My W203 sedan is pissing me off....problems so far include

radio completely died (fixed)
persistant error msg about coolant temp (fixed after 2 tries)
windows switches don't work correctly (new problem).. I've re-synched them 10 times each !!!!
drivers seat squeaks (unable to fix)
drivers door lock is messed up...sounds like its constantly trying to lock or unlock!!???(new prob).
drivers seat controls INOP!!!!!(new problem)

now I get to wait a week and a half for an appointment (with a loaner car).....sux...not to mention the time I waste fartin with the car/dealer.

I'm ready to dump it for a G35 or IS300(430)....I know german cars are not as reliable as the japanese...but this is freakin ridiculous !!!

now I know why I see 100 C-class cars on the dealers lot!!!

 

you know you're in trouble when the svc advisor knows you by your first name....

"Hey Mike, what can we do for you?"

me = "yes the POS is f**ked up AGAIN...fix it !!!"

 

that sucks!

your post reminds me of a friend of mine who bought a saab.

he met his salesguy at the service counter and the salesguy asked, "how's the car?"
my friend replied, "you tell me. you have it more than i do." the sales guy looked down in shame...

 

If you go G35 (excellent choice) go coupe!! Or at least wait for the sedan to arrive with the promised third pedal so you can smoke some 330s, CL-Ss. Sorry to hear of your MB woes, I'm pretty sure you'll get over it with the G. IS is no match IMO BTW.

 

If you decide to unload your C320 - I'd like to get in line to help you unload those sweet bi-xenons you have..........

 

No car's perfect; I'd wait to see if there's anything that you really can't live with that the dealer says that they can't fix.

As Buell would say, relax and enjoy the loaner.

BTW: not to sound like some of the other members here, but IMHO, the IS and G35 are tacky and not classy in the same way that the Benz is. Lexus should be ashamed of the IS' dash - you're going to have to look at that damn thing every single day that you own it. HP on G is very nice, but I'm not convinced that the backseat is any better than the IS' backseat.

You're in no rush, so don't make a knee-jerk decision based on a couple of problems.

 

Wasn't '01 the first year of the new designed C-class? I would never buy the first year of a new design. Bugs-o-plenty!

 

I have to agree with Tommy about the IS and G. The new G coupe is very nice but here in California if you drive a G or IS to a nice restaurant and the guy behind you has a 'benz' it's the benz that gets to park in front. Great cars both but still no respect. I drove the IS prior to the benz. The car was quiet and solid but the power let me down. I still think the Japanese still overstate the HP or there horses are a lot smaller than here.
Just my thoughts........I could be wrong.

 

If you want reliability but want to stay with a eroupean nameplate then get a Jag, the #1 most reliable European car in the JD Power 5 year dependibility survey #3 overall). You get the same MB treatment of loaners, 4 years maintenance and such. MB is #10 on the same survey and I think that's way overrated as many MB owners must get bribed on those surveys.

 

If you want handling and horsepower in a small package, get the G35! Black only. Yes, it's japanese, but it's your car...that you have to drive, not the posers/posters.

my 2 cents...

 

If you want power the IS is not the way to go. Sadly my lil stock coupe smoked an IS both on freeway and street. The G coupe is a sweet car BUT the interior is ugly and tacky. Dont you qualify for lemon law since you have so many problems?

 

do I have any offers for the BI-Xenons??

I paid $900 dlvd

the right (pax) side is only adustable by adjusting hte entire assy...but they work great ! (the city lites DO match...this was just for comparison)

Price them at the dealer (good luck) THEN PM ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hell...I want to dump my C320 wagon and it hasn't been in the shop yet.

Reasons:

1. Uninspired handling. This is no BMW.
2. Seats no that comfy.
3. Feels cheaper than both my BMW and Audi.
4. Not crazy about the way dash/interior lights up at night.
5. A little cramped.
6. Crappy mileage.
7. CD changer in glove compartment - like in-dash more.

Why I'm keeping it:

1. Cheap: Paying $499.99 month/12K year
2. Turning Radius
3. Good Power
4. Best shifter out there.
5. Great safety specs


MB doesn't build em like they used to. In fact, I think I'd rather have a used 560 SEL from the late 1990. Now that car felt like a tank.

 

yes, what's with the squeaky noise at the driver's side? I had that noise, and it seems like it is coming from underneath the car. I am not sure whether it's the seats or the suspension. But it sure is irritating

 

I'm sorry to hear about your Benz. Hmm...I've only had mine for less than a month and I hear som many ppl. complain i'm starting to wonder whether I shoulda kept my A4.....on the other hand since i've sold my soul to MB can you advise on which dealer (MB North or Greenway?) to go for service. I don't mind the extra trip to North if the service dept is cool (loaners and actually fixes the problem hopefully). Again good luck with your choice as I looked at the G35 and IS300 and both are fine cars (esp the specs on G35 is incredible but wait for the coupe).

 

Umm, didn't you check out the car *before* you bought it? Every one of those things were sitting right in front of you before you bought the car, why are you surprised/dissatisfied now?

 

go for the g35. Out of the 3 cars (IS300, C320, G35), I would choose the G...looks great, excellent price, superb performance. It might not be a benz, but IMO it does not really matter, (its not like your getting a hundai)...=) especially if the G is more reliable.

 

And you think they don't bribe the jag boys. Unless it's one of the big jags the car is just a Lincoln LS underneath and we know what we have there don't we?

 

This maybe a stupid question but what car did CHATMANR post???? Looks sweeeeeeeeeeet!

 

Dan you are soooo right, a Licoln just like the jag make up 2 out of the top for most dependable brands making the Lincoln the #1 U.S. brand for dependability. I really wish our cars would hold up as well as Lincolns, Jags, Infinitis and Lexuses. Pretty bad when Cadillac is built better than an MB....

http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower/...ID=585&CatID=1

 

Thanks Carl..........The JD Powers site was interesting for sure. I think I would agree that it's probably a pretty good indicator of what's happening out there.
Hopefully our model will fair better in the next survey. The one you have is for model year 2001.
Cheers

 

Actually that's not true, the survey was done in 2001 but the cars were 5 years old so the Jag's with Ford content weren't included so I suspect with the Ford content maybe they'll be #1 soon.

Don't go by my coupe for dependability as it's been in quite a few times for warranty work. Way more than any other brand of cars I've owned. For example all my Fords I've owned combined don't equal the amount of times the coupe has been in for repairs (pre-mods) and I've owned 7 Fords. Don't get me wrong, I like the car and would have a tough time replacing it but no MB I've ever owned (4) have been very reliable and the new ones aren't any different.

 

Get the G35 coupe but if your into modding then get the is300, get a turbo

 

only thing that concerns me about the G35 is that Infiniti loses their value rather quickly...Lexus will retain better value....not like an MB but close enuff.....!

 

Ha hahh hahhhhhhhh....

I like it

I did test drove the IS and the G35 before settling down on the C-Coupe. The IS is not bad at all really - it just does not look like a Lexus.

The G35 is a big wow in performance but nothing to brag about for the interior (my taste of course). The Panoramic roof sold alot of coupe for Benz imho.