you don't need 4matic.

RWD + snow tires + 1/2 a brain > 4matic.

I drove a C320 and a C240 4Matic in the same day, and the C240 seemed too sluggish. In your place, I would choose between the C230K and the C320, depending on whether you can live with RWD, or need AWD.

I have a 2003 240 4Matic and love it. I find the power entirely adequate. The automatic has adjusted to my driving style very nicely. I come from a fast Audi S4 Tiptronic and although the 240 can't match that I have been very pleasantly surprised. At highway speeds it really comes into its own. The only times I miss the extra power is occasionally when entering the highway on a short ramp (I still think it is adequate) and occasionally when wanting to pass on a two lane road where I need some extra space.

Enough power is relative. Take it out for a test drive and see if its satisfies your needs. If not then do not buy it! Maybe look at a G35 AWD for the same amount or even less amount of money.

ive driven a couple C240's since ive had them for loaners, and one was a 4MATIC. the 2.6L is smooth and ideal for around town driving. i find it underpowered if you are looking for passing power, or taking off at lights whatever. EPA estimates are about the same though for C240 and C320 4MATIC's. MBUSA says C240 4MATIC EPA estimate is 19 City/25 highway, compared C320 4MATIC at 19/26. SleeperZZZ says he doesnt get very good gas mileage compared to the C230's and C320's he's driven. if your looking for more power than, as suggested before look at a C320 4MATIC. the 3.2 is an ideal engine for an all around good time.
here are the performance specs from MBUSA.

C240 has 168 hp and 177 lb/ft torque
C320 has 215 hp and 229 lb/ft torque.
thats 47 more hp and 52 lb/ft more torque.

0-60mph: C240 is 8.6 seconds compared to 6.9 in the C320. nearly 2 seconds faster.

the 3.2L has plenty of power, torque, and is very smooth and gets great gas mileage for a 3.2L V6. there is the C230WZ, but, if your looking for a 4MATIC, then you more than likely live in an area that requires such a configuration or that's what you want, so...

C240 4matic was not peppy enough for my needs. The 320 definitely is much quicker.

I owned a C240 for 3 years. The slowest car I have ever driven. No power what so ever. I guess the people who are telling u that it has enough power around town are referring to pressing on the gas pedal at a roll. Believe me when I say this, if you are trying to make a turn and there is traffic and you find a 3 second window where you can make that turn then don't do it. You can actually kill your self because the response time is so slow from a stand still start. I would go with the C230 SS. Better value, better on fuel, sporty looking, and faster. Good luck

Adequate power depends on your needs. I remember when an 11 second 0 - 60 car was more than adequate. You really need to drive it and decide for yourself.

The real question is do really need AWD. The traction control works pretty good. Heck with, a good set of snow tires, my 76 Pinto got around just fine.

Buy a C230, hit Ebay or the forumns for an extra set of rims, get WINTER ONLY tires, and you'll be just fine. Toronto isn't big snow country...at least not anymore. It stays too warm in winter.

Yes. It's not a dragster, but it gets on the freeways just fine and passes quite well. I have one as a loaner today and would rather have this V6 than the I4 that is in my coupe.

I drive two C320 V6 (Coupé & Sedan), and can't stand the poor power/torque of the C240's (both reg & 4Matic) when I've gotten them as loaners... bad C240 Now, I only ask for a ML 320 or ML 350 loaner.

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

Damn! you would give up the torque of your 2.3?

The C230(with either engine) will smoke the C240 in any accelleration contest. Especially the torquey M111.

yes, it's rough & noisy... and isn't really that much quicker.


besides, if you can't drive fast with 168hp, you can't drive fast with 861hp

The C240 is too slow, my friend sold his 240 after driving fit or only 3000+ miles. I really don't suggest the 240. Try to get the 320. Goodluck

Its a second and a half quicker to 60. Bout the same difference between the new SLK(5.6) and a C230(7.1). I'd say that's much quicker. During startup, both of the C230 engines make noise during the car preheat, but after that I find it hard to believe you think the 240's little V6 is much smoother. I don't think it is.

Well since I owned both I would have to admit that yes the C240 V6 is smoother than the C230. The C230 is even louder and yes you will hear noise. But the power in the C230 is better specially when you are on a roll. Thats my 2 cents

ok...let's get this out in the open

I don't know whether the word of reference for this car should be WOOF (the car is a dog on acceleration) or OINK (gas pig - read on)

I took my E320 4Matic in for service, and they gave me a C240 4Matic loaner. Sitting in the car, the seat was all the way forward, but the seat back was almost fully reclined. Was the last customer a fly midget gangsta?

Ok, a few quick adjustmets to the 'partially powered seat' and mirrors, and I'm rolling. My dealer is on a busy highway, in one of the most congested areas of the state. So I pull out onto Rt 1, tromp on the gas to catch up to traffic (at 30-35mph), and the car lays down and plays dead. The switch was set to S (not C), so that wasn't the problem. It felt like it was anemic....with asthma. I pulled off at the first exit and into an appliance store parking lot, click this, adjust that, and I'm on my way again.

On a side road, I decided to open it up, just to see what I was working with..... no traffic here....
So...tromp on the gas from a standing start. The 5sp auto pulls ok in first and second, slushes into third and then falls asleepin fourth/fifth....so I again stop and use the manual shifting.

First gear automatically unloads at 6000 rpm into second. The car feels alive now. I clicked into third, then fourth, then D....but the gas gauge went from 3/4 full to 1/2 in less than two miles from the dealer. After driving the car a total of 33 miles last night, the computer shows an average of 16.8 mpg at average speed of 37 mph (not really performance driving...just for that short distance described above).

Now, understand....my E320 4Matic is no speed demon....but it's no slouch as a cruising car for highway driving. I get around 20 mpg around town and 28 on the highway in that car, even with it's heavier chassis. But the C240 4Matic can't even be called that because of the really poor pick up. And with it's thirst for gas, two questions come to mind.

How can MBUSA meet CAFE fuel mileage requirements with designs like this?

and

WHY?

The C240 needs the 6spd, which I have (or had!). It's a totally different feel. I also got C240 auto (4-matic and non) as loaners and not the same car. Oh, I got my C240 6spd in '02 before the sport sedan was required. Oh, where is my C240 now? Carmax sales lot while I await delivery of my new '05 330i!! Now that should move much better than even my 6spd C240

i have a c240 and know exactly wat you mean. the reasona for the high fuel consumption are:
1. since the car is pretty weak you find yourself , mashing the gas constantly to keep up with traffic. hench more fuel consumption and less distance
2. what mb did to make the car not feel so slow is that it made all the gear ratios short so that the car atleast accelerated quicker. again more fuel consumtion and less distance

Also if you notice that when you cruise and 60 your rpms are 2500, 70 rpms 3000, 80 rpms 3500, 90 rpms 4000.

also since the c240 is the same 2.6 v6 in the 320 only with a shorter piston stroke, it uses the same amount of gas with much less bang. so we find ourselves constantly mashing the gas to feel somewat like were moving

by the way how does your 320 move, feel, handle and so on. i plan to get one in 2 years when i graduate.

You haven't try C180 just yet , probably will feel like riding a bike.

especially with those 19's

Oh yeah, two 15's in the boot doesn't help either :P, oh well at least i get 1 litre for 12 km, which isn't bad for such a heavy car.

I know exactly what you mean about the gas consumption, I went from a 32mpg Honda to a car that seems like the gas needle dosent stop moving!