C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

Alright, lets go...best/worst parts of the car...

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Old 01-25-2003 | 03:10 PM
  #1  
tifosiv122's Avatar
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Alright, lets go...best/worst parts of the car...

Alright, I want to know what do you consider the best and worst parts of your car, however I want to know the stuff you didn't know ahead of time and stuff you didn't want. For example, the Pano roof in the coupe is something you knew about. The Crappy stock audio system is something you found out later.

Best:

1. "Lane Change" blinker option
2. "Parking" feature on side mirror
3. Sunglass holder in glove box


Worst:

1. Bad audio system (bose)
2. Bad A/C unit (digital is much better)
3. Very short 1st and 2nd gears


Now those aren't the best/worst parts of the car, its just the parts I didn't expect that I found out after I got the car.

Erik
Old 01-25-2003 | 03:24 PM
  #2  
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There are so many good things, I would have to think about them.

Bad things;
1. Steering is too slow
2. Steering is over boosted
3. Body rolls like a pig in mud.

I really couldn't drive the demo hard in the area I had for the three test drives, although I did get a fair amount of time for the tests.
Old 01-25-2003 | 05:48 PM
  #3  
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From: Orlando, Florida
2003 C230K
I like everything except this.

1. Rear Hatch plastic
2. Shifter Knob.


That's it.
Old 01-25-2003 | 06:10 PM
  #4  
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From: Vienna, Austria
Audi S4
Pleasant surprises:

- Good ride even with 18" wheels
- Acceptable audio system (I thought it would be dreadful)
- Good clutch and nice shifts above the 1-2
- Good looks

The not so good:

- Minor electrical defects
- Just a little short on power
- 1st to 2nd shift is not pleasant (but has improved greatly since new)
- Seats could be slightly more supportive on long trips

In all, the plusses are fundamental and the minuses are nitpicking, and can be fixed with a trip to the dealer and a pulley.
Old 01-25-2003 | 06:24 PM
  #5  
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
assessment

Best:
1. by far the best value for $ in a North American M-B model - it makes most other M-B models look like a total rip-off.
2. torque to shame a small block V-8 (2.3 L version, at least)
3. good ride/handling compromise, like a Peugeot
4. dynamic styling (not beautiful - but very few Mercedes are)
5. excellent fuel economy when driven sensibly

Worst:
1. snob factor
2. fully painted bumpers (I hate them!)
3. complexity (room for entropy to take its toll)

Can't think of any other negatives...
Old 01-25-2003 | 07:40 PM
  #6  
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jay
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From: LA Area
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
my $.02

Best...

1. Aggressiveness (just enough, yet still refined)
2. Room.. I'm 6'2", and I fit nicely in the driver's seat. (Who cares about those back seat passengers anyway?)
3. Pano roof..... I love how much it opens up the cabin.

Worst....

1. The mechanics of the pano roof. I think I've had the entire thing replaced ...twice...
2. That F****** engine light. It comes on whenever it feels like it.
3. Suspension... I agree with the "pig in mud" analogy.
Old 01-25-2003 | 07:49 PM
  #7  
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GLB 250 4matic
best:
1. panoramic roof (basically the reason i got the car)
2. the key (no blade - makes all other keys seem archaic)
3. touch turn signal (simple but highly useful)

worst:
1. still not crazy about the rear end
2. patterns on cloth/aluminum trim
3. fuel efficiency
Old 01-25-2003 | 07:53 PM
  #8  
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From: SF
2007 VW GTI
Best:
- Engine & supercharger sound
- Pano roof during the summer
- Cloth fabric (really holds you in the seat well and doesn't feel like cheap Honda cloth)
- HVAC system (heat turns on really quickly and AC keeps it very cool)
- Very little outside noise infiltrates the interior

Worst:
- Horrid body roll
- Stock stereo (cassettes? WTF?)
- Interior rattles & pops
- Cheap aluminum trim (the higher MB models have much better trim)
- Dim headlights
- $750 metallic paint charge
Old 01-25-2003 | 07:57 PM
  #9  
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Best

1. modifiable, love to add power, gadgets. Never thought a Mercedes would be that much fun to tinker with
2. The Audio 10 stereo is fantastic, best sounding stereo I've had in a car.
3. Handling with the amg sway bars and eibach springs is all I could ever hope for considering it rides very comfortably.
4. The key, it's one of the few things I can travel with and not remove from my pocket at the airport metal detectors
5. The free car washes, drinks, cookies at the dealer


