View Poll Results: If you could do it all over again, what would you choose?
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll
If you were to do it all over again, would you still choose your C230?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
after riding and driving a friend's 04 TSX. it trumps the C230 in power, space, and cargo space and even standard features. The only down side is it's a FWD which I'm not much a fan of, but consider the overall package. IMO it's a better car than the C230k. The M272 C230 however it's a better car for the money simply because it has a fresh engine that's willing to rev even if it's a little under powered due to a FUBAR 7-G gear ratio setup.
The TSX is a sharp car, no doubt. It's an excellent package. It'll likely be more reliable than any of the Benz cars, but the Benz cars are the emotional winners. The TSX is devoid of any character at all.
If you want a spunky little car that is reliable, fast, fun, and cheap maybe you should get an FA5 2007-current Civic Si sedan. Fully loaded with navigation new for about $23,500. Lighter, faster and more nimble than either TSX or C230. And the FA5 has a limited slip diff, which the TSX does not.
Still - 06-07 C230 FTW.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Is it a 6MT? A 6MT TSX should be able to take a C230k. All the TSXs I drove were automatic, and a few of them were the 06 models which had a small power increase. 10,000 miles in automatic TSXs and 22,000 miles in my C230K automatic and I don't see any power advantage to the TSX. It's down by about 30 ft-lbs of torque on the M271 and needs to be revved way high to access the power.
The TSX is a sharp car, no doubt. It's an excellent package. It'll likely be more reliable than any of the Benz cars, but the Benz cars are the emotional winners. The TSX is devoid of any character at all.
If you want a spunky little car that is reliable, fast, fun, and cheap maybe you should get an FA5 2007-current Civic Si sedan. Fully loaded with navigation new for about $23,500. Lighter, faster and more nimble than either TSX or C230. And the FA5 has a limited slip diff, which the TSX does not.
Still - 06-07 C230 FTW.
The TSX is a sharp car, no doubt. It's an excellent package. It'll likely be more reliable than any of the Benz cars, but the Benz cars are the emotional winners. The TSX is devoid of any character at all.
If you want a spunky little car that is reliable, fast, fun, and cheap maybe you should get an FA5 2007-current Civic Si sedan. Fully loaded with navigation new for about $23,500. Lighter, faster and more nimble than either TSX or C230. And the FA5 has a limited slip diff, which the TSX does not.
Still - 06-07 C230 FTW.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
The DBW certainly doesn't have the lag that my C230 does, and the TSX does rev more freely. Still, with extensive seat time in both, I think the C230 is a bit quicker. It's not alot faster, granted.. but I could definitely feel the torque difference.
To the OP.. did you make any final decision? You really can't go wrong with a TSX. No matter the bias we may feel for our cars, the TSX is a great choice. Let us know!
To the OP.. did you make any final decision? You really can't go wrong with a TSX. No matter the bias we may feel for our cars, the TSX is a great choice. Let us know!
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
2006 SLK280
My wife owns an 04 TSX, and I have an 03 C230 coupe, both 6 speed manuals. I disagree about the interiors. The TSX is well laid out, but the plastic used in the lower center console down to the armrest is very cheap.
You do feel the lack of torque in the TSX, and have to run it pretty hard to get the same acceleration as the C230. Both our cars have over a 100,000 miles and to date, I've spent more on repairs on the TSX. 2004 was not a good year for the TSX. All that being said, they are both great cars, and I enjoy driving each one for different reasons. I will say that I prefer the C230. My wife prefers the TSX. Go figure
You do feel the lack of torque in the TSX, and have to run it pretty hard to get the same acceleration as the C230. Both our cars have over a 100,000 miles and to date, I've spent more on repairs on the TSX. 2004 was not a good year for the TSX. All that being said, they are both great cars, and I enjoy driving each one for different reasons. I will say that I prefer the C230. My wife prefers the TSX. Go figure
Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
none
I luv my car but looking for something different now
If anyone is lnterested.
2006 c230 Sport, 6 Speed Manual, with 28kmiles, in nice white. still under warrenty till end of year. Clean title, clean history, title in hand ready to go.
Price $16,500.. Its also on autotader.com you can find by advance auto search
Pm if any serious buyers
If anyone is lnterested.
