mb-scott

So I was watching car and driver tv this weekend, and they had a little segment on the C230 sport sedan. Usually I find their reviews interesting although sometimes biased. In addition to bashing the car and calling it cheap(not in a good way), they got everything wrong that they listed for it. The caption said 2004 C230 Sedan but they showed a 2005 SS with the new updates. Their narrative was taken straight from an older article on their website about the 2003 coupe, and they said the sedan starts at $25k and well equipped with leather and 17-in wheels tops out at ~$27k which they were complaining about as too expensive. This looks like they didn't even test out the new 05 sedan (or 04 for that matter) and just rehashed an old review on new photos.

I would never rely on a magazine's opinion, but I wonder how many of their other reviews are done with such bad quality control. They can say whatever they want about the car, but they should at least get the facts right. Anyway, I just felt like I had to expose this bad piece of journalism.

CitronC230K_03

car and driver is like watching Fox news. its anything but fair and balanced!

YeeHaw

guess it was worth missing, i caught the end of that episode and was po'ed i missed the c230 segment....

mctwin2kman

You should write an e-mail to the editor of the mag and complain about there lack of true statement on the TV program. Since it is there name on the show they may actually care to have factual info and not just BS.

FrankW

car and driver guys are idiots. I rather watch AutoWeek on Speed.

CitronC230K_03

i like autoweek on speedvision too!

mick1

in a recent article, car and driver says the C320 cannot be ordered with a 6-speed manual, only the C230 can be ordered with a 6-speed manual.

and my C320 with a 6-speed manual is on the boat coming over here

CitronC230K_03

proof they dont do research!

Maestro

It's an illusion, you're not really getting a C320 6spd. They just rebadged a C230K and charged you an extra few grand.

Buellwinkle

A show worthy of CBS. I think the writer did a review on the coupe and the film crew shot the sedan. Either way, it's an embarrassment only rivaled by Dan Rather. I don't think I'll be renewing my C&D subscription.

mick1

nah. actually, there's a C230k with the exact options sitting at the dealer right now. I had ordered it before i found out i could get a C320 with a 6-speed manual. the dealer didn't cancel the 1st order I had placed. It's a pretty cool C230k. it's a brilliant silver car with black leather, fold down rear seat, lighting package, sunroof package, premium sound, dvd comand navigation, and 6-speed manual

Maestro

Nice. If you remove COMMAND and change the color to Pewter, you've got my favorite C230K. I wouldn't buy a MB with COMMAND... it's supposed to be horrible. I would go with an aftermarket nav system, such as the Eclipse.

Sauceboy01

agreed!

mick1

the eclipse probably offers better functionality but i like the look of the comand better. Maybe it's because i'm used to looking at it .

CitronC230K_03

just put in digi climate control and elctronic folding mirrors and youve got your self a car!

mick1

How do you feel about this review of the 2005 mb c-class ? Fair or they don't know what they are talking about ?

http://newcartestdrive.com/review-in...&ReviewID=1585

Maestro

C230K Sedan vs 325i with the same options... the 325i is significantly more expensive, at least in Canada.

akbro93704

very good review, best review I have ever read on the C-class...I think it's definitely fair and truthful

mctwin2kman

Quite a bit more in the US as well. I believe the same equiped 325Ci as I have C230 Coupe was at least $3-5 grand more than my car. And it may have a little sportier suspension and an I-6 but it has such a dated interior and less power all around. Not to mention that I see 3 series around here like they are civics!

cracker123

"The most familiar C-Class models are the sedans. Most popular among those is the C240 sedan ($32,650), powered by a 168-horsepower 2.6-liter V6 with three valves per cylinder and a standard five-speed Touch Shift automatic transmission with manual shift mode. C240 is well-equipped, with leather seat inserts, front seats with power height and backrest adjustment, power windows, cruise control, a seven-speaker audio system with weatherband, laurel-wood trim, and 16-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires. The C320 sedan ($37,950) upgrades to the 215-horsepower 3.2-liter version of the V6 and a higher level of luxury amenities, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose 10-speaker stereo, reading lamps, 10-way power front seats with memory and a power-adjustable steering column. "

WTF, is that supposed to mean, 10 speaker bose, reading lamps,dual zone wtf. 2005 C320 uses a 2004 sound system while the other 2005 class use a H/K very interesting, he needs to awarded a Noble prize in literature for this article,

but other than that and other mistakes in the article it is a pro mercedes article.

tyro

That's a really nice looking interior!
I like it better than my charcoal.
GIVE me it!! :p

mctwin2kman

The 2004 and pre C320 Came standard with Bose and standard with dual power seats and digital climate control in the US. Plus I believe Leather is standard as well. The C240 had manual seats and the knob type climate control and MB-Tex for the seats.

Edit: Nope the 2005 has MB-Tex as well. But it does still have standard HK audio and power seats.

hanke

I don't recall the exact language but they also said that the 6 speed manual was not very smooth.

mb-scott

Yeah, I think they called it "rubbery."

By the way, I did send the editors a letter. Let's see if they respond.

Maestro

I am fairly certain that they have sold more C230K's than any other C-Class... by a very large margin.