Guys, I just drove my new car less than month old almost to a thousandk, at 120mph. Let me tell you, that I think the handling on this car is great. That amg suspension, 17 inch wheels, and amazing stability are out of this world!!!!! I think for all the criticism that mercedes used to get for it's poor handling non amg models, they've come a long way.

 

until you crawl underneath and see that abyssmal pos they pass off as a rear sway bar ^_^

too much roll, but yes, the handling is competent

 

Lol, I'll check that out thanks for the tip! So you think it still has too much roll? I don't know, but compared to my old c230k and my friends 03 BMW 3 series, I think it's an improvement. It's just about as good as the old bimmers now-- don't you think?

 

nope. i have an 02' 330Ci and it handles better, but even i was impressed with the C230k's handling. it really has a more sporty feel to it. for the money, it's a great little car

 

Going 120, I hope you get caught before killing other people. At that speed, your license should be taken from you!

 

unless your friends car doesn't have the sport package w/ sport suspension. i don't know how well non-sport models handle. mine has the sport suspension w/ 17x7.5 wheels up front and 17x8.5 rears. i think non-sport coupes have 17x7's all around, not 100% sure on that though.

 

before you go tell other ppl that the suspension on the c230k ss are AMG tuned, they are not. These are only the advantgardge suspension MB throw on the Euro Advantgarde models. You have to get the AMG EVO pkg to get the full AMG upgraded suspension. The car sold in the U.S. are only fitted w/ the AMG appearance pkg along w/ the sport pkg.

 

the only other benz I've driven was the '04 coupe, and I gotta say that I did notice the difference in the steering/suspension, and it was really good. my friend's '05 330ci still corners better, IMO.

all things aside, I don't think I should be able to flex the swaybar with my hand ^_^ probably gonna get eibachs...

 

does your friend have the ZHP coupe? ZHP performance package is a sweet car. suspension is better than my coupe with sport package. unfortunately they didn't have the performance package in 02' when i got my car. take a ride in the M3 if you get a chance. i thought my car handled amazing until i drove my cousins 04' M3 last summer. that thing makes my car feel like a lincoln town car. but the ride is much harsher as well.

 

Here we go again.......slap a AMG emblem on it!

 

Anyone know how the C class AMG suspension compares w/ the sport models as far as the actual parts? In other words, does the sport model use ANY of the same parts as the AMG? I'm only referring to the shocks, springs and swaybars.

 

I have the '05 C180 Elegance and I find the handling already better than my '98 SLK200 .

Wish I have the chance to drive the SS, which is not available here. The AMG is beyond the reach of most of us here in Singapore due to the rediculous taxes .

 

The stock setup rolls a little more to promote understeer, as oversteer is what tends to get inexperienced drivers in trouble.

Personally, the Sport models(Coupe and the SS) 05 C Class is the best handling Benz Ive ever been in. Easily a match for the current 'base' 3 series, and certainly more stable on the highway. Add some stiffer sway bars, and I'd bet it can outsnake the old C32.

 

I totally agree and as far as I know you guys might be right about the suspension not being amg on these new cars. I think on the sticker all it says is sport suspension, however, I have driven 03 nad 04 base bimmers non sport package and not M3 and I'm sorry to say guys I still have to disagree with those who say this new c class is not at least just as stable as those 3 series. Aside from amg cars this issssssss the best handling mb car I've driven including base e and clk's the 320's

 

handling on my 05 c230k PWNS my 99 323i. no question.
oh and come on man, 120? you know this car could do 150 easliy, try harder next time!

 

Yeah you try >120 just after rush hour........lol it would definitely wake ur *** up!

 

Huh... Interesting! I would definately much rather have oversteer than understeer... You can learn to control oversteer and use it to your advantage increasing your cornering speed. Thats how the original 427 Cobras raced... Run to the limit of traction, and when you feel the back sliding, let it slide till the car points where you want to go then straighten out the wheels and gun it... But that was beacuse the car has no spoiler and gets squirily at speeds...

What would be the best bang for the buck as far as handling goes? Rear anti-roll bar?

 

For the money, the AMG bars. But I'd recommend looking at the H&R and Eibach bars also - a little more money, but much better handling. If you're gonna do it, do it right.

 

I was under the impression that the 2004.5 and up sport sedans (but not the coupes) now use the same swaybars as the AMG, but that the shocks and springs are different.

 

true, but that bit of understeer is considered 'safer' than spinning the car for joe average commuter. I'm a good driver, but far from a racer... but at least with a matched set of stiffer sways should help it corner flatter, which is basically all that I'm looking for, other than that, she's a joy to drive

 

I know, that understeer is usually safer, and is safer for the average driver, but if I was going to upgrade the suspension, I would set it up to have as little understeer as possible, and possibly some eversteer. If I'm going for handling, might as well do it right! One of the reasons why I would want some oversteer is you can control it if you learn. When you have understeer, there is not much you can do once your at that point. I have been in situations where understeer could have caused an accident because the car wont turn where it needs to to avoid an obsitcle, and then because the front wheels broke loose, I lost almost all steering ability. This was in a Jeep by the way and there is not much you can do to make that car oversteer, and the obsticle was some guy that went the wrong way around a traffic circle. Luckily since it was such a sharp turn at about 40mph the rear end eventually broke loose and I skidded sideways and gunned it to get out of the way. That was some fancy driving right there, thankfully it only cost me a pair of boxers!

 

Wouldn't we all. But like I said, this is for the benefit of the driver(who doesn't leave the road *** first and MB(not getting sued by asswhipe driver after he goes off the road)


Personally, a neutrally handling car is what I'd shoot for. Induce the oversteer with the throttle. The AMG sways for a standard or sport model are a definate bang for your buck contender.

 

so does the 05 c230 have c32 sways or what?

 

I have a C32 and a 04 C230K sedan SS

I can say that the C230K does feel like it handled better out of the box than the C32..
The C32 is a little "Floaty" stock
The C230K is tighter.



Now the brakes are not the same at all, they are 13's but not even close to the stopping power of the C32 setup.

The sways on the C32 are beefier that the dinky *** C230K sways, but not by much.

 

I agree. The 2005 model has the best stock suspension ever, the way it shoulda been. Well, i drovge a sedan, loaner.
It was tight. But rode well. My car with it's springs and sways, well you feel every little bump. Yeh, 2005 best to date.
Feels a lot like a bimmer, and prefect mix of performance and
ride.
And with the upgraded suspension and brakes, a good deal.
I got 2 grand in those upgrades, and it's not counted in the
value on KBB.