CME4BENZ

Hi guys/gals,

C230K 1.8 liter coupes are a reality for 2003.
I sell MB in PA and we have 2003 C coupes scheduled for production in June. No more 2.3 liters. I am not sure if I like this. I was planning to get a coupe this summer, am skeptical about the 1.8. I was hoping that we would get a V6 coupe for '03 but I geuss not. Our "in production" report shows 2.3 liters being built through May and then 1.8 liters in June. If you want to order a 2.3 you have about a week!

We also have a CLK500 scheduled for June production.

As far as pricing, we are always the last to know (i think they want us to keep focused on selling the current models so they give us very little advanced info, I learn as much from this site).
I went into the "netstar" system that allows us to search for cars and pull up the MSRP and when I bring up the 1.8 liter coupes the price is $777,777 (not a typo). So much for being a price leader, must be a marketing technique to make the new Maybach seem like a deal for $300,000

VoyagerDude

Thanks for the great first-hand info, CME4BENZ.

Buellwinkle

Great news for us 230 owners. Is that supercharged, turbo, normally aspirated? What's the model number (C180, C230)?

art_Ccoupe

777,777 for a C class?? that's US Dollars too right? y don't i pickup a C32 AMG then....

kineda

Also are the HID's really available? Any front end change?

avlis

I'm willing to bet that the 1.8 isn't as bad as some of us think it will be. Us 2.3'ers might be dissapointed. We'll soon see...

Historicly, has there ever been a model-line that got an engine downgrade after 1 year (MB or otherwise)?

CME4BENZ

It is a 1.8 supercharged as far as I understand. The report has it listed as a C230-1.8, I don't know how they are going to badge it
( I suspect it will wear the same C230 badge as the 2002).
It is a little embarassing not to have more info but they really keep us in the dark. I asked my manager about them today and he said.. "don't worry about them, we still have 2002s to sell"

CME4BENZ

Art,

Sorry, I am not sure about the Canadian $ conversion.

$777,777 on the computer is MBs way of telling me that we don't need to know yet ( they probably don't have a price yet).
It is amazing that they would make a change after only 1 model year. I think they are trying to phase out the 2.3 (now only in the SLK, we have a 2003 SLK230 in production)

CME4BENZ

KINEDA,

No word on HIDs or any body changes.
When I more definite info I will post.

viper

Like I said in an ealier post, they want to differentiate the powertrain from the SLK230. By putting a 1.8 in the C coupe they succeed. Be happy you got a 2.3 now since it is a proven engine. The new 1.8 is not.

Iceman's C230

I wonder if the price will stay the same?? I will still take 2.3l over 1.8L. Good thing i got my car when i did.

trench

I was under the impression they were phasing out production of all of the old 4-cylinder motors (including the SLK, eventually) to make way for the new ones which are supposed to be better with regards to mileage, vibration, etc. while only losing a little bit of power (which may be made up with CGI motors).

Cheers, BT

young

actually, 2 other people who work at dealerships confirmed that the 2.3L was gone. (renncpe and another salesperson whom a member talked to).

if the new engine is 1.8L but almost the same HP and better fuel efficiency, i think it's ok to get that engine instead and wait for the new year (not saying i would do that...). and you get all the little changes - hids (probably) and the in-dash cd player and a whole slew of little ergonomic changes and a dvd based comand system and blah blah blah...

i'd say it was a tough call. if the pricing was structured differently, it would help my decision also. if the 1.8L is cheaper... or the same... or more?

gab

1.8L not necessarily cheap to make at the beginning stage. MB has several 4 cylinder engines and there is no point for them to make C180, C200K, C230K etc. I guess they learn from Audi to make a tweakable 1.8L and use it in many models of their line up (VW's and Audi's)

Again, 230K is very running low boost and it takes about 0.7-0.8bar for an Audi 1.8T to run almost the same power level of the 230K engine.

CME4BENZ

Kineda,

I just did some digging into the Mercedes online "ordering guide" for 2003. Xenons are still not available for the '03 coupes.

Still no prices, except 4matic will be a $1,800 option for C240 and C320. (C240 wagon coming also). Also manual trans. is listed for C320 sedans and wagons! A C320 w/ 6-speed and sport package will be a neat car. Maybe I will have to get one of those if the 1.8 Coupe is not "the bomb".

Under changes for 2003 they simply list a "1.8 liter with higher specific output" for the C coupe.

Mark08859

I'm just glad my build date is scheduled for 5/3. I'd rather have the larger engine.

Buellwinkle

While the 1.8 is the same hp (at least it says so in mbspy.com), it' less torque. Also to generate that much more HP/litre out of a motor they likely boosted supercharger pressure so it may not benefit as much from a pulley upgrade as the 2.3. It will be interesting to see but most people would see the 1.8 vs. 2.3 motor and prefer the 2.3 even if the specs are the same. My guess is when it's time to sell in 4-5 years the 2.3 liter cars will hold an advantage to the 1.8 in resalability.

Scylas

On my MB dealer (Ft.Lauderdale), it was new I didnt see it when I went a week ago. It said New C class, "6 speed Manual", feel the action...

trench

The 4matics will probably be a popular choice for those who live where there is inclement weather. I'm suprised they'd bring over the C240 wagon when the C320 doesn't sell too well here in the US, unless they think it would be more attractive to buyers at a cheaper price.

This will make a lot of people happy - and should provide for some spirited driving.

Cheers, BT

curioused

1.8 vs 2.3
leather vs cloth
xenon vs non-xenon
2003 vs 2002

Too much decisioin making? I'd say just drive go get it and drive that Benz...

DCX Engineer

Glad to see a 6-speed manual gear box for the 2003 C320. This will be the same 6-speed as the upcoming Chrysler Crossfire with the MB 3.2L V6.
The C320 car would be an excellent replacement for my wifes leased 2001 Chrysler 300M.

Xeon

Something new for you guys to ponder about...

In singapore, the c-sedan is avaliable in 1.8 too....well..they had that since the car was introduce....do u think that the engine might be the one for the coupe??

Buellwinkle

No, it's a whole new motor. Check www.mbspy.com for more info.

Mike T.

I remember being almost considered a heretic (which I am, btw) a few months ago when I reported that the 2L and 2.3L engines would be gone soon and they'd be replaced by a 1.8L...

You've got to love M-B USA's spin on the new engines: "higher SPECIFIC output"...another way of saying that the engine is more highly stressed than the 2.3 and hiding the fact that it's marginally less powerful and quite a bit less torquey to boot. What they could have said is that it's less polluting and has better fuel efficiency.

I agree with others who say that the tuning possibilities of the 1.8 will likely be more limited than the 2.3.

If I had no choice, the 1.8 would be ok, but I'm glad our 2.3 is on the way to our dealer as I write this

young

xenons and dvd based nav were rumored to happen mid-year - december.