gab

Since someone from this board gave up the C230 the last week of arrival for the new 6sp CL-S I went to test drive the car to check out what the hell was going on.

Overall i was dissapointed. The car is powerful, but doesnt feel like 260hp, at least i dont have the chance to drive in VTEC range most of the time. The 6sp in the RSX is much better, the CL-S throw is too long and the shifter is too high for my taste. I'd prefer the shift feel in my C7 than the CL-S. The 6sp arrangement of the Acura is all in the same level so shift to 5th is a bit weird for me. Low end the CL-S is pretty good but I feel that my c coupe has better mid range.

The interior look luxurious but looked closely the materials are cheap and all gimmicks. The car is not heavier than c coupe but the size drive like a boat, and did i mention FWD?

stock to stock i think the c coupe can hang very well with the CL-S and Kleemannized c coupe will kick the CL-S butt. At the end of the day the CL-S is still a glorified honda accord and MB is still a MB.

2002 MB C230K Magma Red Evolution 6sp
1995 Honda Civic EX Black
1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo Aquamarine

raymond

I have been researching a new car, as I'm starting a lemon law buyback attempt for my C230K on Monday

I've looked at:

Jetta GLS 1.8T
Volvo S40/S60
BMW 325i
Audi A4 Quattro

What I have found out is that:
THe Volvo s60 weighs about 400 lbs less than the C230K. It also has a uninspiring dash.
The BMW is way overpriced, and has a horrible dash.
The Jetta is nice, but very closely priced to the Audi.
Audi seems OK.

The thing that was most evident is that a lot of the standard equipment items in the C230K are pricey optional extras in the other cars.

I was keen on getting another MB if I am successful in the buyback, but after my experience with a middle-aged schoolyard bully in the service division of the dealership at which I bought the car, I will NEVER buy another MB.

What would you users out there buy instead of the MB?

Lynn

It don't know what I would by but the candidates in alphabetical order are:

Audi A4 Quattro
Cadillac CTS
Infintiy G35
Lexus IS300
VW Passat

These are based on the fact that you seem to be looking at 4 door sedans in that price range.

gab

wait for the A4 coupe which has different treatment on the headlights and bumper. I hate the black plastic bumper on the new A4.

when A4 1.8T starts out its very competitive priced now I think A4 1.8T is almost the range of the 325 which traditionally Audi is priced a tad below BMW.

If you want trouble free and then yourself a bland Acura. I myself would looked at:

Mini S
RX8
Mitsu Evo
Audi TT

BlackC230Coupe

they are going to make the A4 in a coupe? when? and whats the price going to start at?

gab

they will have A4 Cabriolet too

mbtech208

Maybe so, but I'd buy a new CL Type-S with the 6-speed over a C230 any time.

WyattEarp

Sorry to hear about the bully. I'm not trying to sway your course of action but at the end of the day I guess you have decide if the experience has been so terrible that you want to part ways with Mercedes all together. Considering that you have a genuine lemon I would also be very upset, but if they make full restitution on a new car wouldn't you be the one losing out in the end. I do love my c-coupe a lot and I can't seem to find other cars out there that fit me as comfortably maybe thats why I feel this way.

PS my primary language of choice is C++.

young

i liked the Acura CL (regular, didn't test the type S)

some other cars i'd consider in no particular order:
bmw 330ci
acura cl
infiniti g35 coupe (2003 model)

some cars i'd like but would get vetoed...
nissan z350
mazda rx8
audi TT roadster 225hp
ducati monster 620ie (still working on this one )
mini cooper S

raymond

Wyatt

It was a really bad experience. I was accused of playing word games by this brain donor. He then told me I had no further reason to be there, and that I should go. When I called him an insignificant ***** he actually made to physically accost me, but up close he probably saw that I was not about to back off. What really got to me was that he lied, a fact that was later proven by one of his subordinates - I pity the poor subordinate.

This experience has left such a bitter taste in my mouth about MB, that I don't really want to deal with them again. THe only reason I went in at all was because when they heard I was going to pursue the lemon law, they told me to come in and try and make a deal on a new MB. Great freakin deal! They offered me a C320 wagon at 3000 below sticker when I know there is a 4300 rebate, and a C240 at sticker, and 23500 for my C230, and I would still have to pay off the 26500 loan (only had it 4 months), and lose my down payment! Great deal for them, no?

Frankly, I've had a gut full of MB, its dealers and its cars. Maybe the CL is just a glorified Honda, but I bet it's a whole load more reliable than an MB.

