rumsbeard

I was driving my 2005 C230 Kompressor sport sedan, and got jumped at a stoplight by a nondescript Toyota Camry. I had assumed the Camry was a 4 cylinder so I gave my own car a healthy step on the gas initially. I think the Camry driver put his pedal to the metal from the start, and I got beaten hard. The Camry was a V6, but still quite embarassing...

This was from 0 to about 45-50 mph at 8am on a Saturday morning, no other traffic, no pedestrians.

advans

wow lol did u check the #s on a late 90s V6 camry?

192hp/207tq V6 3.0NA
0-60 8sec


and your car,

189hp/192tq I4 1.8SC
0-60 7.5 MAN 8.0 AUTO

Ryanr317

With those stats, it sounds like it would be a drivers race.

D2-AUTOSPORT

We have a 92 camry that we use to lug rims and car show stuff around. Its a V6 5speed with a nice little list of goodies under the hood along with suspension work. Being that the car is light, it flys.

It is so funny to see the looks on peoples faces when they get smoked by a old camry, lol.

If you where in New York, it could of been me.

Boom vang

I got beaten in a similar situation by an older crappy Pontiac Grand Am

Embarassing!

Not sure why regular versions of German sedans are so underpowered compared to American or Japanesse

C320 3.2L 215hp
Accord 3.0L 244hp

C350 3.5L 268hp
G35 3.5L 280hp
Z350 3.5L 300hp

even a Altima has 260hp and a PT louser has 230hp from the Turbo version

MazdaSpeed 6 gets 274hp from only 2.3L!

rumsbeard

I suppose one consolation is that he appeared to be struggling through a sweeping curve at about 50mph right before we came to the stoplight =) I was definitely pulling away on that curve.

As an aside, is the Volkswagen 2.0T engine really that spectacular? It's been getting a lot of good press. How does the 1.8L supercharged Mercedes engine compare to it?

Boom vang

VW or Audi 2.0T has lots of power but it is rather rough and noisy, My buddy has one (06 Jetta) and although the MB 1.8 has been criticised as not being smooth, it is leaps and bounds above the Vdub unit

Power for the 2.0T is 200hp and 207ft/lbs

However saying that, my neighbours 1.8T Jetta can't get through 2 months without a check engine light and replacement of coil packs, mass flow sensors or O2 sensor or various other electronic gremlins that plague that engine.

Both engines 1.8T and 2.0T have serious Turbo lag

BKLYN_C

Is that Camry as bad a$$ as your LS400?


Some time ago had little runs against my friend in his VW GTI (1.8T, 5 speed manual). Yeah, off the red light he pulls faster, but any curve was like a God's gift to me, had no problems getting ahead of him.

GDawgC220

The 1.8T engine is one of the worlds 10 best engines, been in service for a very long time. They're pretty much bulletproof in terms of engineering...its those electronics that plauge issues (likewise with MB). Though, they're (1.8T and 2.0T) so much easier to mod than the MB 1.8L due to turbo charging vs supercharging (though MB is going to go the way of turbos in the near future).

Have you driven the 2.0T yet? Lag is greatly reduced from the 1.8T (which has noticeable lag in stock form, chipped reduces that lag a lot).

GDawgC220

Mmm, MazdaSpeed 6, 2.3L turbo 273hp/280tq w/ AWD! Quite a sedan and can be had for about 22k now.

kickR

but afterall, still no star up front, plastic everywhere, and not really an agressive appearance either.

GDawgC220

True but can't beat the performance for the buck. Easy tubeability is appealing for a lot too. Not everything is about the star up front

14cue

There is nothing to be embarrassed about. The C230SS is a snail but it's sexy as hell.

BKLYN_C

Should I get offended by my car being called a snail
It's underpowered, not slow

It's a Merz, not a cheap car to begin with and not too many options to tune it and just handful of tuners. Eventually, if someone doesn't like his w203 he can change it for 2 tuned Civics with all the options and some change for beer to celebrate the deal

yellowrama

Do not underestimate the power of V6s. I have a 98 Honda Accord V6 AT, and that thing can keep up with my C230SS AT anyday. However for some reason, the Benz feels faster.

14cue

nah, dont be offended, it's slow but it makes up for it with it's beauty. it's a like a trophy wife, you wouldnt hold it against her for being a door knob would ya?

BKLYN_C

Agreed 100%
Had 98 Avalon before the c230 for 5 years. That thing was fast, but still felt like gradma's vagon

BKLYN_C

LOL
I guess I am getting older, at least in that prospective

Slater126

Sounds like you took a good 'ol fashioned beat down. Don't feel bad. The C230 wasn't built to be a dragster. I have a 6-speed '04.5 and it's reasonably sprightly but by no means would I ever try to race anyone in it. 0-60 is listed by MB at 7.5 seconds for the manual, and 8.0 for the auto. Not too shabby but many modern cars -- including some minivans and crossovers and, yes, V-6 Camrys and Accords -- are going to be able to take you down and make you look a fool. The V-6 C230s from '06 and up are slower still believe it or not per MB's website.

Overall though, I like my little Benz. It's very comfortable, adequately quick, well built and handles and stops well. It may be slower but I'll bet it's a lot more fun to drive than a Camry. Something doesn't have to be a straight line terror to be fun (i.e. the E30 BMW 3-series). A freakin' UPS truck fully loaded with landscaping rocks will beat a 318i, yet that car is an absolute blast to drive. That said, I think I'm going to trade my C230 for a C32 this spring. I miss my old E36 M3 and I think a C32 will be a nice fix.

Outland

Put C230 badging on that C32.

Slater126

LOL. Maybe I will. God knows they look pretty much identical other than the emblems. Tire size, stance, body cladding, interior, etc. are more or less the same. It'll be just like old times, only this time I won't be afraid to try to smack down the occasional cocky Camry, Accord or Odessey minivan driven by a pissed off soccer mom

tee_tz

Please don't do that, then you'll embarrass the whole brand.

Yeah, it sucks that you pay so much more than a Camry, Altima, Maxima but the performance isn't on par. Hopefully this changes in the W204 series. Nissan's and Toyota's need to not be close to a Benz.


Tee_Tz.

k_lundquist

Yeah, I was smacked down in my 05 SS by a new 2.0T Jetta.

So sad.

sytfu_c230

I have the 06 v6 with the 7 speed auto, still slow. MB ( mines anyways ) just isnt a off the line fast car.. but I made the switch from stick to auto ( previous cars were all manual transmission ) ..so it feels really slow to me... oh well, besides the benz will still look better in the end.

kevblah

I knew things like this would happen with the 230!!! That's why I went with the less-cooler looking 320. It's still not too fast, but average