Unless your friend can do repairs and maintenance or family member/friend will be doing most of minor repairs and maintenace, this is to much of a car for a first car. They are to expensive to own if you have to take them to dealer for every little thing that comes up.

If she does go for it now is a good time to get smoking deals. I have heard '05 c230's for about $14-$15 and with low miles too.

 

yeah i do miss having japanese maintence costs. I don't think i would've made as a poor college student if i was paying the maintence costs as i do for my c32, even diy.

 

C230, kinda lame for a 16 y.o. When my kid was 15, we got her an SLK230 and she's still in love with that car and she's 18. For the same price as that C230, you can get a 2001-2003 SLK230 and that's a better chick car than a C230. Leave the C230's for old farts like me.

 

for a 1st car, slk230 or c230 coupe, both not very expensive & under 200hp...

 

i think M111 is a really reliable engine by Mercedes right?? just sound ****ty tho...

 

a mercedes C coupe is a gorgeous first car especially for a 16 year old,

my first car was a BMW 316i, bought and paid for by myself i loved every second of it, it wasnt brand new or and only cost £1000, but still was my baby.

a few suggestions i would have would be

Mercedes C coupe
BMW 3 Compact (ti) (E36 or E46)
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Mercedes A class
Smart car

i am not up on small american cars, but as has been said, not every one is the most confident driver or the most knowledgeable, if i was asked to maintain my own car i wouldnt be able to do it....

i recommend something simple, easy to drive and cheap if any accidents do happen its nothing to cry about and easily fixed, something simple would be easy to maintain and a learning curve for the future for more complicated engines.

 

6 months ago when the car market was still stable. Now I guess you can get anything cheap. Those dealers are thirsty for sales.

Its a sedan, not a coupe. So far only a service A was done for like $200.
I too dislike american cars. My dad wanted to have a Mercedes Car Family. hah.
Plus a car thats fuel efficient at the time, I didn't want to waste all the money I made trying to pay for gas.
It picks up. So I'm happy with the performance.
Raced my friends Caddi SLS (I have to re-race him, it wasn't accurate.) Now thats a lame car for a 16 year old. Something an old fart should be driving.