AMG4ever

Hey everyone,

I have been following MBworld for the last 6 months, but have just registered today! My parents will be purchasing my first car for me in 1.5 to 2 years. Should I get a used C230 or a used IS300?? Opinions??

CitronC230K_03

i have a friend who owns a 2003 IS300 and i have a 2003 C230KMT, ive driven 04.5 C230WZ's and i say get the MB. alot more luxury inside and out and looks a lot better. the stick in the IS300 is very clunky. just my opinion.

wfb1746

I've actually never driven the IS300, but I sat in an 2001 (or 2002? I'm not sure) and the interior is pretty ugly in my opinion...based on aesthetics alone I would pick the C230

CitronC230K_03

for a lexus the interior is very plain. it handles nice, but ergonomically set up it and the astetics, it sucks IMO. i wasnt impresssed at all and the clunky trans i really dont care for. the 1st and 2nd in the manual of the MB is notchy, but better IMO than a clunky tranny.

LorinserCClass

When I tested both WAAAYYY back in the day (C240vsIS300) I really liked the spirited motor of the IS300 but to me it felt like a Camry from the inside and the tail lights were just plain cheezy. MB just looks and feels better albiet slower. Make sure you dont get an '01 used though

Kar don

Well, I used to own an IS300. Motor was great, tranny sucks (manual and auto), noisy highway ride, and it would jolt and kick you all over the place over bumps. Body lean was very great on corners... not that great of a performer. One thing i did like about it is the ICE COLD A/C... it really has a great system, super high capacity. I would have it sitting in the sun all day, it would make you numb within 30 seconds of start up... but the system was noisy. C-class is a much quieter, smoother riding, more luxurious vehicle.

accbenz

it also depends on how "used" you want to get. You're not getting a car for around 2 years so assuming you're going to be looking for a car a few years old, you're probably looking at a 2005, if that's the case then there's really no comparison...take the benz. I think in 06 the IS is getting redesigned, so if you get a car only a year old, maybe the IS would be the right choice depending on what the new IS looks like.

LaZyC230K

if u are purchasing a new car, i would perfer you to get a mbz because it have better services and stuff. But if you are going to get a used car, i would say you shuld get the lexus, because lexus is more reliable the mbz. Also i've drive a is300 and its pretty powerful with its i6 engine. Parts for jap car are cheaper too. But driving a benz is always nice too. Depend on what kind of ppl you are and what you are aiming at; speed? Luxury? Yeah... good luck getting your new car.

CitronC230K_03

sad thing is the 2005's no longer has free scheduled maintenance so service isnt quite as good as it was. but free loaners, flat bed pick up, and maintenace coming to your house or work to perform oil changes is still nice, which MB does. i would still prefer an MB over Lexus anyday though. imnot that impressed with them.

AMG4ever

Thanks alot for all the input guys

prodigy1387

i've never driven an IS300, but i've driven in it. it was a 2002 with an auto tranny. lexus autos are horrible. the interior was really ugly in my opinion too. it looked very cheap and rice-y. i don't think they come with leather seats either, if i'm not mistaken it's some suede material right? but yeah, i wasn't impressed with it's appearance, inside or out, or it's tranny. the engine was nice though, sounded great, and it had pretty good performance and handling. the handling on the IS300 will probably be a little better than the c230, depending what year you get (if you get an '05, it'll be better than if you get an '03 or '04).

the c230 ss is a very nice car, especially the '05 model. to me, it has much better looks on the outside, the way the lines flow, the appearance, and personality that the car gives. and on the inside, there is no question that the MB is more luxurious with the higher quality materials, better ergonomical setup, and more upscale feel it has. the engine in the 230 will be less impressive than the IS300 because it is a 4 cylinder, but from what i hear, it earns respect, and it's supercharged...come on haha. i think you'll get a better overall package witht he c230 ss, especially the new '05 model. good luck....hah, you've got some time anyway.

mick1

hehe. that's because the car you tested was a camry.

there's no such thing as a lexus in Japan right now but Toyota wants to change this next year (August 2005) See below:
________________________

Toyota to bring Lexus to Japan

Aims to oust German rivals as top sellers of luxury cars

Toyota Motor Corp aims to oust its German rivals as the top sellers of luxury cars in Japan with plans to bring its Lexus brand, already the top U.S. luxury car, to Japanese drivers next year.

Toyota will launch the Lexus in Japan in August 2005 and roll out four new models in the first year, each bearing a design concept distinct from existing Lexus cars, which are currently sold in Japan under the Toyota brand.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5067361

Saprissa

my opinion....
get the MB C230K ! Toyota IS300 sucks.

CitronC230K_03

all japanese cars for that matter!

mick1

hehe. I still like the acura nsx, the ones without the exposed headlights, 2001 or older, I think.

CitronC230K_03

honestly, i think all japansese cars pretty much look the same, or atleast to me.

S23O5C15

Track junkie/hardcore purist's opinion:

This is a difficult comparison for a number of reasons. When it comes to raw performance, the IS300 is a superior car to the C230K. The engine is sweeter and definitely more powerful, the suspension is taut (although a bit jarring), and the steering setup is responsive and provides an acceptable amount of road feel. Quite unlike anything else that Toyota has produced or currently produces using the Lexus moniker.

However, the C230K is a better looking car inside and out, and definitely classier and not nearly as generic or lifeless.

