josha

I decided to purchase a C230 coupe a couple of weeks ago, and since there wasn't a car exactly like I wanted available, we were going to have to order one. The dealer asked someone at MB why the C-coupe supply was so limited, and the reply was that on Jan. 3, the winter dream event ends, and on Jan. 4, MB will announce they're not making the C coupe anymore. That also means they're not taking orders on them.

I managed to find one close to what I wanted, and having just paid for it an hour ago, I'm psyched! Anyone have any clue as to why the C coupe is going away? It seems like a great little car...

amdeutsch

Welcome to the forum.

No flame, but it might help if you searched the forum for that answer. In general let me point you to the darkside, BMW, and the success they had with luxury hatchbacks. The American public in general does not have the same views as the rest of the world in this regard.

Robert Schrader

So this should mean that our coupes are going to become worth more?



As to the BMW 318ti, I always asumed that it was a failure because of the tiny engine. I wanted to see a 330ti or an M3 with a hatch.

mctwin2kman

The Coupe will still be produced for the rest of the World, just not the USA and maybe Canada.

The Ti I believe is still made in Europe. Also they did have an M3 version of it in Europe. Just like the C32 and C30 CDI versions of the Coupe and the lower C180 and C200 Coupe's as well.

Outland

Your dealer is BSing you a bit. THe car will continue in production until the next C-Coupe arrives in 2006/7 with the new C Class line. Unfortunately for us in the states, the coupe only sells about 8000 units a year, which in MBUSA's mind isn't high enough volume, so they will no longer import the car. Also, the continued sinking of the dollar has made the C-Coupe barely a break even car. The margin on the Coupe was always much thinner, to keep the car down at the 25k price, the other C-Class cars are pretty overpriced, and thus have fat margins, so they are less affected.

Like it says in my Sig, MBUSA SUCKS! They think people will flock to that turd called the B-Class!

mick1

i read that 2005 will be the last year for the kompressor engines. Mercedes says they would switch over to turbo charged engines .

Here is the link:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/ne...?news_id=10820

josha

Not sure how much he was BSing, as he basically said that the best way for me to get a car was to call the dealerships that had the cars I was interested in instead of trying to do dealer trades. There'd been one far closer to my original desires in TX last week, but they didn't want to trade and weren't going to sell it $1 below MSRP (they knew they had the only car like it in the US).

It makes sense that MBUSA won't keep importing it with the dollar and all, and yes, the B class really seems weird. Personally, I wouldn't want one as I think of the Toyota Matrix when I see it, and I don't want people to look at any Benz I own and think "Toyota"

GDawgC220

what I read before was that they are not going to be making C-Coupes anymore in the w204 line...instead the coupe replacement will be the "B-Class" in 2007.

mctwin2kman

As stated the W204 still has a Coupe in it. Also they are no longer using any TurboChargers or SuperCHargers, well at least that is the plan. The new C230's will have a 2.3 L V-6 generating a little over 200 Hp. Not sure if they will even make it to the US.

GDawgC220

I was just saying what I read from various car sites and magazines. I know that one of the reasons the B-Class is coming was to replace the C-Coupe. Whether they will follow that statement is another thing

amdeutsch

Your statement is true in regards to the US. As stated previously, the rest of the world may still get it as the attitude is completely different towards hatchbacks. In addition, the rest of the world isn't nearly as power hungry as the US due to their gas prices for the most part.

Robert Schrader

If MBUSA drops the relatively high-mileage C-coupe and adds nothing else, then they would have trouble meeting the federal mileage requirements for the overall fleet in 2006 onward. So I think we are going to see several things:

1) The B-class will be priced to sell, sometimes with severe discounts. It won't be worth their time to do good quality control under those circumstances, so MB's reputation for quality will continue to drop.

2) Turbos will replace SCs to get a small improvement in mileage. MBUSA will give us vague promises that turbo lag has been made so small that we won't notice it. But it will still be there.

