Who designs/builds the C230K Coupé?
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
Who designs/builds the C230K Coupé?
I had seen it written on this site that not only did Karmann design the C Coupé, but that the car is built at Karmann.
So I wrote an email to them and got the following response:
"We were neither involved in the designing of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sportscoupe nor manufacture the vehicle. Please see the description below for the details of the cooperation between Karmann and DaimlerChrysler.
Model Scope of service
Mercedes-Benz SLK Complete vehicle development
Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible Complete vehicle development & production
Mercedes-Benz CLK coupe Final assembly
The production site of the Mercedes-Benz C230 is not known to us. Please
contact DC.
Best regards,
Soonjung Kwon
Marketing & PR
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
So it is likely an in-house design and constructed at one of the Mercedes factories. I suppose I could contact D-C to find out, but I'm too lazy.
So I wrote an email to them and got the following response:
"We were neither involved in the designing of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sportscoupe nor manufacture the vehicle. Please see the description below for the details of the cooperation between Karmann and DaimlerChrysler.
Model Scope of service
Mercedes-Benz SLK Complete vehicle development
Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible Complete vehicle development & production
Mercedes-Benz CLK coupe Final assembly
The production site of the Mercedes-Benz C230 is not known to us. Please
contact DC.
Best regards,
Soonjung Kwon
Marketing & PR
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
So it is likely an in-house design and constructed at one of the Mercedes factories. I suppose I could contact D-C to find out, but I'm too lazy.
Last edited by Mike T.; Apr 12, 2002 at 10:45 AM.
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The C-Coupe is built at a Mercedes Benz factory in South America by 5 year old kid's.
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Originally posted by accord
The C-Coupe is built at a Mercedes Benz factory in South America by 5 year old kid's.
The C-Coupe is built at a Mercedes Benz factory in South America by 5 year old kid's.
Guess, you can do a lot with the Fisher-Price tool set.
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See Beth, that explains why our cars are lemons. 2 cents a day these days just doesn't buy perfection. Could you imaging the quality control during Carnival in Rio? Why do you think they went upscale and got the cd changer from China? Is that why it costs so much?
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
That would be it. That was actually my thought too. Nice to know I paid 30K for a Fisher-Price built car, next time I getting hot wheels.
Last edited by galaxygrrl; Apr 12, 2002 at 01:25 PM.
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The trouble with Hot Wheels is build consistancy. The better ones seem to made in China with some mediocre ones made in Malaysia and Thailand. Personally I like Mattel's other line, the Matchbox cars. The coolest Hot Wheels I have is a Buell S3 Thunderbolt. Very high build quality but expensive, cost me $10.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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2002 C230 K
Sorry to hear about your woes regarding your cars guys. I have had no trouble with mine at all, although I've only had it six weeks. It was built in early Jan, hopefully most of the kinks associated with a brand new model year were worked out by then.
Now for the real reason I'm posting, Hot Wheels are crap. I tend to buy mostly Minichamps die-casts. Although my current favorite die-cast is a 1/18 scale 1938 Mercedes W154 Grand Prix racer made by a company called CMC in Germany. This thing is a work of art, real wire spoked wheels, metal grille made of fine metal wires, real cloth seats (not the weird coupe pattern either
), etc.; a very impressive piece hand-assembled from over 500 parts. Of course it was around $125.
BT
Now for the real reason I'm posting, Hot Wheels are crap. I tend to buy mostly Minichamps die-casts. Although my current favorite die-cast is a 1/18 scale 1938 Mercedes W154 Grand Prix racer made by a company called CMC in Germany. This thing is a work of art, real wire spoked wheels, metal grille made of fine metal wires, real cloth seats (not the weird coupe pattern either
), etc.; a very impressive piece hand-assembled from over 500 parts. Of course it was around $125. BT
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Originally posted by MB-BOB
Galaxygrrl, please don't get lured into Buellwinkle's dark world of negativism about MB automobiles. You'll have to change your avatar from Judy Jetson to Joan Jett...
Galaxygrrl, please don't get lured into Buellwinkle's dark world of negativism about MB automobiles. You'll have to change your avatar from Judy Jetson to Joan Jett...
The Joan Jett thing was not even funny (OK maybe a little
)Thought someone would bite on that hot wheels comment.
Cheers,
Beth
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by trench
Now for the real reason I'm posting, Hot Wheels are crap.
BT
Now for the real reason I'm posting, Hot Wheels are crap.
BT
Just check out EBay and you'll see Hot Wheels rule!
MB-Bob, Beth started the Hot Wheels thing and Beth started the negativity. Just a feeding frenzy for us ex-NY'ers.