I'm actually a bit appalled at some of the responses I see here. A lot of teenage fanboyism, and few have given you any real compelling reason to go for one of the cars over another. Then again, the fact that I own neither of these cars and don't plan on it in the near future probably helps me in my own objectivity. Onward...

I have yet to drive the 05' C, so I have no idea how it handles with the supposedly updated suspension, but I have heard that the steering rack remains the same so the driving feel should not have changed much. With that, the C has one fatal flaw in what is an otherwise impressive presentation: the disappointing and uninspiring driving experience. Argue with me if you will, but the road feel and raw responsiveness that I'd hope for lots of in a supposed "sport" sedan/coupe is quite absent. The steering has a nice weight to it, but it's just too numb. The second complaint that I have lies with the engine, which sounds awful and seems very anemic in the lower points of the rev band. Stock for stock, there's just no replacement for raw naturally aspirated power, especially when comparing a wheezy four pot with a well balanced straight six. Or, for that matter, one with as much easy power potential as the 2JZ-GE!

On the other hand, the IS does a decent job of imitating the BMW 3 series cars it was originally aimed at (just look at the car's dimensions if it isn't already obvious), although it's not quite there. From European press releases that I've read, the IS200 is a closer match for the euro-spec 318i, but throwing in the larger and heavier cast iron 3.0L 2JZ-GE into the chassis resulted in a slight disturbance of the car's the otherwise balanced and docile demeanor...something that the BMW six pot cars do not experience. Not that the IS300 is sloppy, but it loses some precision and agility due to this weight shift. The suspension is stiff, but jittery.

I found the car fairly fun to drive, but too sterile when you were just cruising gently or carving up corners at a mild pace. It's definitely Japanese in feel, and lacks any real passion.

The IS downside is both the ugly exterior, the unsatisfactory transmission (why put so many sport tuned elements into the car but give you an unresponsive Lexus-style automatic or clunky manual?), and the childish interior. That chronograph gauge cluster is far too much flash at the expense of functionality.

So why do I think steering feel is so important? It's not actually just a preference thing, steering feedback can have a very real effect on how capable you, as the driver, are behind the wheel of that car. It allows you to push the envelope more comfortably, gives you a much better idea of what the car is doing. With that, I don't think the C-class provides enough, isolating the driver and putting too much control into electronic stability aids like ESP. This in turn not only limits the car's raw potential, but also makes it harder to drive, with a steeper learning curve and less driver confidence at the limit.

Even so: the C230 is a better overall package! Not quite as good a value (especially when dealerships are practically giving the IS300 away these days and it comes from the factory with nearly everything you could want standard...oh, and there's a factory limited slip differential option), and it doesn't offer the performance that the IS does, but it's a nicer looking, more comfortable car with a classier, more mature demeanor. Especially in black.

That may surprise you, given my dispositions (actually, I'd prefer neither, I have a BMW), but that's truly how I see it at the moment.

I would also give the G35 a serious look. Not the best looking or the one with the finest materials and construction quality, but it's probably the best overall performer, at least in coupe form.

Granted, none of this probably means much of anything to you if you plan to use the car only as a fun daily driver and don't except to delve into autocrossing or road racing, but I figured I would drop my comments into this thread nonetheless.

Saprissa

dude,
You're going to buy a car in 1.5 to 2 years... cars will be flying by then....
Parents are buying it for you. Once your car savyness is up to speed,
there will be plenty more cars to choose from.

I think both the MB C230K and the Toyota IS300 will be far gone from your memory.

Not bad that you're starting to do your homework now, but way too early in the game for anyone to be deciding for you. Opinions are good, but just take them as that... "opinions".
Ultimately you will need to decide what car will best fit your budget, driving skill, appearance (luxury) and/or performance (style).

at this MB forum, you're going to get MB bias. At a Lexus (toyota) forum, you're going to get Lexus bias. Opinions like S2305C15's are good, because they offer a wider scope. Just take everything with a grain of salt.

CitronC230K_03

dont expect MB bias from tuscanraider. lol!

GEO123GEO123

my firts car was a yellow is300
now i have a c230

um the is 300 is faster, a reall sharp speedometor setup.... they even make a watch with the same speedometor on the face..
so the face looks like a daytona..
lexus is cool because it had suede interior

i lovedd my lexus but now i gotta benz benz is a more cruiser luxery car
my is 300 was hot
but my white 05 c230 sedan is even hotter...

Saprissa

how hot was your GEO 1.23L ???

just kidding !

tyro

Just make sure your parents don't buy this guy's used MB! :p

CitronC230K_03

wouldn't be selling it anyhow!

Guest0001

S23O5C15 mentioned the heavy steering. At first I hated it and thought it was odd coming from a Japanese car. But once I get up to speed of 100 mph. I am glad the way it is and not as sensitive as some other steering wheels where you just tap the wheel slightly and it drifts to the next lane. Whatever MB did they thought about it and engineered it perfectly.

ultraseven

You should know the answer to the question before posting on this forum. It's the same as walking on the streets of Manhattan and asking people if they hate NYC or LA.

Simple...

luxury feel - MB
Sportiness: IS300

At this price range I would opt for the G35, even with the heavy shifter. If I am a Chinese bearing the ever popular Jap hate I would opt for Krauts. Smart move isn't it?