Rick

First impressions:
The 2003 feels lighter in the front end with slightly more responsive steering. The loaner I got is alabaster/oyster with C2 and Auto. For the money, the C5 is still a better value.
The dash is a single color...which seems strange with all the reports about two tone dashboards.
The roof operates in tunnel mode, in fact I showed the feature to the service writer...which inspired him to give me the coupe loaner instead of the sportwagon (blah C240).
The 1.8 seems ok...not as much low end oomph as the 2.3, but once you get going, it's smooth until about 5300 RPM. Over that, it sounds like a cement mixer on high speed. I've seen some with 1.8 badges on the front flanks...this one doesn't have them.
I see why all you people without the Bose option were so disappointed with the stock stock stereo. My condolences on this....
As far as the rest of the car....I now know why I would never order a car with an auto trans. This isn't as bad as some I've tested...but nowhere near as responsive or controllable as the 6 speed.

columbus

Whaddaya mean, C230 loaner?!?? Where in NJ do you get a Mercedes loaner? I'm going THERE! Tell me, right now!
I had to make do with a lousy Toyota Camry from Morristown MB during the A-service (shudder) - I was really feeling my age. I wouldn't want to go out like that...

x15jq

Globe in fairfield gives c230's out. I got a red one and a silver one. Both 03/s there service sucks tho.

I go to morristown now, they are much better but I get intreped's and caravans from dollar

Rick

MB of Princeton gives loaners to customers that bought there. They currently have 3 coupes (all auto, all C2, 1 C7 in paprika). Apparently a car the customer didn't want...
They also have a C240 wagon (they realy wanted me to take that) and 2 E class 4matics.
On previous service visits, I've received older (97?) C sedans and one of the E's (when they screwed up my appointment).

One recommendation....DONT buy your car from their salesmonkeys (paging Dr. Iggy!)


Oh....I forgot to mention....the panorama roof has that little lumpy thang on it...the wind deflector that doesn't do jack to eliminate the buffetting when the roof is fully opened.

tommy

Thought that I'd never hear that name again.

Prestige in Paramus only gives loaners if you bought your car there. I've been lucky the last two times - got two ML350s.

MBSang

Ray Catena, Edison gives all MB loaner less than 5000miles.

I got so far C230, C240, ML320...I am expecting new E loaner in May.

tifosiv122

Ray Catena and Contemporary give MB loaners.

Erik

zimmer26

If you're willing to drive to Rockland co. NY (MB Nanuet), I've gotten nothing but E class loaners, (not the brand new ones) with the M class as an option. Last time I requested a C, hoping for the 320 but got the 240 ofcourse, but I still enjoyed it none the less. I'm actually bringing her in again in a week, maybe I can score a C320 coupe! Anyway I'm pretty happy w/them I must say.

trench

Apparantly the badges are only on manual transmission cars.

Cheers, BT

Matt230K

That was only in the beginning. Most of them have the badges now. But they are supposed to get rid of them for next year. This seems strange because now that they have two different engines, they should keep the badges to differentiate between the models without having to look at the back.

Outland

Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges....

I thought the 1.8 badges were stupid to begin with. I'd be glad they are going. The car just should have been renamed the C180K since the C320 Coupe was just around the corner. I don't get MB's stupid name convention...the C230K debuts with a 2.3L, but goes to a 1.8 the next year...then later that same year, the exact same car gets a 3.2L motor, and that version gets called the C320...uggh!

The Coupe should have been given a 2 or 3 letter designation like the other MB Coupes right from the begining. Since CL, SL, CLK, SLK etc, are taken, I wonder what designation would have fit CK would have been cool. Sounds better too... CK230!

Matt230K

Actually, part of my job as lot tech is putting gas in the cars sitting on the lot that need it. When I see a car that needs gas, I usually write down the stock number and model and get back to it later. Instead of just writing C for everything, I usually put CK, so that I know to look for a coupe. And I put CS for wagons to look for them.