Reyngel

I'm debating whether or not to get a new 2006 C230 or a used 2005. Clearly the difference between the two is cost, but aside from that, are there any other things I should be considering? From what I know, the primary difference between the 2005 and 2006 is the engine. But what about bugs and fixes? Was anything important changed over the course of the year? Thanks for any imput. I'll probably be making a decision within the next week or two, so hopefully I can gain some imput from you guys.

Oh, and as far as the setup goes, I'm looking to get a silver(Brilliant or Iridium, depending on the year) automatic with bi-xenons, heated seats, memory seats and a sunroof. The CD changer would be nice, but it would depend on the year, because I'd rather have the 2006's mp3 playback feature.

m-benzw203

05' save some $ and use it for Mods good luck and they r both the same

Jkw

Do a search!
2006 has new engines.

GPI

I suggest you buy a used '05 because it is cheaper. You know that the difference between the '05 and the '06 is only the engine. The body style is the same. Moreover, the new C class(W204) is coming out in a year's time. You would lose out if you buy an '06 because the resale value will drop more than a used '05.

MHPHOCKEY

The new C230 engine will be used in the next generation, while you will take a hit either way, the 2006 will be a bit more.

Turbo2

As the others have mentioned, the only difference between the '05 and '06 C230 models are the engine and a small visual change (the '05s say "C230 Kompressor" on the rear while the '06s just say "C230).

The '05 featured a supercharged (Kompressor) 4-cylinder engine while the '06 features a V6 engine.

The real choice for you between the two model years is what are you looking for from you Benz. The 4-cylinder engine is louder and not as smooth, but does provide quicker acceleration. The V6 is much quieter than the 4-cylinder and smoother, although acceleration is not much slower.

In conclusion:

'05- A little less refined (louder, not as smooth, quicker)
'06 - More befitting of a luxury car (quieter, smoother shifts, a little lagging in acceleration).

As GPI-AMG said, it would probably make sense to buy a used '05 or '06 (if you can find one) since a new body-style is coming out and your resale will take a hit.

Good luck, you'll be happy with either choice!

SteveL1

I test drove five '05 cars and ONE '06. No comparison in the feel and sound. I figure that I payed about $3k more for an '06, but got the full warranty, zero miles on the car and it is as smooth as silk. I've had a number of people in the car say that they can't beleive how smooth the engine and trans. is!

All depends on what you want. I put 20k to 25k miles a year on my car and the extra warranty and zero miles was a big plus. And if you will keep the car more than a year or two, the resale won't really matter anyway. If yours is going to be a show car with lots of mods and low miles, get the '05. Drive both and you will be able to tell which is best for you.

As you can tell, I'm very happy that I got an '06!

kickR

I would definetly go with a 2005 model. probably a used one too, because of the depreciation when the first owner drove it from the lot.

if you are a city driver - go with the 2005. better mpg, more power in low rpm's

if you drive highway - go with the 2006. it wont whine as bad as the kompressor at 80+

drexappeal

Simple choice:

Plan on modding, fairly immediately - '05

Don't plan on modding immediately or just want a reliable car for the life of the warranty - '06

I've heard debates on which of the two people feel are better. I've heard some people say the '06 7 speed auto tranny is more sluggish than '05-previous 5 speed auto tranny. Either way, each year is gonna have its issues. If it were me, I'd go with the '05 because I don't like going with 1st production years of an engine and '06 models are the 1st production year of that 230 v6 engine. Hope that helps.

drex

Buellwinkle

I would go with new anytime. I figure that if a car is a year old and it's been traded in it's either a service loaner or a lemon. I can't imagine that a significant percentage of C owners are truly happy with their car and sell it in less than a year later. The 2005 has advantages of better fuel mileage, the 2006 has a smoother V6.

You may want to consider a 2004.5, it was the last of the MB's to come with 4 yrs of free maintenance.

Battery!

