iJimpanzee

I like this post.

skittles

nice! you should have tried making circles on the sand and have that ESP blink like a B*itch!!! HAHAHAHA!

LILBENZ230

ESP was working overtime on the beach. Getting stuck is no fun (done it before in Daytona with a different car) so I wasn't gonna press my luck. It was on the sand for a couple of photos and then back to the pavement.

I bought this car with 25,125 miles on it on July 19, 2008. Today it has 50,350 miles. I've had a few warranty repairs, but nothing serious. I got about 28mpg overall on this trip. It would have been higher but I ran 80-85mph. The midrange is strong on the M271, 80-100 is effortless. It's just a great car all around. It handles very well, makes a great road trip companion, has excellent brakes, but the best thing about it is not something quantifiable on paper. It's the Benz feel of solidity and stability. For some, the badge is all that matters. To me, the three-pointed star does not mean prestige. When I see the emblem on the key, the wheel, or the hood I'm reminded of Benz history: the innovation and research that has made travel faster, safer and more pleasant for all, regardless of brand.

dirtdiggler

Awesome..

MBCClassboy

I couldn't agree more about how great it is to own one of these cars. I sold my A4 2.8 quattro to get my C280. Not as sporty as yours but I need 4 wheel drive. Lots of snow here in the winter and I have a long commute. None of my friends could understand what I was doing. An old mans car with an automatic? What's up with that? How wrong they are. My wife and I just returned from Bar Harbor Maine. It was over 900 miles one way and I drove straight through and arrived home as fresh as if I had just driven 90 miles. Like the others said it is nice to hear good news.

Just an unbelievable car.

Enjoy, Greg

SickSpeedMonte

I love the third shot, very nice!

Do you have a larger original that you could share with me by chance?

kOMPRESSEDc230

Nice post. I love my W203 too.

07 Benz

Sweet... they let you drive on the beach there?!?

PeteyV

How'd you keep the wheels so clean?

ChuckinTucson

Lilbenz230, great pic of the car on the beach (#3). I think we all know what you're getting at when you talk about the Mercedes Benz feeling. It is something that isn't captured in any other car that I know of. I have owned 9 of them including my present car, which is also a 2005 C230, and they keep getting better. I do like looking out over the hood, though, and seeing that three pointed star.

Once I had my first one, I started my dad buying them . . . he likes the S class diesels and has had several. When my sister was in the market for a car and asked my dad for advice, he told he in no uncertain terms, "Buy the best Mercedes Benz you can afford, even if it is 10 years old and has 90,000 miles on it. It will be better than spending that same money on anything else." And I agree.

What truly sold me on the marque was my dad and mom going almost entirely through a motorhome that pulled out from a side street across the highway they were on. They hit the motorhome about mid-ship going 60 mph and while the car was truly beyond repair, theirs doors opened and they got out of the car on their own accord. My dad broke a small bone in his hand between his thumb and first finger from pressure on the steering wheel and my mom got a small mark on her shoulder from the seat belt pre-tensioners. That to me says it all.

LILBENZ230

SickSpeed - The photo is a cell-phone picture. It doesn't enlarge well and that's about as big as it gets without distortion. I didn't know what a great shot that would turn out to be or I would have used a real camera! It's by far the favorite shot of a W203 that I've seen personally, IMO.

07 Benz - Yes, between 7am and 7pm as long as the tide permits and you're willing to pay $3-5 you can drive on the beach in Daytona. It's a cool experience but the C230 felt very strange and ESP was working constantly. Need a 4Matic to really enjoy that.

PeteyV - No secret. That's my car immediately after the 550 mile trip. It was washed the day before. Rotors and pads are OEM.

It was funny because the beach closed to motor vehicles shortly after I snapped that picture and the beach patrol was driving along asking people if cars parked nearby belonged to them over the PA system in their patrol trucks. I heard the guy saying over and over "Is this your car?" to people. When he pulled up next to mine he said "Is this your Mercedes?" and that was strangely satisfying to me. The W203 might be the entry level car or whatever, but it looks unmistakably Mercedes and is very attractive.

Attached is a profile picture from the balcony that I think shows off the silver color very well.

bdgdl08

Sounds like a great trip. Next time you go you should make it a meet. Might only get a few people, but it would be fun. I'm only 2 hours away in Gainesville, or 45 min from Ponte Vedra, I'd definitely be in. Might also think about St. Augustine beach. They too have driving on the beach... plus I'll show you some good local's only stuff.

