Jim Banville

In "base trim", why does the C320 sedan cost $9000 more than the C320 coupe , when the C230 sedan only costs $2000 more than the C230 coupe? The C230 coupe and sedan and the C320 coupe are all priced closely, but then the C320 sedan has a huge price bump. Why? Aren't the only additional standard features of the C320 sedan: power seats and digital climate control?

amdeutsch

And what does the comparisson page on MBUSA say?

Jim Banville

It looks like auto tranny, HK stereo and power seats are standard on C320 sedan. I don't think that makes up for a $7000 difference between upgrading from C320 coupe to C320 sedan vs. C230 coupe to C230 sedan.

mick1

i think it's worth it. the c230 ss is a really nice car but i like it better with a six cylinder engine. i think people who would buy c240 and c320 share this view.

Jim Banville

My point isn't whether someone is willing to spend XXXX amount for an upgrade. What's MB's excuse for charging so much more? Upgrading to the V6 in the coupe is only like a $2000 premium. Why is upgrading to the V6 in the sedan sooooo much more?

mick1

don't know. i saw this on the latest mercedes magazine. beside the engine and the h/k stereo system as a standard equipment, I don't see any other difference from the C230.

the profit margin on the c320 must be quite good for the dealers and daimler chrysler.

cracker123

from what i know C320 and C230 are quite similar except the larger engine, and the power seats are also extended to the passenger side.

I dont know if I would pay $9000k more for that car, becuase at that price I might as well as shell 2-3k more and get an 2005 A6 3.2 or 2005 BMW 525.

On thing that is sad is that C55 and C320 get the crappy A/C panel.

mctwin2kman

You get the bigger engine, Auto Tranny, Moonroof, Dual Power Seats, Digital Climate control with the ability to have diferent fan speeds on the passenger side than the driver, premium leather, premium sound. I think that is all of it. Considering the price of all those features as options I think $9,000 is a good deal.

Edit: They must have changed something in 2005. Scratch the leather and moonroof part. I thought that was standard on the C320 sedan's in past years. And it is only a $5300 diference between the C240 and C320 sedan's. Remember also that the C320 Coupe has the exact same standard equipment as the C230K Coupe and it is only an engine upgrade that makes them diferent. Not like in the Sedan lines where you get more standard stuff so to speak. Compared to the C230K Sedan, the C230 has the 6 Speed standard not the auto tranny. The Auto is $1400.

mb-scott

I'm guessing their "marketing studies" showed that they couldn't sell the 320 coupe at a much higher price than it is now, compared with a sedan, because of the cheaper stigma of a hatchback, etc... So they're either making a lot off the sedan or eating it on the coupe, or more likely making plenty on both, but just more on the sedan.

MarkL

The digital climate control is now also an option on 2005 C320's. MB is reducing content, raising prices, scrapping 4-year free maintenance. Where are they headed? I was very close to replacing my C240 with an '05 C320, but I went with a BMW 330i.

Oh, premium leather was always optional on the C320...but, did you know the standard leather inserts are now only on the front seats? The rears are now full MB-Tex. C'mon, how much does that save? They're trying to push people to full leather for $1500...hey, even the new E320's have only leather inserts on the front seats -- that's what I mean about reducing content.

mctwin2kman

Yeah I figured they were reducing some stuff on it, but that is going a little far! Also seen of course on the C240 and C230's now since they cannned the dual power seats! Even my 1986 190E has dual power seats in it.....

Jim Banville

The C320 and 330i are VERY closely matched. The 330i doesn't come standard w/ leather, does it? The only problems with the BMW 3 series is (1) they're so common, and (2) the current model is going to look 'dated' when the completely redesigned model comes out (2006?). A VERY nice car, none the less.

MarkL

Leather is optional on the 330i, but even with the BMW premium package, (includes BMW Assist [ie., TeleAid], leather, power lumbar), xenons and cold weather package (heated seats, folding rear seats, headlight washers), the list was a whopping $3,850 less than a comparable C320. The moonroof is now standard on 3 series. I got a 6-spd manual and I could get any color interior I wanted (Sand), not limited to black and gray like the MB sport sedan. Plus, 4 year free maintenance, more power, and I must say from my own experience, a far superior clutch and manual transmission, (I won't argue the handling part). I really wanted another Mercedes but I couldn't justify it right now.

As far as the "commonness" of the 3 series, I'd agree and that is one reason I originally went with my '02 C240 instead of a 325i. But, I decided I really wanted to try BMW and I thought for me at this time, it was a better choice. When the 2006 redesign comes along, I think the current E46 will still be looking good for the 3-4 years I plan to keep it. Plus, the new design I believe will take some getting used to and sales may start out slowly -- time will tell.

remmib

MB has an image of "old men's/mom's car" while BMW attracts a younger crowd and the average owners' age probably reflect the same. One salesman told me that MB priced the 230K so low to compete with BMW's popular 325 and to try to lure that crowd. When you look at it, C320 has wood trim interior but the C230 has titanium finish, chrome pedals and exhaust tips....
What does that tell you, they tries to appeal to different age groups with a different spending pattern.

mick1

on the sport sedan model, the c320 looks identical to the c230, outside and inside. only the badging on the back is different.

Jim Banville

Exactly! The C320 sport sedan (w/ manual tranny) SHOULD only cost like $3k more than the C230 sport sedan.
What makes just as little sense is the $7K difference between the C320 sport sedan and the CLK320. Same engine, same size car, yes?

remmib

ok, I was comparing the vanilla C320, for the C320SS, the only reason I could think of is to milk those who could afford to spend several thousands more for a 6 cylinder engine...just like the C55, you pay a preimum for performance, but not much else.

Outland

The C320 sedan is way overpriced. And the performance of the current 3.2L six sure doesn't justify the extra dollars over the C230 in my book.