It may be possible to find a new untitled '05 at a dealer and you'll get a great deal. I think finding an '06 spec'd the way you like would be tough unless you take the ordering route. I haven't driven an '06 auto, but I don't like the '05 auto (I have the manual), so that should be a factor in your decision. However, finding a used '05 shouldn't be a difficult task since all dealers will probably have at least one, so I'd shop around for whoever has the best condition car that will accept your price.

razorfish228

I say save your money and buy the 2007 version W204. Why waste your money on an 06 or get a used 05 when you can get a refined and different style which the 07 has to offer.

Outland

Or you could just go out and by one of the three Acura Sedans...they all look pretty much the same, and very much like the 07 C Class...and two of them have nicer V6's.

mick1

i don't think the 2008 C-class sedans will look that much different from the 2006 based upon these pics . But if the interior pics are real then I will be very disappointed .

Reyngel

Thanks for the responses.

With regards to waiting until 2007 for the W204, I'm not sure I'm liking where Mercedes is going with their S-class design, and if the C is supposed to be a clear reflection of the S-class, then I'd rather get a W203.

I've driven a 2006, and it didn't feel all that sluggish to me. I liked it a lot, especially how quiet the engine was. So the 2005 would negate that benefit, since it's louder with the supercharger.

I didn't think of the fact, though, that a used 2005 would have less of a depreciation upon purchase than a 2006 due to the W204 coming out. It's an interesting thought.

I think I'd like to lean toward a 2006, though, just because it'd be brand new, and nothing beats a brand new car. But a used 2005 would be so much cheaper!

Still hard to decide...

Outland

05. 06 is slower and uses more fuel, and more money. If you only wanted quiet, just buy a buick and get it over with.

MB2006

stop this with basing 06, it uses 1mpg more fuel then 05, its not the point ok?
its not much slower,
and both cars NOT FAST , so live with it.( want a fat car get Z350 or EVO)
i would go with new car if you gonna keep it for some time, if you going to trade it in 2 years go with cheaper, but you still going to loose money.

Outland

I think its looking more and more like the spy pics from 2 or so years ago are dead on...its indeed the Acura C-Class. Remember the interior pics that were almost identical to the 'illustration', except viewed from the other side? You betcha that's real. Ewwww. Its pretty nasty looking inside.

gary-dragon

Hi,like you, I am debating whether what car should I purchase next, at first between the C-230 and the 325i, but I really like the interior of the c-230, because for me I'm going to spend more time looking at the interior while driving. and over all, the c-230 still strikes me. but it will depend really on what you like, me I would go for the new one, personally when I buy a car I would like it new, and between the '05 and the '06, yes the engine is different, I don't care much for acceleration, I would like a more quiet engine, and if you will be able to get around $2,000 to $2,500 off the MSRP for the '06 (new one ), that will no be so bad. And regarding waiting for the 2008 c-class to come, yes me too, I don't like those new looks of those headlights, and where the new cars looks are going to, in my opinion, I still think this present C-230 will be classy in the long run. and also if you are going to wait for the new (2008) model, you know how this dealerships work, they won't even give you $1,000 off the MSRP, not in the first year anyway, and take note it will be an all new model, that means, it will be a whole lot of new issue of problem that are going to come out eventually.
And by the way if you are going to order your new c-230 now, the delivery will be by July and it will be as 2007 model as the dealer told me, I have ordered last week. my salesman promise to give me a good deal though , around $ 2,000 to 2,500 off the MSRP. we'll see if he can keep up to his words.
Hope I've help you a bit. Good luck !
Gary

BENZGal

One of my best friends traded in her Blazer for an 06C230 last night. I made the deal over the phone for her, and took her to get it last night. She got the lease special that MB is offering until the end of May. She got a beautiful Alibaster White one, black leather interior, brushed aluminum trim, Sunroof package, 6 CD, upgraded sound system and upgraded wheels for $3100.00 under MSRP. She put down $3,500.00 for 27 months @$349.00 per month. After the 27 months it will have cost her $12,574 to drive the car. The C230 sports also have a high residule which leaves her with equity in the car at the end of the deal, unlike most MBZ. She let me drive it last night and the seven speed tranny was fun to play with on that light car.

