///M3N

I'm about to purchase a C230 K Sedan for my wife. I would appreciate any inputs anyone might have on that particular model; reliability, performance, comfort, etc. I'm trying to keep my budget to below $40,000. Is that car worth it or should we just go for a used C32 AMG or CLK?

Thanks!

joefatjoe

After tax the used C32 with (40+ k miles) will be around 45k , i only had 35k so i brought the c230k brand new and it runs great (slow tho ) but the inside are about the same !! i only had my car for 1 month tho, donno if it would have problem later on.

Turbo2

joefatjoe-
You can find a used C32 with ~20K miles for around $35-36K.

///M3N

It will be my wife who'll be driving the car so I don't think we'll be having problems with speed. I saw an ad a couple of wks ago for a '02 C32 w/around 50K mi with a lot of options incl. nav for $35k.

Turbo2

Mark-
Way too much for the C32. If its for your wife, you might as well get the 230, cheaper insurance, less to maintain and cheaper to operate as well. Plus...the new 230's have cross drilled rotors, nice brake calipers, and a visible exhaust. Looks similar to the C32.

Good Luck

///M3N

Lowell- I was thinking that too, the 230 has x-drilled rotors up front and staggered 17" rims, for that price I can get a brand new 230. It wont be a C32 but it's not far off in terms of appearance. Thanks for the advice.

bajaiman

Get your wife to test drive both cars, if she don't care about the power and the extra bits in C32 then get the C230. Me on the other hand would prefer C32 anyday over C230. Think of it this way if you're buying a used C32 then you won't lose a lotta money should you decide to sell it back, you'll lose a lot more money selling a new car.

The C230 may have the appearence of a C32 but wait until you get behind the steering wheel ... all those extra ponies (A LOT OF IT) will put a smile in your face and make you forget about the C230 ... but then offcourse ... this is for you wife

Turbo2

Mark-
Glad my thoughts helped. Ive been asking myself the same question as you (except the car would be for myself). Here is a thread I had on the topic, it will probably go over a lot of your questions, hope this helps.

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=61670

Daddymac

I'm glad I got a C230K... the most important thing that I have in my C230 that I can't get in the C32 is 6MT! Yeah, there's 349 ponies in a C32, but it's auto!!! Saving the difference between the two cars for a true sports car in the future.

c230_kS

i own one c230k sedan, things that are bad: loud engine, not smooth auto shifting (constantly upshift and downshift), slow. good parts: cheap

Turbo2

c230_ks-
Seems like your contradicting yourself, you said one of the "bad" parts was the unsmooth auto shifting but that one of the "good" things was that it has a six speed. Did you somehow find a way to get MB to give you a car with both an auto and a manual?

FrankW

I'd go with the C230k. It looks nice, drives good, enough power to get you around town, feels solid than most other cars, and it doesn't feel like a $30k car at all.

c230_kS

well, no, but wat i was trying to say is that the automatic has a rough shifting. dun no about the six speed.

Sponger

I like my wife's C230 sedan very much. Probably more than she does

///M3N

Thanks for that link Lowell, that helped.

If the car is for me, I'll definitely look for a used C32 for its performance and power, I could deal with minor problems if any occurs but since it will be for my wife'sdaily commute, I'm thinking twice in getting a used car. I'm new in MB cars and I just want to be aware of any common problems a used one might have. She's not into high performance cars, mainly for the looks But with a baby coming, we'll definitely need to use a sedan more often than a coupe, so for sure it will be our weekend car and I'll be driving it a lot also, that's why my choice is narrowed down to those 2 cars. I would like a new car to get the options that we like. Thanks for all the responses.

joefatjoe

i counldn't find one for 35k @ the time , i guess i didnt look hard enough........

mctwin2kman

C230 Sedan... I have the coupe and yes I would love a C32 but for everyday driving and gas mileage the C230 does just fine. Of course I have the 6 speed so it is more fun to toss around and drive when needed. The sedan is no slouch, it may have a little engine but it does have enough power to get you into traffic and pass people on the highway. Benz's are meant to be great on the highway with great passing ability, so I do not mind that she is no burner off the line. If I wanted a Burner of the line I would have Got an STi or an Evo for the same money, actually less. I wanted the comfort and gas mileage as well as the features and the cool moonroof, which the STi and Evo did not have.... I had a choice to even get a C320 Coupe and still got the C230, I like the SC and the sound. Good luck on your choice.

///M3N

Thanks! I guess 189hp is not a bad daily driver.

SC04ksedan

Got 2004 230k for wife last year (august 2003, C7 wheels). Best choice is to get a new 2005 "fully loaded" and I mean premium leather, split rear seats, xenons, nav... everything, you should be able to do that for under $40k. You won't regret it, it is a fast car (for wife) and it looks is near perfect not to mention the gas economy.

SteveS

I am more than please with my C230. I got 33 mpg on a recent trip with almost all highway driving and at close to $2.00/gal, I really appreciate that.

The C32 may have quicker acceleration, but at 80 mph, they are identical. So my point is, unless you want neck snapping, off the line, drag racing power, why spend the extra bucks. After all, I never considered MB a real threat for drag racing anyway!

drexappeal

Just bought my 2k4 C 230 Kompressor Sedan on the 16th of March. I just passed the 1000 mile break in mark last week. I'll tell you this...

No question, I Love this car. Period...

Now, if I had the cash to spend I probably would've gotten the C32 before they changed over to the C55, but of course I didn't, so for the affordability of the car, I love it.

It defines class, luxury, and sport all in one. After all, no matter what anybody says negatively about it...

It's a Benz.

LorinserCClass

If it is really for the wifey I would def recommend getting her a new C230. Giving her a daily driver with a smaller warranty life I wouldnt recomend ESPECIALLY for a c class.

guitarman

What do you mean by ESPECIALLY for a C class?

LorinserCClass

'01 and '02 C Classes have had documented problems. I know my car is a POS. I still love her though

///M3N

That's the reason why I preferred getting a new car, so we can get the new car warranty.

Are those problems not present in the '04 C class models? Can you name a few?

I appreciate all the inputs.