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2002 C230 K
Buellwinkle-
Guess I should have known better than to stir up trouble with a guy who actually noticed that the Chinese Hot Wheels are of better build quality than the Malaysian/Thai produced ones. (By the way, I saw a guy riding a Buell yesterday and I thought of you.)
Also, as a percentage of orignial selling price to value years later I'm sure that the Hot Wheels win as an investment. My harsh words mostly come from the fact that using their superior marketing power, Hot Wheels have purchased the contracts for building a number of contemporary F1 cars from the manufacturers (such as Ferrari). The models they produce are essentially toys, not the quality pieces collectors had been picking up from Minichamps. And to out myself, there is currently a Hot Wheels McLaren sitting on my desk at work as I type this (mainly so people who want to play with it can - without wrecking one of my expensive ones, which live at home in display cases).
Peace, BT
Guess I should have known better than to stir up trouble with a guy who actually noticed that the Chinese Hot Wheels are of better build quality than the Malaysian/Thai produced ones. (By the way, I saw a guy riding a Buell yesterday and I thought of you.)
Also, as a percentage of orignial selling price to value years later I'm sure that the Hot Wheels win as an investment. My harsh words mostly come from the fact that using their superior marketing power, Hot Wheels have purchased the contracts for building a number of contemporary F1 cars from the manufacturers (such as Ferrari). The models they produce are essentially toys, not the quality pieces collectors had been picking up from Minichamps. And to out myself, there is currently a Hot Wheels McLaren sitting on my desk at work as I type this (mainly so people who want to play with it can - without wrecking one of my expensive ones, which live at home in display cases).
Peace, BT
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I have several 1967 vintage Hot Wheels with the Redline tires. I actually bought them to have (but not play with or collect). Hence they don't have the chrome rubbed off the wheels as many get running down those orange ramps. I'm told they're worth ALOT, especially in their blister cards (unopened). But mine are not in blister cards. What kid would buy one of these and NOT take it out of the packaging, even for a minute?
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Usually I say LOL but I'm not really, but I have to say that I'm embarassed at work now because I actually did laugh outloud at these posts. Thank you Bob, Beth and Trench for making my Friday!
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
MB-Bob, Beth started the Hot Wheels thing and Beth started the negativity. Just a feeding frenzy for us ex-NY'ers.
MB-Bob, Beth started the Hot Wheels thing and Beth started the negativity. Just a feeding frenzy for us ex-NY'ers.
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From: Los Angeles
2002 c230k
Originally posted by galaxygrrl
I'll take responsibility for the hot wheels thing, but the negativity thing is yours Buellie. Hey where in NY? I grew up in Manhattan and left as soon as I could.
I'll take responsibility for the hot wheels thing, but the negativity thing is yours Buellie. Hey where in NY? I grew up in Manhattan and left as soon as I could.
Actually, the C-coupe is made in Germany. All MBs with W as the first letter in their VIN are German.
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Kewl, thanks! back at ya!
Yeah, I knew that the coupes are made in Germany, I just really liked the Fisher-Price thing.
Yeah, I knew that the coupes are made in Germany, I just really liked the Fisher-Price thing.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by galaxygrrl
I'll take responsibility for the hot wheels thing, but the negativity thing is yours Buellie. Hey where in NY? I grew up in Manhattan and left as soon as I could.
I'll take responsibility for the hot wheels thing, but the negativity thing is yours Buellie. Hey where in NY? I grew up in Manhattan and left as soon as I could.
I'm from the southern part of NYC in a little hamlet called Brooklyn in Sheapshead Bay. Moved to CA when I was 21. My parents moved when I was 18 but it took me that long to find them.
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2002 C230 K
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
Moved to CA when I was 21. My parents moved when I was 18 but it took me that long to find them.
Moved to CA when I was 21. My parents moved when I was 18 but it took me that long to find them.
:p
BT
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
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Hot wheels
Who was it that had written that the C Coupé was a Karmann product, anyway?
Hot Wheels are disposable toys and quite bad representations of real cars. Sort of the equivalent to a McDonald's burger, compared to a real meal.
I particularly don't like the role Hot Wheels had in destroying the market for Dinky Toys and Corgi Toys, which were far better representations of real cars. Is "the consumer" REALLY never wrong?
Old Dinkys are rather valuable too; luckily I still have many of mine.
Hot Wheels are disposable toys and quite bad representations of real cars. Sort of the equivalent to a McDonald's burger, compared to a real meal.
I particularly don't like the role Hot Wheels had in destroying the market for Dinky Toys and Corgi Toys, which were far better representations of real cars. Is "the consumer" REALLY never wrong?
Old Dinkys are rather valuable too; luckily I still have many of mine.
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2002 C230 K
Re: Hot wheels
Originally posted by Mike T.
Who was it that had written that the C Coupé was a Karmann product, anyway?