Worst

1. Reliabilty, it's gotten better now that the initial problems have been worked out. Shouldn't have to go through that on a premium brand car.
2. Tuner parts are soooo expensive compared to my past Mustangs.
3. It's not a convertible, next car, I'm going back to a ragtop. It's 82 degrees outside today and I can't put the top down! Arghhh!
Old 01-25-2003 | 08:02 PM
  #10  
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Best:
Ride/Handling
Power
Features

Worst:
Paint durability
Brake dust
Parts quality

'01 C320....40K miles
Old 01-26-2003 | 10:54 AM
  #11  
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From: DFW
tifosiv122,
What do you mean by "Parking" feature on side mirror? That may be something I still haven't discovered.
Old 01-26-2003 | 11:38 AM
  #12  
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From: El Pueblo de la Reyna de los Angeles
The True OG Modded out W203
Best things:

1. All 1 touch windows and 1 touch sunroof-"it's going back all on
its own(Nelly).
2. Touch turn signals-I've gotten so used to them that when I
drive other cars I get upset that they don't have them.
3. How my bumper and the underside of my car doesn't scrape
even though my car has a kit and is lowered. That alone was
the biggest most pleasant surprise. I had an '98 Eclipse GST-
Spyder dropped w/no kit and I was scrapping all over the place
and the ride was like a rollercoaster(even w/eibach/sport
shocks).
4. People think all Mercedes are expensive-little do they know...


Worst things:

1. The cost of aftermarket tuner stuff-Freakin ridiculous!! 2100 for
a lip kit!! Back in my day(3yrs ago!) a whole bumper(!) kit was
about 1G and exhaust systems about 500 for my eclipse!
Can't complain much though, I've paid out and I'm very happy
w/all the mods I have on my C240.
2. I've seen more MB techs than I ever saw w/my Toyota Celica,
Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen New Beetle, and my Mitsu--
COMBINED!!! There should't be a reason for me to go so
much, they should adjust those problems B4 they irratate
a lot of people(as for me I'm patient so I don't mind as long
as you get me a cappucino, Krispy Kreme and my loaner!).
3. The way people look at me when I go to get my car serviced-
Since I am a Latino and 22 they think I'm like a service dude or
something and they ask me to be careful w/their cars and
when a tech that doesn't know me sees me he makes it a
point to find out what the hell I'm doing there. Kinda sucks
but one day when someone asks me to "be carefull w/ her car"
again I will take the car and leave it at the nissan dealer
across the street...Yeah I'm going to do that...

Last edited by LorinserCClass; 01-26-2003 at 11:43 AM.
Old 01-26-2003 | 12:34 PM
  #13  
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Originally posted by C230Komp
tifosiv122,
What do you mean by "Parking" feature on side mirror? That may be something I still haven't discovered.
It is part of the C1 package.
Old 01-26-2003 | 12:52 PM
  #14  
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From: DFW
It is part of the C1 package.
Ah...no wonder I haven't discovered it....

Here's my list:
Good
1. Touch to turn signals
2. Seats have great support and don't tire me out
3. Solid ride w/lack of wind noise (especially when compared to my convertible Mustang)
4. More looks from other motorists than I expected (wonder if that's good?)

Bad
1. PITA to put golf clubs in trunk. Have to lower back seats.
2. Terrible 1st to 2nd shift feel
3. Paint is too soft

Overall, I still love it!
Old 01-26-2003 | 01:11 PM
  #15  
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From: Central Ohio
Awaiting a new arrival...
Bests...
Panoramic roof

Worsts...
6spd manual transmission
Old 01-26-2003 | 04:18 PM
  #16  
tifosiv122's Avatar
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Originally posted by enri007
Best things:


2. Touch turn signals-I've gotten so used to them that when I
drive other cars I get upset that they don't have them.
Lol, I have the same problem. I almost got into a few accidents becuase I touched the signal on other cars and just moved over.

