mosquad

Yeah, Diesel is the way to go! Unfortunately for now, not available here in Canada...

mosquad

WAAAW!! I'm impressed by the discount!

harkgar

The discount cannot buys a tank of gasoline for my wife's 3/4 ton Suburban (with a 39 US Gallon tank) at the current Toronto price of CD$1.04 per liter.

We are not so badly off after all. Australia is a huge country too and drivers need cheap gas.

mosquad

[QUOTE=harkgar;2583335]Tthe current Toronto price of CD$1.04 per liter.[QUOTE]

We're at $1.19 CDN here in Montreal

harkgar

A few American magazines are saying that BMW are bringing in their big gun straight 6 turbo diesel engine, the 3.5 liter twin turbo diesel to NA. Initial introduction will be in the X-5 and the 3 series.

It will have 265 horses (20 less), 425 pound foot torque and the junky Adblue or equivalent urea ejaculation device. No stick shift.

0-60 mph is 6.2 seconds so it is an OK package. I wonder when MB will get serious about performance in diesel.

harkgar

[QUOTE=mosquad;2583341][QUOTE=harkgar;2583335]Tthe current Toronto price of CD$1.04 per liter.My heart goes out to you MO.

Gasoline should be like water, an essential service, not a taxation revenue source.

G.Man

Yep and I had to fight for that too, when I placed my order back in May 07 my MB dealer (only 2 MB dealer in Perth and owned by the same company) had already sold 80 and adopted a strict No discount policy for the new C Class. I did get the window tint and floor mats thrown in.

G.Man

No such luck with the gas either we currently paying $1.46 per lt.

mosquad

As soon as BMW brings it in.... direct competition! (or maybe MB will bring it before BMW)
As for getting serious about diesel, MB has actually been pretty serious about it for years, but not in NA. They already brought the E class, and as I read it in another thread, they're not bringing the C CDI maybe not to hurt the E CDI sales... we'll see with time, but for now, we gotta deal with what we have available

mosquad

How are the salaries down in Australia? Are they higher to compensate for the higher prices? (basically keeping the purchasing power somewhat at the same as NA or EU).

Untertürkheim

MB is quite serious about diesel performance, the 420CDI engine is extremely powerful. Beyond that, MB made a 203 C30CDI AMG (based on the older I5 CDI from the C270) in coupé, sedan, and wagon versions. I still hope AMG will produce a 50CDI engine from the 420CDI.

peabers

The question is whether the Americans will get serious about diesel. Ask most of them and they will look at you like you're making them drive a UPS delivery van. If there is little or no demand, there the manufacturers are not going to spend time getting them certified.

Take the Smart car... they didn't even try to get the first generation into the US because of the diesel engine and the size. But now that the 2G version has arrived with a gasoline engine and increased interior room, Penske is all over it.

Maybe the $100/barrel crude will wake the Amercians up.... but last I checked sales of Cadillac Escalades are at their all-time high.

G.Man

Going by this http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...5-1702,00.html In Nov 07 the average wage was $57,324pa = around US$50500
But Interest rate for a home loan around 8.69% and for a car loan 12.05%.

micropower99

gas is at 1.06 here in vancouver, yea the amount of taxes australia and many other countries have to deal with is terrible.

joegrecoant

actually saw 1 C230 4matic WITHOUT sport package, doesn't look too good with the 16" wheels....btw, it's listed in the Canadian site already....

mosquad

Thanks for the update, I checked this morning and it wasn't there...
Wheels are no good...
To upgrade it to the C300 standard options:

Sport package for $800
Heated front seats $550
Sunroof $1,600
For a total of $2,950
That brings it up to: $38,750 (basic at 35,800)

Or take the premium package that has the heated front seats and sunroof (and Exterior power folding mirrors and Auto-dimming mirrors (rearview and driver’s side))
This would bring it to: $38,800

Thus a difference of $2,200 from the basic C300 ($41,000)
So the $2,200 would give a more performing car and other options that are standard but not available to C230 (see below)

Fuel economy compared to the C300 (manual) (the percentage below is the % difference from the C300)
different data found depending on page viewed
using data from configurator http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6105 (click on "SPECIFICATIONS" on the right side of "STANDARD EQUIPMENT")
City: 11.8 (-0.85%) NEGATIVE!!!
Highway: 7.4 (4.05%)

using data from specifications http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?id=6096
City: 11.9 (-1.71%) NEGATIVE!!!
Highway: 7.9 (-2.60%) NEGATIVE!!!

AND the wheels are still the 16s...

Noted also that the following options cannot be added:
- the COMMAND NAV - this is no good
- Keyless Go
- Split-folding seats (standard on the C300)
- Bi-xenon headlamps (standard on the C300)

joegrecoant

I agree with you, it is not worth it to load up a C230 as it will be the same price as the C300 but with less features.

A C230 is best taken with absolutely nothing as an option....

so a white/plain black C230 RWD with stick....

very similar to a B200 non-turbo, i saw so many on the street with NO OPTION AT ALL... for $30k CDN, is it worth the $$$, NO! but is it worth the BENZ name.... might be...

Same goes with the C230

peabers

Agreed... people going for the C230 will likely buy them without options. As soon as you start adding toys to the car, you're better off getting the C300.

For brand chasers, a MB for under $40K is an interesting proposition.

berenyi

...and now there's a 4M version too....@$39,500

mosquad

Just to correct a little mistake cause I said that the wheels were 16s above but didn't see that with the sport package for $800 CDN, it comes with 17s...
Here's a pic...
Still not worth it though...

aowhaus

engine size and power is not everything, especially in places where you will never appreciate or experience the engine potential, nor is it practical nor economical. This is especially true in Europe or Asia.
I remember when a S260 or S280 could be had in France and the U.K.

mosquad

Totally agree (see what was said at the beginning of the thread), but the problem is that looking at the fuel consumption (which is confusing for now), there is not much saving.
Also, by adding all those options, the price gets very close to the C300. As seen above, for $2,000 more you would get more power (without more fuel consumption), the bi-xenon, the Split-folding seats. Also, if one wants the MM, that's not even possible (at least on the website).
I was really hoping to see a good fuel consumption coming with the smaller engine
In the end, it's a question of what the person wants in a car vs $$

peabers

in some parts of the world (i.e., Hong Kong) licensing fees are based on engine displacement, irregardless of fuel consumption or carbon output. In these cases, the C230 loaded up makes financial sense.

mosquad

very good point! another thing I learnt from this forum

Xeon

just for your info..

a c180k in malaysia cost 70k usd....