had that we looked at, some less than 3k a year. Any opinions, comments, etc?

People always told me how crappy Jeeps were and I guess ours were built on good days b/c I have never had a problem out of the three we have in the family. We looked at a few BMW's but I wasn't too impressed with what was in her price range of 20-25k at the dealer. Plus we live in BMW country and everyone I mean everyone has a BMW in the Greenville/Spartanburg area. She wants a sporty sedan that is "fun" to drive--one 911 is enough for us right now.

[Nostril Cheese]

garbage. Do an net search on MB quality over the last few years

[kqw]

There is a reason that the salesman RAN over to you....I.E., they want that POS of the lot.....

[Rick V]

Ours has been a good car.............with the exception of the headlights. The Wife unit likes it, I'm not impressed.

[scottbombedout]

Originally posted by Nostril Cheese
garbage. Do an net search on MB quality over the last few years

I've just bought my wife a new B class. You dont get them in the U.S. but I've been impressed. From the salesperson to the aftersales you can tell MB are putting a lot into customer care.

OK the bomb proof construction of 20 years ago has gone, isn't Porsche the same?

I have a good friend spent £32,000 on a used 996 and has just put in another £10k on a new engine. 996's biggest load of crap Porsche has brought out.

Love to know the percentage of replaced engines on 996 compared to an equivalent from MB like an SLK.

Still love my old Carrera though

[ChemMan]

Personally I am not a fan of the C-class. Check out www.benzworld.org Maybe you can gather more information on the forums over there.

[CarreraDan]

Good info so far, we are mainly just seeing what is out there for her right now. Still have to look and drive some other sedans. We did look at a Passat but she thougt it felt cheap--did have some squeaks and rattles and it was only one year old. I am still going to find the right Boxster S I think it would make a wonderful daily dirver to share with her. She also wants to look at Audi's and Volvo's but I think we will have to go to Charlotte or Atlanta as their are not too many used ones around here. It will be interesting to see what she decides on, I know driving the Jeep everyday has gotten old. It does have heated leather seats, dual zone climate, sunroof, and 10 disc CD so a sedan will have to have all that as well.

[Ray B]

Can't speak about the C-class specifically, but my E-class was hands-down the biggest stool sample I've ever owned. Most of the folks I know who still have MBs are less than pleased. Do yourself a big favor and look at Consumer Reports-there's a reason for all of those black marks around the MB models. My MB mech recommended the Lexus/Toyota line of cars. Don't walk away-RUN!!!

[Z-man]

FWIW, the C-class from that era has far less issues than the E-class counterpart...

-Z

[berettafan]

so 3 series bimmers are out for you guys? that'd be high up on my list of sporty, small sedans.

[Steve Carlton]

I'm always leery of selling a car to buy another just for gas mileage. Have you calculated how much you'll save per year on gas vs the hit she'll take selling the GC and paying tax on the MBZ?

[CarreraDan]

3 series are not totally out of the picture. The BMW plant is here in Spartanburg and on any given day you probably see over 100 of them (more common here than an Accord). We would like to sell the Jeep b/c we have two of them that are very similar except mine has the 4.7L and a better 4x4 system. She likes driving mine better with the extra grunt of the V8 and I actually get better mileage than hers with the 4.0, they are both 4x4's Quadratrack vs Quadradrive. She will not take much of a hit on her Jeep, it has low mileage for a 2000 and we got a very good deal on it when she purchased it. Taxes will suck here in SC on a newer $25k car but there is nothing we can do about that.

One of my most favorite things is the hunt for a newer car and I will assume this process with take months not days or weeks. Everything will have to be right with her next vehicle before she commits, she is more anal with vehicle condition than I am. I told her last night we can get the old 300D out of the barn--it still starts right up on the first try and diesel is cheaper than gas. I just got one of those looks.

[dweymer]

My wife wanted one also. I had an'87 560SL drove it until 175k miles, then got a '96 e320 as a company car. I really liked that car, nice power, handled well for what it was and had a nice trunk. So i entertained her and went to see a c something. Nice looking car, plush interior. I also made her look at a 325i. Both cars were 03 low miles, she preferred the MB in all except one area: driving. We own the 325i and both like it, handles great, a little light on power though. Major drawback:small trunk. I am considering getting rid of it for an older 7 series. So what does all this drivel mean? Since MB got invloved with Chrysler the quality ratings have gone way down, maintanance is $$, and there seems to be something about driving a benz that makes other drivers aim for you, and cut you off. I got more fingers in mine than any other car I have driven. Go drive the new Hyundai sonata, just withhold your thoughts until you do. Lex or Infinity would be the other choices, I owned an infinity and loved it, and the dealer experiance was great.

I would buy again:
Hyundai
Infinity
BMW
Older benz-E55 AMG
Subauru

I would not buy:
Ford
Dodge/Chrysler

[ChemMan]

Originally posted by CarreraDan
3 series are not totally out of the picture. The BMW plant is here in Spartanburg and on any given day you probably see over 100 of them (more common here than an Accord).

I was in Greenville this summer. I could not believe the number of BMW's around. I am not sure what engine is in the C230, I assume it is the same as in the slk230. Have you considered a R170? Either a slk230 or slk320....or even an slk 32 AMG? They are easy to work on and fun to drive. Not up to the standards of the great 300D, but not much mercedes has put out in the last few years as been.

[Ray B]

Originally posted by Z-man
FWIW, the C-class from that era has far less issues than the E-class counterpart...

-Z

That's good news because I couldn't imagine a car having MORE issues. I do hear good things about the 3-series BMWs. "Car and Driver" has named the 3-series in their top 10 for quite a few years. I don't know if BMW has put their "I-drive" system in the 3-series or not. I-drive has not done well for BMW-a bit "user hostile". Seems to me that most German cars require a significantly greater amount of maint./repair than their Japanese counterparts.

[syncroid]

My wife has a 2005 C230 Kompressor. It has been a wonderful car. Maintainance has been inexpensive. She did burn through a set of tires in 20,000 miles but thats not a surprise. The only problems that we have encountered have been;
[1]The 13 pin connector leaking ATF twice.
[2]An airbag recall.
[3]The digital display looked like the Matrix script.
[4]A rear seat belt retractor bound up.
Its all been warranteed with no questions asked. When her lease is up, we are getting another one. Just my .02

[Brillo]

You said you looked at some overpriced Boxsters. Were you looking at new ones? There are plenty of good priced pre-owned low-mileage Boxsters out there. Good luck with your search.

[75'930cab]

Originally posted by syncroid
My wife has a 2005 C230 Kompressor. It has been a wonderful car. Maintainance has been inexpensive. She did burn through a set of tires in 20,000 miles but thats not a surprise. The only problems that we have encountered have been;
[1]The 13 pin connector leaking ATF twice.
[2]An airbag recall.
[3]The digital display looked like the Matrix script.
[4]A rear seat belt retractor bound up.
Its all been warranteed with no questions asked. When her lease is up, we are getting another one. Just my .02

Not trying to come off as a ass but that to me does not sound like a wonderfull car for being a 2005 model! I wish Benz would get there act together. I think they make beautiful cars!