2006 c230 Sport, 6 Speed Manual, with 28kmiles, in nice white. still under warrenty till end of year. Clean title, clean history, title in hand ready to go.
Price $16,500.. Its also on autotader.com you can find by advance auto search
Pm if any serious buyers
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
2001 c240
honestly, i have a 2001 c240 and it was always in the shop. and since its been out of warranty i regret ever buying it. it was my first car and i drove it hard. ive always had a love for mercedes but wont buy it again for a long time. they will run for a long time but your always making repairs to keep it running that is way to costly. not worth it. im going with bmw next time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 8
2006 C350 Sport 6MT
honestly, i have a 2001 c240 and it was always in the shop. and since its been out of warranty i regret ever buying it. it was my first car and i drove it hard. ive always had a love for mercedes but wont buy it again for a long time. they will run for a long time but your always making repairs to keep it running that is way to costly. not worth it. im going with bmw next time.
I'm thinking of doing that. I think with extended warranty it's hit or miss. Eighter your car doesn't give a problem or it does all the time. Thats how I feel Mercs are. If there is a problem it will always have one if there is no problem it will run smooth.
I have heard members here that constantly take their Merc in for repair and they are fed up with it.
Super Moderator
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
honestly, i have a 2001 c240 and it was always in the shop. and since its been out of warranty i regret ever buying it. it was my first car and i drove it hard. ive always had a love for mercedes but wont buy it again for a long time. they will run for a long time but your always making repairs to keep it running that is way to costly. not worth it. im going with bmw next time.
In contrast my RSA built 2003 240 - 1 tranny 5 cent drain plug washer due to slight oil weep & 2 castor bushes replaced not because of failure but because they were a known weakness & MBSA replaced them FOC with the redesigned ones under warrantee - otherwise a faultless five & a half years of ownership. Fit & finish - excellent - zero squeaks or rattles.
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
2001 c240
Why not pay the extra G or two and get extended warranty till 100 thousand miles or more?
I'm thinking of doing that. I think with extended warranty it's hit or miss. Eighter your car doesn't give a problem or it does all the time. Thats how I feel Mercs are. If there is a problem it will always have one if there is no problem it will run smooth.
I have heard members here that constantly take their Merc in for repair and they are fed up with it.
I'm thinking of doing that. I think with extended warranty it's hit or miss. Eighter your car doesn't give a problem or it does all the time. Thats how I feel Mercs are. If there is a problem it will always have one if there is no problem it will run smooth.
I have heard members here that constantly take their Merc in for repair and they are fed up with it.
Super Moderator
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
I have a friend in KL Malaysia with a 2003 C240 with over 700,000 Km on the clock & no major repairs. At your mileage I consider everything but the EIS as normal maintenance. 147,000 miles is an amazing mileage for O2 sensors in any car. They have a design life of about 80,000 miles before their cycle response time is out of spec. A BMW will not do any better - in fact worse. BMWs are geat new but don't make old bones well. Stop taking it to the agents
That damn EIS was a weakness on early American cars.
That damn EIS was a weakness on early American cars.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 64
From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
The 2.5 is not gutless if you let it rev. It roadtested quicker than that at coast in RSA. It will run away from a C200. The 271 produces it's torque lower down the rev range because it's blown. The two cars require to be driven differently to achieve performance & the V6 has different gearing to match is profile. The M271 does not rev as freely as the V6.
Americans want stump pulling torque. ROW like revving engines. I'm surprised Honda's are as popular stateside because they also require to be revved.
Americans want stump pulling torque. ROW like revving engines. I'm surprised Honda's are as popular stateside because they also require to be revved.
When I first got my 07, I was a little disappointed in the performance of the V6 engine, till I really learned to drive it. That little 2.5L V6 really loves to be revved, and IMO, has excellent highway performance (Where mine spends 85-90% of the time). But, from stoplight to stoplight, it is lacking (Alot has to do with the DBW lag). If you drive it like a DOHC I4 engine, you will see
I would recommend an 07 C230, and would buy mine again in a heartbeat.
Would I love to have a C350 or C32? Absolutely, but I have more than enough tickets in my C230 
