Mercedes - Owner Opinions

[JHarris1385]

Well it looks like my wife and I are needing a newer car, and we both happen to like the Mercedes C230 Kompressor Sport

One in particular is a 2005
They are a 1.8L Kompressed engine at roughly 23city v 32hwy mpg
(one big reason we like this model over others)

My question is: Since I value the opinions of members here, especially current or past owners (of MB), how do you feel about the reliability of Mercedes and price of potential maintenance?

Please don't post anything biased if say you only like Audi or Lexus.

Thanks.

[Vendetta]

You'll like it. It's supercharged.
-V

[JHarris1385]

Test drove one tonight.

Loved it, just don't care for the horror maintenance price stories I have already heard.

Wanted to see if anyone here has truly had issues. I plan to do as much as possible myself.

[RickOKC]

I sent an email to my bro-in-law who owns an import repair business. I'll relay his opinion once he writes back.

[JHarris1385]

Thanks a lot!

Right now it is between:

2005 C230 Kompresser Sport (rear drive)

2007 C280 3.0L 4Matic
(have not seen this one in person yet, but is is actually cheaper, with only 7k more miles)

[Ldub]

Please don't post anything biased if say you only like Audi or Lexus.

Thanks.

I like Isuzus...

[VXD959]

My wife actually owns a 2007 C280. We got it with 42K miles on the clock a couple of years ago. It now has 75K miles and we haven't had any issues with it. We have a good mechanic that charges a lot less than the stealership (in my opinion this is the key to save some $$). He does all the maintenance / service on the car - and expenses are pretty much in line with other cars I have owned.

I'm 6 ft tall and find the car small for my taste. But it is a great ride, very comfortable and smooth. My wife and I test drove a 2011 C300 and she said that she would not trade the C280 for that as the C280 drives better. And I agree 100%.

The kompressor is sportier if that is what you are looking for. But I have not test driven one of them. I like the looks better though.

Just make sure a mechanic inspects the car before buying it. And for a better ride, buy a set of brand new tires (we replaced the stock tires with Yokohamas 215/55/16 and it drives like a dream!).

[JHarris1385]

Ldub - Not falling for it, don't believe you one bit.

VXD - Thank you for that info. The looks are very different. This would be replacing an 06 Scion Tc, and the C230 actually decreases the insurance while the 2007 only increases by $10 a year. I expected different. The main reason I like the 2007 is the 4Matic versus rear 230, plus the better mpg. We need to keep at least one that gets decent mileage in our driveway!

The 230 will have 4 new tires put on tomorrow before I make my decision - I put a refundable down payment on it tonight, to take it off the market and to be able to go home and make sure it was the right decision. The tires are 225/45-17 front and 245/40-17 rear

[JHarris1385]

Wife just insisted that I mention that this will be the baby mover, we are expecting our first in May and that she hopes its kiddy approved.

[VXorado]

My parents have a 2005 C320 4matic & its great. I drove it last weekend and it was so smooth, powerful, comfortable and fun. They've had it for years and haven't had any issues. Last year, my parents had a tire blowout on the interstate and the traction control kept the car completely under control while my dad slowed the car down to pulled over.

They'll be getting a new Merc soon and told me I can buy it off them for the trade in value which should be under $10K

[89Vette]

Does 4Matic mean AWD?

I always wondered why Mercedes seemingly advertised a 4-spd automatic. I thought to myself (more than once), "That's so 1980s!"



BTW...there's a 2002 ML320 nearby for sale. 96xxx miles. Says it gets 22/28 mpg. It's their small 4x4. If I (myself) haven't also been concerned about maintenance costs for BMW/Mercedes, I might have bought a "high" mileage unit by now. Maybe I show buy this and let the VX go?!?! The price isn't too far off the value of the VX.

After all, VX or Mercedes?

[Mile High VX]

.

After all, VX or Mercedes?

Is that even a real question...VX of course!

[vt_maverick]

Wife just insisted that I mention that this will be the baby mover, we are expecting our first in May and that she hopes its kiddy approved.

I assume you're looking at four door models then?

[JHarris1385]

Yes this C230 isn't the coupe, it is slightly a rarer four door model Sport edition. Take a 4 door C280, add the lower bumper, side skirts, and wider wheel fenders and you have the body of the C230 Sport K

[vt_maverick]

Okay, just wanted to make sure you weren't planning to try and put a newborn into a rear-facing seat in a 2-door. It's do-able in the VX because of the rear hatch, but damn near impossible in a 2-door car.