ushawk1

Wow, it has been ages since I visited here, but I finally bought another MB. I just got a 2003 C230 Sport Coupe with 37,000 miles on it. I bought extended warranty as I learned from the last MB (a panzerwagen '84 380SE) that electrical things go out at any time. I bought this car at Carmax. I am mixed on them, liking and hating Carmax, but they make it so easy to buy a car. I ended up paying close to $20k for everything, warranty, tax, tags, etc. When I see these cars cheaper on the internet or eBay, I wonder if I paid too much. Maybe not, maybe so. What do you guys think?
This car has all the books and records, and has taken care of. I am also in Northern VA, which I think is as high priced as California, so maybe I got hit with some "regional adjustment." I didn't want leather, and I had to have the 6spd, so this car fits me well. It is not a power house like a Mustang GT, but it is a joy to drive. I know little about this car, as I was into the old school Benz's. It is surprising that the control layout is the exact same as that '84 MB I used to have. Give a day to get pics up.

DmitryS500

I'm not sure really...
I think you might have paid a lot.
I bought my 05 Coupe with leather, pano roof, auto transmission (I couldn't find 6spd) and 18600 miles for $20,300 at a Nissan dealership in the middle of PA. I bargained really hard with them for this car. They couldn't sell it within 3-4 months. There's no demand there for cars like this.
I also have the CPO warranty from Mercedes but I didn't know about it when I bought the car nor did the dealership know about this. I only found out when I went for service to the dealer.
I assume you also have the CPO warranty...
My price though is without tax, so if your price includes tax I'd say that's a decent deal. Not the best, but ok enough

blueC230K

I didn't buy a car at Carmax instead I sold mine to them. Let me tell you, I knew a guy at Carmax and he was saying that the demand is low as hell on these cars

I sold my car back in June and it was a 02 Orion Blue C230, 6spd, 6 CD, pan roof; and C7 wheel pkg. It has about 65k miles on it. They only gave me $9000. I knew I could sell a little higher if I sell it as a private deal. But it was a breeze selling a car to Carmax just like you bought one too.

ushawk1, are you planning to do any mods on your ride? I have a set of Tein Coilover Basics sitting in my garage for sale. I didn't have a chance to post on ebay yet. Since you are local, just wondering if you want to get it. Price is negotiable Let me know!

Jon

BlackLiquorish8

thats a sick lookin E class you have there bro!

kevblah

...ouch
im looking at the numbers BEFORE warrantee...and honestly the car should sell for 14-15k area....

Midnight Koop

carmax is expensive... but i think your price sounds a little high. i would expect it to be around $17k, but with taxes and everything close to 19-20k. i think your price sounds about right, especially if the car is in good condition. the mileage is very low, so i wouldn't mind paying more for that.

anyways, where in NOVA are you? and post some pics of your new ride!

kompressor85

well, i paid $18,000 for mine, and it was an 02 w/ 34K miles, in great condition. roof and leather and airbag pkgs. that was over a year and half ago.

edit: should note that out the door was like 21K or something, bought an extended warranty for like $1500 to protect it to 100K or so, and then tax and tags.... yada yada yada.

blueC230K

Thanks dude, I am getting BBK done all four corners this weekend!! Very excited

Just a word of caution for all you. Have your alternator check frequently. My died in the middle of nowhere on the highway last winter and stranded for 2 hours. I called roadside and they did a good job helping me finding a towing company nearby. Also, for all you panroof-ers, if your one touch open can't open with "one touch", you might have trouble with the module. I heard it's like $1k to fix it.... my 2cent

C230 Sport Coup

Warranty (2 grand?), tax (8%)and tags in CA (~300-500) would cost 3-4 grand so maybe you did all right.

dirtdiggler

you did fine. you bought a mercedes - onlooker will think you paid more.
enjoy your purchase.. and let see some pics.

really not the purchase price, but the interest rate of the loan that matters.

ushawk1

I think I did okay. It was 20k out the door with TTL and extra warranty. I am in the Leesburg area. I just moved here from the Northwest not too long ago, so yes, I am one of those a-holes adding to the overcrowding problem in Loudoun County. But at least I can wait out the traffic in this car, even though my Ranger is still my primary mode of trans. Pictures coming in a few hours.

shahedC

hey, welcome to Northern VA !

