C280 Sport

I just got rid of my old C280(LEMON CAR). I sold it for $6,000. Now I am looking on getting a W203.

Questions. #1. I live in upstate NY. Should I get the 4MATIC or just get a RWD one and put the best all season tires on it? I was considering a 2003-2007 C240,C280,C320,C350 4matic. But I have herd that with snow tires it is just as good? I also will be using the car to commute 30 miles each day. Wouldnt the AWD just kill my MPG?

Question #2. I also looked at a 2007 C230 RWD but have herd they are not that good and that the 240 and 320 and others are better?

Questions #3. What good all season or snow tires to get?

I am looking to spend around the $18,000 mark and NO HIGHER. I go to College full time and have my own house so mom and dad said $18,000 is my limit. Im looking for under 50,000 miles no higher. Anyone with any good information on these W203's? would be great. I have a cousin and uncle and to geather they have 3 of them and have had great luck with them.

PA_Pete

Well, I would suggest a C350, but that would have to be a 2006 or newer, 2005 was the last year for your C320 and C240 (I think about the C240), either way, I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a C350 with less than 50,000 and $18,000, if you do, that would be NICE (if it's not beat)! Either way, with that money, you could probably find any of the others with or without the all-wheel drive, just depends on what factory/aftermarket options the car has and whether you buy it from a dealer or not. Again, a lot depends on what you want. The smoothness of a V6, the fuel mileage of a Inline 4, FI or NA, Standard or Automatic. Onto the 4matic, I don't believe it makes a HUGE difference in MPG, at least not that I have noticed. I've driven C300 4matics (dealer loaner cars) and they seem to get maybe 3 to 4 MPG less than my C320, but that also depends a lot on how you drive. Is this car going to be your only means of transportation? If it is, I may suggest the 4matic then in case of inclement weather (esp. in Upstate NY). Lastly, as for snow tires, well, sorry, but I couldn't tell you which makes are better than others, as I do not run snow tires, I have all seasons. Hopefully you read all of this and a little bit of my rambling helped!

Either way, good luck and have fun in your decision!

C280 Sport

Well of course I want the C350 . But yes you are right. Extremly hard to find for that price and miles. So you think the AWD would be better then the RWD and its needed? I just dont know 100% yet. I still also want the test drive the C230 V6 version. Not Kompressor.

samaritrey

so you want to drive a 06-07 c230 they are not bad, smooth and not bad for daily driving. if you like to have fun everyone and a while a c320 or c350 would be recommended. but for 18k i would get a c32 amg . since you live in ny i would personally get a 4 matic because they handle snow so well. since i live in northern va i decided that i didn't need one and have yet to regret that. i have very good ultra high performance all seasons on my car and don't have any problems getting around in light snow. i will admit that i refuse to leave home if the snow is bad but then i would do that in a suv just because i think it is stupid to put my life at risk to go to work or whatever. as long as you respect the snow and don't drive like an idiot either would be fine if you are not an excellent winter driver i would get the 4 matic and be safe. let us know what you pick and you must post pics of your new ride.

aac85

4matic 100%

samaritrey

lol i see you have the 4matic i would get if i was going to get one a 05 c320 4matic.

C280 Sport

I am actually getting a bit desperate. I have been looking since May for a new car. Upstate NY is not good for any second hand Mercedes since they are not common around here at all. Up here it sells brand new or old and high miles. I am convinced now that I need to travel around for it. I did look at a 06 c280 4matic but the car had 66,000 miles and they wanted $17,500. I though that was way over priced.

BlackLiquorish8

First off i graduated from SUNY Oswego and had my car up there for 4 years. I have a 2003 C320 4Matic with snows at the time with stock wheels 17" C7. The car handles better than any other car on the road so yes upstate i would recommend 4matic. I would def put snow tires on the stock wheels. Saratoga springs is by Albany... I remember when we got 9FT of snow in Oswego we were on CNN. My friend and i took forever to dig out my car but i still got out b/c they plowed the streets. It was hard to spin out or slide if when ESP is on and def get good snow tires. I had Pirelli at the time. G Luck. Either way you NEED snow tires in the winter for upstate. You will not regret it trust me.

BlackLiquorish8

Did you try driver's village??? honestly i am MB ftw but why not look at A4 or BMW Xi??? there are great deals on A4's and i know how it is upstate hard to find benzos

jogger

i have a 2007 c230 and use winter tires and they are the best investment. you use them 3 months /year but gives you confidence while driving. last year we had a few good storms here and in the h/way i could keep up and even pass SUVs.

