Chucklehead with a C230
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I think some people in the US had disdain for the C240 based on two things.
1. The first year or two of the W203 had many quality issues, and it took a while to overcome that reputation.
2. The marketing effort in the US was really poor. MB never provided consumers much of a reason to buy a C240 over an equivalent BMW or Audi.
The C270 CDI was never offered here, and would have been my first choice. I consider myself very lucky to be able to afford the nice things in life like a Mercedes; however, fuel economy is still important to me. Yes, the E Class is offered in Diesel here, but I wish to make less of a social statement than that.
The C230K with the M271 was the best choice for me. It offers good mileage, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a pleasing body style. I drive reasonably, over-maintain my car, and have done the wiring and hose modifications. I am hoping for good durability.
I am happy with my car. But, if someone were to offer a C250D with the new 2.2 liter Diesel and 6-speed manual in the US..............
1. The first year or two of the W203 had many quality issues, and it took a while to overcome that reputation.
2. The marketing effort in the US was really poor. MB never provided consumers much of a reason to buy a C240 over an equivalent BMW or Audi.
The C270 CDI was never offered here, and would have been my first choice. I consider myself very lucky to be able to afford the nice things in life like a Mercedes; however, fuel economy is still important to me. Yes, the E Class is offered in Diesel here, but I wish to make less of a social statement than that.
The C230K with the M271 was the best choice for me. It offers good mileage, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a pleasing body style. I drive reasonably, over-maintain my car, and have done the wiring and hose modifications. I am hoping for good durability.
I am happy with my car. But, if someone were to offer a C250D with the new 2.2 liter Diesel and 6-speed manual in the US..............
The W204 C220 CDI as it sells in this neck of the woods is popular. The 220 engine was also offered here in the run out W203s. I like the elastic band torque of the C270 but the 220 CDI is a nice civilised car for a diesel & very frugal.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 1
From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
C240 - Unstressed, tough as nails, huge mileage potential & smooooth! A real Benz. M112 would be wasted driving a water pump on a farm - leave that to M111
What the UK Motoring Press had to say about the M111 "Coarse. Noisy. Crude. Hardly words you'd expect to hear applied to a car bearing the famous Mercedes badge. Yet, when describing the company's four-cylinder petrol engine in the 230 Kompressor – all are entirely accurate."
What the UK Motoring Press had to say about the M111 "Coarse. Noisy. Crude. Hardly words you'd expect to hear applied to a car bearing the famous Mercedes badge. Yet, when describing the company's four-cylinder petrol engine in the 230 Kompressor – all are entirely accurate."
The M111 makes wonderfull noises under partial and full throttle. And FWIW, that decrepit V6 isn't all that smooth.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Changed yer post eh!
Absolute BS - Small V6's with balance shafts are inherently smooth. It is - along with the 2.5 litre the smoothest 6 cyl engine Benz have ever made. It's ultra smooth right up to it's rev limit & totally up to date in it's 4 valve per cylinder form - next update on the same engine is direct injection with 3 way Cat converters.
No snob - just standing up for the 240 which gets a bad rap on US forums when the ROW disagree.
Absolute BS - Small V6's with balance shafts are inherently smooth. It is - along with the 2.5 litre the smoothest 6 cyl engine Benz have ever made. It's ultra smooth right up to it's rev limit & totally up to date in it's 4 valve per cylinder form - next update on the same engine is direct injection with 3 way Cat converters.
No snob - just standing up for the 240 which gets a bad rap on US forums when the ROW disagree.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Apr 24, 2009 at 03:46 AM.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
seriously tho, no one that owns the m111k will agree with you. they may love how it sounds, but it just doesn't compare with V6s.