Did you go to the Carmax in the Dulles area? There's a Ferrari dealership nearby and they have really nice cars in stock (360, F430, 599!!).. they even have Gallardo's inside and Maserati QP's parked outside...

I won't be buying anything at the Ferrari dealership right now, but it's really nice to look at if you're in the area!

Enjoy.

~shahedc.

ushawk1

Yeah I went to Dulles Carmax. I noticed the exotic car dealership. I didn't go there, as I couldn't afford the oil change on a Ferrari, let alone the purchase price.

shahedC

well, I'm not buying one this year either, but it didn't hurt to look!

~shahedc
.

kc2007

Dude, Carmax is fair so you probably didn't get ripped off. However, it's no bargain. Check Edmunds you paid market price for it, but you could probably have done much better elsewhere. Consider this, MB is heavily advertising their remaining 2007s C class in the new paper, here in Newport Beach area they are takeing $5000 off every one of C classes. I got mine recently $6K off. A nicely equiped NEW 07 C230 sticker $33-34K one can probably get around $27K to $28K. Yes still $7k to $8k more, but it's brand new! Value wise it's a much better buy and worth the extra. So you did ok, just ok don't feel bad about it.

Midnight Koop

so what does this car look like? post some pics!

i want to keep my eye out for it (i'm in tysons corner)

shahedC

once I saw an E-class on fire, in front of the Tiffany's area at Tysons Corner... you could see the huge flames and smoke from the mall parking lot across the street!

did anyone here see that?

~shahedc
.

California

I paid 24k and change (out the door) for a 2004 coupe with 20k miles on it last December; with two year extended warranty that ends in 2010, also had MB rip out the cloth fish swimming ridiculous interior and put in leather for me. I feel I paid retail for it but not sad at all; love the black on black and love the car.

That said, I've dropped another 2k on 05 taillights, burl wood console and shifter, white sidemarkers and in process of having vanity lights put into the ceiling by the dealer. I'd like the gps comand; but may just wait for next car as comand seems a hassle aftermarket. Also talking to MBNL about euro strips as they look cool and smooth out the lines of the car.

Anyway, I think you did decently on your car. It is a MB after all. Just keep it up and ENJOY IT!!!!

valexv

working in the car biz you more than likely you did get ripped by carmax but they do a more thorough inspection on the cars they get and you probably since a lot less time there than a regular dearlership.

ushawk1

You guys already know what these look like, but here is mine anyway. I am not sure if it is pewter or desert silver. I think pewter. Where are the paint codes located at?

advans

that price is a bit high....i'd pay no more than 13k before extended warranty

ismeto

This coupe looks better than mine 05 Black coupe

It seems more clear also , colour is good .

I think It cost about 15 K (on ebay coupe sells)

C230 Sport Coup

Very clean. Welcome to Grand Order of the C Coupe.
An exclusive club indeed... he he...

Congratulations. Haven't seen the old 16" wheels around here in a while.
Actually, I thought they rode nice, and got better mileage than the 17's.
But once I put a pulley on my M111, they just spun all the time, and they didn't corner as well, and I live in a mountainous area.

Desert silver was my 2nd choice, but can't tell if it's that...
looks more silver. "Desert" silver is like a Champagne color.

ismeto

But , Which wheels better as handling-ride driving 16" or 17" ? I have standart sport pack. sport Michelin 17'' Wheels

ushawk1

Are there some threads in here that have info on all the things the display can do other than what is written in the owners manual, and some general info? What were the option codes, paint codes, etc? Someone make a sticky thread with this kinda stuff. Is there any kind of reminder or service lights I need to reset when I change the oil, or do maintenance?