Considering where I'm posting this I expect opinions to trend toward the Benz, but I've also posted the same thing on an Infiniti board so I will get both sides. Anyway, the 2000 W202 C280 Sport and 2001 A33 Infiniti I30t are pretty much what I've narrowed down my search to for a new car. Which would you choose and why?

Some stats on the I30t:

227hp/217tq 3.0L V6
4-speed automatic
FWD
3342lbs. curb weight

Infinity = Nissan = Datsun = Junk.

Infinti hands down...as long as its optioned out

Front Wheel Drive sucks, I would get the 2000 C 280 Sport (Special Edition). The optioned out Infiniti I30t is a good looking car (it's a Nissan Maxima), but I think you would be more impressed with the C 280's handling. It all depends on what you want in a car. If you want more power out of the C 280 after you get it, you can throw a chip in it and probably get 210 hp out of it and will therefore perform, acceleration wise, close to the Infiniti. If it were me, I would rather buy the C 280 Sport and throw $1600 into it (suspension and chip) than buy the Infiniti, but that's just me.

Handling is huge for me coming from an Infiniti G20t, which may be the best handling FWD car of all time. Before you laugh, for the record the G20 is not a Sentra (and shares almost nothing with it), it's based off of the Euro/Japan-market Nissan Primera, which in turn uses a platform developed for touring car racing (BTCC).

The big problem I have with the I30 is the "multi-link beam" rear suspension, which is just a fancy way of saying no independent rear suspension. I assume the W202 has an IRS setup? The W202 is also smaller than the I30, closer in size to my G20 than the I30 which for me is a slight plus considering that I'm looking for a sport sedan.

The big problem I have with the C280 is the generally lower reliability, higher ownership costs, and poor dealer service that has been associated with Mercedes recently. Right now at Infiniti when I bring in my 1995 G20t for service they have a 2006 G35x loaner ready for me and despite the fact that I'm not even 21 they don't treat me like some dumb kid. How much more expensive will a C280 be to own and insure than an I30?

which is why I would personally choose the I30

Does Mercedes not give loaners for out of warranty stuff?

Usually (the Boston/New England-area dealers), an authorized MB dealer will give you a mercedes loaner (W203 C280 4 Matic right now - nice car btw) if you bought the car from them (Starmarked Used Car or New).

Foreign Motors West for example, will put you in an Enterprise rental for warranty repairs if you didn't buy the car from them.

The '01 I30 looks pretty nice - not as distinct as a 2000 C280 I guess. But, I would personally go for the I30. Now if you're talking about a C43 AMG...

A story... A friend of mine owned a Starmark'd C280 (not sure what year but it already had the newer 3 valves/cyl engine) and he got so tired of it (no idea why), he traded it in for a Toyota Corolla.... yup... a Corolla.

There's a few things that the C280 could use..
more power (you could bolt on a supercharger)
nice wheels
The Sport has a nice bodykit and I believe the sports seats?

*Sorry: Off Topic* but I like this picture..

I'm surprised that any dealer would not give a Mercedes loaner for warranty work unless you bought the car from them. All Infiniti dealers seem to give loaners for anything (I once got a then-new 2003 Infiniti M45 as a loaner, and my car is WAY out of warranty). Power wise 194hp is fine for me, more would be nice but my G20 only makes 145, and the sport package wheels on the W202 are pretty good looking IMO. Given the choice of an I35 (255hp/246tq) or a C280 I think I'd choose the Infiniti, but with an I30 the choice is much harder....non-maintenance failures to me are less of an issue because I will be buying an extended warranty to 100K on whatever I buy, and JD Power looks pretty favorably on the 2002 C280. Both cars are good choices, I'm just trying to weigh the pros and cons of each and get opinions from owners of both cars to see which is a better choice for me.

I have been pleasantly surprised to see that most responses to this question haven't just been "Infiniti sucks". That was pretty much what I got when I posted an "I30 or 3-series" question on a BMW board. I'm not looking at 3s any more partially because of that.

Off topic: yes that is an awesome picture, shows the heritage of the Nissan Primera/Infiniti G20 very well.

280

Okay #1 thing you gotta look at is FWD and RWD. Which one do you prefer? I would get FWD=Infiniti, if you have snow etc...

If you have a pretty normal weather climate, go for the RWD=C280.

I'm saying that as I have hot weather here in the summer and snow here in the winter. I had a FWD earlier and it was MUCH better in snow. However, the C280 RWD, is Much better in summer I think, when the streets are dry.

If I were you, I'd test drive both cars, and look at everything overall. If you plan to make addon's, than look at which car is best to addon too etc...

All the best.