OceanView

Wife is looking to get a new car, we are looking at the C class for her daily driver but I do have a question.

I know the C55 is the best model for performance but what it the best non AMG model to get as far as performance is concerened?

C240
C230 Kompressor
C320

and what it the sport option? is that just the body molding option?

thanks in advance.

CitronC230K_03

Sport Sedans
Exterior
Standard AMG-designed body styling
17" wheels with high performance tires
Redesigned tail lamps
Interior
Improved sport seat design with heavy bolstering
Restyled instrument cluster
Sporty new aluminum trim and chrome accents
Sporty 3-spoke steering wheel and rubber studded aluminum pedals
New 6 speaker audio system with AM/FM stereo and in-dash CD player
Optional DVD navigation
Mechanical
Improved short throw 6-speed transmission
Lower and sport tuned suspension
13.6" drilled and ventilated front brakes


Sport Coupes

Exterior
New aggressive front body styling
Redesigned tail lamps
Redesigned wheels exclusive to the sport coupes
Sporty new perforated radiator grill
Interior
Standard MB Tex upholstery
Restyled instrument cluster
Sporty new aluminum trim and chrome accents
Sporty 3-spoke steering wheel and rubber studded aluminum pedals
New 6 speaker audio system with AM/FM stereo and in-dash CD player
Optional DVD navigation
Mechanical
Improved short throw 6-speed transmission
Optimized sport suspension

Luxury Sedans and Wagons
Exterior
New contemporary body styling
Redesigned tail lamps
Redesigned wheels - sedans and wagons each have their own exclusive design
New radiator grill and a wider air intake
Interior
Improved seat design with adjustable lumbar support for added comfort
Restyled instrument cluster
New 6 speaker audio system with AM/FM stereo and in-dash CD player
Upgraded wood trim, new interior colors
Chrome accents
Optional DVD navigation


Personally for the price i say get the C230WZ. It's a great blend of performance and luxury!

revstriker

Depends on what you consider "best". Price? Performance? Fuel Efficiency?

If price is not an option (at least between the 3), then I would say that the C320 is the best; more features, more power. For a mixture of value and performance, the C230. If price is an issue, and you want the smoothness of a V6, then the C240 is the best choice.

OceanView

Forgot to add that, looking for best performance of the 3 models.

Guest0001

C320 performance is superior of the 3 listed. C230k is second.

Better car= C320
Better Value=C230k

CitronC230K_03

C320 is best performance in all three models. If thats the case i saw get the C320WZ Sport Sedan!

jlm003

For the "best" price/performance I'd say go with a C230.

CitronC230K_03

i totally agree with that! thats why i said C230 was the better of all three IMO. price/value, you cant beat it!

Sauceboy01

Agreed...

-Danny

mick1

C320wz is kinda noisy during acceleration. I don't know if they made the car like that on purpose because it's a sports model or what. It's reasonably quiet at cruising speeds.

A buddy of mine got the '05 C320wz a couple months before I did and he told me it was noisy but I didn't believe him. Now I do but it's no biggie.

Since you plan to get a daily driver car, I should tell you the C320wz only gets about 18 mpg. (city/freeway combined)

Guest0001

Mick, if youre talking about the grunt during during the early accelation its probably just the engine characteristics. I have an 03 "luxury model" and I have the same noise. Except I love the sound of the grunt. If you dont want any noise, then you should have bought another I6. The I6 in our lexus I cant even hear it, its so quiet. Anyways about noise level, the C320 is alot quietter than the c230k thats for sure.

mick1

Yep. that's exactly what i was talking about. I have gotten used to it though

It surprised me because i used to own a '99 bmw 328i and it was very quiet during hard acceleration and the bmw engine was smaller than the C320wz

Oil Change

Get a C240 Sedan. Thats a woman's car. In fact thats what most of the young benz driving girls I know have.

CitronC230K_03

most of the young girls i know who dirve MB's drive C230WZ's. i see old ladies drive C240's.

OceanView

I am leaning toward the C230 Kompressor Sport model.
Is the power between C230K and the C320 that much of a difference?
Any difference in the torque?

How about the reliability of the Supercharger?

jlm003

Gee Oil Change, thanks for the gender bashing. I'm sure that you made a lot of friends today. However, a fellow C240 owner requested that I send you his?? picture so that you can carry it in your wallet. He calls (him,her)self "The Blue Fairy"

tyro

I test drove both and chose the C230. I didn't feel much difference power wise b/t the two and could not justify the additional ~$7-8K price differential.

tyro

You should be banned for that picture!!! Scarred me for life :p

Oil Change

I wasn't bashing or anything, I know many guys who drive C240 too. But what I meant is that the C320 is too fast, and the C230 is loud and sounds sporty (gear shifting is rough or something?). If we're talking about a normal girl whose not in sports car and just wants a Mercedes then C240 is good for them.

dunno. thats how i see it.

Saprissa

HP on a C230K is what (help me out C230K owners) 189 hp ?

On my C320's my Sedan is 215 hp stock, and my Coupé is 228 hp with ECU upgrade, and soon to be a little bit more with AMG full exhaust and K&N air filter.

I know TORQUE on the C320's is a bit higher too, and at a lesser RPM.
By the way. Gas mileage: C320 Sedan is averaging 24-27 mpg.
C320 Coupé is averaging 20-23 mpg. Must be the hard way I drive my Coupé.

Considering I bought both my C320's at a price below what most people are paying for C230K's, then the power difference is HUGE !!!
If you can't feel the power difference between a C320, C230K, and a C240, then you're not driving it right, or your test drive was not long enough.

The C230K supercharger is very reliable. They went to the 1.8L engine vice the 2.3L engine in 2003, and everyone seems to be much happier with the newer engine.

For value, I think Noble said it best: go for the C230K
For a better car (HP & Torque) with a very reliable V6 engine (which by the way is the same engine that is found in the C32 AMG without the supercharger): go for the C320.

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

CitronC230K_03

that pic is awful.

XRAYVSN

I test drove the C230 kompressor pretty hard but didn't feel the aggressiveness in takeoff that I liked. I drove the C320 sedan and just fell in love with it. When you press the accelerator you can hear the engine spring to life and feel the nice push back into your seat. It has the highest torque of the listed models you're considering (non-AMG). Plus you do get a lot of extra features in the car that make an overall luxurious feel (I prefer the wood paneling versus the aluminum look of the sport models).

My $.02

akbro93704

I'd go with the C230 kompressor sedan. It has more power than the C240, it looks sportier than the C240, and it's cheaper. There will be more road noise, a firmer ride, and more engine noise, but it's definitely a better all-around performer than the 240. The C320 luxury and sport sedans would be of course the top choice, but I don't know if you're willing to spend 40k....

OceanView

Yeah the C230 K sedan seems to be a good choice. I have noticed more of these on the road lately and with the sport body kit, it looks pretty nice stock. Wife and I saw a red one at South Coast Plaza in the Saks 5th Ave store and was pretty impressed with the looks.

For $40K price, I would consider going up to a E class any pay a bit more.

mick1

mine was closer to $50k

the salesman told me I should consider the e-class. I responded: "do you have an e-class with a manual trans ?" He just laughed.