What W204 to Get?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 3
2000 C230 Sport, 2013 C350 Sport
What W204 to Get?
My 2000 C230 is fun to drive and very reliable, but unfortunately I have to give it up and get a new (to me) car. I like a smaller car but need a 4 door. I test drove a 2015 C350, which was really powerful but just didn't seem fun. It felt like being in a cocoon - too isolated from the car and the environment. It doesn't even have a dipstick! It was nice to get back into the C230.
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability. I'm looking at W204 C300's and C350's. There's a 2011 C300 with less than 50,000 miles on it available locally that I plan to take a look at, but I'm having trouble seeing the place for a C300 compared to the C350. The C300 I'll look at is 2WD, which I prefer because being in the Southeast I don't need 4WD with its possible maintenance problems. But from my research the C300 as compared to the C350 has about 50 less HP, 25 less lb-ft of torque, weighs about the same (the 4WD C300 weighs more than the C350; I can't find a curb weight for the 2WD C300), and gets the same gas mileage. The only difference may be price, but even that's hard to quantify.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability. I'm looking at W204 C300's and C350's. There's a 2011 C300 with less than 50,000 miles on it available locally that I plan to take a look at, but I'm having trouble seeing the place for a C300 compared to the C350. The C300 I'll look at is 2WD, which I prefer because being in the Southeast I don't need 4WD with its possible maintenance problems. But from my research the C300 as compared to the C350 has about 50 less HP, 25 less lb-ft of torque, weighs about the same (the 4WD C300 weighs more than the C350; I can't find a curb weight for the 2WD C300), and gets the same gas mileage. The only difference may be price, but even that's hard to quantify.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 35
C300 sport 2008
My 2000 C230 is fun to drive and very reliable, but unfortunately I have to give it up and get a new (to me) car. I like a smaller car but need a 4 door. I test drove a 2015 C350, which was really powerful but just didn't seem fun. It felt like being in a cocoon - too isolated from the car and the environment. It doesn't even have a dipstick! It was nice to get back into the C230.
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability. I'm looking at W204 C300's and C350's. There's a 2011 C300 with less than 50,000 miles on it available locally that I plan to take a look at, but I'm having trouble seeing the place for a C300 compared to the C350. The C300 I'll look at is 2WD, which I prefer because being in the Southeast I don't need 4WD with its possible maintenance problems. But from my research the C300 as compared to the C350 has about 50 less HP, 25 less lb-ft of torque, weighs about the same (the 4WD C300 weighs more than the C350; I can't find a curb weight for the 2WD C300), and gets the same gas mileage. The only difference may be price, but even that's hard to quantify.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability. I'm looking at W204 C300's and C350's. There's a 2011 C300 with less than 50,000 miles on it available locally that I plan to take a look at, but I'm having trouble seeing the place for a C300 compared to the C350. The C300 I'll look at is 2WD, which I prefer because being in the Southeast I don't need 4WD with its possible maintenance problems. But from my research the C300 as compared to the C350 has about 50 less HP, 25 less lb-ft of torque, weighs about the same (the 4WD C300 weighs more than the C350; I can't find a curb weight for the 2WD C300), and gets the same gas mileage. The only difference may be price, but even that's hard to quantify.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 517
Likes: 22
From: California
Mercedes C250 Coupe
[QUOTE=Moxostoma;7352419]My 2000 C230 is fun to drive and very reliable, but unfortunately I have to give it up and get a new (to me) car. I like a smaller car but need a 4 door.
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability.
With regard to your C250 drive and reliability.
Before getting my CPO C250, my research was very positive. Sadly, the only source I can recall now was CU (and the report showed all solid red dots for the 16 or so reliability categories).
That's about as good as it gets.
I've only put 10 grand on the odometer (But zero problems to date).
best,
ez
I liked driving a W204 C250 a little more, but I've read some comments questioning their reliability.
With regard to your C250 drive and reliability.
Before getting my CPO C250, my research was very positive. Sadly, the only source I can recall now was CU (and the report showed all solid red dots for the 16 or so reliability categories).
That's about as good as it gets.
I've only put 10 grand on the odometer (But zero problems to date).
best,
ez
Last edited by ezshift5; Jan 8, 2018 at 09:09 AM. Reason: grammar
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
Likes: 37
From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
If I were to buy a car now:
It will be a V6, not 4 cylinders of any type, turbo or not. 4 cylinder can't compare to V6 at idle or very low speed in smoothness.
It should be as quiet as possible, towards S-Class or Lexus LS isolation.
Better with 4WD but not important where I live.
It will be a V6, not 4 cylinders of any type, turbo or not. 4 cylinder can't compare to V6 at idle or very low speed in smoothness.
It should be as quiet as possible, towards S-Class or Lexus LS isolation.
Better with 4WD but not important where I live.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 59
Likes: 5
From: Central PA
1986 Porsche 911 Coupe, a 2002 CLK320 & 2013 C300
I'm having trouble seeing the place for a C300 compared to the C350. The C300 I'll look at is 2WD, which I prefer because being in the Southeast I don't need 4WD with its possible maintenance problems. But from my research the C300 as compared to the C350 has about 50 less HP, 25 less lb-ft of torque, weighs about the same (the 4WD C300 weighs more than the C350; I can't find a curb weight for the 2WD C300), and gets the same gas mileage.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
Is there any advantage to getting a 2WD C300 that I'm missing? Right now, it just seems like it doesn't make sense to get one when compared to a C350.
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