What line of work are you in? I use C and C++, C++ on the PC and C in my embedded work. My embedded code and hardware is a lot more reliable than MBs.

BlackC230Coupe

raymond why did u get the coupe if u are considering only 4 door cars?

raymond

The MB is the only coupe that we liked. We are now looking at the other choices on our original list. VW has only the golf and beetle in 2-door, Volvo do not make a reasonably priced coupe. audi doesn't have anything in the price range or with auto box, and BMW is not really a car we would seriously consider - I've had a bad history with BMW reliability in the past.

Thus, we are back at 4-door cars. I do not dispute that the C230K represents excellent value for money, but our lemon and our dealership have driven us away from MB.

C230K

I have the C230 Coupe (4000miles) no problems it's perfect, maybe I am lucky. I also have a 2001 Volvo S60 24t, wife car) it has 15,000 miles no problems. For the price, car comes loaded, and has the best stock sound system that I have heard. It's a great four door, have had Volvo's for the past 20 years and this car is the best yet. Engine is proven since the 850 in 1992, and with the low pressure tubro, it's get full power at low RPM. Drive them all and think you will find the Volvo is good value.
Good luck
Tom

mbtech208

What's wrong with the Volvo C70 coupe? They aren't that expensive, at least not much more than a C230.

raymond

10k more than our C230K!

Not much more expensive? I guess in CA the salaries are so high that 10k is peanuts

mbtech208

You could always buy a certified used one with a few thousand miles on it, I would.

galaxygrrl

Raymond-

I'm sorry you got a lemon, I had that experince before my MB and would not touch an another VW with a ten foot poll. My MB has not been much better. (In the shop 2 weeks out of 7 weeks of ownership).

If you want relability, you should really go with one of the Japanese flagships. If you look at consumer report's reseach, they leave the Europeans in the dust.

Hang in there. The good news is getting to the point were you have file a lemon law case is a pain, the process of filing a case with a lawyer is easy.

raymond

I'm really scared of used cars in general, and particularly low distance nearly new cars. I mean, our car could find itself in a used lot, looks great, only 5000 miles, but I know the true story...

I just prefer new cars, I also believe you have more pull with the dealer/factory with a new car, but based on my recent experience I don't believe it could get any worse

Thanks for the advice, though.

raymond

Galaxy

I will be doing it through a lawyer.

Thanks

galaxygrrl

It's a piece of cake with an attorney. Geez, VW, the dealership, and regional rep was so horrible, but then I hired a lawyer and handed him all my documentation. They did everything. It was great.

If you have a strong case, it's all down hill from here.

Beth

mbtech208

Raymond, I can see where you're coming from as far as wanting to buy a new car over a used car for fear of getting someone else's lemon. But your buyback lemon with 5000 miles on it was once a new car that you purchased. A lemon is a lemon, new or used.

mbtech208

Also Raymond, I know you're unhappy with how the dealership treated you, but just for my knowledge, what is mechanically wrong with the car? And what have they done to try to fix it?

raymond

MBTech

1. Car has cut out on 3 occasions at various speeds. THey first told me to swap the key, then they swapped out the trunk mounted SAM, and finally the fuel pump. Each time they said the car was fixed, but could give no guarantees. I have experienced loss of power since I collected the car on Friday, but it hasn't cut out again.

2. There is a wind noise from the driver's door. It has now been back 4 times for this alone, and they cannot fix it. As soon as you hit a wind speed of 90mph, there is a whistle. Their final comment to me was that since it occurred above the normal speed limit it wasn't an issue. But, if you hit a 30mph head wind it starts at 60 mph.

In terms of the Texas lemon law, any fault that has been addressed 2 or more times, that impairs the safety of the driver or reduces the value of the car, or if it has been back at the dealer for 30 days in the first 24 months, it is a lemon.

IMO we score on safety, value, and >30 days at the dealer.

There are numerous other issues, but I've listed just the main problems. All the other issues have been resolved satisfactorily.

C230K

mbtech208

Had the C70, in fact traded in for C230 Coupe, which is a lot more sportier. But still have the S60. DO not get me wrong the C70 was a great car, drove it for 3 years and no problems.
Tom

vadim

The C70 is based on a 10-year old platform, same as the old 850. All other current Volvo models are based on a new P2 platform (not counting the S/V40 which shares the platform with Mitsu Carisma). C70 is rather heavy, handles not so well (FWD + flexible convertible chassis). It's also known to have some build quality problems (it's built in Ghent, Belgium - as opposed to Goteborg, Sweden, where most other models are assembled).