ultraseven

I seriously don't know if any car manufacturer has perfected the shading between the paint on metal and the paint on the bumpers. At a specific angle and lighting I observed that the shades of my 04 silver MB c32 and 03 e320 to be slightly different from their respective metal portions.

Last that I recall when my old 00 Lude was side by side with the MB, the difference was just as pronounced.

fasteddie

Generally, I look for crap like this, and have seen very little difference on the Mercs, especially compared to some other vehicles. However you may have a couple of Chernobyl cars.

Seems that in about year 2000, when Mercedes was having problems with the W202 speedometer dials fading, they purchased an ex-Trabant facility near Chernobyl. The plan was to make use of the abundance of long-half-life luminous materials in the area, for their vehicle's speedometers, and produce the full line of S, E, and C for Russia.

Anyway, to make a long story short, they started to notice problems with paint on bumpers last year, and traced the problem back to 2H20 contamination in the water-soluble paint. They were about to bring some old Daimler engineers out of retirement from Norway (who used to bottle spring water for the ***** during WW2) to solve the problem. However, they were able to secure some locals who actually knew how to filter the heavy water from normal water. Problem solved.

However the Trabant facility had an over-production and a few of those cars made it to the ‘States.

You can take the car to the dealer and let him know you have a Chernobyl car. I'm sure he will fix the bumper free of charge.

Or, if you have been in an accident and had the bumper repaired, take it back to the bodyshop.

Yes, I agree, there may be some small differences on the Merc but they are -from what I have seen - small. They are anything but small differences on the Acura – drop by a dealership and take a look for yourself.

At least here, that is the case. I don’t know about your area. Your Acurii may come from a different plant!

Ed.

ultraseven

Man - I am glad you spend a lot of time to put in this.

digital_b

its amazing all the idiots who believe the tl is a lesser car that the piece of **** c230. theres no way you fools have driven the tl so stop lying. I bought one which I recently traded for an incredible deal on a lexus ls 430 ultra otherwise I would still have it. the is no category aside from the tls ridiculous turning circle that the c class [ANY C CLASS] can beat the tl in. the tl is a very well built car early build models excepted. I could see if you were talking about an s class vs an rl but a C CLASS? all this proves it that the c class lovers are relatively broke and stupid. c class? hahahaahahaah.

digital_b

hahaah. and the car mags are now stating that the benz 5 speed auto is made in indiana. german quality my ***. the c class is well known to have electric gremlins. even my ex benz dealer employees said it was a piece of **** IN THE DEALERSHIP. quote ' and they wonder why people are moving to lexus'. you benz ****** are on crack.

SergC

How old are you ? 13-14 ? It's a logic and language of early teen.

Regards,

Serg

AKRY

Well,

1. I do own an TLS....

2. I do NOT own an C-Class

Sure enough, compare to C230K, TL is a bargain..... And a fully loaded C230K is closing in on an RL in price..... But, if an old C280 can out-do TL in terms of structure rigidity, newer C is just gonna be that much better.....

And TL has its fair bit share of problems, and some of the problems are on EVERY TL.....So what you said makes me pondering if you really did own an TLS......

If you like fancy electronics @ bargain price, there's no better choice than Japanese makes.... But if you value structure rigidity, it's hard to beat a German car....

If I had the choice again, it would have been at least an Audi A4 1.8T.....

Slater126

It was the same deal with my fiance. The C230 won her over and she didn't want any other car. Since my choices got nixed in the "first round" of our car search (R32, WRX STi, Lancer Evo), I didn't care, though I slightly preferred the 325i. We drove a TL and she thought it was too fast (the massive torque steer scared her). I liked the TL's engine but hate FWD, and the TL is a bit more costly, especially with the C230's rebates.

In reality, it's more fair to compare the TSX to the C230. The C230 is a superior car, and probably in acceleration too. As time goes on, I actually like the C230 more and more. It's comfortable, economical, quick, well built, good looking and fun to drive. No, it's not the rocket the TL is but who cares? It's quick enough for a family car.

'97 M3/4
'04.5 C230 Sport Sedan (6-speed)

ultra-violence

It all depends on what type of car YOU want. If you want a Japanese car, with it's brand of styling and all, then get the TL. If you want to get a German car, with all of it's perks, then go with the Mercedes. For me, German cars are the only cars. I have owned Nissan's and Mitsubishi's and Toyota's before, but there is no comparison to a German-made car (MB, BMW, AUDI) IMHO. The styling, comfort, and touring performance of a German engineered car has more appeal to me than the everyday, plain, soccer-mom feel of many Japanese cars. They are in two different classes (and I am not saying one is better than the other, that is up to the individual), you just have to decide which is best for you.

Tandrek

Acura TL: 270hp V6, extremely reliable, very high resale value, and a host of standard options.
MB C230: 189hp V4, average reliability, average-poor resale value, next-to-no standard options.