Who was it that had written that the C Coupé was a Karmann product, anyway?
BT
Last edited by trench; Apr 12, 2002 at 05:00 PM.
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c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
Let's see, you compare your car to a fisher price toy made by 2 cent a day labor. Sounds negative to me, even before I posted.
I'm from the southern part of NYC in a little hamlet called Brooklyn in Sheapshead Bay. Moved to CA when I was 21. My parents moved when I was 18 but it took me that long to find them.
Let's see, you compare your car to a fisher price toy made by 2 cent a day labor. Sounds negative to me, even before I posted.
I'm from the southern part of NYC in a little hamlet called Brooklyn in Sheapshead Bay. Moved to CA when I was 21. My parents moved when I was 18 but it took me that long to find them.
Cheers,
Beth
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
White C230 Coupe, Leather, Evolution, Panorama, Heated seats, Bose, Factory Alarm
Hi Mike....
Just browsing the POSTS...
to answer your Question.
It was actually Buellwinkle that stated that the C-class cars are designed and built by Karmann. This was from the "bought my daughter new X-type" thread.
Here's the Qoute:
"Is that better or worse than driving a downmarket MB? I have driven the Countour many times as airport rental cars and I have driven my friends Jag-X several times. I can't see the resemblence anywhere, in handling, fit and finish, appearance, performance, quality of materials or comfort. On the other hand I can see the resemblence between VW and the upmarket Audi, I can see the resemblence between Toyota/Lexus and NissanInfiniti and Honda/Acura and so on. I've heard this about the Jag-X and the Jag-S but they are totally different cars than the Ford equivalents. So they share a few parts, so what. Who do you think makes you C-Class. The car is designed and assembled by Karmann. The parts on the MB come from very exotic places like China. Jag owns Volvo and Mazda but you don't hear that sort of think about them even though some Mazdas' and Fords' are made on the same assembly line."
Hope this helps....
Just browsing the POSTS...
to answer your Question.
It was actually Buellwinkle that stated that the C-class cars are designed and built by Karmann. This was from the "bought my daughter new X-type" thread.
Here's the Qoute:
"Is that better or worse than driving a downmarket MB? I have driven the Countour many times as airport rental cars and I have driven my friends Jag-X several times. I can't see the resemblence anywhere, in handling, fit and finish, appearance, performance, quality of materials or comfort. On the other hand I can see the resemblence between VW and the upmarket Audi, I can see the resemblence between Toyota/Lexus and NissanInfiniti and Honda/Acura and so on. I've heard this about the Jag-X and the Jag-S but they are totally different cars than the Ford equivalents. So they share a few parts, so what. Who do you think makes you C-Class. The car is designed and assembled by Karmann. The parts on the MB come from very exotic places like China. Jag owns Volvo and Mazda but you don't hear that sort of think about them even though some Mazdas' and Fords' are made on the same assembly line."
Hope this helps....
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C230 K coupe Orion blue, Evo, prem leather roof, premium sound and cd changer, auto.
Actually the C-coupe is made in Germany at the same factory the SL500 is made. The factory it is built in is indicated on the VIN as an "A".
Goggles
Goggles
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C230 K coupe Orion blue, Evo, prem leather roof, premium sound and cd changer, auto.
C-coupe bild
Actually the C-coupe is made in Germany at the same factory the SL500 is made. The factory it is built in is indicated on the VIN as an "A".
Goggles
Goggles
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Yellow_Fly_Red
Hey, thanks for that - I wonder at Buellwinkle's negative tone towards Karmann, as they assemble some of M-B's most exclusive models. Their work is quite good, if you ask me.
Nonetheless, according to Karmann, the C Coupé is not built in Osnabrück nor was it designed there, so I assume that it's made in the Stuttgart area or Bremen. And beyond the aftermarket electronica (e.g. CD changer) I doubt that any C Class part of real consequence or substance is made in China. Well, maybe some transistors and chips...
Goggles, that's good info - do you know exactly which production facility that "A" in the VIN represents? Also, I would think that if the only other car off these assembly lines is the SL, that could mean the labour force is maybe a little better trained than those in the regular M-B factories...I mean, the SL is a top end product
Nonetheless, according to Karmann, the C Coupé is not built in Osnabrück nor was it designed there, so I assume that it's made in the Stuttgart area or Bremen. And beyond the aftermarket electronica (e.g. CD changer) I doubt that any C Class part of real consequence or substance is made in China. Well, maybe some transistors and chips...
Goggles, that's good info - do you know exactly which production facility that "A" in the VIN represents? Also, I would think that if the only other car off these assembly lines is the SL, that could mean the labour force is maybe a little better trained than those in the regular M-B factories...I mean, the SL is a top end product
Last edited by Mike T.; Apr 14, 2002 at 03:40 PM.