As for the feeling of a Benz... nothing like it. My dad has only had three that he drove since 1986. He had an '86 300E which has changed owners and still is driven around Gainesville today. My dad hydroplaned going 70 on the highway and slid sideways into a cement power pole which hit the driver's side front door. He walked away without a scratch. His next car was my first, the '99 CLK. He, just a few months before I bought it, had a lady pull out 25 feet in front of him while he was going 60. He hit her on the back wheel. The airbags didn't even go off and he had no injury. He even drove the car home. Now he has a '08 S550. Never would buy anything else.

Sorry, I know this is long, but I just love these cars.

LILBENZ230

I've been to the Ripley's museum in St. Augustine back in 2006. That was a cool experience.
I haven't crashed a Mercedes, but it's obvious by the sounds of the door closing and the overall feel of solidity that it is stout.

PA_Pete

Nice shots of the car. Pretty ballsy taking out the Benzo on the beach, I probably wouldn't have, but that's just me. Did you wash it down very well after the drive on the beach? I've driven on the beach in North Carolina in the Outer Banks above Corolla, you can drive on there for free (last time I was there) but you NEED 4 wheel drive. Sand gets EVERYWHERE from what I noticed all over the car, so be sure to clean out the car and check the brakes, and any other tight tolerances on the car that could be damaged or scratched by sand.

LILBENZ230

The sand at Daytona is pretty tightly packed. The car was washed that night and sand did get in the carpets but hey floormats are there for a reason. The speed limit is just 10mph and no sand got on the car. I've learned to be a little less fanatical about things.. no matter what I stress myself out about the car is still getting older and losing monetary value. I see some wear on the interior in certain lighting - some of it cleans, there are some small stains that won't remove - the gray interior is a nightmare for stains.

But you know, the car is built for a single purpose - driving, be it on the highways, the back roads, or the beaches. Each wear mark has a story to tell. And I think that at 4 years old and 50,500 miles my car is aging quite gracefully. It's maintained religiously, cleaned regularly, and enjoyed thoroughly.

PA_Pete

Good deal man. I'm somewhat the same with my car, however as I mentioned prior, don't think I would have done the beach thing (again, that's fine you did it with your car, plus sounds like you know what your doing). I've put about 20,000 miles on my car so far in less than a year, It's my daily driver so, it does get used well, plus I take it fishing. I keep all of my fishing equipment in the trunk. Not the smartest thing, but it's just a car and I bought it to use, not sit around. Just be thankful you didn't get stuck out there in the sand, that probably would not have been good. Enjoy the car man!

IntoTheBlue

great pics! my 2005 looks exactly like yours (same HID's and all), coming from a 2004 sport in pewter, i'm still getting used to the brilliant silver, its just so damn bright in the sunlight lol. now i gotta find myself some nice scenery to take some pics, can't compare to the beach and ocean shots though lol

IntoTheBlue

oh and as far as loving these cars, up until last week, me, my mom and my dad all had w203's...but my mom is getting a 2007 slk350 now (after putting a down payment on a 2008 ml350 then changing her mind), nothing quite like driving a benz around, no matter what tier in the lineup you have, no matter what little problems you have, its an enjoyable experience everytime you turn that key in the ignition.

Ryanr317

Good thing you didn't come this week. Endless rain!

bdgdl08

+1,000
Rain... Rain... Rain...

MW_ATL

Those are some sweet pictures. Yeah, you are right, there is something about the thump of the doors, that got me with my first experience. But honestly, the driving is just "solid."

bdgdl08

The only thing I'd actually complain about is the early w203s. Maybe it was just the 2001 model year, but the car didn't feel as solid as the later ones. Compared to the 2000 w202, it was a real contrast. But they were still great cars. Sorry if I offended any 2001 owners, but I had one for a while too.

LILBENZ230

We left out of there Monday evening, and I just heard on the Atlanta news that Daytona International Airport has received 14.5" of rain since then. The tide was the highest I've seen it on Monday.. it was crazy.

I have had some W204 cars as loaners and those are very nice. I just can't fall in love with the style the same way. Same for the W212 E-class that's just coming out. Of course I felt the same way when the rounder styling of the C, E, and S class replaced the boxier styling of the 90s.

Every drive is special with a Mercedes. It ain't bad in the Benz's new garage mate either (135i).

LILBENZ230

Back several years ago, maybe 2005, I test drove a 2001 C240. It felt solid and good to drive. I don't want to offend anyone either, but I really just don't care for the pre-facelift cars. The devil is in the details and their taillights at night, the frosted headlights, and the strange gauges all turned me off. I like the AMG kit and brakes, new gauges/radio/dash buttons and newer style taillights of the 05 and up cars.

bdgdl08

I guess my comparison was to the '99 CLK320 we had, and the C was just not quite the same. Still wouldn't, and didn't turn it down though. Wasn't trying to say it was a bad car. Do like the facelift ones better.