Just got back from having service A done on my car, and asked the salesman about the the c320 coupe and the c230 sedan, and he pulled out the package that MB sent them about the cars. They are both for sure and he said that they are already built and in the country awaiting release by MB. I asked when they would be available, and he said mid to late Jan. but that they still didn't have pricing info yet. He was sure from talking to the factory rep that the sedan will be priced under the 240, and about the same as the G35 (27,000+). Depending on equipment, it could be quite the bargain. They also have an 03 SL500 in the showroom for sale if anyone is looking to trade up from their coupe

 

I was just about to post this same thing. I checked today to see when these cars were being built. My dealer has one C320 coupe already in the country waiting for release. And I think there are a couple C230 sedans on the boat on their way over. I'll post again if I find out anything about release dates.

For some reason, the model designation for the coupe is C320C instead of C320K. And the designation for the sedan is C230WZ and C320WZ. This means the sport sedan is an actual model you have to buy instead of adding it as an option to a C320. Weird! There was also a 4matic sport sedan being built, but I think it was a C320, so I don't know if the 230 will get 4matic.

There will be new C-class and full line brochures available in the next week or two if you guys want to get these from your dealer to check it out.

 

C for C-Coupe, no? The K only applies to supercharged cars..., Kompressor models get the "K"

But a C320'K' would be pretty "Kool":p So would a 4matic Coupe!

 

I guess I knew that, but didn't realize what I was thinking. I've gotten so used to C230K meaning coupe instead of kompressor, since the old C230 sedan wasn't really called C230K. For some reason, C320C looks strange to me. I guess because of the C on both sides, even though CLK320C and CL500C seems perfectly normal. Although still not as strange as C230WZ. I understand the W is sedan. I don't know what the Z if for though. Maybe someone who knows German knows of some word that starts with Z that is similar to sport. Unless it's that, I have no clue.

 

yeah the C is for coupe, i remember seeing my CLK430 in the MB computer at the dealer and it was CLK430C.

 

what you said is definitely true. when people hear 4 cyclinder they'll think it's weak, but once they find out the 4 has better performance. they'll likely adjust them self to get the cheaper 4 rather than spending extra for the 6. People who buy six cyclinder models i.e. 5-series and E-class not because they think the 8 is some gas guzzler, it's because they want to save the extra cash when they are not looking into performance. More and more people are buying SUV equipt with V8s, if people these day care about wasting gas, they wouldn't bother to buy an SUV. I'm sure you or someone in your family has a SUV or will have a SUV in the future.

there are good 4 cyclinders engines and there are bad ones. just as there are good V6/I-6 engines and there are bad ones like the 3.8 liter pushrod V6 in the Grand Prix. It has a lot of displacement, but no power compare to Nissan's 3.5 280hp V6.

 

Lotus used 4 cyl engines for years with very high output and they are regarded as a unobtainable exotics by most people. They aren't really, but that is the "perception". As soon as you add a supercharger or turbo to a 4cyl, people put it in a different class than a economy car, mainly because cars like the Lotus are now legendary for their performance. MB will be OK as long as the do their marketing correctly, and sell it as a sport model and differentiate it form other models. I think one of their mistakes with the C230K is that they had a base model without the 17in wheels and short throw shifter. That should have been standard equipment, and would have given the car more of an image to the younger buyer they are trying to sell to.

 

Youre comparing an ancient, pushrod engine(actually a Buick motor) to a relatively new, multivalve engine with variable valvetiming?

Actually, you'd be surprised to find that the 3.8L S/C motor in the upcoming Grand Prix G-Force has 280HP, and considerably more torque than the Nissan mill. Not bad for pushrods and two valves per cylinder. Of course, the supercharger is the real hero.

I wouldn't characterize that engine as bad in anyway, in n/a form it still makes 200-210HP, and is literally bulletproof. These motors last forever, and still turn in great mileage. GM will not be dropping it anytime soon. Honda actually bought a bunch of the 3.8s way back when they designed there first v6. They wanted to find out what made that motor so reliable and frugal(for a large displacement 6).

