Frank Rizzo

Howdy...new member here.
We are trying to locate a C230WZ for my wife to lease. Problem is we can not find one loaded up the way we want:
Auto
Sunroof pkg.
Lighting pkg.
Heated Seats
Command NAV
Entertainment Pkg.
Split/Folding rear seat
Power front seats.

It's basicaly everything but full leather.
The car has to be White or 2nd choice: Pewter with a Black interior. We are in Southern California and have done a search of the immediate area (all the "western" states) according to Calabasas Motors and can't even come close...except one car in Hawaii . The next step (according to the dealer) is to start eliminating options to see if they can get closer to the match. My response was "blow that" - just order the car instead - I don't want any regrets. (Funny thing is that the fetching Mrs. Rizzo could not give an darn about all of the other stuff except heated seats and the sunroof). But it makes we wonder - those of you who already have the car - what option(s) do you wish you had gotten and why.


FWIW: Ive been in contact with Carsdirect.com to see what they come up with on a nationwide level - eh..who knows.?? maybe....

Thanks.

nlpamg

Command...

I know I can retrofit it (the euro version at least), however I'd like to have been able to finance it with the really low interest rate I got.

Good luck finding the car you want, it'll be really tough. I was in the same situation as you in August and they couldn't find squat for me. I had to settle on not getting some options, but I didn't settle on not getting both the lighting and entertainment packages.

raunen

I second the COMMAND regret. I wanted a C320 4Matic with all leather and COMMAND (among other options) but had to choose between the two; if I didn't want to wait for a special order. So I opted for no navigation and I second guess myself everyday. If I did it over, I would probably just special order the car but failing that, I would opt for leather insert and get the COMMAND.

I'm buying it now from Steve though

Rotty

I think Mercedes don't fully load a C class because they clasify it as an entry level car. I guess they figure if you want all of that you might as well get into a CLK. Who knows though, good luck with your purchase.

dmatre

Bi-xenons. While the regular headlights are probably the best non-xenon lights I've seen, they don't even come close to the xenon versions.

I'm regretting this because I've noticed that as I've aged, my night vision has gone dramatically downhill. Driving a co-workers E-class w/Bi-Xenons was like night driving when I was younger. The light distribution is much more even across the road, and the illumination is far better off-center (makes finding the apex - or the driveway - a lot easier). I would have to put this option into the SAFETY category, along with airbags, ABS, ESP, etc.

capt_paul

I wished I had also got the COMMAND, Bi-Xenon, Heated Seats, and Phone at the time I got the car. Adding them latter is getting $$$. I do like that we can get options that aren't avail in the US from Steve.

eBalita Editor

Bi-xenon

MJ50

bi-xenon, heated seats, tele-aid and comand.

Blake P

wish I had gotten bi-xenon and comand
wish I hadn't gotten chrome stock wheels, BOSE, and cd changer

richardsayzz

Sunroof Package, 6 Disc Changer.


wish i had gotten..
Bi Xenon and power front seats..

I'm fine without COMAND :-P

CitronC230K_03

i regret not ordering COMAND, heated seats and tele-aid.

COMAND i installed becaquse i regretted not ordering it 2 months after i took delivery. i installed the Audio10 and still wanted COMAND. Heated seats i really kick myself in the *** over not getting but im going to install with my CLK heated/vented seats. tele-aid im SOL, just owuld have been nice to have it, thats all.

even though heated seats arent neccessary all the time in so cali, they are great when you do need them.

oggle

Why don't you crank call them and tell them you got run over, Mr. Rizzo? :p Maybe they'll give you a good deal then. (joke)

FrankW

regret not getting the command...otherwise my car's fully loaded...

Moviela

From that list I'd drop the lighting and entertainment. Xenon is gee whiz, but you really can't see all that much better on the lighted streets of So Cal. The sound system is "upgraded" by Harmon Kardon, and to my ears the sub-woofer is more of a sub-tweeter. I was not impressed in the difference of the sound, from the standard unit.

I am not so sure you really need heated seats either. If you have snow in the winter, they might be nice, but I have the other problem, I wish there were air-con vents in the seat.

I am testing a car with command at the moment, and it wanted to send me to Disneyland via Cucamonga (I live 4 miles form the park.)