3) The prices of high end MBs will rise faster than inflation as they go for more luxury and more performance so they can make more bucks per car. This will allow them to still show a profit while still meeting federal emissions laws.

Outland

The B Class is a "north america product only" from what Ive heard. No one else will have to endure it

I hope the pukes at MBUSA read these forumns. This car isn't even here yet and I despise it.

MB will continue to use the four cylinders, but as someone else stated, they will switch to Turbos entirely. Good news for those of you who like to tune, bad news for around town driving. With the Coupe gone from the lineup, I'll likely not buy another new Benz, the thought of buying an overpriced C-Coupe with a trunk and an auto only transmission(hey, CLK!) makes me ill.

GDawgC220

Curious, why would it be bad news for driving around town?

brabusCcoupe

Most Americans like big cars, so dont understand why MB thinks the B-Class will sell if The C-Coupe doesnt? But oh well, they will soon find out.

Robert Schrader

From some auto web page ( sorry I forget which )...
Over time, not in the first year clearly, MB expects to sell 100,000 of the B-class act says Jürgen Hubbert. "Americans start to look for fuel-efficient products, and here we can offer something additional to our diesel programme, which is extremely successful."
September 23, 2004

100,000? The Japanese must be laughing.

Outland

Ever own/drive a turbo car around town? Aside from some of the larger displacement ones, or those with light pressure turbos(Volvos), there's a one one thousand, two one thousand, and sometimes three one thousand before the car moves with any authority. VW 1.8's are the poster children for this when in say a Passat or a4 with an auto trans.

Outland

Hey Jurgen, get off the weed man!

GDawgC220

I find my A4 1.8T around town moves pretty quickly...but yes, the 1.8T with automatics are slow. I guess since I got the 6-speed, that solves the problem

PrsnBenz

I can easily vouch for that owning a 2001 VW GTI 1.8t AUTO regardless, its handling is pretty slick, but engine is slowwwwwwwww. Ive done a few minor, subtle mods like exhaust, chip, intake, to get it moving but i'm still quite frustrated. Quality-wise, at only 52k my window regulator is jacked up, windshield wiper tank has a leak. Granted this is my first car, im still pissed off by the performance of the car, and should have told my folks to let me get a manual. Oh well, but as far as the turbo and gas mileage, its funny casue as the car gets more miles on it overall, the gas mileage deterioates. Only a month ago, on a full tank id get about 250? Now its gone down to about 215. Go figure, im not too mechanically literate but this is pretty bad. I'm dreading the craigslist to find a c240 for around 20 or less, but so far not having too much luck. Unless VW has a written statement of guarantee that the reliability issue is going to be fixed, then ill never step foot in another one. My cousin on the other hand has a c230k coupe, auto, and after driving it was a little surprised but as far as handling and suspension, cant come close to vw. The power of the supercharger in the kompressor isnt anything that fancy, nor did i feel that much of a difference in torque output, not really getting that "kick" i get in my vw. I eevn raced him, left him in dust. I think they should revamp there suspensions and handling a little bit, its solid but i think to adhere to the audience they initially are trying to get, they could use some work and make it a little more mod friendly and get some support from more affordable aftermarket companies than Brabus or Lorinse. C Coupes have somewhat stood out as the black sheep of the Benz lineup as far as styling goes so i think a redesign is much needed to make it more accessible and streamlined as the rest of the benz redesigns. Just my $.02

TNblkc230wz

MB needs to realize I love my coupe! RWD, decent horse power, manual transmission, and a very civilized ride and handling. I guess I'll have to look to BMW next time I want a RWD manual transmission car. Bummer!!

Turbo lag is the pits. I drove several turbos and they all suffer. If you have to let off the gas, It takes a second or two for the engine to spool it back up.

mick1

that's a Bimmer!!

vadim

Bimmer indeed !!!

TNblkc230wz

I mean BUMMER!

Oil Change

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay...
that means I'll be one of the few people driving that car on the street again