A great example of a bad 6 is GM's 3.4L V6, only 170HP...bleck

 

I'm very interested to see the C230 Sedan make an appearance. I'm actually very surprised that they are only doing this car as a "sport" model. If it prices out less than the C240, then I would say it is a good deal. If this is the case IMO, it WILL have some trade off with the C240 for several reasons. First, I think that some of the more "enthusiasts" that have purchased the C240 may choose the C230 instead because of the "sport" package. Another reason would be the price. If you look at all classes of MB cars, you will probably find that the lower end cars outsell the higher end cars in every class. I think that there are a lot of people out there that want an E class, and don't care that it's a 320 and not the 500. In fact, if there was an E240, that would probably outsell the E320. Same scenario with the C class. I think if there is a cheaper option on the C class, a lot of people will be drawn to this option, even if "sport" isn't what they are looking for.

Some people here have stated that they do not understand why MB would be doing something like this which may hurt the sales of the C240 (best selling C). Well, I think that when you have something that you feel works well, you should do what you can to maximize any future results. By introducing a new C class car, they will surely be hurting the already strong C240 sales (maybe even the C230 coupe sales), but they will also be creating incremental sales by attracting new buyers, be it for price, or sport. In the end, I think that the new introduction will increase sales in the C class category with a minimum of expense. Personally, I feel that if they were to introduce a regular C230 sedan, this would also help, but it may be felt that this would cut too deeply into the C230 coupe sales.

Just my $.02

 

The C230K Sedan will be priced less than the C240. They will be arriving in January. They will all have the sport rims from the C230, front sport seats like the C230, except leather inserts will be standard. They will also have the aluminum trim interior. It is going to have a sport body kit (I presume it will be the same as the C32). As for people opting for the C230 instead of the C240, I think that the interior trim, and body kit will be a turn off to people looking at the C class who don't want the sport look. They will stay with the more conservative look on the 240/320. 95% of C Classes are sold with Auto, that shows that that theyre not a performance oriented bunch. Just my 2 cents. I don't think it's going to hurt the 240 sales much, although if it does, I imagine they would dump the 240 altogether and then come up with a 230 Sport/ 230 Non Sport.

Adam

 

No, it won't have the AMG body kit. Don't get people here too excited. It will have the same body kit as the sport package cars did last year.

 

What do you mean by a 'regular' C230 Sedan? Since the Coupe comes standard with the sport suspension, how would a normal sedan cut into the C-Coupe sales?

I like what Ive been hearing about the C230 Sport Sedan...I hope it does well!

 

The C coupe is currently the lowest priced car that MB offers in the US (NA?). Because of this fact, I am sure that a lot of people that purchase it are not really interested in the "sport" part of it, but rather that they are getting a mercedes for a specific price. With the addition of a C sedan with a similar price (assuming that the price was the same, or slightly higher), I would expect some trade off from the coupe to the regular sedan. I have read a few comments, even on this forum, where people have stated that they decided on the C230 over the C240 because the C230 was in their price range.

Of course, this is all speculation on my part, and no one is saying that MB is going to make a regular C230 sedan.

 

I agree that the C230 will be a turn off to some people because of it's sportier appearance. However, I think price also plays a part in this. I don't think that this new style will kill the C240 sales, but there is bound to be some trade off. That said, I'm sure the good people of MB have factored this in to their decision to carry the C230 sedan. I'm sure there is a level of trade off that they are comfortable with, as long as there is enough incremental sales of the new style. If either falls short of a target, then they will probably take appropriate action by discontinuing the C240 and bring in a regular C230 to take it's place, or discontinuing the C230 sport sedan.

As far as automatics go, this is not a surprise to me. I would not be shocked to find that most cars in the US are sold with autos, even when auto is an added option.

 

still 3.8 liter even with the s/c with only 280 is a bit "not efficient at all" even for a pushrod engine.

yeah, GM's 3.4 liter V6 would be a bad example.