MiKeSSw203

wait interior is crap in the w204 and no memory seats so make that a hell no

joebenz

the Fit is an awesome option. however, you probably should buy one if you were gonna get, the lease rates are pretty bad for that car. My friend was looking to lease one, but he said no dealer would give him good rates since the demand for them was so high

D6F956

How about those freaking huge front marker lenses? The W203 has curves like a woman. The W204, well it could be mistaken for an Ultima.
Will that get me banned?

D6F956

With all respect, the '04 was not an '05. Too many upgrades.
I had a 1998 A4Q 2.6 then a 2001 Mustang GT Premimum and than to the 2005 C230Kss which I got off the boat in May, 2004.

The craziest funniest was the Mustang - unGodly Horse power.

atiqa

I traded in my 2005 C230KSS for my C300. The dealer gave me a crappy 18k for it in Oct 07 so it was only really 2 years old. I regret it at times but I think the only thing that made it worth it is that I went from a base C230 to an almost fully loaded C300. So I feel that it was an upgrade, but only because of the extra options I have now. I still love the styling of the W203, it was a great first car. All in all, I'd suggest holding on to your C230 if you're not planning on getting more options than you already have because it honestly isn't much of an upgrade on its own.

FrankW

ROFL...that's personal preference. I don't think the 204 looks very bad, but I do like my 203 better.

and yes the side marker is hideous!!!...

FrankW

yea, if you are trading it up and have more options

my 32 has way more options/features than my base C350 tho.

narky

For me, the above observation was precisely the reason why I've never been a fan of the W203. Too round, too soft, too girly looking. I guess we got different tastes.

The W203 as a modding platform is pretty nice, and I've seen some really nicely modded examples, but then it's not really the same car any more then, is it? On the other hand, I really like the W204's boxy design. Stock. It looks like a guy's car. Of course, this design too can use a few "enhancements" here and there.

jstaneff

The way I've bought cars over the years is a study in learning about the value of options, one option at a time. Floor mats help keep noise in the cabin down. Splash guards help keep the car clean and reduce the spray behind. Sunroof/moon roof brings light into the cabin. A good quality radio makes the trip easier. Sat radio makes the listening experience consistent. Air conditioning allows travel in the heat of summer. Rain tires add stability and safety in Seattle's liquid sunshine. And so on.

I've developed a list of options, in my head, that I have to have on a car. The C met and exceeded that list. Color me happy with the 204. (Well, except for splash guards.)

I drove a W202 in Germany in 2001 and was very happy with it It was a C180, held the road very well, and had sufficient power for what I needed (180 km/hr + on the Autobahn for several hours at a stretch). So when my last car had reached the point where replacement was advisable, I started looking at the C Class. When I learned there was a new car coming (W204) I waited. It was well worth that wait.

Now I'm getting "soft". I want a car with adjustable suspension so I can dial in comfort or sport. Real comfort, not just the way the tranny shifts. I think I want air shocks that can smooth out those rough roads, or allow the chassis to work hard in the turns.

I also want more response from the loud pedal. Adding a SprintBooster might be the ticket there.

But I'm also a slow learner. My "fun" car, the Jeep, is about as basic as you can get. The only padding is federally mandated on the roll bars. The vinyl seats are cracked and don't do much other than provide a surface to sit on. But guess what? For it's purpose, it's a great car, and fun to drive.

The C is for my commute and reasonable distance drives (e.g., < 1000 miles). I don't know if I would be comfortable in the C for a 2 week 2,000 mile trip.