I know there are so many cars that are within that same price range, but what did you decide "not" to buy before making your decision to get the C230?? And what put the C230 over the top??

 

Almost bought the Audi A4 1.8t but the looks of the benz won.

 

acura cl (if i didn't already have the bmw, the 325ci but i would have regretted that later or gotten it chipped). 9/11 - wanted to own a merc before i die.

 

Almost got an IS300. But it's basically an expensive honda civic. so I said no.

 

BMW 325 and audi A4 2.8, The BMW is just too common at home and the Audi is the most common car at my school, so the Merc. was just really unique.

 

IS300!!!Merc over expensive toyota!

 

Subaru WRX too much turbo lag.
BMW 325ci more expensive with less hp.

 

Subaru WRX. Got the Benz for the free car washes and free 4 years maintenance. Now I just have to figure out the best and most cost effective way of getting the 35hp I didn't get.

 

RSX, WRX:

WRX - no sunroof, lacking quality of interior, rear seat doesn't fold down on sedan

RSX - too fat for rear seat, tiny hatch, lack of choice on interior color, have crx, too similar in most ways

 

What do mean by that?

 

The coupe is 192hp, the WRX is 227hp, the difference 35hp. I had my 11 year old help me with the math. Now I'm hoping the Upsolute solution delivers the goods and provides the much needed 30 ponies for $325 installed. Like others, I'm waiting to see some dyno results and real world reactions from other posters. Markl, what's the story!!!

 

i think it was mark cummins who did the dyno. also, during the upsolute meet in NJ, they are going to provide a free dyno test so maybe whoever is there can get a copy of the results and post it also.

 

I didn't relate the 35 hp with the WRX, I was more thinking about ways to increase the hp.

 

I considered many cars. I thought about an RSX, but I want to have adults in the rear seat once in a while. Also the dealers were adding many dealer installed accessories at three to for times the prices shown of the Acura web site. I considered various VW's and Audi's but I don't care much for front wheel drive and the AWD cars were too expensive. The Subaru dealer allowed me to test drive a WRX for a whopping 24 blocks (2 miles). The shifter was terrible. The three finalists were the Jag X-type. IS300 five speed and the C coupe. After back to back to back test drives it was obvious the Jag is very inferior.

The C and the IS 300 were very close in my opinion. The price tipped the scales in favor of the coupe. But what really sold me was the dealer made an offer in which I would buy a car from stock and order another car equipped the way I wanted. When the ordered car arrived the dealer would then buy the first car back for $1500 less than I paid for it. I drove a new coupe for 77 days for less then the cost of renting a Focus or Neon while waiting for my car.

 

rsx

 

Boxster (I need to carry more than 2 people sometimes.)
CL (Too plain, and I wanted a manual. Oh, plastic wood is ugly.)
RSX (Didn't want to drive around at 6000 rpms all the time.)
WRX (Not really my style.)
X-Type (Really disappointed in quality.)
325 or 330 (Too common and C230K was a better value.)
IS300 (See WRX.)

I liked the C230 the most, and it was the best value--kind of a no-brainer for me.

 

2002 Subaru WRX Wagon

 

is 300
325 ci

 

New 201hp GTI- but would've had to wait until at least April for it- although after driving the coupe I'm 99.89% sure it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
Liked GTI for - the torquey N/A 6 cyl. at a reasonable price point.
- rear seat room - leg and head that many compacts don't have.
- never thrilled with the ext. styling but nice inside certainly.

elements of the coupe that made me forget about the VW:
- The test drive and surprisingly cool salesman - he didn't come!
- Rear wheel drive- never owned a front driver - never would opt to.
- All the feature content (considerable) of GTI and more.
- Still had the instant on power that WRX just can't provide.
- Still had adequate rear seat room.
- Looked much cooler - always a fan of those lights!
- Dual zone climate (she's cold, I'm hot thing- we'll see how it works- but the theory is great.)
- The handling aesthetics over the GTI were amazing IMO.
- The loopy feeling of telling people that I'm getting a Merc.
- It really seemed too good to be true and was the pull away winner for me, and honestly if it wore a Korean badge and looked and felt that good- it still won no bs.

Others seriously considered:
WRX - turbo lag, don't see what all the fuss is about really- its OK.
CL-S - nice, quick, reasonably affordable but no stick and just too large for me yet but a sweet car no question.
SE-R - bang for the buck a great concept, but a cheesy machine
RSX-S - 2 seater with a storage shelf- wanted something to compliment my mr2 not emulate it. Not thrilled with the look besides - Acura dropped the ball IMO.
Elantra GT- Not bad looking or driving and would've saved much cash but too slow and too tinny

Believe me that no car flew around my radar- my criteria were to keep it under 30k (hopefully), and get something with some room while attempting to stay compact if possible. So that's why you don't see the likes of 325 and IS300 which easily approach 35 when you start adding stuff. Think the coupe is all that of a 325 and adds rarity and value with no real sacrifices.

Hope it helps - have fun on your journey for right one.

C230/6speed/orion/C7/changer - new baby on the way
91 mr2 turbo- Its still the one

 

Corvette
SS Camaro
Silvarado 2500HD

I never really considered a forigen car till last summer when I was at a tennis tournament that was sponsered by mercedes. They had a lot of there cars on display there, this is where I first saw the C230 and saw how much you get for your money. Also the gas mileage was much better than the other cars and gas prices were really high at the time. I new I would be giving up a ton of HP but decided it may keep me out of trouble in the long run. And yes I love telling people I am getting a Mercedes.

 

I looked at a lot of cars before deciding on the final 4:
WRX - I don't like that they dropped the 2door Impreza
Audi TT Quatro - Too Tiny and Querky
Volvo C70 HP - almost bought it when the MB dealer screwed up, but I dislike front drive
BMW M Coupe - could have had a sweet deal from a desperate dealer, but it's SO ugly...even in Denim

 

Nothing really matched the Coupe as far as overall configuration goes.

Briefly considered and then discarded the following:

M Coupe - Awesome car, but sunroof doesn't open, no back seat, and c0ckpit is too small for my 6'4" bod (Now with expanding torso!).

325Ci - Nice, but a little too expensive when optioned the way that I wanted it. A little shy on power, too

Civic Si - Great commuter. Bizarre styling, a little heavy for an NA 2-liter. Not available yet, either. FWD a turn-of.

TT (Coupe, 225hp, Quattro) - Another nice car. Back seat too small. No sunroof. Essentially a front driver, too & feels like it. Pricey.

CL-S - A bit large for me. Front drive bad. Would have to wait until this summer for 6-speed.

GTI (Turbo or VR6) - Front drive. Hearing bad things about build quality. Great looking hatchback, though.

Edit: Methinks the censoring software is a bit overzealous.

 

Young was right, different Mark! Sorry...

BTW, if it was Mark Cummins, I just checked the "members" page and he has e-mail set up. Maybe send him a question or reminder...

(I'm a project manager, so I always try to get something completed ).

 

Looked at: RSX-S, CL-S, A4 1.8T Quattro, Mustang, Passat 1.8T.

seriously considered: C230, 325Ci, TT 180hp Quattro.

bought a Z3 with the 2.5... if I could do it again in "hindsight" I'd probably end up in the TT or the C230.

 

Looked at: RSX-S, CL-S, A4 1.8T Quattro, Mustang, Passat 1.8T.

seriously considered: C230, 325Ci, TT 180hp Quattro.

bought a Z3 with the 2.5 (USED)... if I could do it again in "hindsight" I'd probably end up in the TT or the C230.