MW_ATL

Decided to play on Autotrader.com this morning, work is slow. Here are links to 5 4matics in PA, NJ and OH, all in the 17,9xx range. Personally I sorta like the '06 pewter one. I believe the place in NJ has a couple of more. I got tired of pasting links.

Black 2005 4matic in PA with 28K miles.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Black '05 4matic in OH with 37K miles:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Silver '05 4matic with 49K miles in PA:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Pewter 2006 4matic in NJ with 34K miles:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Silver 2005 in NJ with 52K miles:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

tommy

WRX FTW.

IMHO, the difference between a 4matic w/quality snows and a normal C class w/quality snows isn't that much, and not worth the add'l $ and reduction in mileage. Besides, as you've seen, it's slim pickins.

I have Vredestein Wintrac Xtremes on my ccoupe, and they're great snows. Don't go for cheap snow tires; it's worth the add'l money to get well-reviewed ones, like Vredesteins or Bridgestone Blizzaks.

Good luck with the shopping.

C280 Sport

Well thank you everyone for the advice. I am really eyeing this 07 C230 with 25,000 miles for $17,900. It is about 160 miles away and not at a Mercedes dealer but its at a Ford dealer. My question is that does it still have a warrenty on it? The add doesnt say anything about it? 25k like should it have a warenty to at least 50k? no matter where its sold??

benzito911

i would stay away from mb after a lemon.

OneOfaKindTrini

4matic ftw!

C280 Sport

Family has been driving MB since 1980. Never got a bad a one ever. Got a W202 and it was a lemon. Why would I stay clear of Benz after buying a W202? Its not even a real Benz. Its piece of plasitic if anything. Never had any issues with v12,v6 E320, Diesels. Just happined to buy a poor quality car. If anything stay clear of any W202 lol.

C280 Sport

Im looking hard for one. Its had here in Upstate. Like I said I have to travel.

C280 Sport

I am really really wanting this right now. 2007 C230 http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/mer...z&distance=200


Only concern is that its at a Ford Dealer. Does it still have an existing warrenty?

C280 Sport

I would very much consider a C32 or C55 AMG if I didnt have to drive it in the snow. ///AMG + snow is not a good combo lol.

samaritrey

ok then i have a idea i will sell you my c320 with only 136,500 miles and two almost gone tires for 15k and i will then go buy a c32 and enjoy it for you. i will even deliver it to you.
i think if you got snow tires on the amg you would be fine but i would end up killing my self for sure if i didn't have winter tires. i tend to accelerate fast at lights and stop signs.
and i think the c230 you like has warranty still 4year or 50k.

wtf does this mean in the sellers notes "All pricing includes $3500 cash or trade" looks like you need to add 3500 to the price so what 21k. i guess that is what the dealer means? i was checking 07 c230 around my area and i didn't see any that cheap with that low of miles. the ones with 30k miles or so were about 21-24k.

C280 Sport

No I am sorry I am not going to buy your C320. I just got rid of a 2000. I dont want to jump up one year. 136K is way out of my comfort zone for buying a car. But still you should buy the ///AMG as a weeked car. But back to the c230. I did send them an email tonight asking about it and I told them to call me first thing in the AM because I have lots of questions for them. and I said the same as you did about the " pricing includes $3500 cash or trade" looks like you need to add 3500 to the price so what 21k. i guess that is what the dealer means? i was checking 07 c230 around my area and i didn't see any that cheap with that low of miles. the ones with 30k miles or so were about 21-24k.[/

e1000

The original factory warranty is fully transferrable and good for 4yrs, 50,000 miles. As long as the car dosen't have any sign of abuse, yes you will still be under warranty.

C280 Sport

Excellent!!!!!. Ok guys. for the 2007 C230. Yay!!! or Ney???? I should be getting a call first thing in the AM.

e1000

doooit, dooooit. Just make sure you're prepared to get some dedicated snow tires for the winter months.

samaritrey

i hope you realize i was joking. 15k is more then i paid for my c320 like 2 1/2 years ago. and i plan on keeping it forever. after college i want a slk 55 amg but we will see. ok back on topic no offense but the dealer sounds a little shady because who posts a price online but then have a small thing at the bottom saying that 3500 is not included in the price and you have to finance through them. but either way from the pics the car looks fine make sure to get a carfax and take it for a spirited test drive. what my family does is take however many people it takes to fill up the car so that you don't end up with a pesky sales guy with you. when we test drove my car my mom threw me into the windshield and i hit my head really hard. keep us updated can't wait to see what you end up with. btw what problems did you have with your c230? i always heard that they were not what a Mercedes should be but were reliable.