I'm on this class thread right now looking for fun upgrades for her. The lights are a must!

06C230

if you're buying a C230 for it's power then you're looking into buying the wrong car because both 2005 and 2006 are weak. Who cares if the 06 model is just a hair slower, it's smoother and it better all around. I just came from a track edition 350Z and I don't miss the power because the C230 is not a sports car. I didn't like the sound of the 05 motor, i like the s/c sound but not the sound of the motor itself, sounds cheap to me. The downshifting of the 06 on the freeway has never been an issue to me and all I can say is big deal if the car has to downshift 2 gears or 1. It really comes down to do you want a new car or a used one. They are both great cars and I wanted a new one that nobody else had owned.

patrick_y

I agree here with 06C230. Even though i own an 2005 model year C230, the one thing I noticed was that the new one is much smoother. The 05 C230's automatic transmission isn't the smoothest one in the world. Especially on downshifts. They lock the torque converter up too tightly (to save on gas and maximize efficiency) but this compromises on the shifting (you can feel a tiny jolt once in a while, especially on downshifts, nothing bad, just you can feel it a little bit).

The 2006, has the remedy to this problem. The 2006 engine is about the same as the 2005 engine, it drinks a tad bit more gas, and it's a tad bit more slower, but it's not like anybody's going to see the difference.

Another thing. I think that the 05 C230 Kompressor drinks a lot of gas. Because the RPMs are fairly high in top gear (25mph per 1000rpm), say you're going 75 mph and you're doing 3000 rpms. Keep in mind, most car engines are more efficient in the 2000-2500 RPM range. The 06 C230 V6 with its 7 speed transmission will have a taller top gear and will minimize high rpms on the highway.

Naturally, this brings about one problem as well, whenever you plan to overtake someone, you'll need to downshift if you have the 7 gear transmission, when you can do so in relative ease with the 5 gear transmission from the 05 model.

Both cars are great. The 05 C230 will also be slightly cheaper to maintain (4 cylinders, less spark plugs, oil, etc). I do think however that the 06 is much more civilized, quieter (engine wise), sans supercharger has its good sides, and personally, I think the exhaust sound on the 06 sounds better. The 05 has this higher pitch sound, the 05 is more Ferrari and the 06 is more Aston Martin. Personally, I'm a Ferrari fan, but I never liked the sound of their exhaust, Aston Martins have the best exhaust note.

TA-9FF

I wish my 2006 had that!

TA-9FF

Totally OT, but........you gotta be kidding. Nothing in the world sounds like a Ferrari V12..........it sounds sublime.....

An Aston Martin is just another spruced up Ford, IMO. In fact, the AM's V12 uses stuff Ford designed..........

patrick_y

I totally understand where you're coming from. But I implore you to go listen to the Aston Martin again.

I like the deep low pitched lion growl.

The Ferrari (the 360 especially) is very high pitched with almost a whine. I don't like that. The V12 Ferraris, I don't remember especially.

Now, I'd never buy an Aston Martin (at least nothing from their current linup). The Vanquish has the instrument cluster reversed, the DB9 has useless rear seats (if they're useless, why have them right?), and the V8 Vantage is kind of hatchbackish. However, I do like the sound that they make. I do give them that. However, I wouldn't buy an Aston Martin, for many reasons, one of which is because they're owned by Ford.

The other car's sound that I really like, and this will surprise you since it is a derivative of the Ferrari 360 (one that I don't like) is the Maserati Coupe with the Tubi Exhaust (I think with something from Magnaflow too). That car has a nice deep sound.

Deep sound = Good = Aston Martin or Maserati
High sound = not so good = Ferrari (360s especially)

The F430 is a bit better, still a bit high pitched when in the higher revs. I like it a lot in the low revs, however, anything past 3000 RPMs and it starts to sound a bit high pitched. Sounds good in the 5-6k range though even though it's a bit high.

I don't have the best of hearing (I'm almost deaf in my left ear), but I am able to discriminate between good and bad. I don't have perfect pitch either, but still, as a symphony and Opera fan, I can't be that bad.