Does ANYONE like the W204 better than the W203?
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Uh-oh....I'm sensing a loss of momentum here.....hmmmmm.....what to do
......nothing good on tv.......I got it! 
The 204 is a better car than the 203 because it's 1 more and more is always better!
Discuss!!! Comments must include at least one of the following, "crap", "***", or "stupid"!
......nothing good on tv.......I got it! The 204 is a better car than the 203 because it's 1 more and more is always better!
Discuss!!! Comments must include at least one of the following, "crap", "***", or "stupid"!
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
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From: Australia
C200K Jul 2004
I'm about to test drive a W204 and quite possibly buy it. Whilst looks is not the reason why I am upgrading, I just want to to move on with the times and try to continue with the reliable motoring I've had with my W203.
As you guys all have W204's I thought I'd ask for your thoughts on a 2009 W204 with 90,000klm on the clock.
Would it be as reliable as my W203 at 140,000klm or are things going to start dying on me?
As you guys all have W204's I thought I'd ask for your thoughts on a 2009 W204 with 90,000klm on the clock.
Would it be as reliable as my W203 at 140,000klm or are things going to start dying on me?
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From: Cali
01' c320 (sold) / 03' Ford Focus(sold) :( / 98' C230 / 00' SL500 / 11' C300 Sport RWD w204
owned both, like my new c a lot more. the only thing i liked about the old car was that the door felt a lot more secure and heavy. I also like to minimize killing animals as much as possible so mb tex is a HUGE plus.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
So, you are a vegetarian, wear plastic shoes and your pants are held up by a rope?
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
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97 S600 coupe/gf 16 C300 Lux. Former: 08 GL450, 83 300D, 97 C230, 08 c300 luxury, 92 500SL, 93 400E
Cheapened the 204? lol
I've had a 202, 203 and a 204...IMO they should have skipped the 203 altogether, and pretend that piece of crap never existed. The 202 was by far a better car, and the 204 is a logical extension of the 202. They should have gone with a design like this in 2001. The way it feels, handles, drives, and the materials are 202-quality. Thank god they brought back the old "cheap" feel of the 202!
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From: Cali
01' c320 (sold) / 03' Ford Focus(sold) :( / 98' C230 / 00' SL500 / 11' C300 Sport RWD w204
never even saw this comment. Is it wrong that I feel bad enough that a death of an animal already goes to feeding me / being part of clothing that I'm actually happy my car isn't filled (for the most part) by the gutting of a cow? Geez you're just one of those eccentric douche bags aren't you?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I've had a 202, 203 and a 204...IMO they should have skipped the 203 altogether, and pretend that piece of crap never existed. The 202 was by far a better car, and the 204 is a logical extension of the 202. They should have gone with a design like this in 2001. The way it feels, handles, drives, and the materials are 202-quality. Thank god they brought back the old "cheap" feel of the 202!
Yes - the early MY's suffered from QC problems.
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
never even saw this comment. Is it wrong that I feel bad enough that a death of an animal already goes to feeding me / being part of clothing that I'm actually happy my car isn't filled (for the most part) by the gutting of a cow? Geez you're just one of those eccentric douche bags aren't you?
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97 S600 coupe/gf 16 C300 Lux. Former: 08 GL450, 83 300D, 97 C230, 08 c300 luxury, 92 500SL, 93 400E
On another note, the only reason I bought my 06 C350 was for the motor - and truly, that was the only thing I liked about the car.
And yes, the 203s suffered everything from electrical to engine failures, from the 2.5V6 to the 1.8 kompressor. We all know this. The cars designed in the era from 97-04 were subject to the cost-cutting Daimler Chrysler spotty network of parts suppliers.
/soapbox
Last edited by will_w204; May 28, 2012 at 12:10 PM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I did say previously in this thread "The W204 is the better more trouble free car. 90K Km's is nothing on a 204 if well maintained."
However the W204 is really just a well sorted W203 in a new bottle.
However the W204 is really just a well sorted W203 in a new bottle.
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97 S600 coupe/gf 16 C300 Lux. Former: 08 GL450, 83 300D, 97 C230, 08 c300 luxury, 92 500SL, 93 400E
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From: North Scottsdale
06 C 350 2014 GLK350
I don't know about the earlier W203's but my face lifted 2006 C350 is the best MB I have owned. It has been virtually trouble free and I prefer driving it over my 2012 E350. Yes, the E Class is more elegant and has many nice features, but it simply isn't as much fun to drive as my C350.
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97 S600 coupe/gf 16 C300 Lux. Former: 08 GL450, 83 300D, 97 C230, 08 c300 luxury, 92 500SL, 93 400E
I don't know about the earlier W203's but my face lifted 2006 C350 is the best MB I have owned. It has been virtually trouble free and I prefer driving it over my 2012 E350. Yes, the E Class is more elegant and has many nice features, but it simply isn't as much fun to drive as my C350.
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From: North Scottsdale
06 C 350 2014 GLK350
Mine is the luxury version, fully loaded, with all the goodies. With leather, nav, etc. the MSRP was right at $50K. I have 39,000 miles. The performance and handling are excellent. The 350 engine is very smooth and responsive in daily driving. My E350 cgi engine feels about the same as my 06 C350. Driving comfort and road noise are very good. It is even more quiet, in going over tar strips, than in my E. Both cars have Michelin MXM4 tires.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Mine is the luxury version, fully loaded, with all the goodies. With leather, nav, etc. the MSRP was right at $50K. I have 39,000 miles. The performance and handling are excellent. The 350 engine is very smooth and responsive in daily driving. My E350 cgi engine feels about the same as my 06 C350. Driving comfort and road noise are very good. It is even more quiet, in going over tar strips, than in my E. Both cars have Michelin MXM4 tires.
That said the W204 over it's model life has been a very well sorted car with a minimum of problems when compared with Benz issues of the late 90's early 2000's.
There was zero Chrysler influence in the W203. It's problems, with those of the W211 E Class were that it was the first time Benz had a go at computer simulated endurance testing instead of on the road. That was a big mistake & soon rectified with cars pounding the tar & gravel in SA, Namibia & Finland for cold weather testing. By MY 2003 they were pretty much sorted. Brazilian production took the longest to get sorted with SA & Vietnam ahead of the curve.
SA production had better leather & fabrics than the rest. SA was given the task of sorting rattles & squeaks & my car remained absolutely silent over 8 years of ownership. M112/722.6 cars were particularly bullet proof.
The W204 is a very good buy!
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
2020 C363 S / 2007 SLK55 / 2016 F150 4x4 / 1998 Cobra Convertible
I should certainly hope so. The cheapest American car should (and usually does) go well over 90K km with even marginal maintenance. A "trouble-free" car should be defined as something that routinely goes over 200K MILES (320K KM).
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Indeed ~ I know of many W203's that have done over a million Km's without major repair. I see no reason why a 204 should not achieve similar. In ROW people expect very high mileage from a Benz. But they service them. I know the US is a throwaway market but MBUSA's stupid attitude that the transmissions are filled for life etc. does not help longevity.
Next time you visit Europe take a look at the sort of mileage you will see on Benz cars in Taxi service. The same applies in many 3rd world countries.
Next time you visit Europe take a look at the sort of mileage you will see on Benz cars in Taxi service. The same applies in many 3rd world countries.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; May 29, 2012 at 12:45 PM.
