Blue Benz

Sorry, I don't have the article, you got to go to check it out.
They liked it, but said they would prefer the auto instead of the 6-speed .
They got a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds. The car they tested weighed around 3400 lbs. shouldn't it be lighter.
I think a properly broken in C230 K with the 6-speed, and only a few options (so it stays light) would go 0-60 in at least 6.7 seconds.

dasMafia

that car will never see 6.7 in stock form. the best the mags have done is 7.2 I believe. that car is much better suited to high-speed cruising, it jsut does everything in its power to keep you from hammering it off the line, even with ESP off.

MB-BOB

dasMafia, so you expect to bust 7 seconds with that used, 184hp Z3? I realize you're taking it in the shorts tonight (no pun intended) on your purchase of the BMW... But, this IS a Mercedes-Benz forum, and while we're being patient with you, if you are going to start bashing the Coupe you decided not to buy, maybe it's time you bust a move over to the "ultimatedrivingmachine.org" or whatever the hell they call it. :p

dasMafia

actually, just going off the MFGs, the Z3 (and its a 170hp version... and at 14K its barely broken in) is listed at 6.9 to 60... best a magazine got was 6.7 i believe

the Benz is listed at 7.2 (i think), and i just think that a half second difference is a little extreme. I suspect a broken-in C230 will run 6.95-7.05 but thats just by the seat of the pants.

I drove both on saturday and the C230 was the slowest of the cars I drove:

325Ci (auto-- unfortunately)
CLK320
Z3 2.3 (manual)
C230 (6-speed)
M Coupe (ugly fast... with some more ugly)

the Z3 was the fastest (didn't get to romp on M Coupe) by a great margin. (only weighs 2900lbs has 3.91 gears)

My (intended) point is that for the C230 to really move, its going to need a little modification. also, the engine software seems bent on "smooth delivery" at the sacrifice of acceleration, you can literally feel it as you go.

PS. www.bimmerforums.com is experiencing technical difficulties (host shut them down for exceeding bandwidth... oops)

I hope y'all don't kick me out. I'm still very interested in adding a '70 280SL and a CLK55 to my "stable" in the future... maybe an E430 4-matic too? (if only they'd stop making the cars uglier... just keep em the way they are now.)

Rick

(shakes head)
Hope you enjoy your BMW....good luck. (Z3's are as common as litter in NJ)

I almost made the regrettable mistake of jumping ship and going with an M Coupe (at substantial discount due to cosmetic ug-liness) because the MB store was screwing up left and right. But I'm glad I waited, and damn glad I don't have to deal with the store side of the dealership for 3-4 years...

In the mean time...I've got an MGB that pumps 160 hp at 2146lbs...I'll run ya for your pink slip!

Flashman

Who cares about 0-60? MB was kind enough to not fall victim to magazine marketing hype and adjust the 2nd gear to hit 62MPH (at the cost of efficient gearing). Instead, the C230 needs to shift to third to hit 60/62. This adds 1/2 to 1 second in 0-60 times, making the car seem slower than it is. Real world driving quickly reveals it isn't slow at all.

My 1993 Miata had the same problem (advantage?). Mazda didn't bother putting in marketing gears, and put in real gear ratios. So it needs to go to third to hit 60. Officially my Miata does 0-60 in 8.0 seconds. But as many left-behind Mustangs, BMWs, and other cars in Central Florida know... my 0-50 is a killer...

The C230 has the same exact situation. It might seem slow 0-60, but put it at a red light, and its 0-30 and 0-50 will leave most things a car length behind. In the real world, who cares how fast you go to 60, if you are still a car length behind, right?

Rick

Flashman

Oh yeah, actually living in the South I do have one observation to make...

Given a choice to have a car built by detail-obsessed we-still-treat-car-building-as-a-trade Germans in Bremen or built by pickups-with-gunracks rednecks in the South Carolina country...

I'd prefer to buy the import...

Rick

Rick

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-Haw

I wonder if they'll do a "southern pride edition" of the new Z5 coupe(www.autoweek.com)....I can see it now, Screaming Orange mopar paint, Rebel flag on the roof, gun rack in the hatch and a big blue and white 01 on the doors!

Flashman

We get these special SOUTHERN EDITION pickup trucks that only come south every year. They take a 6-cylinder pickup, put in a 4-cylinder instead, take out half the features, and sell it as a special "soutern edition"... lots of tv ads... kind of funny...

Rick

dasMafia

this is getting ugly... at least my engine and tranny are built in Bavaria...

re: C230 and 0-60.

regardless of the gearing, the car is still not a 6.7 second car.

and living in NEBRASKA, a Z3 is not common at all. It takes a certain amount of ***** and a certain lack of brains to drive one around here with all the freakin' SUVs and farm equipment (no, not really), and the potholes, and SNOW... but hey, i never said i was a genius!

Interesting snippitt... I used to see the Z3 as ho-hum as far as shape goes... that car looks BAD (good bad, not M Coupe bad) with the hard-top on... WOW!

I gotta get to my final, later!

Iceman's C230

Well, I am going to the track this summer with my c230, will see what it will do? My 96 Stang ran low 12's. I been racing for years now. So after i am done with this car it will hit 6 sec's with ESP or not. The guy's in these magazines let their wifes do the test driving.

dasMafia

yeah, I'm guessing its a tough to get your tires warm up there right now. let us know when you do get numbers... I'm really interested in seeing how it will do with a few thousand miles on the clock.

Black230

Hi, I just clocked my runs at a local track and was clocked 7.32 to 60mph with my auto. Just remember that magazines all differ in 0-60 runs. They are all averages of two test runs so R&D will say 7.6 when Car and Driver will say 7.0. Just do it yourself and clock yourself, I did and clocked 7.3 easily. Not bad for an auto 4 banger.

C230K

I do not think the C230 Coupe was built to be a drag racer. How the car handels and drives is a lot more important than 0-60. Plan to autocross mine and between driver skill and car set up, think this car will do just fine. Look out BMW.........
Tom

DoctorDeath13

Since I live ~50 miles from the SC plant, I probably qualify for redneck status. Here is my rendition as to how I may better fit in.
I think MB would ask around $700 for the gun rack.







(Just kidding Folks)

trench

Nice Job DrDeath13 with the El Benzino.

Regards, BT