rtking

Well... it was a fun 3 days of driving from Los Angeles to Fort Worth, Texas and back again! But I traded in my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 (with a whopping 5,900 miles at the start of the trip and 7,3xx miles at the destination) for a 2002 C230 Coupe (automatic.) I would have loved to have kept the Mach 1 but my fiancee (who is from Eastern Europe) needs a safer car and I wasn't about to turn her loose on a 305 horspower Mustang with a flacid chassis that lacks safety equipment (side impact air bags, etc.) The C230 fit the bill nicely.

Things I noticed on the trip out (in the Mach 1): Decent mileage for the power (average of 23.6 mpg with an automatic transmission), uncomfortable seats, loud interior (lots of wind noise, tire noise and exhaust noise) at 70 - 80 mph and generally, not pleasant after 2.5 hours of continuous driving.

Things I noticed driving the C230 Coupe (automatic) back: Fantastic highway mileage (averaged 73 mph and 30.1 mpg), easily cruises between 70 - 90 mph, quiet interior with minimal wind noise and tire roar, great seat comfort, and a strong feeling of driving a very solid car. In fact, it was so awesome that I drove 438 miles continuously (no breaks!) until the "Reserve Fuel" warning came on. (This was from El Paso, Texas through New Mexico, then Arizona... and finally just into Chandler, Arizona when I got the warning light.) Then I drove another 20 miles into Avondale, Arizona (just west of Phoenix) to fill-up. After that, it was a non-stop drive directly to Huntington Beach with fuel to spare!

Things I need to change on the C230: Radio... I want the COMAND system with DVD player. Luckily I brought along my XM radio with cassette adapter. That made for awesome entertainment for the long drive. I also would like to change to Xenon (or BIX) since, at 80 mph, I felt like I was out-driving the halogen headlights... especially on the darker stretches of road (of which there were many!)

I also noticed that the car has the C7 package pedals (aluminum with rubber nubs) but the 16" wheels. Not sure if the previous owner sold the 17" wheels or not, but for my fiancee, the 16" wheels should be fine since I expect parallel parking mishaps to occur.

Sadly, I... must... resist... the... urge... to... modify! This is a car for my fiancee, but I'm tempted to put on the ASP pulley for a bit more power. :p

Bob
2002 MB C230 Coupe, Automatic, Silver/grey interior
1997 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, manual, sport
1984 Mustang SVO
2005 Lotus Elise (order submitted to factory September, 2004)

JohnCL

Congrats on the new coupe! You will end up doing mods, I guarantee it! The coupe guys on this board are mod freaks and watching them over the past year has made me want so much. I said that I would never do it, but I have started and have a list going for more. The COMAND is a nice addition and I highly recommend that. I got mine installed by Steve last month. E-mail steve@mbenznl.com for more information. Have fun and welcome to the C-Coupe.

Buellwinkle

The C7 wheels look great, see if you can get a set. The brake dust will get to you soon but don't worry, nothing AMG Brembos can't solve. Got to have the pulley, adds a little snap. Comand is nice but it's CD, not DVD. The best cheap mod you can do is the AMG sway bars. Check out my website, a lot of info on there that may save you some forum searches.

E320Star

Nice little wheeler u have there. Be carefull roaming with the bad boys E500 mysters.

gameson

can u really change the radio with the command GPS? if so, how much n where to get one? how about installation? easy?

JohnCL

It can be done, and I and many other members have. Do a search and you will get all of the answers that you need.

gameson

i did a bit search, looks like a lot of work. how long did it take u to install one?

brabusCcoupe

I also noticed that the car has the C7 package pedals (aluminum with rubber nubs) but the 16" wheels. Not sure if the previous owner sold the 17" wheels or not, but for my fiancee, the 16" wheels should be fine since I expect parallel parking mishaps to occur.
ANSWERED

They probably just added the pedals and the color coded door handles, and i dont see them changing the 17" for 16" Thats what i did. Anyways, Congratulations on the new car and Enjoy that early, but not too early Christmas prez.

Outland

It sure looks like a C7 car...appears to be the larger tip on the exhaust as well. Maybe they did sell the rims. The C7 rims are a must have- they suit the car better than just about any other 17" out there. Gotta go bigger if you want a better looking rim.

JohnCL

I had mine installed by Steve. You can send him an e-mail at steve@mbenznl.com and he will give you all the details.

rtking

Thanks everyone! I've been looking over Buellwinkle's website (Great website!) and I've already e-mailed Steve for the COMAND and Linh for the ASP Pulley! Uh oh... the modifications begin! :p I guess those 17" wheels will be next!

Thanks for the warm welcome! I look forward to meeting with the SoCal members one of these days!

Bob

Saprissa

Welcome & see you soon !
There will be a Euro Meet at Hooters in Anaheim on January 15th, check out the "EVENTS & GATHERINGS" forum for details.

My Coupe thread can be found at: Click here

BigSis

Nice looking car, Bob! And I see the 'mod-fever' is very contagious! So... I guess I have to send you my 'get well' wishes - or get you the comand you are looking for to get you cured.

greetingz,

BigSis

JohnCL

COMAND won't cure him, just wait and see!! He will be back for more. I need some sort of "fix" now myself!!

rtking

All I have to say is... you guys are EVIL! :p I've already scheduled with BigSis to have Steve put in a COMAND sometime in January! And I've just (as in, just right now) ordered an ASP Pulley and belt! (Bear in mind that this is supposed to be a car for my fiancee!!!!) I somehow managed to convince myself that even with the pulley, I could leave the car in "W" (Winter) mode and she won't launch herself into a tree with the pulley.

I think the "Mod Bug" has bitten. I'm now even considering the AMG sway bars! Heck... if this keeps up, I might have to buy another car for my fiancee! :p

Bob

JohnCL

Damn dude, that didn't take long at all. I should have taken bets on how long until you got mod fever. You should start looking for the other car and keep the coupe for yourself!! Have fun.....

BigSis

I second that, John! And Bob... if you want to know what you can do to a coupe, go take a look at Saprissa's thread in which he slowly turns his coupe into the AMG coupe!

Just to make sure that your fever MAY be cured... or get worse. :p

greetingz,

BigSis

Outland

Saprissa will have to bite the bullet eventually and go find a 349HP V6 to truly make it an AMG Coupe.

FrankW

congrats