The MB looks a bit better both inside and out, but the prestige factor is questionable. Yes, it's a Mercedes... but it's also the cheapest Mercedes sold in the United States. I would rather have a mid-level Acura than a bottom-of-the-barrel Mercedes. Take a look at a used CLK for that price... you should be able to get a Starmark Certified 2000-2001.

mick1

i disagree with your reasoning. here's why: a porsche boxster is also the cheapest porsche sold in the united states but I would rather have it than a high end lexus coupe like the SC. your argument assumes that the cheapest offering is an inferior product but that can be proven to the contrary in many cases.

SergC

Cheapest Mercedes Ha ? It is an A C U R A.A mid or hi level, at the end of the day you have an Acura.

AKRY

Agree... You can even opt an S-Class with clothe seats, no sunroof, no Nav.... Is that "cheap" as well??? Not to mention that C230 is consider "mid-range" if you include all the C-Class offering from factory....

For those still looking/choosing, best advice is, go drive each and every one of the car and pick one that suits you the best.....

Tandrek

Many would disagree with your rebuttal. There is a reason why the Porsche Boxster is often called a "fake Porsche", or a "poor-man's Porsche". Also, the SC430 and the Porsche Boxster are not in the same class. One is a luxury convertible, while the other is a roadster. SL vs SLK, etc.

The C-Class is, by far, inferior to every other sedan in the Mercedes lineup. It should be... it's the cheapest Sedan in the Mercedes lineup.

Tandrek

No, you can't.

SergC

Prior to C230 I've had a Porsche Boxster S as a daily driver...I would never called it a "fake"Porsche or a "poor-man's Porsche...It's different then 996,but it's incredible, BTW,better then 996 C2 handling, offers almost as much thrills as 996 TT.

Dont want to rain on your CLK320 parade, but it's not much different from C230 SS

Regards,

Serg

mick1

whoa. you don't even like the boxster.

i guess we just have totally different views on things.

and i am typing this with an imac, the cheapest apple product but I still like it a whole lot and I don't consider it a fake mac

Tandrek

It's more luxurious, looks great, feels much more roomy, and isn't the cheapest class in the Mercedes lineup. For the record: I never stated that the CLK was the end-all uber-vehicle... it currently suits my needs, however.

I personally believe that the C-Class contains some fine vehicles, but the fact that it has a three-point star on it shouldn't outweigh all of the con's when compared with the Acura TL. The Acura TL is essentially unmatched for a combination of luxury, performance, reliability, and amenities in it's price range.

Although I feel that it's overpriced and provides sub-par performance for the Porsche name, it's a fine vehicle

I was referring to general public opinion. It's quite common for the Porsche Boxster to be considered a fake Porsche. Unless you put an apple sticker on a Dell, nobody is going to use the term "fake Apple".

SergC

And again,that "common" usually comes from those people who has never owned the car...

jinijazz

OK, I'm the owner of the cheapest MB and the cheapest Porsche.

Someone just said...Fake Porsche? Some people who couldn't even drive or own Boxster can say anything that makes them feel better, but they don't have any clues why one of the Porsche experts admits Boxster is 'the' master piece Porsche ever produced and why sports car experts still pick Boxster as their best.

Cars have characters.
Some people just don't get it.

jinijazz

...and those people who has never owned the car claim they know more than anybody else.

mick1

hehe. i don't think of those cars that way at all. I love both the designs of the boxster and the c-class sedan. I think you got great tastes in acquiring those fine cars

Tandrek

They're both fine cars, I simply believe that these facts hurt the "prestige" factor.

Or someone who has driven the Porsche 911 and believes that the Boxster isn't in the same league.

Only one?

Which experts? Best what? Without specifics, these blanket statements mean nothing. Hell, it could mean the "best Porsche under $60k"

Once again, for clarification: They're both fine cars, I simply believe that these facts (cheapest cars made by the company) hurt the "prestige" factor.

jinijazz

You don't own ANY Porsche, right? Are you the another guy on the block who love to say 'my friend' owns 911 and he said blah blah?

Have you read any car magaines at all? No, there are plenty of articles out there.

Seems like you talk before you know, here is the ONE of many,
------------------
Stuttgart. The Porsche roadster models Boxster and Boxster S have been named best sports cars by "Automobile Magazine" in the United States. In its All-Star Awards for 2004, "Automobile Magazine" - a monthly publication with a circulation of 500,000 copies - awarded the title of "Best Sports Car" to the roadster from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. The awards were announced at the Detroit Motor Show.

Despite stiff competition, the Boxster received more than 50 per cent of the votes cast by employees of the magazine worldwide. This is the third time that the Boxster has received a prestigious All-Star Award from "Automobile Magazine".

The Detroit Motor Show is currently hosting the world première of the special edition Boxster S entitled "50 Years of 550 Spyder". With output increased by a further six bhp to 266 bhp, this limited edition anniversary model - with just 1,953 units produced - is the most powerful Boxster in Porsche’s history.

Since being launched in the autumn of 1996, more than 150,000 units of the Boxster have been sold worldwide. The roadster has far exceeded the company’s original expectations.
-----------------------------------

...and that's what people call 'common'.

mick1

prestige is relative my friend. the other day, I saw a white S-class mercedes driving on the road. I thought to myself what a fantastic car. then I saw a silver rolls royce phantom and i thought whoa, this rolls is even more fantastic.