mrgolf25

my mom wants a camry but i want a c240. so can you guys list the advantages of a c240 over a damn camry!!!

tberry

Well the way I see it MBs come with 4 yr 50k warranty and FREE maintenance (if you have bought a honda/toyota before dealer oil changes and scheduled maintenances are NOT cheap)....and considering free loaners as well all of this will add up to about $3k-4k (so say newer camry's loaded about what $28k and u can prob get an 02 C240 auto for about $31-32k?) and the obvious "status" symbol to many non luxury/euro car owners (perspective wise anyway).

whatup?

Why a Camry? (1) Everyone in America owns one; (2) they're so bland and boring they can knock you into a coma. Maybe you can't persuade you mom into a Benz, but at least get her away from the Toyota.

There was just a pretty good comparison of nine midsize sedans in the Automobile section of The New York Times. The new Mazda 6 has been getting great reviews, and was their top choice. The Camry was 6/9, scoring lower than the Chevrolet Impala. Here's what they have to say about the Camry:

"No one could be more surprised at the Camry's lackluster scores than the people who handed them out, but there was no doubt that the popular car generated little enthusiasm on the winding roads of the test course.

"Handles like an overboiled wet noodle," Ms. Krebs said. Mr. Knoll was kinder, but damned the car with faint praise: "It's not bad, but it's like an older American car. It would be a pleasant car for a long trip."

The Camry has many attributes, however, starting with high-quality materials and meticulous assembly. It rides softly — too softly, some said — and quietly. Its four-cylinder is powerful and whisper-soft.

Yet the car felt confused navigating sharp curves, and the body leaned as if inebriated. The front disc-rear drum brakes felt squishy, especially compared with the Accord's solid four-wheel discs. The styling was summed up by Mr. Phelan as "body by Wonder Bread."

The Camry seems like a car that is at its best on Interstates, where its smoothness, quietness and blandness work in its favor.

"So much beige!" Mr. Lienert wrote in the log book. He was referring to the interior trim, but the comment summed up the Camry's performance as well."

Mercedes

Camrys are plain and ugly. If she cant afford the Benz. Then go for a maxima they are nice cars

DtS

Just tell her the C240 achieved 5 stars out of 5 possible in the EuroNCAP crash tests.

mrgolf25

you won't brlieve this but out of 60 houses every 4th has a c-class

vyse

I noticed you live in Ontario, and if you do, especially in the suburbs like I do, I can see why you say there are more C240s than Camrys Well, there are even more BMW 3-Series around, so you can be comforted by that fact!

If you dont' want to shell out the money for a C240, maybe you could get an A4 or Maxima. I never really checked out what an A4 would cost with options, but if my "New Car Buyers Guide" from my newspaper isn't lying to me, the A4 1.8T Quattro is only $38k. Tell your mom the AWD is safer in the snow! An A4 sure beats the heck out of a Camry!

Outland

I agree, the A4 would also be a great choice. I think the 320 is a bit overpriced, and the 240 could use some more horses, but given the content, its a good deal.

The Camry and the Accord have got to be the two dullest cars ever designed. BORING!!!!!

Even an Altima would be better. Or Saturn's L300.

Ack, not another Camry on the road!!!

BruNo

buy a lexus....its got benz' snob appeal+toyota reliability.

MarkL

Sorry, but I don't think a person in the market for a Camry-type vehicle will go for a Mercedes -- it's too much of a different image/level etc. difference. IMO, she needs to "see" herself driving an MB type car (read Audi, BMW, etc.) before she'll get one.

MarkL

Sorry, I have to disagree. When I was looking for my C240, a friend at work was looking at a used CLK. He got a 2 year old GS400 instead. It's Toyota through and through with an inflated price tag, and IMO, no image at all. Maybe an LS430 commands "respect", but the others I don't think so.

tommy

That's just silly. The es300 is what, about $5-8k more than a camry for $50 more in sound deadening? That's a no brainer to me.

Well, if your mom wants a camry, then I assume that she doesn't care much about handling and power (which would make a c240 an excellent choice! :p ). If her criteria are quietness, quality, and reliability, then she'll be happy.

I wouldn't try too hard to change her mind into going for a c240, unless you enjoy being blamed for any problems that come down the road. The camry ain't exciting, but it's a decent choice for people who are more concerned with simply getting from point A to point B than how they get there.

MB-BOB

Men and women buy cars for different reasons. Women, in particular, care about practicality (Camry) and value (Camry), but they also care about safety (C240). DtS is right. I would mention the excellent crash worthiness of the C-Class, and show her the pix in the brochure of the 10 airbags, etc.

My daughter hit the back of a pick-up truck with a 2002 Toyota Corolla last fall going about 15-20 mph, and TOTALLED the car. Granted, the Corolla is slightly smaller than the Camry, but Toyota/Honda are not known as safety leaders. Mercedes-Benz is.

At the end of the day, your mom is going to buy what she wants with her money. You can buy what you want with your money, later. The Camry is a fine car, and runs on regular gas. If she's thinking Camry, she will not like putting Premium gas in a C240 alternative week after week. She might even remind you of that, week after week, too.

tommy

Hopefully, his mother is a better driver.

Tai230K

Camry = Vroom Vroom

C240 = Vroooooom Vroooooom

I hope that answers your question... :p