I would ADD Sirius Radio to your list, it is $679 installed at the port, or 875 for the dealer to put it in. Dealer cost is 483 and you can install it yourself in 20 minutes, three screws, and drill a hole.

You might also consider European Delivery. You can order the car you want. The German Govt will reward you with 7% off the Base Price of the car if you can show european preseance. You don't need to pick-up the car in person in Europe, just show you were in anywhere in Europe.

When you talk price with the dealer, hold his feet in the flames for cost less 2%. Ask him to deduct delivery, document fee, and tire fee, too. The dealer can live well on the 3% holdback, and the extra 2% if he gets an "Excellent" rating on the DaimlerChrysler satisfaction survey.

If you need a lease, MB Credit has some very attractive rates, but you might also give Executive Car Leasing a try.

Downtown LA Motors has an awful lot of white cars in their storage lot under the 10 Fwy.

mikefl52

If you cannot find what you want order it, do not compromise on what you really want or you will be kicking yourselves, or more likely your wife will be kicking you! It does not take that long. In fact if you oder it, why not do European delivery, The "discount" is enough to pay for the tickets and have some fun.

taylor192

Things I regret:
1. 3.5L engine (available late summer '06) or 2.3L engine (only on '01-02)
2. iPod adaptor (only available on '05s and later)
3. Rain sensing wiper (cannot be retrofitted without changing entire windshield)
4. New heated seats (3 heat levels in '05 and later, not 2)
5. Lighted door sills (yes an expensive option, yet very cool!)
6. Cloth (I got the leather and wish I hadn't. I'd rather pay for a custom 2-tone aftermarket leather)
7. Upgraded brakes (the '04.5s have the upgraded 'AMG' brakes, the '05s (or was it the upcoming '06s?) seem to have a downgraded brake package, 2 pistons versus 4).

mctwin2kman

No regrets I got everything I wanted, nothing more and nothing less... We were going to order but they found the car at Port in Baltimore that was ordered for dealer stock! Otherwise we wanted certain things and would have ordered. Better to wait and get what you want then to settle for something less!

ayilar

I would sign up again for all the options I got, but not for any other. The only thing I wish I had, but was/is not available on U.S. 2005 Coupes, is a power & memory passenger seat.

Deutscher_Wagen

what I have on my coupe:
Sport package (came on all 05)
Entertainment (Love it)
Heated seats (My woman loves it, I don't mind it)
Auto-tranny (disapointed)

What I would like:
NAV (would be more useful than I origionaly thought)

Like, but don't need:
bi-xenon (it would be 'cool', that's about it)

LeifW

Bi-xenon. The standard lights aren't bright enough for my tastes.

Leif W.

breastroker

Did you try Fletcher Jones? Being the largest MB dealer they get access to more cars.

And I totally disagree on the BI-zenon lighting. Anyone over 30 years old is loosing night vision. Since you really can't use the high beams, the bi-xenon low beams make driving much safer. I am guessing Moviela is young.\

I love the Comand and the MB cell phone, but I added them. Everything is much cheaper when you order from the dealer.

The only dealer I have visited that orders highly optioned C class is Auto Stiegler. Try them too.

SpicyC320

(1) Bi-Xenons
(2) Power/Memory Seats
(3) COMAND

In retrospect, I should have chosen another color. The Brilliant Silver is classy but a little too boring. Could have saved myself $700 with the look-at-me Mars Red or paid the same $700 and gotten the nice but very rare Steel Grey.

Waiting for the lovely 2005 changes might have been a good idea too.

Other than that, my car has everything else I wanted at the time.

CitronC230K_03

i debated on silver but thought it was wayyyyyy to boring as well.
i would regret big time had i not bought the citron green.
i would definately order again. its the only way to go!

wingless

The option that I am glad that I did NOT include on my order is the satellite radio.

It would have sucked sooo bad to have a large black brick permanently stuck onto my rear lift gate.

Now, should I elect to add this option, I can use a small, hidden, antenna.

tifosiv122

Heated seats. I was sooo dumb, for $600 or whatever. I didn't think I'd use it if I didn't have a convertible...I was wrong.

Erik