Erik
Old 01-26-2003 | 05:40 PM
  #17  
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From: Champaign, Illinois
C- 230 Kompressor,C2,C7,Black,JL sub,A/D/S/ amps,Alpine hu and changer
best
1 I love how to car shifts, it was a little stiff but after about 5000 miles seem perfect
2 love the panoramic roof, even in winter it's great lets in lots of light, makes the car feel very open and warm
3 auto dimming mirrors, I could never understand why people thought these where so great, now I know
4 almost no wind noise at highway speeds
5 I think this car looks like it cost twice as much as it did most people want to ask you how much it cost, and then they are shocked at the under 30,000 price
worst
1 Audio system I had it replaced it sucked
2 seatbelt a little hard to reach
3 no service manual out for this car
Old 01-26-2003 | 06:43 PM
  #18  
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C320 Coupe
I hear a lot of complaints about MB reliablility. Well, my experience with Honda's is at least as bad as the worst case I've read on this board and the dealer service attitude is worse. At least MB gives a loaner. The only time Honda gave me a loaner is when they were replacing my transmission with a overhauled transmission. Even when presented with a recall, the dealer won't admit there is a problem.

I can't wait to get my MB
Old 01-26-2003 | 08:10 PM
  #19  
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
best:
1-smoothness
2-gadgets
3-the idiot light :p (ESP ya know)

worst:
1-fuel economy
2-eats up exterior bulbs like mad
3-rattling i can't locate and some shoddier buttons
4-lack of indash cd
5-lack of standard antitheft
6-too much body roll (but suspension is firm enough for my purposes.. just too much roll!)
7-soft paint
Old 01-26-2003 | 09:42 PM
  #20  
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
white and whiter
Originally posted by C230Komp
tifosiv122,
What do you mean by "Parking" feature on side mirror? That may be something I still haven't discovered.
isn't that the feature when you put the car in reverse the right hand side mirror will look down and allows you to see the curb!?

anyway...

Good:
1. engine...
2. speedshift
3. giant front slotted brake disc.
4. deep muffler
5. hella quick and fast
6. bodykit...

Bad:
1. freaking driver side window keeps making clicking noise when going up.
2. uneven wear of the front tire (outer edge)
3. intrusive ESP
4. retarded climate control buttoms.
5. crappy seatbelt bracket on the b-pillar (waaaaaay to plastic)
6. No rear passenger reading light other than the one on the middle top which you have to turn it on from the front.
7. stupid over engineered cup holder in the center console that doesn't hold anything larger than 12oz cans and bottle waters.

and Stupid ME regrets that I didn't get the Comand sys.
Old 01-26-2003 | 09:58 PM
  #21  
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
Originally posted by FrankW
1. freaking driver side window keeps making clicking noise when going up.
frank, that sounds like what i had - a bad window regulator which the dealer replaced.
Old 01-26-2003 | 10:35 PM
  #22  
taylor192
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Posts: n/a
Best:

1. Panorama roof, makes getting some in the back seat a whole new experienceon a nice clear night.
2. The looks for the price. Everyone associates MB with $$$, little do they know this car cost me less than their pickup/SUV. I'm 24 and can afford a car I never would've thought I could drive.
3. The little things, like dimming mirrors and one touch controls for windows and turn signals.
4. The styling, the front end design so closely resembles the SL, I love the aggressively sloped grill.

Worst:
1. Cost of parts, aftermarket parts, tint, etc...
2. The price of the looks. Sometimes I get a few stares which I know are not great, and therefore don't park everywhere and anywhere like I used to.
3. The missing 1 touch sunroof close.
4. Feel of the shift knob, after some spirited driving in heavy traffic I find it cuts into my hand.
Old 01-26-2003 | 10:49 PM
  #23  
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
white and whiter
Originally posted by young
frank, that sounds like what i had - a bad window regulator which the dealer replaced.
I did have them fixed the problem now it's making the noise again. this time I'm just gonna wait till the **** breaks.
Old 01-27-2003 | 08:11 AM
  #24  
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
Originally posted by FrankW
and Stupid ME regrets that I didn't get the Comand sys.
Yo Frank...need to save your pennies and get with Steve! its an easy retro-fit !
Old 01-27-2003 | 08:47 AM
  #25  
moomeh
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best:
1. it isn't my oldsmobile

worst:
1. not a ferrari


i'm pretty happy with what i got considering what i had before.


about command, can we add it to our car (dealer/self installation) or does it have to be bought when ordering?


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